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.