My Movie Reviews

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.

Release Date: November 7, 2008
Time: 1 hr 29 min
Distributor: DreamWorks
Rating: PG
My Rating: PG
Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock
Grade: B+

Synopsis: In the highly-anticipated sequel to "Madagascar," Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so azy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old ashed plane--sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely ew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all--the vast plains of Africa, where the members of our zoo-raised ew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place...but is it better than their Central Park home?

My Review: This movie was full of laughs just like the first one. The penguins were quite hilarious and as usual these days with animated films, there are a lot of over-the-head jokes that are just for adults. The film was a little slow at times and so that is what brought down the grade. It could have been funnier, but still well done. The first film was better than this one.

Recommend: This is a great film for the whole family. Definitely check this one out with the kids and enjoy the good times. You don't need to watch the first film again to see this one.

Release Date: 29 August, 2008
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: PG-13
Starring:Vin Diesel, Melanie Thierry
Grade: C

Synopsis: Hong Kong action icon Michelle Yeoh stars alongside American muscle Vin Diesel in this science fiction thriller concerning a nun who is charged with the task of caring for a young girl who may be the carrier of a deadly virus. Based on author Maurice Dantec's Babylon Babies, this tale of genetic manipulation comes to the screen courtesy of director Mathieu Kassovitz. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: This movie was really weird. The whole storyline was strange from the very beginning and it was never quite clear what was going on and how things got the way that they were. Also, the ending of this film was really weird and didn't make a lot of sense how things all fit together. On top of that, I am not even sure where the name of this film came from. Really, it was never made clear what was going on and who was who. There was some decent action in the film, but not much of a love story to speak of. The film was still decent, but just weird.

Recommend: Probably not unless you are a big Vin Diesel fan (my wife, hence watching this show). This film could have been much better if they would have fully explained the storyline.

Release Date: 26 December 2008
Time: 2 hr
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Rating: R
My Rating: PG-13 (almost PG)
Starring:Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor
Grade: A-

Synopsis: Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Intrigued by Jamal’s story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.

My Review: Excellent film and very intriguing. The film kept my attention the entire time and I loved it. The thing that bothered me the worst about this film is its rating. Why in the world did it get an R rating? They don't swear at all (at least that I recall), there is no sex or anything of the nature, and the violence that there is shows practically nothing (there is one scene with some eyes that is kind of disturbing, but if it wasn't there then it would have been a PG rated film). All the same, this film was very well done and it brought a lot of light and knowledge to my eyes about how the people in India live and what lives people in those situations live. I thought the children actors in this film did an excellent job acting. This film is truly inspiring and a great love story.

Recommend: I would recommend this film to all, especially adults. I was intrigued every minute and think everyone will enjoy the storyline here.

Release Date: 3 August 2007
Time: 1 hr 55 min
Distributor: Universal Studios
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles
Grade: A+

Synopsis: Matt Damon returns as the amnesia-stricken trained assassin Jason Bourne in this third film based on Robert Ludlum's best-selling novels. As Bourne travels from Moscow to Paris, Madrid, London, New York and Tangier, Morocco, in a quest to reconstruct his past (and thus clear the way for a future), he's joined by returning cast members Julia Stiles and Joan Allen as well as new co-stars David Strathairn and Paddy Considine.

My Review: Awesome! This film was absolutely awesome. It has been a long time since I have seen such a great film. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot is very well done and very suspenseful. The action is great. This film is great and Matt Damon delivers another excellent performer. Even though this is the third film of the three, it is just as good as the others.

Recommend: MUST SEE! You have to see this film. Before you do though, refresh your memory by watching The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy or else you will be lost. Drop everything you are doing and watch this film!