My wife and I enjoy to watch movies together. This being the case, I decided to start my own movie review blog. As a note, we almost never go to the theater to see movies, so most of the movies will be at least 3 months old.
Release Date: 25 December 2008 Time: 1 hr 39 min Distributor: Walt Disney pictures Rating: PG My Rating: PG Starring: Adam Sandler, Keri Russell Grade: B+
Synopsis: The Pacifier director Adam Shankman helms this children's fantasy concerning a hotel handyman who gradually begins to realize that the imaginative bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew are somehow beginning to manifest themselves in the real world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
My Review: This film is a lot of fun but you must be prepared for some "cheesy" scenes in the film. Other than those scenes, this film was very well done, the humor is very clean and overall the film is a lot of fun. Sandler does a great job in his role and Russell actually really surprised me with her role. The overall story is fun as well and I was happily surprised at this film. It kept moving and never felt too slow. Oh yea, and Bugsy is awesome.
Recommend: Definitely see this movie. This film is great for all age groups and besides some women in bikinis there isn't anything really that bad in the film.
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: 14 February 2008 Time: 1 hr 28 min Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Regency Rating: PG-13 My Rating: PG-13 Starring: Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Samuel L. Jackson Grade: B
Synopsis: A genetic anomaly allows a young man (Hayden Christensen) to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.
My Review: I enjoyed this film quite a bit the first time I watched it. The second time, I watched it, it had lost some of its flare. The power to "jump" is very interesting. It would be cool to be able to have this power I think and they make it look very real. One thing that really bothered me is that there didn't seem to be a good reason for the hunting down of the jumpers. Rachel and Hayden have a good on screen chemistry and the film ended well...I guess I won't say here.
Recommend: I would recommend this film for a date night. You should enjoy the film with the one you love. I certainly enjoy the trip to Rome that is taken and wish I could go there too.
Release Date: April 4, 2008 Time: 1 hr 36 min Distributor: 20th Century Fox Rating: PG My Rating: G Starring: Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler Grade: B
Synopsis: A young girl living on a tropical island with her scientist father is left to fend for herself after her dad's boat leaves him stranded far away and careless tour companies wreak havoc on the secluded paradise in directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett's adaptation of the popular children's book by author Wendy Orr. Realizing that she will need adult assistance if she truly hopes to save her home, the resourceful youngster soon begins exchanging e-mails with the author of a book she has been reading. Nim's Island stars Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin, as well as Jodie Foster and Gerard Butler. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
My Review: Another film with Abigail Breslin where she does an excellent job. I did not enjoy this movie as much as the last one with her, but it was still well done. Some of the parts of the story were very cheesy, especially the ending, but at the same time I wish that I could have been there to help the girl. Watching this film really will want to make you move to a stranded island to live. One thing that I wish they would have expanded on is how they got internet. My wife and I were both wondering the minute we found out they did... Also, Jodie Foster does a good job being the crazy lady in the film.
Recommend: This one is much more for the kids. I think they will enjoy this more than Kit Kittredge, but for the adults, this film is not as entertaining. This is a good family film and it really wants to make you move to the stranded island.
Release Date: July 11, 2008 Time: 1 hr 32 min Distributor: New Line Cinema Rating: PG My Rating: PG Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem Grade: B+
Synopsis: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH is based on Jules Verne's 1864 novel. A scientist heads out on a treacherous journey to the center of the earth. With him are an intrepid student, an Icelandic guide and the widow of a geologist who steals his information in an attempt to beat him to the earth's core. Along the way the group are confronted by all manner of dangerous obstacles: excessive heat and cold, gale force winds, and tremendous floods.
My Review: This film was interesting and a lot of fun. The film was pretty well done in terms of length and actors. We didn't have 3-D glasses when watching it which would have made this movie all the better. Brendan Fraser did an excellent job and the relationship between him and his nephew was very funny and made the film really move along. Special effects were pretty good, but sometimes they looked cheesy.
Recommend: Get some 3-D glasses before watching this film. The kids will absolutely love it I am sure with the glasses, and even without it is still an enjoyable one. Perhaps read the book too. I have never read the book that the film is based on, but maybe the book will be all the better now that I have seen the movie. All the same, check this movie out.