I Am Legend ***
Cast: Will Smith
Director: Francis Lawrence
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The year is 2012, and Dr. Robert Neville (Smith) may be the last man on Earth. He is partially responsible for a cancer cure that mutated and turned humans into beings that cannot stand sunlight and crave blood. Neville is lonely, and only has his dog Sam for a friend. During the day, he searches for food and supplies, and works on trying to cure this awful disease. At night, he locks himself away in his house and hides from the horrors that wander the streets. One day, he gets sloppy, and his world becomes worse.

Will Smith carries this movie full on his back. Acting alone or with only a dog, he is the reason to see this movie. Like Tom Hanks in “Castaway” or John Cusack in “1408”, he gives a solid performance all on his own. Visually, “I Am Legend” is mostly excellent. A desolate New York City is well rendered and eerie. The monsters, on the other hand, mostly look like the work of CGI. That’s a shame because CGI wasn’t really needed for them. The story does differ from the classic novel by Richard Matheson, and while the ending isn’t a total cop-out, it is a bit disappointing. On its own merits, “I Am Legend” works pretty well and is worth checking out.

The Golden Compass ***
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ben Walker, Ian McKellan (voice), Eva Green, Jim Carter, Sam Elliott, Freddie Highmore (voice)
Director: Chris Weitz
Running Length: 1:53
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Lyra Belacqua (Richards) is an orphan. Her only living relative is Lord Asriel (Craig), a powerful and respected man. She lives at a college, and one day Ms. Coulter (Kidman) is there attending a meeting. Ms. Coulter picks Lyra to take a trip with her up north. Although excited to see the ice bears, she is reluctant to leave when her best friend Rober (Walker) is taken away by the Gobblers, a mysterious group of people stealing children. Before she leaves, the Master of Jordan College gives her an alethiometer. She is told it will reveal the truth of things to her, but she must not tell Ms. Coulter about it. When life with Ms. Coulter turns out to not be not what she expected, she runs away to look for her friend Roger. Lyra though, may be the child of the witches’ prophecy, and destined for greater things.

There is more to “The Golden Compass” than this, and it all moves pretty fast. In fact, the film could have used an extra 15-20 minutes of running time to feel less rushed. Religious undertones from the novel have all been removed, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to pull this off if the final two films in the trilogy get made. Richards is good as Lyra, bringing her sassiness and enthusiasm from page to screen successfully. Kidman is perfect as the evil Ms. Coulter. Craig has limited screen time but gets the job done as well. Aside from the running time, the other problem is the lack of an ending. The end was chopped off to give it a happier ending, and presumably the footage will show up in the next film if it gets made. Without it though, the film feels a bit incomplete. “The Golden Compass” is not a movie for everyone, and fans of the book may find themselves disappointed. Still, it is worth seeing.

August Rush **1/2
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, Leon G. Thomas III, Jamia Simone Nash, William Sadler
Director: Kirsten Sheridan
Running Length: 1:54
MPAA Classification: PG

Cellist Lyla Novacek (Russell) and rock singer Louis Connelly (Meyers) share a magical night together after just meeting, but circumstances prevent them from meeting the next day. Their paths diverge, but nine months later, Lyla gives birth to a boy. Lyla’s father (Sadler) tells Lyla the child died in childbirth and gives the child up for adoption. Twelve years later, that boy, who will go by the name August Rush (Highmore), is in an orphanage. He runs away to New York, where he discovers he has musical talent. He believes that if he can make his parents hear his music, they will find him.

“August Rush” is hokey, but harmless. It is a nice movie that will be enjoyed by many, but there is not much substance to it. If you can accept that music and fate bind these characters together, your enjoyment level will be higher. In fact, musicians will be more likely to appreciate the film and its love of music. Non-musicians may find it cheesy.

No Country For Old Men ****Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper
Directors: Joel & Ethan Coen
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

Anton Chigurh (Bardem) is a serial killer, wandering Texas and killing indiscriminately. The only thing likely to help one win an encounter with him is winning a coin toss. He is cold blooded and merciless. Moss (Brolin), a welder on a hunting trip, stumbles upon a bunch of dead bodies, a truck full of “Mexican brown” and a suitcase full of money – all that remains of a drug deal gone bad. He takes the cash and runs, but somebody else wants the money. Sheriff Bell (Jones) is the sheriff in the county where Chigurh escapes and where the drug deal went down. They are all on a collision course, and not all of them will be left standing when all is said and done.

“No Country For Old Men” is non-stop relentlessness from beginning to end. The story is great, full of twists that are not at all predictable. The acting is top notch, especially Bardem, whose Chigurh is a terrifying, remorseless killer. He is not someone you would ever want to run into. The direction by the Coen Brothers is some of the best of their careers. This film is a definite Oscar contender on many fronts, and I highly recommend it.

Enchanted ***1/2
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey
Director: Kevin Lima
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: PG

In the animated world of Andalasia, Giselle (Adams) dreams of falling in love with a prince. Fortunately, Prince Edward (Marsden) falls in love with her the moment he sees her. Of course, Edward’s evil step-mother, Queen Narissa (Sarandon) is not happy with the match, and banishes her to New York City – the real world. With the help of Nathaniel (Spall) and a talking chipmunk, Edward goes on a quest to return Giselle to their world. In the real world, Giselle is a fish-out-of-water who is rescued from wandering the streets by Robert (Dempsey), a single parent who doesn’t believe her story but is too nice to just leave her. If Edward is able to find her, she may have to decide who really is her true prince.

“Enchanted” is a great movie, capturing the spirit of Disney’s princess movies. Amy Adams is adorable as Giselle. She clearly has done her homework, and has the mannerisms down pat. She looks and acts like she just stepped out of a Disney cartoon. She is the reason that this movie is as good as it is. The rest of the cast fill their roles nicely. Marsden is good as the dopey prince, and Sarandon gets to have some fun as the evil Queen. “Enchanted” is an enjoyable film, and I highly recommend it.

The Mist ***1/2Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Toby Jones, Laurie Holden, Frances Sternhagen, Andre Braugher, Nathan Gamble, William Sadler, Alexa Davalos
Director: Frank Darabont
Running Length: 2:05
MPAA Classification: R

After a bad storm that puts a tree through his studio window, David Drayton (Jane), his son Billy (Gamble), and neighbor Brent (Braugher) head into town to get some supplies from the supermarket. Once there, the mist that they saw rolling across the lake has made it into town and engulfs the store. The terror level is upped when a man runs into the store with blood on his face, screaming that there is something out there. Indeed, there is, and soon those trapped in the store see what it is. To make matters worse, a religious fanatic by the name of Mrs. Carmody (Harden) is stirring up some of the customers with her talk of the end of the world. David finds himself looked to for guidance, and when things seem to be as bad as they can be, things get worse.

Director Frank Darabont takes another stab at a Stephen King story, this time a horror story, and succeeds quite well. Like “The Shawshank Redemprion” and “The Green Mile”, “The Mist” is a faithful adaptation of the source material, with an added on ending that may or may not work for viewers. I, for one, enjoy endings of this nature, but am not sure that it was the right ending to tack on the end of this particular story. The acting is solid all around, especially Marcia Gay Harden as the disturbing Mrs. Carmody. The film has its share of monsters, but the scariest ones are inside the store, not outside it. “The Mist” works because it is a smart thriller, directed by an excellent director. I recommend this film.

Beowulf ***Cast: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In 6th century Denmark, Kin Hrothgar’s (Hopkins) kingdom is being terrorized by the monster Grendel (Glover). The king calls for someone to come and defeat Grendel. Beowulf (Winstone) answers that call, seeking glory more than gold. On his first night there, Grendel attacks and Beowulf must deal with him. But, Grendel is not the only creature waiting to terrorize the kingdom. Grendel’s mother (Jolie) and a dragon also lie in wait.

Computer animated and only loosely following the epic poem, “Beowulf” is an entertaining feast for the eyes. I think that animation was the way to go with this story, and the images are very realistic. Voice talents of Winstone, Hopkins, Jolie, Gleeson, and Penn all fit well with the characters. Purists will probably be disappointed with the changes, but for those not familiar with the story will probably have no problems. “Beowulf” is a great example of how far CGI has come, and an excellent diversion for those craving some action.

Bee Movie ***
Cast (voices): Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Barry Levinson
Directors: Steve Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Running Length: 1:25
MPAA Classification: PG

Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld) is not a conformist like other bees. He yearns for something more, and that yearning leads him out of the hive into the world. After almost getting killed, he is saved by Vanessa (Zellweger), a human that owns a flower shop. She is surprised that Barry can talk, but then they develop a friendship. Accompanying her to the grocery store, he discovers that humans are stealing honey from bees and decides to file a lawsuit against the human race

“Bee Movie” is an odd but enjoyable film. The humor is geared more toward grown ups, but is flashy and eye catching which will appeal to kids. Also, there is no real moral to the story that is applicable to kids. Yet, somehow “Bee Movie” works. Fans of Jerry Seinfeld will not be disappointed in the humor he brings to the film. The voice talents do decent jobs bringing their characters to life. “Bee Movie” is a nice movie that will provide enjoyment for kids and adults.

P2 ***
Cast: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley
Director: Franck Khalfoun
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: R

On Christmas Eve, Angela (Nichols) is heading home after a late night. She is pretty much the last one in the building, and discovers her car won’t start. Thomas (Bentley) the parking attendant offers to help, but Angela soon realizes that he has ulterior motives. Thomas attacks her with chloroform, and when she wakes up she is in an evening dress and chained to a table. It seems that Thomas has had eyes for her for a while, and now he has her all to himself.

This movie is all Nichols and Bentley. They both give solid performances, especially Bentley. He manages to be both pathetic and creepy at the same time. The movie is tense and pretty well paced. The characters are real people and not superhuman like many movies of this type. Overall, if you are looking for a solid thriller, I recommend “P2”.

Martian Child **1/2Cast: John Cusack, Bobby Coleman, Amanda Peet, Sophie Okonedo, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt
Director: Menno Meyjes
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: PG

David (John Cusack) has never really gotten used to his wife’s death. Years later he is considering adopting a child despite his sister Liz’s (Joan Cusack) advice. His friend Sophie (Okonedo) has the perfect child for him. Dennis (Coleman) is a child who believes he is from Mars. He hides in a box during the day because the sun bothers him. He wears a “gravity belt” to keep him from floating away. Once home, David finds that it is more difficult than expected to connect with Dennis. In these tough times, doctors from the orphanage are checking in on things, and David realizes he must make a breakthrough if he wants to keep Dennis.

While “Martian Child” is a fictionalized account of author David Gerrold’s adoption of a child, one can’t help but hope that there were less sappy moments in real life. “Martian Child” is full of them, just begging the audience to shed a tear at the characters’ plight. Cusack does his usual best with what he is given here, but the script hinders him more than usual here. Sure there is a nice story here, but it seems to be buried under a layer or two of sap. This was not a bad movie, but it definitely wasn’t my thing. I recommend this to those who enjoy tear –jerker type films.

Dan in Real Life ***
Cast: Steve Carrell, Juliette Binoche, Mitch Burns, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt, Alison Pill, Brittany Robertson, Marlene Lawston
Director: Peter Hedges
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Dan Burns (Carrell) writes advice columns and fiction. After his wife died, he raised their three girls by himself. Every year, the Burns family all gather at grandma and grandpa’s (Wiest and Mahoney) house for a family reunion. While at the bookstore, Dan meets Marie (Binoche). They hit it off, but eventually Marie has to leave to meet her boyfriend. Dan heads home to meet his brother’s (Cook) girlfriend, who happens to be Marie. Now they have to be in close proximity without letting on that they met and had an attraction. The secret gets harder and harder to keep and soon Dan must figure out how to tell his brother.

“Dan in Real Life” is a nice movie. It has laughs, but isn’t hilarious. The acting is good, but not great. Carrell is good at playing likeable characters, and “Dan in Real Life” is no exception. The family dynamic in the film is probably the film’s funniest aspect. “Dan in Real Life” will be enjoyed by most, but when its all over, it really hasn’t given you a whole lot. Still, I have to recommend it because I think it accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Rendition ***Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Alan Arkin, Meryl Streep, J.K. Simmons, Omar Metwally
Director: Gavin Hood
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

Egyptian-American Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Metwally) is returning to the United States to see this wife Isabella (Witherspoon) and son. When a CIA official (Streep) receives intelligence that El-Ibrahimi may be involved with a North African terrorist attack, she orders him subjected to rendition, the policy of shipping detainees to foreign soil so they can be tortured to elicit information from them. Soon he is being interrogated in part by CIA analyst Duncan Freeman (Gyllenhaal), who comes to believe he is innocent. Meanwhile, Isabella goes to Washington to try to find her husband.

“Rendition” attempts to tackle a current issue and has mixed success. The story is compelling, but Anwar’s guilt or innocence seems pretty cut and dry. That robs the story of some of its punch. Witherspoon and Gyllenhaal, as the leads, seem to have less screen time than would be warranted for lead actors. Witherspoon has the meater role as the terrified wife, while Gyllenhaal spends a lot of time watching the actions of other characters. “Rendition” is a politically charged film that obviously takes a shot at the current administration, and those that may be turned off by that should probably look elsewhere. Overall, “Rendition” is a good movie that could have been better. While slightly disappointed with it, it is still worth seeing.

Gone Baby Gone ****
Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver, Madeline O'Brien, Edi Gathegi
Director: Ben Affleck
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

Private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Monaghan) are approached by Lionel (Welliver) and Beatrice McCready (Madigan) to look for their niece, Amanda (O’Brien), who has gone missing. They fear the police won’t be able to devote enough time towards the investigation and think Patrick and Angie would be a great help. Opposed to their help are the girl’s mother, Helene (Ryan); the police chief Jack Doyle (Freeman); and the two cops working the case, Remy Bressant (Harris) and Nick Poole (Ashton). They quickly discover some overlooked clues that put them in harm’s way as well as put them in the position of having to make some morally ambiguous decisions.

“Gone Baby Gone” is a mystery/thriller that is full of twists and turns. They can be figured out beforehand if one pays attention thanks to this well written and executed script. Solid performances all around compliment Ben Affleck’s first outing in the director’s chair. Like “Mystic River” before it (it was also based upon a novel by Dennis Lehane), the film doesn’t offer any easy answers. It forced the audience to decide for themselves if the right thing is done by the characters. This is a solid, top-notch film, and a definite contender for Best Picture when the Oscars come around. I highly recommend this film.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age ***
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish, Samantha Morton, Jordi Molla, Rhys Ifans, Adam Godley, Tom Hollander
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Running Length: 1:54
MPAA Classification: PG-13

A holy war has been declared against England’s Protestant Queen Elizabeth (Blanchett) by the Pope. Leading the charge is Spain’s King Philip II, who wants to replace her with Quenn Mary of Scotland (Morton), a Catholic who is imprisoned. On the home front, Elizabeth is being pressured to marry by her advisor, Sir Francis Walsingham (Rush). She rejects many possible husbands, but finds some interest in Sir Walter Raleigh (Owen).

“The Golden Age” is an entertaining but flawed movie. On the positive side, it is great to look at. The costumes, set design, and cinematography are gorgeous. The acting, while not as standout as in the first movie, is still impressive, especially by Cate Blanchett. On the negative side of things, the story isn’t that exciting. Historical fact is also compromised for cinematic value, but not much is added. The war with Spain comes and goes quickly, and without much excitement. “The Golden Age” is an adequate sequel, but by no means surpasses the original. It is worth checking out though.

Michael Clayton ****
Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Ken Howard
Director: Tony Gilroy
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

At the law firm of Kenner, Back & Ledeen, Michael Clayton (Clooney) is the “fixer”. He can clean up anything, no matter how messy. He hates his job, but is well paid and very good at it. Also, his personal life is a mess. He owes money and has a strained relationship with his son. Then, friend and co-worker Arthur (Wilkinson) goes off the deep end. Arthur decides to blow the lid off a major class action lawsuit against one of the firm’s biggest clients, U/North. The evidence he has is damning, and U/North’s corporate lawyer Karen Crowder (Swinton) takes steps to remove Arthur from the equation. Michael’s boss Marty (Pollack) orders him to fix the situation immediately.

“Michael Clayton” is a well told, well acted, intelligent thriller. It burns slowly, but is very satisfying. Clooney is great as the brilliant but troubled fixer. Wilkinson’s crazy Arthur steals the scenes he is in. Swinton’s performance is solid as someone in way over their head. The story comes at the viewer from different angles, fitting together in the end, but not always clear in the build up. Yes, folks…you have to think a little in this one. That’s not a bad thing though, because in the end, “Michael Clayton” is a satisfying thriller. I highly recommend it.

The Jane Austen Book Club ***
Cast: Maria Bello, Hugh Dancy, Kathy Baker, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits, Marc Blucas, Kevin Zegers, Nancy Travis
Director: Robin Swicord
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Five women and one man decide to start a book club, reading the works of Jane Austen. Bernadette (Baker), the organizer of the club, is a woman looking to add one more to her many marriages. Jocelyn (Bello) is single and happy with her dogs. Sylvia (Brenneman) is in a failing marriage to Daniel (Smits). Allegra (Grace) is their lesbian daughter. Prudie (Blunt) is unhappily married, and attracted to one of her students. Lastly, there is Grigg (Dancy), a science fiction fan who is in the club because he is interested in Jocelyn. Their lives all contain elements that echo Jane Austen’s stories, so their choice of reading is appropriate.

“The Jane Austen Book Club” is a female bonding movie that will also appeal to fans of Jane Austen. The acting is capable, but nothing outstanding. There is a little of everything relationship-wise here, and all the stories are handled pretty well. Jocelyn and Grigg’s story is probably the most appealing though. To the story’s credit, knowledge of Jane Austen isn’t necessary, but it helps. In all fairness, the title of the film is going to draw in the appropriate audience, and they will probably enjoy it.

The Kingdom ***1/2
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper, Richard Jenkins, Jeremy Piven, Ashraf Barhom
Director: Peter Berg
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: R

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a community of foreign oil workers and their families, terrorists shoot and bomb the residents. More than 100 people die, including some FBI agents. In the US, Ronald Fleury (Foxx) gets his forensic team ready for an investigation. They consist of: Janey Mayes (Garner, a pathologist; Adam Leavitt (Bateman), a computer expert; and Grand Sykes (Cooper), an explosives expert. His team is allowed into Saudi Arabia, but they have to be watched by police-colonel Al-Ghazi (Barhom). Of course, he is more intent on keeping the peace than getting to the bottom of things, and as Fleury and his team get closer to the answers they are looking for, things begin to spiral out of control.

“The Kingdom” is an excellent movie that is both intelligent and suspenseful. It is well acted all around, and especially by Jason Bateman. He has the meatiest role, and gives a strong dramatic performance. He also gets the best one-liners. The story and direction are top notch. The movie is tense and urgent, pulling the viewer in with ease. I highly recommend this film.

Resident Evil: Extinction **1/2
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, Ashanti
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: R

Since the last “Resident Evil” movie, the zombie-making virus has spread across the entire planet. The world is a wasteland, but the Umbrella Corporation still exists underground. Alice (Jovovich) teams up with a group of survivors, led by Claire (Larter), who are heading to Alaska. Rumor has it that the infection hasn’t reached there yet. Soon, the Umbrella Corporation is targeting Alice and messing up the group’s plans.

“Resident Evil 3” is better than “2”, but not as good as the original. This time around, things seem more tame, with less blood and gore. That will upset some die hard fans. There is plenty of action though. Milla Jovovich seems to be enjoying herself as alice, and although she has said that this is the last film in the series, the ending opens up infinite possible sequels. This film is for fans of the series only.

In the Valley of Elah ***Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, James Franco, Barry Corbin, Josh Brolin
Director: Paul Haggis
Running Length: 2:04
MPAA Classification: R

After returning from Iraq, soldier Mike Deerfield goes AWOL. His dad Hank (Jones), a retired officer, is given a courtesy call. Mike will be reported missing if he doesn’t return in a few days. Hank decides to head to the base and do some looking for his son. Once there, he quickly hooks up with Emily Sanders (Theron), a civilian cop. When Mike’s charred corpse is discovered, Hank must figure out who is behind the grizzly murder and what caused it to happen.

Tommy Lee Jones gives a strong performance in a movie that is above average, but not great. It cover no new ground, showing the audience that war changes people, and not for the good. Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon both give credible performances but are underused. This is Jones’s movie to carry, and while the story takes some interesting twists, the ending will have many viewers rolling their eyes as they are beat to death with symbolism. Still, “In the Valley of Elah” is better than most movies out there and worth checking out.

The Brave One ***Cast: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveeen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen, Nicky Katt
Director: Neil Jordan
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

New York City talk show host Erica (Foster) is on the brink of marrying David (Andrews). She is very happy. Then one night, they are attacked. David dies and Erica lives. Unfortunately, she is an emotional wreck. Just getting the courage to leave her apartment is a challenge. Once out, she buys a gun – for protection and revenge. When a few dead bodies start showing up, Detectives Mercer (Howard) and Vitale (Katt) are at a loss to what kind of a person they are dealing with. Erica’s friend ship with Mercer complicates things for her as well. As the police close in on her, Erica must decide of revenge is really worth it.

“The Brave One” is an interesting movie that doesn’t provide any easy answers. Jodie Foster gives an excellent performance as a character who is both vengeful and sympathetic. Howard and Katt are both good in supporting roles as the detectives. “The Brave One” is the type of movie to provoke a discussion on what is right, and by giving no real answer it makes itself more interesting. This is not a movie for everyone, but it is worth seeing.

3:10 to Yuma ***1/2Cast: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Peter Fonda, Ben Foster, Logan Lerman, Gretchen Mol
Director: James Mangold
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

Dan Evans (Bale) needs money to save his ranch. Forclosure is on the horizon, and he is short on money. Being a former sharpshooter in the Civil War makes him a good addition to the group escorting outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to the train station. There Wade will catch the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison, and a hanging. The journey is full of troubles, not the least of which is the fact that Wade’s gang is in pursuit, led by Charlie Prince (Foster), Prince is Wade’s right hand man, any wants nothing more than to see Wade set free.

This movie is all Crowe and Bale. They give great performances, and are the reason to see “3:10 to Yuma”. Crowe in particular bounces back and forth between charming and nasty, yet creates a character that is likeable in his own way. The supporting case, including Peter Fonda and Ben Foster solidly support the leads as well. Action-wise, there is enough to satisfy and both suspenseful and, at times, violent. The ending is satisfying and feels right, given what has gone before. I highly recommend “3:10 to Yuma”.

Balls of Fury **Cast: Dan Fogler, Christophen Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, James Hong
Director: Ben Garant
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

After being humiliated in ping pong in the 1988 Olympics, Randy Dayton (Fogler) becomes a lounge act in Reno, showing off his skills to uninterested audiences. A government agent (Lopez) recruits Randy to go undercover at a ping pong tournament hosted by believed criminal Feng (Walken). To hone his rusty skills, they enlist the help of Wong (Hong) and his niece Maggie (Q). At the tournament, Daytona finds himself over his head in a contest that is truly sudden death.

“Balls of Fury” is an amusing, but not hilarious film. Fogler, a poor man’s Jack Black, lacks the charisma to me a lead actor. Walken, although funny and odd, does not get enough screen time. Hong is consistently funny in his scenes though, and that helps. In the end, “Balls of Fury” misfires more than not, and ends up being less than it could have been. If you must see it, wait until DVD.

Halloween **1/2Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, William Forsythe, Scout Taylor-Compton, Danielle Harris
Director: Rob Zombie
Running Length: 1:49
MPAA Classification: R

Michael Myers (Faerch) is a kid destined for trouble. His mom (Zombie) and her boyfriend (Forsythe) are terrible parent figures. Pushed to the brink, he eventually snaps. One Halloween, he dons a mask and attacks a school bully. Then he heads home to kill his family. The only survivors are his mother and infant sister Laurie. Michael is committed to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis (McDowell). Loomis eventually realizes he is dealing with pure evil in Michael. Fifteen years later, on Halloween, Michael (Man) escapes from the sanitarium and heads home to Haddonfield to find his sister, and finish the job he started years before.

“Halloween” does some things really well, and some things really poorly. The result is an average movie that in no way eclipses the original. The good includes Tyler Mane as the grown up Michael. Finally played by an actual actor, Michael is menacing and really scary. It’s also nice to see familiar scenes from the original. That, along with the original’s music makes the film feel close to the original at times. Unfortunately, with 45 minutes devoted to backstory that took about 10 minutes in the original, the meat of the story feels compressed and rushed. There is no building up to the final showdown. It feels like the movie is one continuous murder after the other. Lastly, the ending is terrible, without any of the creepiness of the original. Yes, it has been changed, and not for the better. Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” is an interesting take on the original, but is deeply flawed. If you want to see a great “Halloween”, go rent the original directed by John Carpenter.

Becoming Jane ***Cast: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith, Joe Anderson, Anna Maxwell Martin
Director: Julian Jarrold
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: PG

In 1796, a young Jane Austen (Hathaway) meets Tom Lefroy (McAvoy). He has no money and depends on his uncle to support him. After initial dislike, they fall in love. Jane’s mom (Walters) is not pleased, as she wants Jane to marry someone rich, like Lady Gresham’s (Smith) nephew). Jane’s father (Cromwell) wants her to follow her heart. While this relationship develops, Jane also follows her other passion: writing. And her writing will mirror her life.

“Becoming Jane” is a fictionalized account of an unknown time in h the life of Jane Austen. Much like “Shakespeare in Love” took liberties with the facts, so does “Becoming Jane”. Of course “Becoming Jane” is less successful, The acting is ok…no Oscar contenders here. Hathaway and McAvoy are engaging, but not spectacular. Jane Austen fans will enjoy the film and its references to her works. Those who enjoy love stories will also be somewhat satisfied. “Becoming Jane” isn’t for everyone, but it is worth checking

Superbad ***Cast: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac, Aviva
Director: Greg Mottola
Running Length: 1:53
MPAA Classification: R

Evan (Cera) is a average shy high schooler. Seth (Hill) is loud and obnoxious. Fogell (Mintz-Plasse) is a big nerd. Together, they have a chance to impress the girls at a high school party by supplying alcohol. Evan is interested in Becca (MacIsaac), Seth likes Jules (Stone), and Fogell wants Nicola (Aviva). Of course nothing goes smoothly, and soon they are dealing with Officers Slater (Hader) and Michaels (Rogan), who aren’t very competent and want to hang with Fogell, who is going by the name McLuvin on his new fake ID.

“Superbad” is a very funny movie. The dialogue is profane and very R-rated, but clever as well. It is like an even funnier version of “American Pie”. The three leads are all believable as high schoolers on the brink of college. The camaraderie is genuine, and you can tell that they had a blast making this movie. Produced by Judd Apatow (director “Knocked Up”’) and written by Rogan and Evan Goldberg, it is clear that they know their subject matter, and know how to make it funny. Apatow and Rogan seem to be the voices of comedy these days, and “Superbad” is a prime example. I recommend this film.

Stardust ***
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Peter O'Toole, Mark Strong, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Evertt
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Tristan (Cox) loves Victoria (Miller). He would do anything for her, so when she asks him to retrieve a fallen star, he sets out across a magical wall and enters the realm of Stormhold. To his surprise, the star is actually a woman named Yvaine (Danes). She isn’t happy to be on the earth, and does not want to go with Tristan. He makes a deal with her to help her find a way back into the heavens if she just comes with him back to Victoria. Meanwhile, the witch Lamia (Pfeiffer) is looking for Yvaine as well. She wants to cut out the star’s heart to gain eternal life. Finally, Septimus (Strong) needs Yvaine’s necklace to claim the throne. Eventually, all will meet in a battle that will have consequences for the land of Stormhold.

“Stardust” is very much an adult fairy tale. Dark at times, and filled with adult humor, most kids will not like it. The cast, especially Danes, does an excellent job. The only two sticking points for “Stardust” are the running time (it runs 5-10 minutes longer than it needs to) and special effects (a little on the cheap looking side). But those are small quibbles for what is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. It’s not a classic, but it is done well, and for that I recommend it.

The Bourne Ultimatum ***1/2
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Director: Paul Greengrass
Running Length: 1:51
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Jason Bourne (Damon) is still searching for his true identity, and is once again becoming a thorn in the side of the CIA. Noah Vosen (Strathairn), head of black ops targets him for elimination, and soon he is on the run again. This time around agents Pamela Landy (Allen) and Nicky Parsons (Stiles) are on his side, offering their assistance to stop the darker aspects of the CIA as well as help him find himself.

“The Bourne Ultimatum” is an excellent action movie, and a fitting end(?) to the Bourne trilogy. The best of the three and the best threequel of the summer, “Bourne” is nonstop action with a smart story. Matt Damon falls back into Bourne’s shoes easily, and the supporting cast is once again top notch. The “Bourne” series has delivered top notch stories and action from the beginning, and it would be a shame if it didn’t continue beyond this point. This is one of the best action trilogies ever made. I highly recommend this film.

The Simpsons Movie ***1/2

Cast (voices): Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harrry Shearer, Hank Azaria
Director: David Silverman
Running Length: 1:27
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Homer’s (Castellaneta) new pet pig is producing a large amount of waste, and when Homer dumps that waste into Lake Springfield, the toxicity threatens the environment. The government decides to quarantine the city. The Simpsons are able to escape Springfield and their rioting citizens, and head to Alaska to start fresh. Soon, word reaches then that the government has far sinister plans for Springfield, and the family heads back to try to save their home.

18 years in the making, the Simpsons finally come to the big screen, and “The Simpsons Movie” does not disappoint. Written by 11 of the show’s best writers, the story is movie worthy, and not just three episodes cobbled together. Many secondary characters are present as well to please hardcore fans of the show. The animation is bigger, crisper, and brighter. They have gone out of their way to make this movie theater-worthy, and they have succeeded. Fans will not be disappointed, and non-fans will be able to follow the story. Hopefully, the next film will not take 18 years to hit theaters.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry *1/2
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi
Director: Dennis Dugan
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

When Larry (James) has his insurance for his kids lapse, he needs to figure something out so they will be taken care of if anything happens to him. After all, he is a firefighter, and that is a dangerous profession. He enlists fellow firefighter Chuck (Sandler) to help him with his plan. They will pretend to be gay and get married so that they can reap the benefits of a domestic partnership. The government is suspicious, and sends an investigator by the name of Clinton Fitzer (Buscemi) to look into the matter. Chuck and Larry get a lawyer of their own, Alex McDonough (Biel). Of course, Chuck is immediately interested in her, and that may prove to be a problem with their plan.

There really is only one problem with “Chuck and Larry”, although it’s a big one: the movie is not funny. Sandler and James are going through the motions in what could be a funny premise, but more often than not, the humor falls flat. Aykroyd and Buscemi are painful to watch, and ff that isn’t bad enough, the movie becomes preachy as it draws to a end, an ending that is a ridiculous solution to the problem at hand. I cannot recommend this film at all.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ****
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Katie Leung, Evanna Lynch, Bonnie Wright
Director: David Yates
Running Length: 2:15
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Before year five at Hogwarts can even begin, Harry (Radclife) and his cousin Dudley are attacked by dementors in the muggle world. Soon Harry finds himself on trial for having used magical powers to save himself and his cousin. Voldemort’s (Fiennes) presence is felt everywhere. The Ministry of Magic denies he is alive. Those at Hogwarts, specifically the Order of the Phoenix, know better. To stop the truth from getting out, the Ministry sends Dolores Umbridge (Staunton) to Hogwarts. She gradually begins to seize power, punishing those students and teacher who dare to challenge her. Meanwhile, Harry is having visions and teaching his classmates himself to prepare them for an inevitable showdown.

Gone are the lighter days of “Harry Potter” 1 & 2. “Order of the Phoenix” is firmly traveling down the dark road that will end two movies in the future. The movies have grown up, and that is very welcome. Each is better than the one before, and “Order of the Phoenix” is no exception. The actors could play their characters in their sleep at this point, and returning to the wizard world is like visiting old friends. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have all become the beloved characters at this point, and the supporting cast has accomplished the same with less screen time. David Yates brings yet another voice to the director’s chair, and pulls it off despite limited motion picture experience. “Order of the Phoenix” is another fine film in what is probably one of the most significant movie franchises ever. I highly recommend this film.

Transformers ***1/2
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Anthony Andersen, Jon Voight, John Turturro
Director: Michael Bay
Running Length: 2:15
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Sam Witwicky (LeBeouf) has graduated from school, and his dad decides to buy him a car. That car turns out to be a robot named Bumblebee, who is searching for Sam’s grandfather’s glasses. The glasses contain a clue to where the Allspark, the Transformers’ cube of power that allows the creation of life, is. Bumblebee is one of the good guys, and soon he is fighting off the evil Decepticons, who want to use this cube to take over the Earth. Led by Optimus Prime (Cullen), the Autobots must fight off the Decepticons and save the Earth with the help of Sam and his girlfriend (Fox).

“Transformers” is based on the 20 year old toy line. I loved Transformers as a kid, and the thought of a movie intrigued me. The thought of Michael Bay directing terrified me. But I was hopeful. Fortunately, “Transformers” turned out to be a pretty faithful adaptation of the toy line and cartoon from the 1980s. Michael Bay, a terrible director for the most part, is well suited for the shoot ‘em up, special effects heavy movie. This is easily his best film. “Transformers” delivers the action and effects, but most surprisingly, it is funny. It is absolutely great to hear the voice of Peter Cullen coming out of Optimus Prime. (He voiced him in the cartoon series). Shia LaBeouf continues his climb up the ladder of stardom by giving a good performance in a movie that executive producer Steven Speilberg says is just about “a boy and his car”. “Transformers” is one of the bigger surprises of the year, and is a film that can be enjoyed by all. If you are looking for a great summer popcorn flick, I highly recommend “Transformers”.

The 15 Best Movies I Saw in the First Half of 2007
1. The Queen **** (from 2006)
2. Babel **** (from 2006)
3. Zodiac ***1/2
4. Notes on a Scandal ***1/2 (from 2006)
5. 1408 ***1/2
6. 300 ***1/2
7. Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) ***1/2 (from 2006)
8. The Last King of Scotland ***1/2 (from 2006)
9. Knocked Up ***1/2
10. Ocean's Thirteen ***1/2
11. Live Free or Die Hard ***1/2
12. Spider-Man 3 ***1/2
13. Ratatouille ***1/2
14. Grindhouse ***1/2
15. Vacancy ***1/2

Ratatouille ***1/2
Cast (voices): Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo
Director: Brad Bird
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: G

Remy (Oswalt) is a rat who wants to be a chef. He has refined senses and refuses to eat the garbage that other rats eat. They use him as a “poison detector”, a job which he despises. One day, he meets Linguini (Romono), a janitor at Gusteau’s, a famous Paris restaurant. Hiding under his hat, Remi can manipulate Linguini into creating amazing dishes. Soon, everyone is talking about this new chef, but the chef whose position he has usurped (Holm) wants revenge. Renowned food critic Anton Ego (O’Toole) is also reviewing the restaurant, and Remi and Linguini may be in over their heads.

“Ratatouille” is the latest in the string of great movies from Pixar. It’s a notch below last year’s “Cars”, but still better than the majority of animated movies that have come out in the last decade. The humor works on two levels as has become Pixar’s standard. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this film. The voice talents are mostly lesser names, and that works fine; they all suit their characters. “Ratatouille” is a great film that young and old can enjoy together.

Live Free or Die Hard ***1/2
Cast: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Kevin Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Director: Len Wiseman
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG-13

When cyberterrorist Thomas Gabriel (Olyphant) begins to take down America’s computer systems, John McClane (Willis) gets the call from his superiors to pick up programmer Matt Farrell (Long). Farrell has some idea of what Gabriel has done, and all of Farrell’s colleagues have been killed. Farrell is the last hope to stop Gabriel. Of course, McClane is not the only one out to find him. Gabriel’s goons are looking to finish him off before he can be of any help to the authorities. McClane foils their plans repeatedly, and as Farrell gets closer to shutting Gabriel down, Gabriel kidnaps McClane’s daughter Lucy (Winstead) to use as leverage. Of course, putting McClane’s family members in danger has never really worked well for terrorists before.

After twelve years, John McClane is back. He is a older and a bit more hardened, but it is good to see him again. I forgot how much I liked the “Die Hard” movies, and seeing McClane again was like seeing an old friend. Bruce Willis still seems at home playing him, and I have a feeling that this movie will breathe new life into the franchise. Olyphant is good as the bad guy, and Long gets the job done as the sidekick, although he may have a hard time living down those Mac commercials. The story is scary enough to make you worry it could happen, but over the top enough to just be a bit too ridiculous. All in all it is good fun though. Those worring about the PG-13 rating watering down this R-rated franchise should not worry. Nothing is lost. I highly recommend this film as one of the best action movies of the summer.

1408 ***1/2
Cast: John Cusack, Mary McCormack, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Mikael Håfström
Running Length: 1:34
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Mike Enslin (Cusack) makes his living by writing about haunted houses. He is a skeptic, and his writings chronicle the lack of ghosts in these haunted places. Next on his agenda is room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York. The room is a prime prospect for him. The hotel has been around for almost 100 years and 56 people have died in the room. The manager of the hotel (Jackson) strongly advises Enslin not to go into the room, but Enslin persists and soon finds himself in 1408 for the night. Soon, he finds that he may have made a mistake, but my then the room will not let him go.

“1408” is probably the best horror movie I have seen in a while. It is even proof that a good horror movie can be made with a PG-13 rating. This is all due to then fine acting provided by John Cusack, who must carry the movie all by himself for the majority of the film’s running time. Jackson is good in his small role as the hotel’s manager, but this is Cusack’s movie. Based on the short story by Stephen King, this film is easily one of the best based on King’s work. I highly recommend this film.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ***
Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chilkis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Laurence Fishburne (voice), Doug Jones
Director: Tim Story
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: PG

Reed Richards (Gruffud) and Sue Storm (Alba) are getting married, or at least trying to. Extraterrestrial intervention, in the form of the Silver Surfer (Jones, voice of Fishburne), stops the wedding and threatens the very existence of the Earth. The Surfer’s arrival also awakens Dr. Doom (McMahon), and soon he is helping the Fantastic Four to stop the Surfer, although he has plans of his own. When the Surfer’s master, Galactus, arrives, the Fantastic Four must fight Doom, convince the Surfer that they deserve to live, and stop Galactus from eating the planet.

The Fantastic Four are a more light hearted superheroes than the X-Men or Batman, but that is not a bad thing. Like the first movie, this one is child friendly and entertaining in a lighter way. The gang from the first movie are all back for a second go at things, and they seem more comfortable in their roles. The Surfer is a cool looking character that is more than he seems, and the action is a little more impressive this time around. “Rise” does enough things right that the mistakes are easier to take. The exception might be the anti-climactic ending, but I don’t know how that could have been handled differently. All in all, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” is an entertaining addition to the Marvel movie world.

Ocean’s Thirteen ***1/2
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Carl Reiner, Eddie Izzard, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Danny Ocean (Clooney) and his gang are back, this time to get revenge against Willie Bank (Pacino). Bank has screwed over Reuben Tishkoff (Gould), and taken his land and money to build a new casino, causing Reuben to have a heart attack. The gang, led by Ocean, Rusty Ryan (Pitt), and Linus Caldwell (Damon), decide to put the new casino deep into the red and steal Bank’s diamonds.

“Ocean’s 13” is a vast improvement over “12” and on par with “11”, if not a little better. The cast know their characters so well by this point and have a great chemistry. You know that they had fun making this movie, and it shows. The action is minimum, but interest is sustained through following their plan as it comes to fruition. There are some twists, but nothing earth-shattering. Mostly, this is a chance to see good actors doing their thing. Fans of this series will not be disappointed, and although director Steven Soderbergh says this is the last one, I can’t help but hope that he changes his mind.

Knocked Up ***1/2
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr
Director: Judd Apatow
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: R

Alison Scott (Heigl) is an up-and-comer who has just received a promotion at the E! Entertainment network, and will now be doing on-air interviews. Ben Stone (Rogan) is a slacker who watches movies for nude scenes so he can post the info on a Mr. Skin-type website he and his buddies are creating. He also likes to smoke pot and just hang out. Alison’s and Ben’s paths cross on the night of her promotion, and after a few drinks have a one night stand. Two months later, their misunderstanding they had about condom use, comes back to haunt them as Alison discovers she is pregnant. Ben and Alison decide to give it a shot and get to know each other, since either way, their lives are now entwined.

Director Judd Apatow’s follow up to “The 40-Year Old Virgin” shows that he is a gifter writer and director. “Knocked Up” has all the charm of his first film, and is excellent. Heigl and Rogan are a cute couple, and have great chemistry. Rogan is hilarious as usual, and this could very well be a breakout role for him. The rest of the cast is pulled from Apatow’s previous works “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared”. His wife and kids are even in the film, and it is obvious these people all enjoy working together. “Knocked Up” is a rare movie that will satisfy both men and women. I highly recommend this film. It is probably the funniest movie out there since “The 40-Year Old Virgin”, and well worth your time.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End **1/2
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Chow Yun-Fat, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin R. McNally, Tom Hollander, Naomie Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook
Director: Gore Verbinski
Running Length: 2:48
MPAA Classification: PG-13

At the end of “Dead Man’s Chest”, the pirates resolved to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) from Davy Jones’ Locker. Wih the help of Captain Sao Feng (Yun-Fat), Will Turner (Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Knightley), and the newly resurrected Captain Barbossa (Rush) travel to the Locker to retrieve Jack so they can attend a meeting of the Nine Lords of the Bretheren to come up with a plan to fight Davy Jones (Nighy) and Lord Cutler Beckett (Hollander), who control the seas.

“At World’s End” feels just like “Dead Man’s Chest” (makes sense since they were filmed together) which felt just like “Curse of the Black Pearl”. What was fresh and new isn’t anymore. The biggest difference between all these movies, is that “At World’s End” is the longest. In fact, it is way too long, and that hurts the film immensely. The charm of Jack Sparrow is beginning to wear thin, and a break from this franchise would probably help in the long run. Completists will want to see the third adventure of these pirates, but “At World’s End” is disappointing, and that is a shame for a series that started out as something new and fresh.

Shrek the Third **1/2
Cast (voices): Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Rupert Evert, Justin Timberlake, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Eric Idle
Directors: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Running Length: 1:33
MPAA Classification: PG

King Harold (Cleese) is dying, and names Shrek (Myers) as his heir. Shrek wants none of that, and sets out to find Arthur (Timberlake). Aided by Donkey (Murphy) and Puss ‘n Boots (Banderas), he finds Arthur only to discover he is a bit of a loser. Meanwhile, back in Far Far Away, Prince Charming (Evert) stages a coup, imprisioning Fiona (Diaz), Queen Lillian (Andrews), Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and others. Shrek has his work cut out for him.

“Shrek the Third” is move of the same. There is nothing remotely new about this installment of the franchise. It exists only to make money, and will make a lot of it. But, the story feels tired this time around. Sure, it is good to see the familiar characters once again, but they give us nothing new. Adults may be bored, but children will probably love it (my nephew did). I really cannot recommend this film though.

Hot Fuzz ***1/2
Cast: Simon Pegg, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Nick Frost
Director: Edgar Wright
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is a perfect cop. So go that he has been transferred from London to the town of Sandford. He is making them look bad, and they want him out of their hair. Upon arrival, he brings big city justice to the small town, until his superior, Inspector Frank Butterman (Broadbent) encourages him to relax a bit. Angel is partnered with the inspector’s son, Danny (Frost), an enthusiastic cop who isn’t really that good. He is fascinated with Angel and the stories he shares. A sudden rash of deaths in Sandford are put off by the inspector as accidents, but Angel fears something more is happening, and feels that Simon Skinner (Dalton), the local grocery store owner, is behind it. Angel must get to the bottom of what is going on in Sandford, and find out if Skinner really is the bad guy.

“Hot Fuzz” is an excellent and very funny movie. Pegg and Frost are hilarious together, playing off each other with ease. There is a long setup that pays off with a final 30 minutes packed with action. “Hot Fuzz” lampoons the action genre with great skill, and unlike most action movies, there is real character development that makes us care for the duo at the heart of the movie. Dalton, as the apparent bad guy, seems to be savoring every moment of his screen time. He is delightfully evil, and about as far from his James Bond days as he has ever been. The supporting cast is also excellent. The only drawback is that the movie runs a little too long. Still, those looking for a smart, funny action-comedy will not be disappointed with “Hot Fuzz”.

Spider-Man 3 ***1/2
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, James Cromwell
Director: Sam Raimi
Running Length: 2:20
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Things are great for Peter Parker (Maguire). Everybody loves Spider-Man and Mary Jane (Dunst) is starring in a Broadway musical. The only negative is Harry (Franco), who is still angry over the death of his father, and holds Peter responsible. He has found his father’s hidden supply of weapons and is ready to make Peter’s life hell. Meanwhile, Flint Marko (Church) has escaped prison, and while fleeing gets caught in an experiment that turns him into the Sandman. Finally, a parasitic creature from space has infected Spider-Man’s suit, giving him stronger powers and making him more aggressive. Spider-Man must fight enemies both external and internal to save New York and his beloved Mary Jane.

While better than the original “Spider-Man”, “3” is falls short of the greatness of “2”. That was somewhat expected, I think, as “2” did everything right and would be almost impossible to top. “3” has two main problems. The first is length. It is too long, but ironically with all the story crammed in there it almost feels rushed at times. Given what happens in the film, I don’t know what could have been trimmed. This rushed storytelling results in the poor development of Venom. Even unrushed, there are a number of coincidences that have to be accepted to allow for his development, but rushed they really feel forced and unnatural at times. The good news is that the action and resolution of continuing storylines makes the film quite enjoyable. The actors know their characters inside and out, and it is hard to imagine anyone else in these roles after all these years.

“3” isn’t the best of the lot, but it does allow the series to go out on a high note. Or at least it lets these actors go out well. There will certainly be more movies, regardless of Sam Raimi and the cast’s involvement, that is sure. “Spider-Man 3” is a great summer action film, and highly enjoyable despite its flaws. I recommend seeing this film.

Next **1/2
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann
Director: Lee Tamahori
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Cris Johnson (Cage) can see two minutes into his future. It helps him avoid things he wants to avoid, and excel in things he wants to excel in. His gift also lets him look more than two minutes ahead into the life of Liz (Biel), a woman he has never met. While he is searching her out, FBI agent Callie Ferris (Moore) is tracking him. She knows what he can do, and needs his help to stop a nuclear bomb from destroying Los Angeles.

“Next” could have been so much better. In fact, for the most part, it is better. The twist in the last ten minutes of the film and the abrupt ending thereafter works to undermine all the good stuff that has gone on before. In fact, without those last ten minutes, this probably would have been a 3 ½ star review. People generally like or hate Nicholas Cage, with little grey area. I fall into the former category, and appreciate his off the wall take on most characters he plays. He is good as Cris, a man haunted by what could happen. Jessica Biel is adequate as the love interest, and Julianne Moore gives her usual good performance. The problem with the movie is its attempt to be clever at the end. While not cheating, it establishes the character of Liz as a mere plot device and robs the audience of a satisfying colclusion. I recommend waiting for DVD to see “Next”.

The Invisible **
Cast: Justin Chatwin, Margarita Levieva, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Marquette
Director: David S. Goyer
Running Length: 1:37
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Nick Powell (Chatwin) is a mopey rich kid. He is moderately popular, and probably less cool than he thinks he is. Still, he leads a pretty good life, even if he feels that he is not taken seriously. One day, he gets on the bad side of Annie Newton (Levieva), a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who is nothing but trouble. Nick gets beaten badly by her thugs, and finds himself invisible to the world, on the brink of death. He has to somehow find a way to have his body found so that he can be saved.

Forget anything you have seen in trailers for this film. They are outright misleading. He is not dead, and more importantly, there is no mystery. Instead, an idea that could have been handled better is badly handled. The film ends up as a depressing mess. The leads are unremarkable, which is a problem with the story in the direction it takes. I was very disappointed with this film, but give it two start because it did manage to do some things right. I think in a better director’s hands, this could have worked a lot better.

Vacancy ***1/2
Cast: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry
Director: Nimrod Atal
Running Length: 1:22
MPAA Classification: R

While driving home, David Fox (Wilson) swerves to avoid a raccoon. The car is damaged, and he and his soon to be ex-wife Amy (Beckinsale) must stay at the only motel around to wait for the local garage to open the next day. The desk manager (Whaley) is Norman Bates-creepy, and the room leaves much to be desired. Putting a videotape into the VCR in the room, David and Amy are treated to home made snuff films that were made in their hotel room. Soon, masked men are banging on their door, and David and Amy are in for the night of their lives.

At 82 minutes, “Vacancy” is lean and mean. It a tense ride, that does not let up. Wilson and Beckinsale are great as the “any person” couple whose marriage is on the rocks. It is good to see bigger names in a horror movie, and they get the job done soundly. Whaley is excellent as one of the creepiest characters to ever inhabit a horror movie. I would definitely find another place to stay if he was working the front desk at a place I wanted to stay at. This is an above average horror movie that relies more on tension and creepiness than on blood and gore. I think that both fans of the genre and non-fans would enjoy this film. I highly recommend this film.

Fracture ***
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz, Billy Burke
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

Ted Crawford (Hopkins) shoots his wife Jennifer (Davidtz) in the face. He loves her, but knows that she is having an affair, and cannot allow that to continue. She is in a coma, and he is arrested. But, Crawford has planned ahead, and what looks like an open and shut case – there is a confession and a weapon – is not. Assistant D. A. Willy Beachum (Gosling) is a hot shot who is not used to losing and is on the brink of a new job. He takes the case, and soon finds he may be in over his head as the case falls apart around him.

“Fracture” is an entertaining and engaging film. 95% of that is due to Hopkins and Gosling who both bring their A game. Hopkins’s Crawford is cold and calculating, Gosling’s Beachum is arrogant and cocky, and yet both characters are likeable in their own way. The plan to beat the charge is clever, and there is no real sense of how everything will turn out until the final few minutes. “Fracture” is an enjoyable thriller that succeeds due to the talent of the lead actors. I recommend it.

Disturbia ***
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo, Carrie-Anne Moss
Director: D. J. Caruso
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Kale (LaBeouf) is a troubled kid wo, a year after his father’s untimely death, is in court for punching his Spanish teacher. This is not his first bit of trouble, and the judge sentences him to three months under house arrest. He must wear an ankle bracelet that will alert authorities if he is farther away than 100 feet from the signal box. His mother (Moss) cancels his online subscriptions, and all Kale has to do is stare out of his bedroom window. He watches his neighbors’ lives unfold before him. The most interesting are Ashley (Roemer), the new neighbor girl and Mr. Turner (Morse), a man whose care looks like the one reported to have been involved in a kidnapping.

Sure, “Disturbia” is just “Rear Window” for teens. But, it is also a well made, tense thriller. It falters a little at the end when it veers away from the “Rear Window” storyline, but that is to be expected. Shia LaBeouf does a good job as leading man. Get used to seeing him, he will be leading the cast of “Transformers” and also star in “Indiana Jones 4”. David Morse is at his creepy best. Mr. Turner is a sleaze from his first appearance to his last, and as quite memorable. “Disturbia” succeeds as a modernizing of a classic. It is not up to the caliber of “Rear Window”, but it does not disappoint either. I recommend it.

TMNT ***
Cast (voices): Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Patrick Stewart
Director: Kevin Munroe
Running Length: 1:27
MPAA Classification: PG

Leonardo is in South America learning to be a better leader. Raphael and the others are still in Manhattan, but he is distant from Donatello and Michelangelo. He is spending his nights as the Nightwatcher, a superhero who is protecting the city. Soon, strange things start happening, and April O’Neil, friend of the turtles, tries to get them back together to fight this new menace.

Using the live action movies from the 90’s as a vague history, this CGI film jumps right into the story and doesn’t let up until the end. This is my first turtles movie, but I have to think that CGI treats them better than the live action movies did. There are no limits to the fight scenes and camera angles as they bound across the city. “TMNT” was surprisingly good and entertaining. Kids and action fans will not be disappointed.

Grindhouse ***1/2
Cast: Planet Terror: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Bruce Willis, Michael Biehn, Naveen Andrews, Michael Parks; Death Proof: Kurt Rusell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Rose McGowan, Zoe Bell, Tracie Thoms, Kelley Robins
Directors: Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror, trailer: Machete); Quentin Tarantino (Death Proof); Eli Roth (trailer: Thanksgiving); Edgar Wright (trailer: Don't Scream); Rob Zombie (trailer: Werewolf Women of the S.S.)
Running Length: 3:10
MPAA Classification: R

“Grindhouse” is a double feature, paying homage to exploitation films of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Those movies were poorly made, but loved by many and a bit of a guilty pleasure.

“Planet Terror”, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is an end of the world-zombie movie. Cherry (McGowan) has her leg bitten off by zombies and ends up with a machine gun prosthetic. Aided by Wray (Rodriguez), Dakota (Shelton), and a ragtag group of others, they try to get out of town and hopefully to a safe place where there are no zombies.

“Death Proof”, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is a killer movie with Kurt Russell playing stuntman Mike. He likes to pick women up at bars and take them for the ride of their lives. One day, he picks the wrong women to go after, and is in for the surprise of his life.

“Grindhouse” works because it is an homage. If these movies were marked for today’s audiences, they would be destroyed by the critics. Knowing that the directors are in on the joke makes “Grindhouse” a unique and fun experience. Both movies have their strong points and weaknesses, so I have a hard time choosing a favorite. I would just suggest seeing them together, as some theaters have begun to show them separately. This is probably not the best film from either Tarantino or Rodriguez, but I think that it is easily the most fun.

Meet the Robinsons **1/2
Cast (voices): Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Angela Bassett, Stephen J. Anderson, Harland Williams, Adam West, Nicole Sullivan, Tom Selleck
Director: Stephen J. Anderson
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: G

Lewis is an orphan who enjoys inventing things. Some of them work, but most of them do not. For a science fair, he invents a device to pull memories out of the cerebral cortex and display them on a video screen. On the day of the science fair, the “Bowler Hat Guy” show up and steals it. Soon, Wilbur Anderson appears, claiming to be from the future. He grabs Lewis and takes him 25 years into the future. There, in the future, they must try to stop “Bowler Hat Guy” from destroying the future. Along the way, Lewis discovers what having a family, specifically the Robinsons, means.

“Meet the Robinsons” is an average Disney movie, although on the upper side of average. The animation is not up to Pixar standards, but it does get the job done. The voice talents are adequate, with no major names in the main roles. This serves the movie well for adults, as there is no disconnect between voice and character. Kids will probably enjoy it thoroughly with its bright colors and nice story about family. Adults may be a little bored as the film is geared more toward the younger audience. Or maybe Disney is not up to crafting stories like Pixar can. Either way, it is an entertaining diversion until Pixar takes up the reins again on computer animated films from Disney.

Blades of Glory **1/2
Cast: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, William Fichtner, Craig T. Nelson
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) are professional ice skaters. They are exact opposites and bitter rivals. Chazz is the bad boy who does things on his own. Jimmy is graceful but without passion. When they tie for a gold medal, the resulting brawl ends up with them being banned for life from the men’s competition. Jimmy’s coach then gets an idea: put them together and enter them in the pairs competition. They would be able to do moves that a man and a woman together never could. They could be unstoppable. The only obstacle in their path is the team of Stranz (Arnett) and Fairchild (Poehler) Van Waldenberg, and they will do anything to remain on top of the pairs competition.

“Blades of Glory” does for figure skating what “Talladega Nights” did for NASCAR. Farrell and Heder have good comedy chemistry, and the skating scenes are the funniest parts of the movie. This is not Will Ferrell’s funniest movie, but does have enough laughs to make a viewing worthwhile, although I would recommend waiting for DVD. Fans of Will Ferrell will not be disappointed, but those expecting nonstop laughs will be.

Shooter ***
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Elias Koteas, Kate Mara, Rhona Mitra, Ned Beatty, Rade Serbedzija
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) is an ex-special ops sharpshooter. Colonel Isaac Johnson (Glover) ventures into the middle of nowhere to find Swagger, and ask for his help. Apparently, someone is planning to assassinate the President soon, and they want Swagger to figure out how to stop the attack. He agrees, but then finds himself framed for the attempt. Soon, he is on the run, relying on help from Sarah (Mara), the girlfriend of his ex-Marine partner and FBI agent Nick Memphis (Pena), both of whom become targets as well.

Despite all the action, “Shooter” has quite a bit of substance, with twists and turns that are unexpected. The movie moves at a fast pace that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. Wahlberg is solid as the ordinary guy Swagger. Danny Glover is very good in his important supporting role as well. If you are looking for a good action movie with some brains, “Shooter” is the movie for you.

The Last Mimzy ***
Cast: Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil, Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rainn Wilson, Kathryn Hahn
Director: Bob Shaye
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

Ten-year old Noah (O’Neil) and his sister Emma (Wryn) discover a black box on the beach when on vacation. The box contains strange items including a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy that speaks to Emma telepathically. They hide the items, and the longer they are exposed to them, the smarter they become. Their parents do not notice, but Noah’s science teacher, Larry White (Wilson), does. Meanwhile, Mimzy is dying and only the kids can save her.

“The Last Mimzy” is an interesting and entertaining family-science fiction film. It is character driven, and does not go over the top on effects. O’Neil and Wryn, the two kids, are excellent in parts that need capable actors. I don’t know that they have been in many movies before this one, but they are solid here. The supporting cast does an adequate job, although Michael Clarke Duncan’s role seems unnecessary. I recommend this film.

Wild Hogs **1/2
Cast: Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Ray Liotta, Marisa Tomei, Stephen Tobolowsky
Director: Walt Becker
Running Length: 1:39
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The Wild Hogs is a motorcycle gang made up of four middle-aged men. Doug (Allen) is a dentist. Woody (Travolta) is unemployed. Bobby (Lawrence) is a sewage engineer. Dudley (Macy) is a computer engineer. They embark on a road trip to put some excitement into their lives. Along the way, they run into the Del Fuegos, a real motorcycle gang, and barely manage to survive the encounter. They seek refuge in Madrid, where Dudley meets Maggie (Tomei) and takes a liking to her. Meanwhile, the Del Fuegos find out where the Hogs are, and come looking for them.

“Wild Hogs” is an uneven movie that has some good moments, but they are balanced out by some unfunny ones. Most of the major laughs can be seen in the previews, and that is never a good sign. The four leads have a camaraderie that is believeable, and that is perhaps what saves the movie in the end. This is by no means the best movie for any of them, but there is enough here that many will enjoy it. I recommend waiting for the DVD.

300 ***1/2
Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan, Rodrigo Santoro
Director: Zack Snyder
Running Length: 1:57
MPAA Classification: R

In 480 B.C., 300 Spartan soldiers led by Kin Leonidas (Butler) defended Sparta from a much larger Persian force led by King Xerxes (Santoro). The story is mostly clouded in legend, and although the Spartans did not win the battle, they dealt Xerxes and his army a blow that would eventually be their downfall. This was the Battle of Thermopylae.

“300” is like nothing before it. If you thought “Sin City” has neat to look at and a great example of comics come to life, “300” will blow you away. This movie has style. It is beautiful to look at and is worth seeing for the visuals alone. The cast of relative unknowns does a good job in bringing life to the characters. None are well known enough to overshadow the story, and that is a plus. “300” is a non-stop action movie that I highly recommend. And even if it is not grounded completely in reality, I think the Spartans would still be proud of it.

Music and Lyrics ***
Cast: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett, Haley Bennett, Campbell Scott
Director: Marc Lawrence
Running Length: 1:43
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Alex Fletcher (Grant) was a big name back in the 1980’s as a member of the band Pop! At least, he was with teenage girls. 20 years later he is a has-been who works state fairs. Miraculously, his agent Chris (Garrett) hooks him up to with a chance to record a duet with Cora (Bennett), the latest big name pop star. The only condition is that he needs to write a duet in less than a week. Not having written anything new in a long time, this seems like quite the challenge until Sophie (Barrymore), the woman who waters his plants, shows some lyrical skill. She is reluctant to help him, but eventually caves in and soon they are writing a song and falling in love.

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are no strangers to the romantic comedy, and for the most part, they bring their A game. The video of Grant from his 80’s heyday is almost worth the price of admission itself. The two have good chemistry, and there are some genuine laughs to be had. “Music and Lyrics” is an enjoyable romantic comedy.

Zodiac ***1/2
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloë Sevigny, Brian Cox, Dermot Mulroney, John Carroll Lynch
Director: David Fincher
Running Length: 2:43
MPAA Classification: R

In the late 1960’s, the Zodiac killer terrorized Northern California. Investigating the murders were detectives Dave Roschi (Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Edwards). Reporting on the murders in the press were Paul Avery (Downey) and cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal). In fact, the movie is based on Graysmith’s book and the obsession he developd in trying to find the Zodiac’s identity. As such, the “solution” provided has not been proven, but is the belief of Graysmith.

“Zodiac” is an interesting and well made movie. Fincher’s direction is not a showy as his previous efforts, but keeps the tension high when necessary and interjects small moments of humor to lighten the mood when necessary. Gyllenhaal, Ruffalo, Downey, and Edwards are all very good in their roles, and Lynch is suitably creepy for most of his screen time. “Zodiac” may move too slowly for some in its last half, but those that want a peek into the hunt for a serial killer will not be disappointed. I highly recommend “Zodiac”.

The Number 23 **
Cast: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Logan Lerman, Danny Huston, Rhona Mitra
Director: Joel Schumacher
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: R

Walter Sparrow (Carrey) is living a normal life, with a wife and son. One day, his wife Agatha (Madsen) buys him a copy of a book called “The Number 23”. The book details the obsession of a detective named Fingerling with the number 23, and its appearance in everything around him. Walter feels a connection to Fingerling and becomes obsessed with the book, feeling someone wrote it about him. He begins to see the number 23 everywhere, leading him to spiral into madness.

In “The Number 23”, Jim Carrey once again tries “serious mode”, and is somewhat successful given the constraints of the film. It is nothing outstanding, but it gets the job done. The story itself is a bit of a disappointment though, having less to do with the number 23 than you would hope. Seeing 23 in daily life is the most interesting part of the movie, and for that not to have a larger part in the ending is a shame. The film has some interesting visuals when it comes to the reading of the book, but overall, “The Number 23” falls flat.

Ghost Rider **1/2
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda, Wes Bentley, Donal Logue, Sam Elliott
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In his youth, Johnny Blaze (Cage) made a deal with the Devil (Fonda) . He gave up his sould to the to save his father’s life. Years later, as the world’s top stuntman, nothing can stop him from the most crazy of stunts. The Devil won’t let him die. When Blackheart (Bentley) comes to Earth to take it over, the Devil makes Johnny into Ghost Rider – a flaming skeleton on a bike – and tasks him to defeat Blackheart and his minions.

“Ghost Rider” is clearly on the B-list of Marvel superheroes, and that is evident in the film. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as the movie is enjoyable in its own way. Surprisingly, despite its subject matter, “Ghost Rider” does provide a number of lighter moments that contribute to its enjoyment. The actors are all adequate, none a standout. The effects are nicely done. Hollywood has come a long way in animating digital flames. In the end, “Ghost Rider” is an entertaining, but forgettable, superhero movie.

Hannibal Rising *1/2
Cast: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Dominic West, Kevin McKidd, Richard Brake
Director: Peter Webber
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

In 1944, Hannibal Lecter (Ulliel) sees his parents die in a battle outside the family cabin. He and his sister are captured by some locals, and in the bleak winter eat Hannibal’s sister to survive. Eight years later, Hannibal seeks out his uncle’s widow, Lady Murasaki (Li), and moves in with her. Hannibal’s goal is to locate the guys who ate his sister and kill them. Hot on his trail is a French police inspector (West), who knows what Hannibal is up to but cannot prove anything.

“Hannibal Rising” may as well be titled “Hannibal: Death of a Franchise”. It is completely unnecessary and makes a joke of everything that has gone before. Ulliel is greatly miscast and does not even come close to filling the shoes of Anthony Hopkins (who wisely has steered away from this film). This has to be one of the bigger disappointments in recent years. Stick with “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Red Dragon”, and forget about “Hannibal Rising”.

Notes on a Scandal ***1/2

Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Simpson, Bill Nighy

Running Length: 1:33
MPAA Classification: R

Barbara Covett (dench) is a long-time teacher at a British school. She lives with a cat for companionship, and is a somewhat bitter woman. When Sheba Hart (Blanchett) takes a job at the school, she and Barbara become friends. One night, after a Christmas play at the school, Barbara sees Sheba and 15-year old Steven (Simpson) in a compromising situation, and decides to see how she can use this to her advantage.

“Notes on a Scandal” is a great pshychological thriller. The story is, for the most part, unpredictable. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give top notch performances, and the scenes with the two of them together are the best parts of the movie. Dench’s manipulative Barbara is particularly excellent. Although the subject matter of “Notes on a Scandal” may put some people off, I found it to be a pleasant surprise, and I highly recommend it.

List of 2007 Academy Award winners

Picture
The Departed

Director
Martin Scorsese, The Departed

Actor
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Actress
Helen Mirren, The Queen

Film editing
The Departed

Original song
I Need to Wake Up, An Inconvenient Truth

Original screenplay
Little Miss Sunshine

Original score
Babel

Documentary feature
An Inconvenient Truth

Documentary short subject
The Blood of Yingzhou District

Supporting actress
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

Foreign film
The Lives of Others

Visual effects
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Cinematography
Pan's Labyrinth

Costume design
Marie Antoinette

Adapted screenplay
The Departed

Animated film
Happy Feet

Supporting actor
Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine

Sound mixing
Dreamgirls

Sound editing
Letters from Iwo Jima

Animated short film
The Danish Poet

Live action short film
West Bank Story

Make-up
Pan's Labyrinth

Art direction
Pan's Labyrinth

The Last King of Scotland ***1/2

Cast: James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Simon McBurney
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (McAvoy) leaves Scotland after his graduation to get away from his father. He goes to Uganda around the time that a military coup puts General Idi Amin (Whitaker) in charge of the country. When Amin is injured in a car accident, Nicholas treats him. Amin likes Nicholas and offers him a position as personal physician to the President. He accepts, and soon finds that although Amin is personable and charismatic, he is also paranoid and brutal. This is further complicated by Nicholas having an affair with Amin’s third wife (Washington). With each passing day, Amin becomes more unstable, and Nicholas finds that he cannot escape.

“The Last King of Scotland” is an excellent film. The two leads, Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy deliver standout performances. They hype for Whitaker in this movie is well deserved. It is a shame that McAvoy has not garnered similar praise. This film offers a look into how the charismatic Amin became one of Africa’s most vicious dictators. I highly recommend this film.

The Queen ****
Cast: Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Sylvia Syms, Roger Allam, Tim McMullan
Director: Stephen Frears
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In the first week of September 1997, between the death of Princess Diana and her funeral, Queen Elizabeth (Mirren) was in a situation that she had no preparation for. She did not feel anything should be done for the princess by the monarchy, as she has divorced from Prince Charles (Jennings), but the people of England were looking to her to show some compassion. Newly elected Prim Minister Tony Blair (Sheen) attempts to offer advice to the Queen, but he mostly rebuffed. Adding to the tension is the fact that Blair’s popularity skyrockets in this time of national mourning.

“The Queen” is a fascinating look into the world of the British Monarchy. I know very little about it, and the film held my interest throughout. Mirren is excellent as a queen who is struggling to maintain the only lifestyle she has ever known in the face of changing times and a popular ex-monarch’s death. Sheen is also good as Tony Blair. All in all, “The Queen” is an extremely engaging film that is worth seeing.

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Best Picture:
Babel
The Departed -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- the best of the five that are nominated
Letters From Iwo Jima -- DID NOT SEE
Little Miss Sunshine -- could be the surprise winner
The Queen

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Actor:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond -- DID NOT SEE
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson -- DID NOT SEE
Peter O'Toole, Venus -- DID NOT SEE
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness -- no chance
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- powerful performance in a role the Academy likes to reward

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Actress:
Penelope Cruz, Volver -- DID NOT SEE
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal -- always excellent and could be a surprise
Helen Mirren, The Queen -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- as close to a lock as you can get, and well deserving of a win
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada -- great performance, wrong year
Kate Winslet, Little Children -- DID NOT SEE

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Supporting Actor:
Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine -- WILL WIN -- I think he will be honored for his career
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children -- DID NOT SEE
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond -- DID NOT SEE
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls -- DID NOT SEE
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Supporting Actress:
Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls -- DID NOT SEE -- WILL WIN
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel -- SHOULD WIN -- haunting performance in the movie's most involving storyline

OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Directing:
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- never won and has made a great film, time to reward him
Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima -- DID NOT SEE
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Paul Greengrass, United 93 -- could surprise everyone