"Inception"ally cool

It’s hard to go into a movie unbiased when the hype machine has taken a hold of it and blown the film way out of proportion before it has even been released. Luckily for me, I’d only seen one very non-descript trailer and read one review of “Inception,” director Christopher Nolan’s newest, biggest and baddest of summer blockbusters to hit cinemas world-wide. And before the opening weekend had even finished, “Inception” had taken over as the talk of Internet forums and blogs, like its predecessor, the “Matrix” trilogy, had years before. Hopefully your eyes and ears are clean and unhindered when you see this one so maybe you can make your own judgment. But just a warning: you might have to see it twice.
“Inception”, conceptually, is a great movie. It’s different in scale, concept and CGI then maybe any other before it, and this uniqueness is a pleasant, different cinema-experience. The plot revolves around the novel world of corporate espionage through stealing secrets from executives dreams. Recruiting a cast of thieves with different strengths, like the architect, who creates the dream area or the chemist, who creates a strong enough potion to knock out the target long enough to steal their secretive thoughts, these teams are powerful and wily, able to extract things that can destroy major corporations.
Main protagonist Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) leads such a team on one of their most daring missions yet. In this case, the skilled squad must perform “inception,” where the team enters a targets dreams and attempts to plant an idea, rather than stealing an already formed idea. Cobb’s troubled past and struggles with reality make the team’s goal harder than it already is, and could very well make, or break, their success.
Like I said, Inception is a very cool movie. The dream states that most of the film take place in mean Nolan can have fun with what he does and what he wants to make each “world” like. Cinematically, it’s beautiful and the concept is original and well executed. It does get a bit confusing, and I tried to keep up with all the twists and things that go on, but most people I spoke with about the movie agreed that the best tactic is to just let it go and enjoy what’s on the screen. I’ve only seen it once but I’d like to go have another watch because it’s a lot to take in and the film runs almost two and a half hours, which is pretty long. And when someone can make their own reality, whatever it is, they can get a little carried away, which Nolan does. When there are no rules, what is there to follow? Sometimes, that can mean a film is good or bad.
I did like the film; acting is good, concept is great, cinematically beautiful. But it’s hard for me to rave about it like others, and I can’t really decide what makes me feel that way. I’ll have another watch and see if I change my mind, but overall, it’s a worthwhile experience that you should definitely take advantage of. Now playing in Polson.

7 out of 10 stars. Rated PG-13 for violence, language and alternate reality.

Here's the trailer:

Home is where the 'Toy Story' is

As a 9-year-old when the first 'Toy Story' movie came out in 1995, the movie thrilled and enthralled me. Buzz Lightyear, Rex, Mr. Potato Head and of course our pal Woody, made the animated feature mystical and special and exposed a new, secret world to children. Why couldn't our toys be walking, talking creatures replete with unique personalities while we weren't playing with them? Doesn't that almost make sense, to some extent? Aside from the concept, which was ingenious, the story crafted in that first picture kept everyone involved. The script was sharp and funny, filled with plenty of humor for children and adults alike. 'Toy Story 2' followed in suit, but it wasn't until 'Toy Story 3' that Pixar, the company that produced the trilogy, outdid themselves.

The story picks up with Andy now a young man, ready to enter college. While age has changed Andy, the toys are still the same hoping Andy will still play with them. When Andy has to clean his room, it's the attic, the trash or donation time for the toys. The toys are accidentally donated to a daycare center, leading to a new life that some accept, and others (Woody) just can't handle.

The scenes at the daycare are hilarious and the new characters are excellent. Part of what makes these movies so witty and enjoyable is how the creators make personalities for the toys that completely fit what you would imagine, i.e. Barbie's kinda ditzy. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at tons of the jokes, most of which are made for people older than 16. And yes, there are scenes where I did get that "hurty feeling" in my throat, holding back the urge to cry (say what you will, but its tough!). The voices, script and all the characters are excellent and really, it's hard to find anything negative to say. I'm eager to see it again and I highly recommend it. After all, didn't you have toys you left home to go off to college?

9 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

Truly 'Precious'

Films about young people growing up in difficult situations are numerous. One of the reasons this "genre" is so popular is because of the way it crosses all sorts of boundaries: economic, social, racial, class, time period, etc. Anyway you look at it, young people have had problems, be it with family, drugs, school, friends, or depression. We've seen this from the beginning of movies: from "Rebel Without a Cause" to "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" to "Kids" and so on. And the most recent film with a whole mishmash of such problems would be "Precious", the multi-Oscar nominated film that stormed the ceremony, including Mo'Nique (rightfully so) winning Best Supporting Actress. The official title is "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" but I'll be referring to it as simply "Precious."

Clareece 'Precious' Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) is a black, overweight 16-year-old in 1987 Harlem. She's pregnant with her second child, lives with an abusive, self-absorbed mother, goes to a rough school, and is literally friendless. She has it bad, and that much is made evident in the first few minutes of the film, including her frequent fantasies of a handsome boyfriend who walks her down the red carpet at big events. Her daydreaming is clearly an escape for her, but it also shows her creativity and imagination, which has been throttled by the conditions she lives in.

On the recommendations of the principal, Precious ends up attending an alternative school with other wayward young women. Her life is transformed as a charismatic teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), realizes her potential and helps her learn to read, write, and explore academia, something that has been forbidden by her mother, who is crazed at trying to continue to exploit the welfare system. Approximately a year of Precious' life is shown in this great, but sometimes depressing, film.

I've now seen eight of the 10 nominees for Best Picture (I'm missing "The Blind Side" and "An Education", both of which I plan on seeing), but this may have been my favorite (though it's tough to pick!). It's extremely real, and made more so by the fact that Sidibe had NO prior acting experience prior to her role as Precious, and she is phenomenal. As is her mother from hell, Mo'Nique, who blew me away with her performance as a heartless, demeaning woman who continually surprises with how low she will go. Small roles by musicians Mariah Carey as social worker Miss Weiss and Lenny Kravitz as nurse John McFadden are played brilliantly by both, and add a nice, small touch to the film. Most of the performances are pretty impressive, and the directing is well done too. This is a pretty basic film with a fairly basic premise, but one that works to its fullest extent. I highly recommend this film, but don't go in expecting a laugh fest by any means.

A first for me: 9 out of 10 stars

"Precious" is rated R for strong language, some violence, some sexual content and general mood of despair.

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

It seems winter won't end so enjoy some good movies in your warm house! Unfortunately there are only two that came out today, but there are other good ones out there. The two releases today are "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," which stars Nick Cage and looks.....interesting, and "The Collector," which is a horror film in a similar vein to "Saw." Needless to say, I didn't go with either, but if someone sees it and likes it, lemme know.

I went with "Precious", the multi-Oscar nominated film from 2009. It came out a few weeks ago but I've been wanting to see it, so I'll try to get a review up soon. Enjoy the week and any films you may watch.

Sly 'Mr. Fox'

I haven't watched many animated films while writing this blog, save for "Up", which was excellent, and the unique "Fantastic Mr. Fox", which was actually filmed in "stop-action" animation. Stop-action moves the figures frame by frame, and in this case, are animated characters, with the frames sped up. It's an awesome visual, and makes the film a stand-out among the 2009 releases. The fact that it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Film (losing to "Up") and that many thought it should have been nominated for Best Picture is just more of a testament to its impact on viewers. Add to the fact that it's directed by Wes Anderson ("Rushmore", "The Royal Tenenbaums") and he brings along the voices of some of his usual crew: Owen Wilson, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. And don't forget the voices of Academy Award winners George Clooney and Meryl Streep. Wow, that's a lot of talent.

The film begins with Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) getting caught in a trap while stealing birds from a farmer. Mrs. Fox encourages them to find a new line of work (if the escape) because of the danger and she tells him she's pregnant. Two years later (they escape), the foxes are living in a hole, with Mrs. Fox staying home and Mr. Fox working as a newspaperman (of course!). He clearly misses the thrill of stealing, and is resigned to his life as a suburban father. He decides to move the family to a tree house, which his lawyer, Clive Badger (Bill Murray) warns him against, saying it is too dangerous. Fox disagrees and moves the family.

Once they move, long-lost cousin Kristofferson Silverfox (Eric Chase Anderson) comes to live with the family because his father is sick with "double pneumonia." Immediately Mr. Fox takes a shining to cousin Kris, who seems to be good at everything while his forlorn son Ash Fox (Schwartzman) is more of a "wet rag" type.

Soon after moving, Fox can't resist his life of stealing any longer, and decides to target the farms of Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who have turkey, apples, alcoholic cider and chickens. Fox recruits the hilarious Kylie Sven Opossum (Wallace Wolodarsky) to be his side kick, and the game is on. But once the farmers get wise to the plot, things get pretty wild for the animal kingdom, and they need to find a way to survive...

The story isn't terribly complex, but what really makes the film is the excellent animation and stop-action and the wonderful, funny animal characters. Humans can hear the animals talk, and the interactions between them and their fellow animals is pretty funny. The animals have an interesting society that is just like humans, from lawyers to real estate agents to schools and gym class. Though rated PG, this isn't a film for children. It has adult themes and they use the word "cuss" as an all around curse word (like when they refer to something as a potential "cluster cuss" or "he's a cuss of an athlete") which is actually a pretty funny running joke throughout the film. It's fun and really enjoyable movie that I hope most people like as much as I did.

8 out of 10 stars

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is rated PG for some mild animated violence, smoking (?) and sayign the word "cuss." Like I said, it's definitely an animated film for adults.

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

Is anyone else as surprised by the recent (last few years) resurgence of Robert Downey Jr.? The man's everywhere, and he has TWO movie franchises under his thumb: "Iron Man" and a new DVD release today, "Sherlock Holmes." I mean, he gets to play two of the coolest characters around; lucky duck. I saw "Sherlock" when it was at the Polson Showboat Theater; read my review here.

Also out today is "An Education," which looks pretty good, and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," which doesn't. I went with the animated "Fantastic Mr. Fox," which has drawn rave reviews; I'll get a review up soon.

At the Polson Showboat, currently playing is "Green Zone," which I saw and will review. On Friday, Polson will show "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", while Ronan will show "Clash of the Titans," which I'll be interested to see. Enjoy the rest of the week!

'Brothers': A Family Affair

2009 may have been the year of Iraq/Aghanistan war movies, at least good ones. "The Hurt Locker" showed what some say is a realistic view of the Iraq war circa 2004, and "Brothers" shows the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, and what war does to the people left behind while a family member is off to war. "Brothers" is almost a misnomer; the film could almost be called "Family" or something, but as I understand it, it is a remake of a Danish film, "Broders." Regardless of the title, the film creates a unique story that offers a different perspective on America's current war-undertakings, blending home life and actual war scenes into a compelling, dramatic movie that completes other similar war-genre films of the past decade.

The juxtaposition of the two brothers, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is immediately made obvious. Sam, the military family man with a wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and two young daughters, and Tommy, the younger brother Sam picks up from prison in one of the opening scenes. Not to mention the men's father, Hank (Sam Shepard) who is a Vietnam vet himself, and clearly proud of Sam while equally disappointed and disproving of Tommy's lifestyle. Grace is similarly disproving of Tommy, who drinks a lot and does not get along well with any of the family.

When Sam is sent on another tour of Afghanistan, his family life is torn apart, but he seems ready to get back into battle. His helicopter is shot down, and all people are assumed dead. The news, obviously, devastates Grace, and furthers the rift between Tommy and his father, as well as Grace. But a kitchen project Tommy undertakes at Grace's house helps both with their grief, and the children take a shining to Tommy as well. The new family seems happy, until they get the news that Sam may not be dead. But what he had to endure while captured by Afghan rebels may have changed his mental state....

The synopsis I just gave tells a lot about the plot does not give anything away. The important aspect of the movie is the human interactions, and the effects war has on soldiers and their families. I enjoyed this film, which develops the story well and creates a good plot. The acting is solid, as can be expected from this strong cast, and though slow at times, it never really lost me. A good, different war story that make for an enjoyable watch.

7 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

Bunch of good ones today, so I had a hard time choosing. Biggest one is probably "The Blind Side" for which Sandra Bullock nabbed the best actress Oscar. It looks pretty good and is a true story about a guy currently playing in the NFL on the Baltimore Ravens. Also out is "The Men Who Stare At Goats" starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor and which looked pretty good as well. "Fantastic Mr. Fox", an animated film which got pretty good reviews and that I'd be interested to see is out today.

I went with "Brothers" which looks pretty intense. It stars Jake Gyllenhal and Tobey McGuire as brothers fighting over one woman (Natalie Portman). I'll get it watched and have a review up soon. Enjoy all the great new releases!

An 'Island' of Insanity

Whenever Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio hook up, the result is an instant classic, right? Those who have seen either "Gangs of New York" or "The Departed" may certainly think so. Those who have only seen "Shutter Island" might think you were crazy -- cause everything about the film itself seems to be. Born out of a great book by Dennis Lehane, author of "Mystic River" and "Gone Baby Gone," the film version is a seeming flop, certainly not worthy of the cast, the budget, or the constantly revised release date.

DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshall in 1954 sent to Shutter Island, a mental institution off the coast of Boston (Bahhston), to investigate the disappearance of an inmate who has seemingly "disappeared into thin air." Along for the ferry ride is Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), Daniels new partner who is equally skeptical of the whole ordeal.

Once on the island, things begin to get a little kooky. A massive storm/hurricane hits the island, keeping the marshalls on the rock, despite assuming the investigation is over. The men assumed the escapee has died if she had gotten out of the compound and that there isn't much more to learn. But Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and the Warden (Ted Levine) seem pretty intent on keeping the men around. And then there's the whole issue of what happened to Daniels wife, and the man committed to the island for his role in her death...

This isn't a bad movie and it is pretty well made and acted. I just had really high expectations because I'd read the book, and there was a lot of hype leading up to its release. Also, the twist isn't as out of left field as they'd make you believe. It is interesting, but at times drags; the film runs about two and a half hours, so I found myself drifting occasionally.

"Shutter Island"" is rated R for bad language (including bad accents), violence, and generally creepy scenes.

6 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

Hope everyone's having a good week so far. Couple of big releases today. First, the one all the tweens can't wait to see, or probably buy, rather. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" hits the shelves, and the youngsters can't get enough of shirtless Taylor Lautner. Have fun with that. It was out in theaters here, but I didn't see it. Instead, my old colleague Aimee went and reviewed it as a guest on my blog; read all about it here. Also out is Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", "Did you Hear About the Morgans?" "Ninja Assassin" and animated film "Astro Boy."

I saw "Ninja Assassin" in the theaters, and it was OK. Very bloody and a pretty dumb story, but somewhat entertaining. I went with a film that was released a few weeks ago, "The Informant!" with Matt Damon. I'll try to have a review up soon.

Flying high with some serious lows

The bad economy has been a major topic in nearly every medium. You can't go one single hour, it seems, without reading, hearing or talking about the stagnant housing market, job market and how perilous each indicator of economic strength may prove to be. Up until last night, I hadn't seen a movie that really symbolized the feeling of the economic situation. "Up in the Air" isn't about the economy, per se, but it wouldn't be as effective without the massive amounts of layoffs that have been taking place in the last few years. But there's a lot more to it than that.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a "career transition counselor" or as he describes it: "the person who sacks somebody when their boss doesn't have the [courage] to do it." His company is based in Omaha, Neb., but Bingham travels everywhere: Tulsa, Wichita, Miami, Detroit, St. Louis. He is good at his job, and can walk in and tell someone they've been "let go" even as they stare at him, never having seen him in their life. Bingham also is a motivational speaker, giving talks at conferences about "What's in your backpack?" and basically advising people to let go of their relationships and problems to live a simpler, less complex life. Bingham clearly lives by this philosophy, traveling more than 270 days a year, firing people for a living. During his travels, Bingham meets Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), another frequent flier/traveler. They compare cards, proving to one another how much they travel, and in their world, how exclusive they may be. They begin a romantic relationship, both seemingly living by the same philosophy of casual sex and no commitments. They check schedules to plan other meeting points when their paths cross in different cities.

Bingham is called back to Omaha for an all company meeting. Once there, his boss Craig Gregory (Jason Bateman) introduces the team to a young, up and comer that is revolutionizing their business. Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) is a recent graduate of Cornell who has come up with a video link system that will eliminate traveling by the firing squad and allow them to work from Omaha. Bingham, clearly a veteran and one of the best workers, is not happy because he admits, he loves flying, traveling and being anonymous. Before they implement the system, Gregory asks Bingham to take Keener on the road with him to show her the ropes, and how the whole operation works.

Immediately the differences, stark and obvious, between the two become pronounced. Bingham is the savvy, veteran traveler while Keener shows up with luggage to check, clearly a violation of any Bingham philosophy. She is young and idealistic, he is a grizzled veteran who knows his profession inside and out. It is clear from the beginning that she might not have the stomach to fire people.

I really enjoyed this film. The characters are well developed and interesting, presenting different viewpoints that tell a complete story. Sure, it's somewhat predicatable and follows a somewhat familiar storyline, but Clooney is perfect in the role and Farmiga is excellent as well. It's kind of funny because the role almost mirrors bachelor Clooney's real life, at least as portrayed in the media. There are funny parts and a good cast, but it is also sad and somewhat real, with deeper storylines than just what the plot synopsis can really give. It's worth seeing and an interesting movie. It won't necessarily make you happy, but it has a genuine message that people can relate to. The fact that Clooney, Farmiga, director Jason Reitman and the whole film were nominated for Oscars says a lot too. The aerial shots Reitman utilizes are pretty cool as well, including the opening sequence and the different cities Bingham travels to. It's a thought provoking film, and may cause you to evaluate or reevaluate your own life.

"Up in the Air" is rated R for some sexual content/brief nudity and language. Some more adult themes.

8 out of 10 stars.

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

Lots of good choices for movies today on the heels of the Oscars, including two best picture nominees. I went with "Up in the Air", which was nominated for best picture, director, actor and supporting actress. Well, it didn't win any of those, but it still must be good.
Also out is "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire." By the time I got to Mike's this morning it was out, but I'd really like to see it. It was nominated for best picture, actress, director and supporting actress, which Mo'Nique nabbed. I'll try to see it soon.
The sequel to the cult favorite "Boondock Saints" was released today, aptly title "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day." Uhhh....we'll see, though I did like the first one (not as much as some people though).
"Old Dogs" with John Travolta and Robin Williams, the animated "Planet 51" and Michael Moore's newest documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story" all hit the shelves today as well.
In theaters, Polson is currently playing "The Wolfman" and "Alice in Wonderland." "Wolfman" will be replaced Friday with "Cop Out." In Ronan, "Edge of Darkness" with Mel Gibson is currently playing. It will be replaced by "Shutter Island" on Friday.
Pretty good selection this week, so I hope you have something good to watch on this snowy afternoon. Happy watching!

Oscar Recap

The Oscars, the big early spring Hollywood shindig, has come to a close, leaving us with a fresh new year to anticipate what films will make the cut for next year. Granted, Oscar season is usually October thru December, but you get the idea. Sunday's telecast had "The Hurt Locker" as the big winner, taking two of the major categories.

Here are the results, with my predictions from before the ceremony. Kudos to Steve, our only entrant in the contest, for getting six of seven correct! From Steve, Feb. 12: "Predictions: Hurt Locker, Bigelow, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Waltz, Monique." He only missed Streep, who lost in favor of Sandra Bullock. Steve wins an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas...have fun! (not really, but thanks for submitting!)

Best Picture:
"The Hurt Locker"
I got this one right. A lot of people had it down to this and "Avatar." In my opinion the right film won, despite all the issues Iraqi veterans are bringing up about the truthfulness of it.

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Apparently a good film and good performance. Glad to see Bridges get the recognition he deserves for years of great films. And no, I will not make a "Big Lebowski" reference (though it's a great movie)

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz, "Inglorious Basterds"
I got this one right as well. Great performance and a great film. Glad to see Waltz win. I think he probably ran away with it.

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
I really thought Streep would win here, but I've heard Bullock was great in her role. It's pretty funny that she won best actress and worst of the year, getting the Razzie for her role in "All About Steve."

Actress in a Supporting Role
Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
I had no point of reference in this category, but it sounds like the right person won. Glad to see "Precious" win something for all the accolades it received after it came out. Can't wait to see it on DVD.

Directing
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
This is a great win for Bigelow. She's the first woman to win the award, AND her film beat out her ex-husband James Cameron's "Avatar" in both Directing and Best Picture. Must have been a pretty incredible night for her. The shots in the film are great, so she does deserve this award, even though I had hoped for Tarantino. My favorite scene is the sniper battle in the desert. Check it out it you haven't seen it. I'd give her the award just for that scene.

Well, that wraps it up. As I review upcoming films, we'll see if we have any prospects for the 2011 Oscars. Hope you enjoyed the last year in film!

It's the end of the world as we know it....

Apocalyptic movies have been around forever because honestly, who knows if or when the world will end? Plus, you get to use some pretty serious CGI in these disaster films and really go to town. Sometimes aliens (think "Independence Day", both directed by Roland Emmerich) convey the wrecking of planet Earth. But as we approach the end of the Mayan calendar, conspiracy theorists and people worried of the unknown fear the approach of Dec. 21, 2012. Thus we have "2012", where it isn't aliens or some other force exploding the planet, but rather planet Earth itself taking it out on all of its inhabitants. And with the recent mega-quakes in Haiti and Chile, people might start taking a little more notice of the changes happening on Earth...

The film begins in 2009, when geologist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) travels to India and discovers a meteorological event that will eventual heat the earth's core to unsustainable levels. He informs the White House and is promoted to a high ranking position under the President. Other heads of state are notified of the impending disaster, which Helmsley estimates will end the world at some point. We travel ahead to 2012 as the people who know of the impending disaster begin to prepare for the worst.

Introduced next is Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a writer living in Los Angeles. He wakes up, late to pick up his two kids for a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Upon arriving, Curtis tries to take the children to a favorite lake of his and his ex-wife. Curtis finds it and sees that it is dried up. While looking around, the trio is surrounded by U.S. Army vehicles and kicked out of the site and told it is dangerous. While retreating to his campground, Curtis meets Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson) who comes of as crazy, but predicts the world will end soon because of the Mayan calendar. He also mentions her has a map to the location of spaceships that he believes the rich and famous have access to in the event of world disaster.

Curtis and the kids head back to LA after receiving word of serious earthquakes there. Upon arriving home, the earth begins shake and disintegrate as Curtis grabs his ex-wife and her boyfriend, two children and heads for the airport as LA falls into the depths of the earth. Finally heading Charlie's warning, Curtis hopes to make it to Yellowstone and find the map to save himself and his family.

The CGI is really cool for their escape scene from LA, and throughout, "2012" is an exciting film. I also enjoyed the stellar cast, which included Cusack, Amanda Peet, Harrelson, Danny Glover and Oliver Platt. Yeah, it's kind of cheesy, and yeah, its pretty unrealistic, but overall it's an entertaining movie (but a little too long). Not to mention it's timely, with earthquakes and 2012 fast approaching. Are you prepared?

"2012" is rated PG-13 for some language and intense, apocalyptic scenes of destruction.


6 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

Not so 'Law Abiding'

Revenge movies are awesome. "Man on Fire"? Check. "Gladiator"? You know it. "Kill Bill"? The definition of awesome. "Law Abiding Citizen" is a revenge film at its core, but it has a sort of twist: maybe this guy is taking it TOO far.

Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) seems to have a nice life and a nice family. Until the night to would-be thieves break into his home, murder his wife and daughter and leave him for dead. When one of the criminals (the actual murderer) is given a lighter sentence to testify against his partner, who is put on death row, Clyde is not happy. He might be even more upset at the criminal justice system, which he feels has failed him, and prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), who seems more concerned with his conviction rate than actual justice. Nick just happens to have a wife and young daughter as well.

Fastforward 10 years. The criminal on death row has his number called and is set to die. He still denies he committed the murders, and once injected with the drugs, undergoes a horrible, painful-looking death. Talk of violation of his 4th amendment right is tossed around, and the cops immediately suspect his partner in crime, now released from prison, may have had something to do with it. They try to go find him, but he's already been apprehended by someone more vicious than the police: a law abiding citizen, who has some gruesome plans for him.

This begins a crusade against those who have wronged Clyde. The best part is that a lot of what he does is from prison. Pretty cool stuff, but there might come a point when he goes to far....but that's up to you to decide.

Overall, this was a pretty entertaining movie. The twist wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but it didn't kill the movie. Some things did bother me, like the fact that Nick, a prosecutor, runs around like he's a cop when he has no business investigating the case in such a way. Whoever researched for this movie how the criminal justice system works did a pretty piss-poor job, but honestly, it doesn't take a whole lot away from it. This isn't an Oscar winner, people, but it will keep you entertained for two hours.

6 out of 10 stars.

Here's the trailer:

Future 'Surrogates'

The movie idea of human beings having the capability to move other human-like robot things has had a resurgence this year and last. Look no farther than "Gamer", "Avatar" and now "Surrogates", which explores the world run by robots. Except the robots are controlled by humans, who have become so boring and lazy and scared of dying that they use robots to complete everyday tasks.

The surrogates in the film are controlled neurologically by the humans, usually from their homes. Beautiful surrogates can be bought; sometimes a female surrogate is actually being controlled by a man. The advantage of the surrogate is they go to work and do all the things a person normally would, except you sit and home and control it. Sounds boring huh? I guess this is some idea of the future.

The surrogates are unable to die, and in the film, crime has been virtually reduced to nothing. Surrogates record everything they see, leaving concrete evidence in the event a crime is committed.

Somehow, a loophole is found, and a surrogate's human controller is killed after the surrogates brain is zapped by a light-emitting weapon that in turn, turns the human's brain to mush. That human also happens to be the son of the inventor of surrogates, who has had a bad break from his former company. Enter Bruce Willis and his hair-having surrogate as Tom Greer, one of the detectives investigating the murder case. He's having marital problems, not to mention investigating a crime that shouldn't have occurred.

Important to consider is that there ARE human's in this future world that enjoy being themselves and hate the fact that people have bought into this surrogate lifestyle. This people live on "reservations" where the robots are not allowed and they have some sort of sovereignty. Sound a little like "Avatar"?

Anyways, the movie follows Tom's attempts to solve the murder, coming to grips with not using surrogates and dealing with his marital issues.

This is a pretty bland, predictable film that doesn't exactly make you think, but it has some decent action and the premise is kinda cool. Ving Rhames plays "The Prophet", the leader of the humans, so that's pretty sweet too because he's a good actor. But I wasn't exactly taken away with this film. Like at the beginning. Really? Every person IN THE WORLD can afford a surrogate? Those starving children in Africa prefer a robot over food? I don't think so. I guess it's a small detail, but still: DUMB.

4 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

It's hard to sit inside watching movies when the weather is as nice as its been. Hopefully you've been able to see a few. This week has two notable releases: "Where the Wild Things Are", the adaptation of the beloved children's book and "2012". I saw "Where the Wild Things Are" in theaters, and it was OK; check out my review here. I rented "2012" so I'll let you know how it is. I'm excited about next week's releases, which feature two Oscar-nominated films. Check back for reviews soon and happy watching!

New movie Tuesday

We get closer and closer to the Oscars, but still no mind-blowing movie releases. Today we have "The Informant!"starring Matt Damon and directed by Steven Soderbergh, "Everybody's Fine," starring Robert DeNiro, Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale and finally, "The Box," starring Cameron Diaz. Or, for all of you that like MTV-crap, "Jersey Shore" comes out on DVD today as well (I can't lie, I watched a few episodes - very moronically entertaining).

I went with "Law Abiding Citizen," which was released last week, and seems to be pretty popular at Crazy Mike's in Polson. I'll get a review up soon. Enjoy some movies!

New movie Tuesday

Tuesday again, but not such a stellar selection available. The only mainstream movie that came out today was "Law Abiding Citizen" starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. Looks pretty cool, but I got to Crazy Mike's too late today. Instead, I went with "Surrogates", starring Bruce Willis. It was released in the end of January, but I nabbed it today because it looks interesting. Seems to have been a lot of futuristic movies like this lately, so I'll see how it is.

In the theaters, the Polson Showboat is showing "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "Valentine's Day." I saw "Percy" so I'll try to get a review up soon. In Ronan, "Extraordinary Measures" is showing until Thursday, at which point it will switch to "Dear John."

Some 'Serious' Problems

Much like I enjoy most Tarantino movies, I also really like movies that Joel and Ethan, the Coen brothers, make. The list is long, and has a similar formula: somebody, or numerous people, get in way over their heads in a situation that may have been avoidable, leading to chaos and unhappiness for all involved. Their most famous film, "Fargo", follows this plotline to a T, so if you don't get what I'm saying, think "Fargo." Their latest, "A Serious Man", takes a similar idea, but tweaks some aspects to turn in one of their more unique and odd films to date.

Officially labeled as a black comedy, the film follows a snippet of the life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg, looking somewhat like Joaquin Phoenix) and his family in 1967. The Gopnik's are Jews living in a heavily Jewish area in the mid-west, my guess being Minnesota, where the Coen brothers are from. Larry seems to have a good life: a wife, two kids, suburban household and a good job as a college professor on the brink of being tenured. That is, until his wife drops divorce talk on him out of left field so she can be with a widowed family friend ("Sy Abelman?!"). And the South Korean student that tries to bribe him for a better mid-term grade. And those damn annoying calls from the Columbia Record Club. From these exchanges, it's obvious Larry is quite the pushover, and doesn't seem to have much "backbone." As many do in times of crisis, he turns to what should be the one steady thing in life: religion. Even here Larry can't seem to find answers to his complex, ever-changing life questions. Like most characters in Coen brothers films, Larry is confused and yes, in over his head.

Larry's son, Danny, soon to be bar mitzvahed, and daughter, Sarah, a precocious 16-year-old, are also shown and included. Danny gets more of the attention, from listening to head phones during class to smoking pot in the bathroom. Their lives only add to Larry's confusion, as he can't seem to even keep himself together, much less parent his children, and their attitudes and actions reflect that. He wants to be a good father, but has issues.

Issues are a central tenet to this film. The Coen brothers recognize that everyone has them, but they explore how they react to them, and the different outcomes each path may lead to. It's a good movie, and makes you think, but it's difficult to fully digest. There are a lot of layers to it, and if you just look at the surface layer, you won't get as much out of it. Life, death, family and love are all important aspects of the film. It can be confusing, and one might think, "What's the point?" but that in itself may, in fact, be the point.

6 out of 10 stars

"A Serious Man" is one of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture. Also, the DVD has a "Yiddish for Goys" special feature, which goes through all the Yiddish so people understand what they were talking about. Here's the trailer:

82nd Oscar Nominees

And the Oscar goes to...won't be heard for about a month, but the nominees were announced last week. This year, the Best Picture category has 10 nominees, which I think is really stupid. Regardless, it happened. After I watch "A Serious Man" tonight, I'll have seen 6 of the 10, so I'll try to see them all before the big ceremony.

Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Prediction: Like I said, I've seen 6. This is a preliminary guess, but I'd go with "The Hurt Locker." If you look at all the nominees and things, though, I'd guess "Up in the Air" will probably take it. Its gotten a lot of buzz, and is more recent than "Locker."

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Prediction: I've only seen "The Hurt Locker", and Renner was good, but I'd guess Freeman might nab this one.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Prediction: I've only seen "Basterds" in this group, but regardless, I think Waltz will win. He was excellent, and the buzz was building even when the film was released in the summer.

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

Prediction: I've only seen "Juli" in this group, but Streep was incredible as the famous Child. You might see Bullock surprise, or Sidibe, who has been highly praised. My gut says Streep. She does a dead-on Child impression.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Prediction: Haven't seen any of these, but I'd like to see Farmiga or Gyllenhaal nab it.

Directing
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"

Prediction: I think either Cameron or Reitman will get this one, but I'd love to see Tarantino get it.

These are the major categories. Click here for a full listing. What are your predictions? Let's here some feedback.

New movie Tuesday

Pretty good day of DVD releases. "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "Couples Retreat" are the two big ones. I've seen neither, but they both sort of look like generic rom-com's. We'll see though, I give a lot of movies a chance.

I went with "A Serious Man", the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen (yes, the Coen brothers). They are best known for "The Big Lebowski", but "A Serious Man" has gotten some serious buzz too. It is one of the 10 films nominated for best picture, so it must be halfway decent, right? Plus its a dark comedy, which I always like. I'll have a review up soon. Enjoy .99 DVDs!

Super Bowl Movie Trailers

If you were one of the record 106 million viewers watching this year's Big Game, then you might have seen some of these trailers. Spots for this type of event are extremely expensive, usually $2 or $3 million per 30 seconds of airtime. That means that the movies that usually seek out space are big blockbusters with big budgets.

I'll start with the one I'm most excited about. "Robin Hood" stars Russell Crowe and is directed by Ridley Scott, the pairing that made "Gladiator" into a Best Picture winner in 2000. That alone is exciting, and it just looks awesome. Check out the trailer, set to be released on May 14, 2010:



Then there's "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and based on a video game of the same name. Also looks kind of cool. Here's the trailer:




Another big one was "Shutter Island." Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese, this movie has had its release repeatedly pushed back, so who knows whats up. Now they say it'll be out on Feb. 19, but who knows. I read the book, which was pretty good, but I'll be interested to see the movie. Here's the trailer, which makes it look pretty creepy (and it will be!):



This next one has been out for awhile too, but looks pretty sweet. "The Wolfman", starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, should be awesome. Look for it to come out this Friday, Feb. 12. Its release has also been pushed back multiple times. Here's the trailer:



Finally, "Alice in Wonderland", starring Johnny Depp and a pretty solid cast. This is the second Disney entry, as "Prince of Persia" is a Disney flick too. "Alice" looks pretty trippy and crazy, but could be a pretty cool Tim Burton remake of an all-time classic. Here's the trailer; film due out March 5, 2010:



Those are all the trailers I saw. Did I miss any? What were your favorites? And how about the game itself? Pretty sweet if you ask me. My favorite commercial might have been the Google one. Pretty good stuff from the giant search engine. Lets hear some feedback!

New movie Tuesday

Another Tuesday, another day of new DVDs. The biggest release is "Zombieland", which I saw in the theaters. Click here to read my review of it. I liked it a lot; that's the basic gist of it. The other two releases are "Amelia", a biopic of Amelia Earhardt starring Hillary Swank, and some rom-com with Jennifer Aniston called "Love Happens." I went with a movie that came out a few weeks ago called "Pandorum" starring Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster. Last week I watched a film called "Moon" which was pretty cool. I'll have a review of both up soon.

The list of Oscar nominees came out today. I'll have full details on that either later tonight or some time tomorrow.

A 'Book' Worth Fighting For

The movie market in the last few years seems to have been inundated with post-apocalyptic themed movies. If you ask me, put Denzel Washington in a post-apocalyptic movie and I'll go see it, no question asked. That's the power of a kick-ass actor like Denzel, and the Hughes brothers must have realized that when they pegged him for the lead role in "The Book of Eli."

The plot is simple enough, another of my requirements for a solid post-apocalyptic film: Denzel plays Eli, a loner walking "the road" towards the west, carrying a book that he clearly highly values. Eli encounters various atrocities along his route, sometimes stopping to inflict some damage on the bad guys, other times he keeps on trekking.

Eventually Eli comes upon what amounts for a town in the mayhem of this imagined earth. He goes to an engineers office to get a battery charger revamped so he can listen to music on his iPod. While he's waiting, he heads over to the bar across the street to get some water, a scarce commodity on this dry earth. While there, Eli is acosted by a group of thugs whom he earlier witnessed commit a pretty horrible deed. Eli reacts in the way most people do in this ruthless world: opens a can of whoopass.

The fight is witnessed by Carnegie (Gary Oldman), the leader of the town and of the rogues that Eli has dispatched of. Carnegie is impressed, and wants Eli to stay and become a member of his gang, promising food, water and visits with members of the opposite sex. Carnegie, as it turns out, also enjoys books, and has a certain one that he is constantly looking for. That's a good basic intro; you'll have to see it to find out the rest.

I really liked this movie. The acting is good, the fight scenes great and the directing and composition of the film is interesting and unique. There are some good twists as well, and it is an uptempo movie that never really drags. I think movies about post-apocalypto are pretty awesome, as is Denzel, so that itself was worth the price of admission to me. It's not the best movie I've seen, but it keeps you interested and curious about how it will end.

7 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

No S*%^, 'Sherlock'!

The quintessential, perfect version of Sherlock Holmes is a witty, genius detective that can verbally spar with the best of them and solve the toughest, most unsolvable crimes. That must be what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle imagined when he wrote of the character's exploits, and that is what director Guy Ritchie and the screenwriters bring to the big screen in the film version of "Sherlock Holmes."

Played by everything-man Robert Downey, Jr., the film version of Sherlock is impressive to look at and a fun, fast-paced film that leaves the viewer sometimes confused until Sherlock rewinds the scene for us and shows us how it really went down. So if you miss something, don't fret; so did everyone else, and that is intentional. Or you just might not even know you missed it until it's explained.

Sherlock's trusty sidekick Watson is played by Jude Law. The verbal interplay between the two is fantastic, and they work well together, giving the film a nice flow and feel. The film begins with the duo taking down Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) just as he is about to sacrifice another human victim. Blackwood is sentenced to death, and after he is executed, he is pronounced dead by Dr. Watson himself.

The ensuing period after Blackwood's case is boring for the two men, until an old flame of Holmes's, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) shows up and tries to recruit him for a new case. Despite his intentions not to, he is drawn into the new case.

Meanwhile, Blackwood's tomb is found shattered, with reports that he has risen from the dead. Holmes's new case for Irene leads him into a dark undertaking, as does his acquaintance with the undead Blackwood.

The plot is good and the acting is, for the most part, excellent. The only person not great is McAdams, who is sort of dry and boring; maybe it's because she has an American accent while everyone else is British, I don't know. But something about her just doesn't gel very well with the rest of the cast. The dialogue is great, as is the direction, and it's left open so that you can clearly tell there will be sequels to come.

7 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

Another Tuesday almost in the books folks, but there's plenty of movies out today to cap off the night. The biggest release today is "Michael Jackson: This is it", a film with concert and backstage footage of the deceased pop star. Also out is the Bruce Willis thriller "Surrogates." "Whip It", an idie-film with Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore about women's roller derby hit the shelves today as well. The latest installment of the "Saw" franchise is out on DVD today, and believe it or not it's the SIXTH one - wow. "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell", the movie adaptation of the blogger Tucker Max's memoirs, is the final release today. Max's stuff was hilarious online, but I can't really imagine the movie, but we'll see.

I went with the sci-fi thriller "Moon" starring Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey. This came out a couple of weeks ago, and I hadn't heard of it, but I looked it up and it looks pretty cool. I'll have a review up later. Have a great Tuesday and enjoy any movies you watch!

More Avatar links

Like I said, there's been a ton written about Avatar, and for good reason. It brings up a lot of interesting discussion, in addition to being a pretty sweet movie. This post will be designated to different links discussing the movie, and I'll add to it as I find more. Here's one from today's New York Times. Add any comments about the movie, or add links in the comments section. Thanks and happy reading.

You Saw What in 'Avatar'? Pass Those Glasses!

Apparently Avatar has passed Titanic in revenue! Check out this link:

He Doth Surpass Himself: 'Avatar' Outperforms 'Titanic'

Too Much 'Lying'

Have you ever imagined a world (modern day, mind you) where no one told a lie? Where every person was so unfailingly honest to the point of being too blunt? Ricky Gervais, the British comedian best known for creating "The Office", has envisioned this world, and brought it to light in his new to DVD film "The Invention of Lying."

Gervais plays Mark Bellison, referred to by almost everyone as a "fat loser." I guess this is his idea of what would happen if people told him the what they really felt about him. Anyway, Mark works as a screenwriter for a movie company, except in this reality, since every tells the truth, the movies are boring recitations by famous people of events from history. Mark, assigned to the 1300's and thus the era of the Black Plague, is fired because "no one wants to hear about the Black Plague." His dating life is equally depressing, apparently. He goes on a date with Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner) who immediately says she isn't attracted or interested in him, but will go out with him to appease her mother. Yes, this is Gervais' vision of a world with no lying: bluntness. After his date and after he is fired, Mark is evicted, but when he goes to the bank to pull the rest of his money, something happens in his brain that allows him to lie and say he has more money than the system indicates. Because of the irrepressible honesty of everyone, the bank attendant believes him. Mark is amazed, and doesn't even have a word to describe the fact that he has lied.

The movie continues with Mark lying, and reaping the benefits. While talking to his mom on her deathbed, he tells her about an afterlife to make her feel better. She believes him, and dies happy, but so do the nurses and doctors who overhear him. Thinking him a messiah, Mark weaves a tale of a man in the sky who controls everything, and that you can do three bad things and still make it to the good afterlife. He even writes what virtually amounts to the 10 commandments on Pizza Hut boxes. Yes, people, this is Gervais' idea of the invention of religion. Some people might be offended, some might laugh and some might just enjoy this movie because through it all, its a romantic comedy. Who knows.

It is a good premise, and I liked the majority of the first half. It's funny and different, and has some great actors in little cameos that help. I like the advertising in this world too. Like Pepsi's, on the side of a bus, that says "Pepsi: When They're Out of Coke." The brutal honesty is funny, but it does get a little old, and at times seems forced. I understand that people say what they mean, but they wouldn't go out of their way to make fun of you, only if it was relevant. Regardless, there are some funny parts, but it really didn't hold my attention for long enough or really keep me engaged. A nice try though.

5 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

A few new releases today, including some TV shows on DVD. "Gamer", starring Gerard Butler, is out. I saw it and thought it was pretty bad. Also out is "Whiteout" with Kate Beckinsale and "Pandorum", an "Aliens"-like movie with Dennis Quaid that may be kinda cool. I went with "The Invention of Lying," starring comedic genius Ricky Gervais. Gervais is the British comedian that created "The Office" and "Extras." The film looked pretty good in the trailers, so we'll see. Also, I saw "Sherlock Holmes" last week, so I'll try to get review up soon.

Also, out on DVD is the fifth season of the Showtime show "Weeds." I liked the first few seasons, and have seen all four, so maybe I'll add those to my list. Anyone see that season and like it? Any movie recommendations for me to see? Have a great week...

Avatar and Pocahontas

So I mentioned in my review of Avatar that it reminded me a lot of Pocahontas. Apparently I wasn't the only one who saw the similarities. Check out this "revised" trailer:

Lots of baggage in 'The Hurt Locker'

Lots of films, both documentary and fiction, have been made about the still ongoing conflict in Iraq. I have seen many of these, but as a few film critics have said, "The Hurt Locker" may be the best and most realistic of the bunch, and I'd probably have to agree. The film has a great sense of authenticity, as it was shot in Jordan and Kuwait, sometimes mere miles from the Iraqi border. This, and the use of Middle Eastern refugees for certain scenes, make the audience feel like they are there. I also saw this film at a screening in Washington, D.C. before it came out, and seeing it again on DVD only cemented my sentiment that this is a great movie.

The film follows the travails of an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit in Iraq during 2004 (this is not a documentary). The three man team is led by William James (Jeremy Renner), a newcomer to the squad after the original team leader was killed. Rounding up the group is J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty). When we meet them, the team has about 40 days left in their tour in Iraq. Sanborn and Eldridge take exception to James's brash, unorthodox ways of working, but can't do much because he is the leader. Sanborn is a good soldier, but likes to run operations by the book and with a lot of communication. Eldridge has stress issues, and seems to be out of his element and unsure of how to respond to battlefield situations. Each characters different personality creates an interesting dynamic as the crew tries to make it through their tour disabling IEDs and participating in one of the most dangerous units in the Army.

The realism is enhanced by slow motion shots and first-person shots, artfully directed by Kathryn Bigelow. That, the realistic personalities of all the characters (helped by great acting) and the filming on location in Jordan make this seem like the real deal. The other thing about this film is that it is an action-packed thriller, as you can expect with a movie about a bomb squad. Each scene has suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat, giving you the feeling that these soldiers must have while being constantly on edge in a war zone. It's hard to convey the feeling of roadside bombs and insurgents, yet this film, through its 2 hour plus run time, does. It also brings up a lot of questions, which make discussing the film after watching it all the more interesting. My favorite scene is a desert battle scene that is slow but well shot and extremely intense. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"The Hurt Locker" is rated R for wartime violence, language and some gore.

8 out of 10 stars

New movie Tuesday

Not a real deep list of releases today, but one really good standout that I've seen, but rented so I can watch again. I went with "The Hurt Locker," an awesome movie about a bomb technician team in Iraq in 2004. It's excellent and really thrilling. I saw it in the theaters in June, but it could very well be nominated or win the Oscar for Best Picture in 2009, so I couldn't resist refreshing my memory. I'll have the review up soon.

Also out today, some movie called "Moon" I have never heard of, the film version of the TV show "Fame" and Rob Zombie's "Halloween II." I just looked up Moon, and it actually looks pretty cool. I didn't see it at Crazy Mike's, but if I find it I'll check it out. Anyone seen it and have an opinion? Click here for a link to its IMDB page.

As for the Best Picture category in the Oscars, I spoke to my dad earlier about this, and he told me they are expanding the category from the normal five films to TEN! To me, that's insane. It's basically a ploy so 10 stupid movies can say "Nominated for Best Picture." That seems idiotic to me, and all about money for the movie industry. Even with 5, it seems to me there is always a clear cut one that should win. What are they going to do with 10? Here's a link to a New York Times article about it from this summer.

The article says they try to justify it because some of the major movies weren't nominated. Last year, I saw all five best picture films, and had a pretty good feeling "Slumdog" would and should win. Let me know how you guys feel about this.

'Avatar'

In the wake of the release of the CGI-laced epic film "Avatar" on Dec. 18, 2009, speculation about the movie was rampant. Many good pieces have been written about the film, which was released in 2-D and 3-D, and worldwide, it has already grossed over $1 billion. That's a ton of money. The film is playing now at the Ronan Entertainer in 2-D, and when I went to see the 7:20 show last Thursday, the theater was pretty full, despite the film's long running time of 2 hours 40 minutes. The word is out, and after a huge advertising campaign that began in October, "Avatar" is reaping the benefits with its huge worldwide haul of money.

The film takes place in 2154 on a planet called Pandora in a world way different than ours today. An evil corporation from Earth is on Pandora to mine a valuable mineral called unobtanium on the planet, with complete disregard to the life on the planet. The planet is inhabited by a group called the Na'vi, a blue, tall, strong being. Part of the corporations efforts include using scientists to study the planet and its inhabitants. They have created something called an Avatar, which resembles a Na'vi, but is controlled neurologically by a human at a base. It is as if the controlling person is the Na'vi itself.

The scientists recruit Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed ex-Marine whose identical twin brother was originally recruited to control the avatar. Because of his genetic make up, Sully is able to control the avatar, an expensive experiment to see if humans can integrate with the Na'vi. To top it all off, using the avatar Sully can walk and run again, an exhilarating experience for him. While he is working with the scientists, he is also being used by the military security force the mining corporation uses to get information on the Na'vi, and ways they can get the tribe to move from their home tree, which stands on a huge cache of unobtanium they hope to mine. As you can imagine, as Sully befriends and is welcomed into the tribe, he feels conflicted about his double agent status, and has moral and ethical qualms about what he is causing and doing.

What "Avatar" really is to me is a modern day, CGI-enhanced version of "Dances with Wolves" or "Pocahontas." The Na'vi are similar to Indians tribes, and the humans are the explorers, forcing their brand of life on a people while simultaneously destroying their culture and land. This angle is contrasted with the loner who sees the beauty in their culture and way of life, and learns to love everything about the place and the people. It's a tried and true format, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars on special effects and advertising, and James Cameron has created himself a movie that could end up the highest grossing film worldwide of all time. That itself is pretty incredible.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. It's not so much a movie as an epic, and at times drags because it is so long. There are multiple points where I thought it might end, but it continued on and on. The dialogue is a little corny at times, and the characters themselves are sometimes unintentionally funny, but the rest is well executed. The CGI, which I thought looked somewhat fake in the trailer, was exceptional; it was hard to tell what was real and what was fake in many of the beautifully shot scenes. And this is undoubtedly a movie to see in the theaters. The experience of watching with other audience members on a big screen with great sound is worth the price of admission.

"Avatar" is rated PG-13 for some sexuality, violence and language. It is now the #2 grossing movie world-wide, trailing only the James Cameron directed "Titanic" from 1997. Cameron now owns the two highest grossing films of all time which is incredible. I'll keep you posted on its position, but few believe it will surpass "Titanic."

7 out of 10 stars

Here's the trailer:

New movie Tuesday

I have a lot of reviews to write and catch up on, but because it's Tuesday, here's a preview of what was released today. "Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs," a kids animated flick based on the popular book (that I remember reading) is out on DVD today. Also out is "The Final Destination," the fourth installment of the popular series. This one, unfortunately, failed completely and utterly. I reviewed it when it was playing in Ronan during the summer; you can read my review here.

If you have a Bluray player, one of my favorite movies, from 2004, came out in that format today as well: "Riding Giants," a documentary about crazy surfers riding gigantic waves. I love that movie, and it's really good. I'll embed the trailer below. I went with "Taking Woodstock," which was released Dec. 15. I'll get a review up sometime this week. I'll leave you with this awesome trailer of "Riding Giants."

Iron Man 2

My dad just went and saw Sherlock Holmes (which he really liked) and he mentioned seeing the Iron Man 2 trailer. I couldn't resist, so I watched it and think it looks amazing. I loved the first one, so this one should be as good or better. Here's the trailer; lemme know what you think. The release is estimated for May 2010.