Avatar 3D

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After the Earth has used up all its resources-- and also developed the technology to fly people 6 years into space so they can inhabit the bodies of man-made beings that look like the aliens who live 6 years into space-- earthlings use their military to try to claim the distant planet Pandora's resources as its own.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. I had totally forgotten what Dances with Wolves was about until I saw this movie, which when you change American Indians to blue-alien-nature-worshippers, is pretty much the same movie. That said, if you're a lover of art and fantasy, the sights in this land are not to be missed.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: All the hype and build up made me laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Not likely, but the music might rock you to sleep.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It really does deserve to sweep the special effects and makeup categories. But anyone who calls this the best picture of the year should be fired immediately. Even if it's your dry cleaner.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I kinda get what all the hype about Sam Worthington is about. But I did hear his Australian accent slip through noticeably several times.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I wouldn't be disappointed if James Cameron won the Oscar for Best Director. The world he creates is truly stunning. I would almost suggest watching the movie on mute, and simply enjoying the visual artistry.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Hard to follow and filled with moments that you have to ask your friends to explain the justification for afterwards. Your friends won't be able to justify those holes in the logic either. And the dialogue (what little of it there is) is filled with cliched jingoisms. "Let's dance!"

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Way too long. As usual. 162minutes. Egregious.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/avatar/26982/trailers

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Broken Embraces

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A blind screenwriter (Lluis Homar) looks back on the time when he used to be a film director, and how that all came to a tragic end.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Lluis Homar, Penelope Cruz, Blanca Portillo, Jose Luis Gomez, Tamar Novas, Ruben Ochandiano, Angela Molina, Lola Duenas, Carmen Machi, Kiti Manver, Chus Lampreave

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. For fans of Almadovar's films, like me, this one will likely be classified as not his best one.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is not as much of that brilliant, squirmy, dark humor that makes you feel like a terrible person for enjoying it, as in his other films.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: In true Almadovar style, the saddest part is when a dead person comes back to life.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This is one of those films that gets nominated a lot because with the combination of Pedro Almadovar and Penelope Cruz, people expect it to. By the same token, it doesn't win a lot, because it's not as good as people expect Almadovar and Cruz to be together.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: There's a reason why Almadovar has made Penelope Cruz part of his regular cast. And this time, she shows her breasts, too. But the true lead is Lluis Homar, who gives a beautifully understated portrayal of a blind man, as well as one who can see.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Because of the film within the film, there are many opportunities for the director to play with the look and graininess, differentiating when we're watching life versus film versus video. Almadovar uses each of these looks in obvious ways to show us that he knows what he's doing.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I'm still not sure that anyone cares to watch stories about the lives of filmmakers. They always come off self-indulgent, even when they're Spanish filmmakers. But the biggest problems this script has are that most of the twists are predictable, and the funny, weird, awkward scenes are few and far from hilarious.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/broken-embraces/28978/trailers

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Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Can an estranged Manhattan couple (Hugh Grant & Sarah Jessica Parker), who have been separated for 3 months, survive the Wyoming countryside together, when they are forced to hide out, as part of the witness protection program?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, Elisabeth Moss, Jesse Liebman, Kim Shaw, David Call, Wilford Brimley, Michael Kelley, Gracie Bea Lawrence

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! What is it about movies that have question marks in the title?

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Did you hear about the one where the city dwellers have to go to the country and are fish out of water amongst gun-toting, rodeo-riding, God-fearing simple folk? Hahahahahaha! Just Kidding.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Does it make you sad when you know what's going to happen in a movie before you hear about it?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Did you hear about the Razzies?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Did you hear about Sarah Jessica Parker's career choices? Don't you hope she's less annoying in the Sex and the City sequel?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Did this director hear some kind of dirty little secret about Hugh Grant that he holds over him when he wants to force him out of retirement, so that he can have a big star in his movie? Does Hugh Grant hate his job as much as he seems to?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Did you hear about how people think romantic comedies are the basest type of Hollywood dreck? Does the writer understand that this is the kind of cleverlessness that makes people think that? Did you hear about how upsetting it is to me, and other lovers of the genre, to see it done without passion or originality, only reinforcing its bad reputation to nay-sayers?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/did-you-hear-about-the-morgans/35588/trailers

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The Princess and the Frog

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A woman, dressed as a princess, kisses a frog-prince to try to turn him back into a human-prince, but instead, she gets turned into a frog.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jennifer Cody, Jim Cummings, Peter Bartlett, Jenifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Elizabeth M. Dampier, Breanna Brooks

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! But maybe don't bring your children, unless you're okay with exposing them to a flashing joke, a main character who's a lazy womanizer, and a thinly veiled cougar/pedophilia joke.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes. There's a flashing joke, a main character who's a lazy womanizer, and a thinly veiled cougar/pedophilia joke!

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The Black community will cry when they realize that they finally got their Disney princess, and she spends most of the movie as a frog.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If MTV knows what it's doing, it will nominate these frogs for Best Kiss-- or at least Most Tongue-tied.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The voice cast is dynamic and versatile, both in the acting and the singing. My only complaint is that I never saw the moment in the frog-prince's face when he falls for our heroine, nor did I really know what it was about her that he fell for. But since most of us know how this story goes, I still went with it.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The musical numbers, particularly those in the Bayou are an imaginative spectacle. But personally, I was most partial to the way the princess was drawn as a young girl, because she looked just like my adorable little niece, Laila. Have I told you lately that I love her?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The script is predictable as can be, but the songs are some of the best I've ever heard in a Disney musical. That's what they get for using jazz, blues and gospel as their base.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-princess-and-the-frog/30244/trailers

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It's Complicated

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: 10 years after her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Jane (Meryl Streep) finds herself having an affair with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin), behind his new young wife's back.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Zoe Kazdan, Hunter Parrish, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson, Alexandra Wentworth, Emjay Anthony

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While most good romantic comedies leave you a feeling like you want to fall giddy in love, this one instead, leaves you feeling like you want to fall giddy into bed with someone, so you can feel giddy the next day about how you fell giddy into debauchery.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are some funny set pieces having to do with old people smoking pot, old people being naked, and old people getting caught being bad. Yeah, old people are pretty funny when they do young people stuff.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're from a family of divorce, you may be as moved as I was to see how loving it can feel to have all the scattered pieces of your original brood, back together around the lunch table, like it was old times.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Meryl Streep is competing against herself for the Golden Globe. Unfortunately for this gourmet chef, the other one is probably going to win.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Let's skip over the people we already know are great, and get right to the fact that the 3 children they supposedly conceived together are terrible. From the first frame to the last, every reaction they have is over the top and seems fake-- like they were plucked right out of their beginning acting classes to do this film. Only Hunter Parrish gets a pass, for being so cute, and reminding me of a young Ethan Hawke (minus the acting skills-- don't want to offend Ethan).

Q: How is the Directing?

A: As guest reviewer, Russ, pointed out to me, Nancy Meyers' directing is like an add for Williams-Sonoma. Although Meryl Streep has a beautiful and large kitchen, she dreams of having (--and is finally hoping to get in this movie--) a beautiful and large kitchen. As Russ put it, "It's like rich people's problems." I imagine it's easier to shoot a family of five (plus an ex-husband) in a beautiful and large kitchen. I imagine that's why she didn't choose to shoot the multiple kitchen scenes in an ugly and small kitchen. But I can't imagine how the renovations she's making on her house will do anything besides give her a smaller backyard.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Nancy Meyers clearly goes to a lot of trouble to make her two main characters somewhat likeable in the midst of their despicable act of cheating. I also respect and admire that she's telling original stories about older women in modern times. I'm learning so much about what is to come for me, although by the time I'm that old, modern times will be different than they are now, so I may need to learn entirely new lessons at that point. I also want to applaud her for several moments where the characters' reactions to a situation are not what you'd expect. The one thing I feel dissatisfied by, however, is why does Steve Martin's character have to be so damn dull? It certainly doesn't make you root for him to win the girl.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/its-complicated/34200/trailers

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Nine

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Set in 1965 Italy, a famous director (Daniel Day-Lewis) conjures up musical fantasies about the various women in his life to deal with the debilitating creative crisis preventing him from writing the script for his next epic film.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, Stacy ‘Fergie’ Ferguson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. I’m being generous with this rating (‘tis the season and all) because I’m aware there are a lot of people out there who love musicals and are big fans of the parade of Academy Award winning actresses who star in Nine. But unless high fashion and artful lighting can hold your interest for two hours, this movie is a total snoozer.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are some laughs – most provided by Judi Dench when giving Daniel Day-Lewis life-advice, or telling him how easy directing a film is. She shrewdly points out all he has to do is answer “yes” or “no” when asked a question and she’s pretty much right.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Maybe if you well up when watching daytime soaps because that’s the sort of melodrama this movie eventually devolves into.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Outside of costume and art direction? I hope not.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: There’s not much story here and the characters fare even worse when it comes to any kind of arc, so every actor must rely on their own star wattage, singing voice and the song they’ve been given to sing. (Each actress gets one number, except for Marion Cotillard who gets two because she’s the wife, I guess.) With these criteria in hand, I can safely say that the lone non-professional actress in the cast, Stacy Ferguson (better known as pop star “Fergie”) comes out on top. She gets the best song (‘Be Italian’), is the best singer and her screen presence can’t be denied. Here’s hoping we see her in better movies in the future. Kate Hudson has the best overall number thanks to the upbeat song and staging that both revels in and satirizes the 1960s high-fashion period. After that, each actress is very good, but to no discernible point when it comes to advancing a story. And as the lead, Daniel Day-Lewis is a man who hates women underneath the veneer of loving them. In other words, he’s not a guy you’re going to care about all that much.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Rob Marshall sure knows his way around a stage, choreography, lighting and costumes. But in comparison to his brilliant achievement with Chicago, Nine is a complete misfire. He’s saddled with film actors who can sing, but none who can dance so that completely restricts the choreography and edits. Next, he has no story to work with and lame songs, so I guess there’s only so much he could do. To his credit however, the movie looks stunning and if nothing else, it made me want to climb into a time machine and be transported back to 1965 Rome so I could drink wine and eat pasta with Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: So this is a movie about a famous director who can’t figure out the story for his next film but is preparing to shoot it anyway. How bad of a premise is that for a film? It’s horrible in case you’re not keeping up; unless you’re Federico Fellini, and you’re not. And the actual film we’re watching has no plot and is about as boring as reading a script with no words on the page. So maybe I’ve got it all wrong, maybe Nine is a brilliant meta-type exercise in reflecting back a creation of someone who can’t create and therefore leaves us watching something that is, like, non-existent as an actual movie. I think I’m working too hard now to justify this mess. The script is bad.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/nine/trailers

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Invictus

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of how President Nelson Mandela of South Africa used the national rugby team to unite whites and blacks after the emotional scars that were left by Apartheid.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones, Adojoa Andoh, Marguerite Wheatley, Leleti Khumalo, Patrick Lyster, Penny Downie

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If any of the words in this script were actually spoken, Nelson Mandela was easily the smartest, most honorable, strongest, most peaceful, most spiritual, inspiring man of unwavering integrity who ever lived. And we all need to be led by a good example more frequently.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I didn't see any actual attempts at humor, but there is some unadulterated cuteness near the end that might get you giggling.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It's an inspiration... I only wish Obama and Fox news would sit down and watch it together.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Neither Clint Eastwood, nor his films, seem to be able to avert them.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: When you're dealing with actors like Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman the only thing you're gonna have to worry about is whether or not their South African accents are convincing. They were to me (though a native may beg to differ), but Damon seemed to always be slightly paranoid about the authenticity of his, for some reason.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I will say this, I left the theater wanting to form a women's rugby league. Luckily, when I went outside, there was a guy in front of the doors waiting to hand me a flyer about a women's rugby league that already exists, so that should save me the trouble of having to start one up. P.S. If I stop supplying you with reviews any time soon, it's because I broke my fingers, arms, or neck indulging in my newfound passion pastime.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I must've liked it, because I walked out of the theater smiling so wide that I was hit on by a plethora of male suitors, each of whom had obviously assumed that my smile was meant for them. Oh, why am I so hard on myself? It might have had nothing to do with the complex talents of the screenwriter. It might have simply been because I looked really hot.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: As usual, Clint's movie is over 2 hours and therefore too long. The parts that dragged were easily identifiable as occuring during the World Cup section. The crowds, the build up, the games, we get it after two seconds, we don't need 20 minutes of it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/invictus/30532/trailers

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Crazy Heart

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Another story about a washed up singer who turns to alcoholism. This time it’s Country.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, James Keane, Jack Nation, Ryan Bingham

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! You’ve seen this movie already. The only reason to go to this would be for the music, so if you like blues-influenced country music, you should save your money for the soundtrack.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The singer has an agent, and agents in movies are usually as funny as agents in real life are upsetting.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Maggie Gyllenhaal cries in almost every scene she has. Often for reasons that don’t make much sense, like that Jeff Bridges is lying in her bed writing a pretty song.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Since most of the songs were written by T. Bone Burnett, I imagine at least one of them will get nominated for something. He’s really hot right now. And according to the marketing campaign for this very movie, Jeff Bridges has practically already won his first Academy Award for this performance.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Jeff Bridges is totally believable as a country singer, from his southern accent to his gravitas. Next to him, Colin Farrell’s complete lack of on screen charisma becomes ever more apparent.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The Southwest locations are pretty. The motel rooms and bars are ugly. And the concerts rip off shots from Walk the Line have already been spoofed in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story… so they end up seeming funny, instead of cool.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Movies about has-been alcoholics who used to be famous are depressing. Nobody cares!... Unless that alcoholism leads to something spectacular, like the invention of a usable jet pack, please don't subject me to this played out storyline anymore.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/crazy-heart/1441169/trailers

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An ethereal battle between good and evil, which takes place in each character's imagination, as interpreted by the old mystic, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you've ever seen a Terry Gilliam film, you know what you're in for: a lot of style and theory, with very strange substance. This film is as visually beautiful and imaginative as the storyline is surreal.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: That depends on if you have a subscription to Bizzaro magazine or not. If you do, this humor will fall right in line with your sensibilities. Also if you do, you are the proud owner of a magazine that I just made up.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're an aspiring actor, you'll cry when you realize that Mini-me has a legitimate acting career and you don't.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I might give this movie an award for premonition, because it seems as if they knew Heath Ledger was going to drop out (read: die) mid-filming. They managed to have him in all the "real-life" scenes, where his presence is necessary, and the way they use Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to replace him in the imaginings actually makes a lot of sense for the "logic" of this story.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Tom Waits, as the devil, gets applause just for showing up... Or at least that's what the people in my theater seemed to think.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Lavish and riddled with over-the-top, fun-loving, and sometimes campy special effects-- which begs the question: how does this guy continue to get these giant budgets to make esoteric comedies that nobody is going to see? I guess his financiers are still hoping he'll accidentally churn out another Monty Python film, despite the lack of any Monty Python players.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Terry Gilliam is like a fun and upbeat version of David Lynch. In both cases, it's easier to call them genius, than to admit that you have no idea what they're talking about... But what really makes them genius, is I'm pretty sure that they have no idea what they're talking about either.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/33122/trailers

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Brothers

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a Marine (Tobey Maguire) goes to war and dies, his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes over his role as husband to his wife (Natalie Portman). There's only one problem with their new arrangement: the Marine is still alive.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare, Sam Shepard, Mare Winningham, Patrick Flueger, Clifton Collins Jr., Carey Mulligan, Omid Abtahi, Ethan Suplee, Jenny Wade

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This is a really poignant and empathetic concept, as well as a visceral depiction of post-war trauma, but it could have been doubly hard hitting if the relationship between the wife and the brother had gone further, and they didn't show us that the Marine wasn't really dead.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Jake Gyllenhaal's character is pretty witty, even in the most absurd of circumstances, and an elephant has big ears.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you do, it will also be because an elephant has big ears, which is really obvious to a person who is in any way mentally stable.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Tobey Maguire obviously took this role with awards consideration in mind, and while his "work" is visible (maybe even a little too visible), he gets acted out of the water by 10-year-old, Bailee Madison. That's who I would love to see get an acting nomination.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Jake Gyllenhaal was more interesting than I remembered him being as an actor. But the parts that really make you think, in this one, are the supporting roles. Bailee Madison, as mentioned above, cries repeatedly and believably on cue. Taylor Geare, who's young enough to still have most of her baby teeth, looks and acts like a leading lady in the making. Jenny Wade, with only one small scene, makes a valuable impression on the family and on the film. And Patrick Flueger, whom I know but have never seen act before, does such believable work as a prisoner of war, that I was sucked into his performance to the point of actually forgetting that I knew him. And if you've ever watched anyone you know do any acting, you know that's really saying something.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Jim Sheridan is an old pro, but if I hadn't known it was his work, I wouldn't have had any way of knowing that this director had more than a couple of films under his belt. Nothing in the directing stands out as being particularly outstanding. Although I was impressed with the entire cast and crew for braving so many freezing cold looking scenes outdoors in the snow... unless those scenes were shot on a sound-stage, in which case Sheridan did a very convincing job of selling the desolate winter.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I wish they had gone the distance with the power of the premise, and led us to believe that the Marine was dead, so that when he returned, it would have been a surprised twist that we, the audience, could have been as confused and confounded by as the characters were supposed to be. We would have been emotionally involved in the characters' inner conflict on a much more profound level if they had. And I know we need to see what happened to the Marine in Afghanistan, but they could have found other ways to do it later in the film, after the reveal-- like in a flashback. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks, and they're hard to get past studio executives, but if ever there was an appropriate time for one, this was it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/brothers/31198/trailers

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Sherlock Holmes

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Famed Scotland Yard detective Sherlock Holmes and his fearless partner Dr. Watson take on a baffling case that may threaten all of England.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Kelly Reilly, Eddie Marsan, James Fox, Hans Matheson, William Hope, Robert Maillet

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! I’ll confess, I thought this movie would be terrible with fingers crossed that it would at least rise to the level of mediocre. Well surprise, it’s excellent! Whether he’s a billionaire in a red and yellow suit made of iron or blazing up a pipe as British sleuth Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. continues to specialize in making his characters uniquely entertaining to watch. The film is as clever as Holmes himself, and has as much eye-popping action as any big summer blockbuster. Thank you Santa for delivering such stellar entertainment this holiday season. (In this case Santa = Warner Bros. Studios.)

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It stops just short of being an outright comedy, so expect plenty of non-stop chuckles throughout. Most are derived from the clever exchanges and emotional bond between Holmes (Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law).

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Well, I teared up a bit in the first ten minutes as the realization hit that the film was actually good (tears of joy, yes). Now you can go knowing that fact and not fearing a crying jag.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It’s escapist fun, so not really built for awards, but with that said, the production design, visual effects and costumes are off-the-charts fantastic.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I never read any Sherlock Holmes books or paid attention to past films, so as far as I’m concerned Robert Downey Jr. makes a perfect Holmes in 2009. He’s clever, witty and an agile fighter so he has it going on in the hero department. My only quibble was that his (otherwise flawless) British accent was hard to understand at times. Jude Law is really really good as Dr. Watson, and his chemistry with Sherlock Holmes is way better and far sexier than the chemistry between Downey Jr. and Rachel McAdams. I know that seems gay, but the homoerotic underpinnings of Holmes’ and Watson’s relationship seems to have been done very much on purpose and it only makes the movie that much better and emotionally richer. Many of the supporting parts are peppered with director Guy Ritchie’s British favorites and they’re all clearly having a great time with their roles.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Guy Ritchie has carved out a well-respected career with low-budget films such as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and the recent Rock-n-Rolla. So a big Hollywood studio finally gave him a big budget and franchise to see what he could do and personally I’m just happy that millions of new fans will now get to see his work. He keeps his trademark camera flourishes and style more under wraps here but overall the film is shot with loads of energy and visual creativity. It also looks gorgeous and even with a massive budget Ritchie still puts his personal stamp on it by laying a whole new twist on Holmes’ fight scenes. Ritchie has always had a particularly macho approach to filmmaking and the stories he tells, and that sensibility infuses Sherlock Holmes with more liveliness than it would otherwise have had. But within all that machismo is a sly sense of humor, inventive wit and amusing twists and turns that Ritchie has coalesced into a superior detective story.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I was never expecting this version of Sherlock Holmes to be clever, but it is, and in a way that always makes sense and rarely loses the audience. Holmes has great fun being the ever-observant ‘savant’ – seeing clues that even modern-day CSI teams might miss – while still staying true to the period. The script also gives as much attention to its characters and humor as it does the story, which is another reason the entire film is so darn entertaining. The end – while completely satisfying – nicely sets up a sequel, which I already can’t wait to see. (Rumor has it Brad Pitt will play the bad guy; even better.)

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/sherlock-holmes/35683/trailers

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The Lovely Bones

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold, a young girl watches over her family and the man who murdered her from a place called ‘the inbetween’, which isn’t quite heaven but will lead her there if she can find a way to let go of her mortal life.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli, Rose McIver, Reece Ritchie, Nikki SooHoo, Carolyn Dando

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you were a fan of the book (I was), little might keep you away from this big-budget adaptation, but you may want to keep your expectations in check. There is a lot that’s flat-out excellent about this movie, but too much of it misses the mark not only as an adaptation but also as a stand-alone film (i.e. as if the book had never existed).

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Hmm, let’s see, it’s about a 14 year old girl who is raped and murdered and the devastation that leaves behind. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say: no laughs.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably. Mostly in the first twenty minutes though.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Very possibly, with its best odds in the acting categories.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: If you saw Atonement and had any doubts left at that point that Saoirse Ronan was a budding star, then The Lovely Bones will remove them. She is the real deal and even starring opposite fellow Oscar nominees (and winners) like Rachel Weisz, Wahlberg and Sarandon, she still stands out. Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci (both perfectly cast) make lasting impressions mainly due to the fact they have more screen time and their characters are better written than the adult women. Rose McIver as Susie’s little sister Lindsey, is also excellent in a supporting role that gains in importance as the story unfolds.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I’m not entirely convinced Peter Jackson was the best director for this material. For every amazing visual he puts on screen (and there are quite a few of them, both overblown and subtle), there are a plethora of others that make little sense in Susie’s ‘inbetween’ world. I’m sure he’s trying to keep his stable of New Zealand CGI-wizards busy between massive-spectacle films, but this story never needed these kinds of visual effects to make what at heart is an emotional story about a suburban family in 1973, work. When his visuals do resonate however, they are a sight to behold and not only look stunning, but also serve the emotion of the story (or scene) in spectacular ways.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It’s hard to understand some of the choices that were made in this adaptation, which shifts the weight of the main themes of the book from its emotional gut-punch into a more suspense-style thriller (and also telescopes the story by years). The first twenty minutes are near perfection in all aspects of filmmaking (and in rewarding fans of the book), but the script then goes a bit awry without fully going off the rails. There is still plenty of emotion in Susie Salmon’s journey, but it’s blunted by a disjointed structure that tries to shift the tone into something more akin to Hitchcock by way of Ghost. So much of this movie works and still delivers on a satisfying ending, but too much is just a bit off. Which is a shame, because it should have been a homerun when starting with such a great book and with this kind of talent both behind and in front of the cameras. I’m still convinced a brilliant movie could be made from Alice Sebold’s work; this version just isn’t it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-lovely-bones/30065/trailers

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