My Movie Reviews

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.

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.

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.

Release Date: 9 January 2009
Time: 1 hr 29 min
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
My Rating: PG
Starring: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway
Grade: B

Synopsis: A clerical error tests the lifelong friendship of two brides-to-be by scheduling their respective weddings at the famed Plaza Hotel on the exact same date in this romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Ever since they were little girls, Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) have bonded over planning their weddings down to the very last detail. Now, both in their mid-twenties, Liv and Emma have each found the men they want to spend the rest of their lives with. But while most of the details regarding their respective weddings don't overlap, the one thing that both Liv and Emma have always dreamt of is holding their ceremony at the legendary Plaza Hotel -- New Your City's ultimate bridal destination. Unfortunately, a simple clerical error has scheduled both of their weddings on the exact same date, at the exact same place. As a high-powered lawyer who's used to getting her way, Liv simply isn't willing to settle for anything less than perfection. And though simple schoolteacher Emma has always placed the needs of others above her own, the prospect of making any sacrifices on her big day brings out her inner bridezilla in ways that shock her unsuspecting friends and family. There was a time when Liv and Emma would have done anything for each other, but now that the two best friends are at odds over who will get their dream wedding and who will have to settle for second best, the lacy gloves are off and it's all-out war. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: This movie was just what I was expecting. It was a cute chic-flick and it had it's moments. I have always enjoyed Anne Hathaway in films and she does a great job here again. This film had its moments and I laughed a few times. Nothing great but it was fun.

Recommend: This is great for a date night or girls night. Guys will enjoy it as well.

Release Date: 20 March 2009
Time: 2 hr 1 min
Distributor:
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne
Grade: C

Synopsis: A time capsule containing a cryptic message about the coming apocalypse sends a concerned father on a race to prevent the horrific events from unfolding as predicted in this sci-fi thriller directed by Alex Proyas (Dark City) and starring Nicolas Cage. 1958: As the dedication ceremony for a newly constructed elementary school gets under way, a time capsule containing student drawings of the future is buried on the grounds and scheduled to be unearthed on the school's 50th anniversary. Instead of submitting a drawing, however, one little girl scribbles a series of seemingly random numbers on her paper before it is buried. Fifty years later, the time capsule is unearthed for a new generation of students to examine. Young Caleb Koestler (Chandler Canterbury) is one of those students. The mysterious sequence of numbers falling into his possession, Caleb takes the paper to his father, Professor John Koestler (Cage), for examination. Studying the numbers, Professor Koestler soon discovers that they aren't random at all, but an encoded message containing the precise dates, death tolls, and coordinates of every major disaster since the time capsule was buried. Not only that, but the document also indicates that there will be three more such events, the last of which indicates a doomsday scenario that appears directly tied to Professor Koestler and Caleb. His desperate plea to authorities falling on deaf ears, Professor Koestler realizes that his only hope for preventing more lives from being lost is to take personal action. Though the author of the prophecies is no longer living, Professor Koestler is eventually able to track down her daughter Diana Wayland (Rose Byrne), and granddaughter Abby, who reluctantly agree to aid in the investigation. As the final date on the list draws near, Professor Koestler enters into a frantic race against time to prevent destruction on a global scale, in the process realizing that in order to save millions of lives, he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: This film was not that great. I think the ending just really put me off when I finally understood what was going on. I am not a fan of movies that end the way this one did and so that really put me off. The film kept me entertained most of the way and I got nervous a few times. The film was decent, but once again I didn't like the ending one bit.

Recommend: Probably not. If you don't have any other choices then you can watch it, but don't expect much. And if you do watch it, be prepared for the ending to be really bad!

Release Date: 15 October 2008
Time: 2 hr 20 min
Distributor:
Rating:
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Light Yagami, L
Grade: B+

Synopsis: The series is about Light Yagami, a young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the "Death Note", lying on the ground. The Death Note's instructions claim that if a person's name is written within it while picturing that person's face, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the notebook's authenticity, but after experimenting with it, he realizes that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become "the God of the New World" by passing his judgement on those he deems to be evil or who get in his way.

My Review: Sequel to the first film. It continues the store of Light and L and their battle. This film begins to change quite a bit from the Anime and it ends quite differently. I realize that they had to do this or the film would have never ended.

Recommend: Definitely if you watched the first one. Don't watch it otherwise because you won't understand half of what's going on. Oh yeah, rumor has it that these films are being redone in Hollywood. We'll see if that really is the case. See here.

Release Date: 20 May 2008
Time: 2 hr 5 mins
Distributor:
Rating:
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Light Yagami, L
Grade: B+

Synopsis: The series is about Light Yagami, a young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the "Death Note", lying on the ground. The Death Note's instructions claim that if a person's name is written within it while picturing that person's face, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the notebook's authenticity, but after experimenting with it, he realizes that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become "the God of the New World" by passing his judgement on those he deems to be evil or who get in his way.

My Review: This movie is based on a very well known Anime series of the same name. I saw the anime series before seeing this version, and like most things the anime was better. However, they did a good job of putting these films together. A couple of things that I didn't think were so great were the shinigamis as they looked really tacky. Also, too much swearing. They translated this, so why did they leave it all in? I thought that L was done very well and he brought a lot to his role. I also really enjoyed Light's little sister and she made the film more enjoyable.

Recommend: If you don't have the patience to watch the anime, then you should check this film out. This isn't really for children as it would be a little too scary for them. If you want to watch this, then I have the links to the movie online. You probably won't find it otherwise.