My Movie Reviews

A look at movies by jtenman.

4/28/2009

City Of Ember

Posted by JTENMAN



Release Date: 10 October 2008
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
My Rating: G
Starring: Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway
Grade: B+

Synopsis: Monster House director Gil Kenan takes the helm for this children's fantasy about two young heroes who attempt to solve an ancient mystery in time to prevent their underground city from being swallowed by darkness. The City of Ember was built over 200 year ago, deep below the earth, where the destruction of a mass-scale disaster couldn't reach it. Equipped with a massive generator and vast supplies, the people of Ember have thrived happily for generations -- but the city wasn't meant to be lived in forever. The generator is breaking down and the supplies are running out, but two centuries in isolation have robbed the Emberites of their knowledge -- nobody knows how the electric lights work anymore, and nobody understands that there's something beyond the city besides darkness. Nobody, that is, besides Lina (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon (Harry Treadaway), two teenagers who still have the hope that everyone else has lost to ignorance and apathy -- not to mention a sheet of instructions left by the Builders themselves explaining how to leave the city. But the 200-year-old paper is falling apart, and pieces are missing. So with the lights threatening to flicker out for the last time and leave Ember in darkness forever, Lina and Doon set out on an adventure through the streets, sewers, and dark caverns of Ember to put the pieces back together. To solve the mystery, they'll have to get inside the Builders' heads, and avoid the grasp of corrupt Mayor Cole (Bill Murray), who wants to keep Ember the way it is -- no matter what the cost. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: I had never read the book before watching the film but I have added it to my list of reads now. This film was a lot of fun and the pace was very good - not too slow and not too fast. The acting was average with nothing too amazing and the story was a lot of fun. Another big plus is how clean this movie is.

Recommend: This one is great for the kids. They will enjoy it a lot and parents will as well. You can watch it without the kids as well and still enjoy it. Check it out.

4/27/2009

The Express

Posted by JTENMAN



Release Date: 10 October 2008
Time: 2 hr 10 min
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
My Rating: PG
Starring: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid
Grade: A-

Synopsis: (THIS SYNOPSIS CONTAINS A SPOILER) Finding Forrester star Rob Brown steps into the cleats of Heisman Trophy-winning gridiron giant Ernie Davis in director Gary Fleder's inspirational sports docudrama. As a young boy reared not far from the northern Pennsylvania state line, Davis dreamed of blasting through the end zone and scoring a triumphant touchdown while fans rose to their feet and cheered. When Davis later became a star running back for the Syracuse Orangemen, his dreams were finally on the way to becoming a reality. Under the wing of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), it seemed as if there is nothing that could stop Davis from entering into the annals of sports history; even during an era in which the civil rights movement was just gaining momentum, this fledgling gridiron giant never once doubted his ability to rise to the top. When Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted into the NFL, however, his will to survive soon eclipsed his dreams of success. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: Excellent film and right up there with all the other great sports movies. This film really hit home with me and once again made me greatful to live in a day when such dark times are behind us. This story is truly inspirational and the film is a lot of fun. I had never heard of Ernie Davis before watching the film and I grew to greatly respect him for what he did. Great film.

Recommend: Absolutely, and especially if you are a sports fan of any kind. This film is a great one to learn the history of the sport of football as well as America.

4/26/2009

State of Play

Posted by JTENMAN



Release Date: 17 April 2009
Time: 2 hr 7 min
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams
Grade: B+

Synopsis: The Last King of Scotland director Kevin McDonald teams with screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan for this American adaptation of the hit British miniseries concerning the suspicious circumstances that set a rising congressman and a dogged reporter on a dangerous collision course. U.S. congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is handsome, unflappable, and ascending the ladder of power with unprecedented speed. He's the future of his political party, and as the chairman of a committee assigned to oversee defense spending, he's got all the right connections. As the presidential race draws near, Washington insiders begin to speculate that Collins will earn his party's nomination for the country's top job. The prospect of Collins becoming president seems less and less likely, however, when his research assistant/mistress is viciously murdered, and some unsavory truths begin to surface. Collins was once a close friend to Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), now a top reporter in the nation's capitol. Assigned the task of investigating Collins by his ruthless editor, Cameron (Oscar-winner Helen Mirren), McAffrey recruits fellow reporter Della (Rachel McAdams) in order to track down the truth and identify the killer. But McAffrey has just walked into a cover-up of unprecedented proportions, and in a game where billions of dollars are at stake, life, love, and integrity are luxuries that simply cannot be afforded. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: This movie was a lot less action than I was thinking and a lot of trying to understand who did what and how it all happened. Russell Crowe delivers another excellent performance with his work in this one and he definitely saved the movie for me. If I hadn't been awake for this one then I would have been very lost as to what was going on. It could have been a little shorter as I felt they were dragging the movie out a little, but still an excellent film.

Recommend: This movie would be a great date night film if you are both into these types of films. Little kids will be bored out of their minds with this one. Be ready to think and pay attention carefully.