New Movie Monday (6&7)

First, I have to apologize for last week's New Movie Monday. I honestly didn't feel like watching the movies for some reason. I've made a decision that may upset you or won't matter to you at all (depending if you like New Movie Monday or not). Basically, I've been wasting money on movies that I really don't care about seeing. So, I'm going to just wait until good movies to come out to rent them.

Director: Andrew Stanton

Starring (voices): Ben Burtt; Elissa Knight; Jeff Garlin

Genre: Animation

MPAA: G

Rating: C

I have to be honest ... I didn't finish this movie. The whole robot/cartoon thing didn't really interest me. So this will be a short review (if you want to call it a review).

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, Wall-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named Eve. Eve comes to realize that Wall-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, Wall-E chases Eve across the galaxy.

The movie started off boring, so I got on my laptop. That probably ruined the movie. I should have put my laptop down and just watched the movie. I might have liked it ... but the whole concept just didn't interest me that much. Sorry guys :/.

Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: Robert Downey Jr.; Terrence Howard; Jeff Bridges


Genre: Action


MPAA: PG-13 (for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content)


Rating: A


I was afraid that I wouldn't enjoy this movie. I really like Spiderman, and The Dark Knight was pretty good too. But I've never heard anything about Iron Man when I was a kid (or at least from what I remember), so I was kind of afraid to try it.

Tony Stark is a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

I'm so happy that I got this movie! I really, truly loved it. Some parts were a bit confusing for me... but maybe that's just my brain since quite a few movies have been confusing to me lately. I loved the action at the end and the movie really kept me interested the whole time. I definitely recommend this movie, even if you don't like superhero movies. My mom isn't the type of person to watch these kinds of movies, but she really liked it!

Director: Alex Proyas

Starring: Nicholas Cage; Chandler Canterbury; Rose Byrne

Genre: Action

MPAA: PG-13 (for disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong language)

Rating: B+

Yay! A movie that I actually wanted to see and actually liked! This makes me so happy :). I saw the trailer for this movie when I went to go see Twilight in theaters and knew that I would like it.

In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one mysterious girl fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead. Fifty years later, a new generation of students examines the capsule's contents and the girl's cryptic message ends up in the hands of young Caleb Koestler. But it is Caleb's father, professor John Koestler, who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As John further unravels the document's chilling secrets, he realizes the document foretells three additional events -- the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve John and his son. When John's attempts to alert the authorities fall on deaf ears, he takes it upon himself to try to prevent more destruction from taking place. With the reluctant help of Diana Wayland and Abby Wayland, the daughter and granddaughter of the now-deceased author of the prophecies, John's increasingly desperate efforts take him on a heart-pounding race against time until he finds himself facing the ultimate disaster -- and the ultimate sacrifice.

Wow. Sorry for the super long description. Anyway, this movie was really great. It actually scared me sometimes and I was worried that it was going to be a horror movie. It's not, so don't worry. This movie wasn't just a world disaster movie. It had some kind of sci-fi fantasy (angel or alien) feel to it. It kind of confused me, but I still recommend it.

Director: Paul McGuigan

Starring: Chris Evans; Dakota Fanning; Camilla Belle

Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller

MPAA: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.)

Rating: B+

I'm so happy I got this movie! I was waiting for it come out because (1) Chris Evans is a great piece of eye candy; (2) Dakota Fanning is one of my favorite actresses; (3) It just looks like a GOOD movie!

The Division, a shadowy government agency, is genetically transforming citizens into an army of psychic warriors--and brutally disposing of those unwilling to participate. Nick Gant, a second-generation telekinetic or "mover," has been in hiding since the Division murdered his father more than a decade earlier. He has found sanctuary in densely populated Hong Kong--the last safe place on earth for fugitive psychics like him--but only if he can keep his gift a secret. Nick is forced out of hiding when Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old clairvoyant or "watcher," seeks his help in finding Kira, an escaped "pusher" who may hold the key to ending the Division's program. Pushers possess the most dangerous of all psychic powers: the ability to influence others' actions by implanting thoughts in their minds. But Cassie's presence soon attracts the attention of the Division's human bloodhounds, forcing Nick and Cassie to flee for their lives. With the help of a team of rogue psychics, the unlikely duo traverses the seedy underbelly of the city, trying to stay one step ahead of the authorities as they search for Kira. But they find themselves square in the crosshairs of Division Agent Henry Carver, a pusher who will stop at nothing to keep them from achieving their goal.

Sorry for another long description. I really enjoyed this movie. It confused me quite a bit, but it was still pretty thrilling. I don't know why, but I really love Camilla Belle's voice. It's just so soft and pretty, and she's not trying to sound like that either. You know how Paris Hilton has that high pitch voice that she uses when she tries to sound cute? That just bugs me. Off topic ... anyways, if you don't like supernatural/paranormal movies, then this movie probably isn't for you. But since I enjoy that type of stuff, I really liked it.

-Briana

New Movie Monday (5) ... Late!

Another dead week again. What's going on? A few weeks ago I was getting the BEST movies and I got so lucky, now it's just a bunch of duds. Hopefully next week will be better, Push and Knowing will be coming out and I really want to see the both of those! Oh ... and sorry this is so late. I went to the over night orientation on Sunday and when I get home Monday, I fell asleep. I didn't even get to finish the movies until last night.




Director: P.J. Hogan

Starring: Isla Fisher; Hugh Dancy; Krysten Ritter

Genre: Comedy/Romantic

MPAA: PG (for some mild language and thematic elements)

Rating: C

I was so excited that a movie was coming out on DVD that I may actually want to watch. The trailer for this movie was adorable and come on, Isla Fisher is hilarious. But ... this movie just didn't do it for me.

Fall in love with the adorable Becky Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) in the hilarious romantic comedy Confessions Of A Shopaholic. Becky s desperate for a job writing for a high-fashion magazine in glamorous New York. She gets her stilettos in the door writing a personal finance column at a sister publication. Much to her surprise, her column, The Girl In The Green Scarf, becomes a hit, and she falls head over high heels for her handsome, overworked boss (Hugh Dancy). But Becky has a secret that leads to some hilarious high jinks that could unravel it all. From the best-selling novel, and featuring the perfect comedic cast, it s the feel-good romantic comedy you ll fall in love with over and over.

Sure, it was cute and funny, but I expected more. I was kind of on my laptop a lot since I was just getting so bored. It's not like I really regret watching it, because the other movies in the movie store didn't look so great either, but now I know.

Although, I guess if you love Romantic Comedies, then you'll probably enjoy this movie. Maybe they just aren't for me.



Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Frank Langella; Michael Sheen; Kevin Bacon

Genre: Drama/History

MPAA: R (for some language)

Rating: D+

I wasn't too excited to watch this movie, to be frank. The last political movie I watched was Milk and I didn't really enjoy that too much. But, since there was really nothing else to get, I figured, "Why not?".

From Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard comes the electrifying, untold story behind one of the most unforgettable moments in history. When disgraced President Richard Nixon agreed to an interview with jet-setting television personality, David Frost, he thought he’d found the key to saving his tarnished legacy. But, with a name to make and a reputation to overcome, Frost became one of Nixon’s most formidable adversaries and engaged the leader in a charged battle of wits that changed the face of politics forever. Featuring brilliant portrayals by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon is the fascinating and suspenseful story of truth, accountability, secrets and lies.

I probably should've rented a comedy or something, these movies just aren't for me. Now that I know, I doubt I'll ever rent a movie about politics again. Oh, and even though I didn't like the movie, the acting was pretty good. At least we know that Michael Sheen can act for New Moon!

Hopefully next week will be a better one. I got two movies that are pretty light and not very serious.

-B

New Movie Monday (4)

Usually when I go to the rental store, I look at their little magazine they have to show the New Releases for that week. Usually there's at least one movie that I really want to see. Usually I don't have to actually look around for a movie to rent. This week was unusual. I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to see. I was even considering getting The Haunting of Molly Hartley and The Uninvited ... even though I always have nightmares after even the slightest scary movie. Finally, I found two movies! I'm so happy that I didn't have to scare myself to death with horror movies :).




Director: Scott Derrickson

Starring: Keanu Reeves; Jennifer Connelly; Jaden Smith

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi

MPAA: PG-13 (for some sci-fi disaster images and violence.)

Rating: C-

Once again, I judge a DVD by it's cover and assume that it's a world disaster movie. WRONG. I clearly need to look more into the descriptions on the back of the movie.

Epic action and mind-blowing effects rock the planet in this thrilling reinvention of the sci-fi classic, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an otherwordly being whose arrival on Earth triggers an unstoppable series of events that threaten all of mankind. In a desperate attempt to save humanity, governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's appearance. When a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson (Jaden Smith) find themselves embroiled in the alien's plan, they become the world's only hope to stave off apocalyptic annihilation.

It's barely a world disaster movie to be honest. The pictures involving building being blown apart, well that's about 5 minutes of the movie. The rest is honestly just Keanu Reeves looking at Jennifer Connelly in a weird way. It's not that I have anything against alien types of movies either. I love E.T., I love Independance Day, I love K-Pax! I just really didn't like this movie. My rating is probably too high to be honest.

EDIT: The only thing I really liked about this movie was the adorable Jaden Smith. He's a good little actor too!



Director: John Patrick Shanley

Starring: Meryl Streep; Philip Seymour Hoffman; Amy Adams
Genre: Drama

MPAA: PG-13 (for thematic material)

Rating: A

I was kind of nervous to watch this movie to be honest. It looks like it can be kind of boring and if they had any other actors/actresses than these, I think it would've definitely been boring.

Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep), the rigid and fear inspiring principal of the Saint Nicholas Church School, suffers an extreme dislike for the progressive and popular parish priest Father Flynn (Hoffman). Looking for wrongdoing in every corner, Sister Aloysius believes she's uncovered the ultimate sin when she hears Father Flynn has taken a special interest in a troubled boy. But without proof, the only thing certain is doubt.

Okay, the first thing I have to say is how surprised and impressed I was by Amy Adams! I've only seen her in The Wedding Date and Enchanted and her performance was always good, but always light. I was suprised by the intensity she brought to this movie along with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

It was kind of funny watching this because I went to a Catholic school and the nuns were never like that ... actually, we only had one nun. She didn't even teach. So it was very different, but so familiar at the same time. The school I went to was St. Aloysius (Meryl Streep's name), our rival school was St. Boniface (they mention it in the movie), the nun's name at my school was Sister James (Amy Adam's name), my gym teachers name was Mr. Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman's name). The church they went to looked like my church on the inside. And the gym they played basketball looked exactly like the gym where I played basketball in, in the catholic school.

Other than that, which you really didn't even need to know(sorry if I made you read all of that), I really enjoyed the movie. It reminded me of Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult.

Did you watch either of these? If so, did you like them? I'd love to hear your opinions.

-B

New Movie Monday (3)

This wasn't the best week I've had (DVD-wise). Not that it was bad or anything, but it just didn't blow me away. Sorry the post is so late, I was finishing Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. There will be reviews up, me and Arielle are planning on doing a double review for The Hunger Games, maybe a triple if Marisa wants to join in.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Mark Wahlberg; Zooey Deschanel; John Leguizamo

Genre: Drama/Horror

MPAA: R (for violent and disturbing images)

Rating: C+

I really love world disaster movies and looking at the cover, you would think that this movie is kind of world disaster, right? Wrong. I mean, I guess you can look at it that way, but when I started watching it ... I didn't want to continue. I have a weak stomach and there was some gore right in the beginning. So BEWARE.

The Happening is a 2008 American horror film written, co-produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan that follows a man and his family as they try to escape from an inexplicable natural disaster. The plot revolves around a mysterious plant neurotoxin that causes any person coming into contact with it to commit suicide. The protagonist, a science teacher named Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), attempts to escape from the substance with his wife and friends as hysteria grips the East Coast of the United States.

This movie was interesting, but I can't say it moved me in any way or changed my life. That's what I love about watching a movie or reading a book, I love how they can change your whole way of thinking. This movie does get mildly creepy, just in case you try to stay away from that.

Director: Will Gluck

Starring: Nicholas D'Agosto; Eric Christian Olsen; Sarah Roemer

Genre: Comedy

MPAA: PG-13 (for crude and sexual content throughout, partial nudity, language and some teen partying.)

Rating: C

This movie looked hilarious from the trailers and I was really excited to see it. I wish I hadn't gotten excited though, because I was pretty bored to be honest.

Nicholas D'Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen headline this teen comedy concerning two high-school football players who attempt to avoid another summer at football camp by becoming cheerleaders. Out on the gridiron, Gerald R. Ford High School students Shawn Colfax (D'Agosto) and Nick Brady (Olsen) are star players. But summer is drawing near, and this year neither Shawn nor Nick can stomach the prospect of spending their sun-soaked months lunging at tackling dummies and getting berated by their coach. Fortunately, Nick has a brilliant solution to their current dilemma: sign up for cheerleading camp and spend the summer surrounded by gorgeous women. But head cheerleader Carly (Sarah Roemer) can see right through them, and when Shawn falls head over heels for her, their genius plan hits an unexpected hitch.

What else can I say? I didn't enjoy the movie as much as I thought I would ... but Nicholas D'Agosto is some serious eye candy, you have to admit.

-B

New Movie Monday (2)

Okay, so the movies this week were pretty good. Atleast the one was. There wasn't a huge selection of DVDs that I really wanted to see this week except for Defiance. It's finally out and I got the second to last copy of it at the rental store! The other DVD I rented is He's Just Not That Into You.


Director: Edward Zwick

Starring: Daniel Craig; Liev Schreiber; Jamie Bell

Genre: Drama

MPAA: R (for violence and language)

Rating: A+

Since I love learning about the Holocaust, I was really excited to see this movie. Ever since it came to theaters I was begging everyone to go see it with me, but unfortunately no one was interested. I've only went to the movies by myself one time, and that was to see Twilight. Everyone was so sick of seeing it with me so I went by myself and made some friends. It's easy to make friends there since it's basically Twilight fans everywhere. But with this movie, well, not so much. So anyways I had to wait for it to come out on DVD.

Three Jewish brothers (Craig, Schreiber and Bell) escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and others in danger.

This movie was so worth the wait. I guess I might have liked it more than others would, considering I'm such Holocaust-history-buff. It was very eye-opening to what happened outside of the concentration camps. There were people that hid and there were people that really survived from running away, and that makes me so happy to know that. That probably came out wrong since they shouldn't have had to run away at all, but I hope you understand what I mean. There were some parts of the movie that my mom (who doesn't care as much about the Holocaust as I) got bored, which may mean you might have gotten bored. But, I honestly enjoyed every single second of it. I didn't want it to end.




Director: Ken Kwapis

Starring: Justin Long; Drew Barrymore; Jennifer Aniston

Genre: Comedy

MPAA: PG-13

Rating: C


Honestly, going into this movie I wasn't expecting much. I mainly got it because my mom was dying to see it. She just adores those chick flicks that are so predictable ... and that's just not for me.

Ken Kwapis' adaptation of Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's best-selling self-help book He's Just Not That Into You follows the love lives of a dozen or so characters. Ginnifer Goodwin stars as Gigi, a young women attempting to understand the mixed signals she gets from the men she's dating. She gets advice from a bar owner (Justin Long) who prides himself on understanding the ins and outs of the dating scene. Gigi's co-worker Janine (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself involved in a major redecorating project with her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper). Unbeknownst to Janine, Ben contemplates an affair with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), an attractive woman trying to make a career as a singer. Another of Gigi's friends at work, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), enjoys a successful, healthy relationship with Neil (Ben Affleck), but storm clouds hover over them as he has no interest in getting married.

I guess the movie had good tips for women that don't have a clue. Maybe it's because I'm a reader, but I kept saying to the TV, "You're caling him again? He's NOT interested!" That was pretty annoying but other than that it was an average film. I'm sure other women would love it and rarely, but maybe some men. But it just wasn't my cup of tea.


-B

New Movie Monday (1)

Every week I go to the Movie Gallery to take out 2 of some newer DVDs to watch during the week. This week I took out the True Blood TV Series and Taken. I liked them both so much that I got inspired to blog about the movies I get every week! I hope you guys like the idea, especially since this is supposed to be a book review blog and not a movie review blog.


Director: Pierre Morel

Starring: Liam Neeson; Famke Janssen; Maggie Grace

Genre: Action

MPAA: PG-13

Rating: A


Let's be honest, I really didn't want to rent this movie. But, I felt pretty guilty for never getting anything that my dad might like to watch, so I rented it. He watched it before I did and completely loved it so since he's really picky, I knew it couldn't be that bad of a movie.

The seventeen year-old Kim is the pride and joy of her father, the retired agent Bryan Mills that left the secret service to stay near Kim in California. Kim lives with her mother Lenore and her wealthy stepfather Stuart; she convinces the reluctant Bryan to sign an authorization to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. When they arrive, they share a cab with the stranger Peter and Amanda tells to him that they are alone in Paris. When Bryan succeeds in contacting his daughter, she tells that criminals have just break in the spot and they are kidnapped by an Albanese gang of human trafficking. Bryan promises in the phone to kill the kidnapper of his daughter and immediately travels to Paris to find Kim and chase the criminals.

I did not want this movie to end. There was so much action in it and the plot really scared me. Human trafficking does exist and it's a very serious, scary issue that I wish would somehow disapear. I was literally moving in my seat with my heart beating so nervous to find out what would happen next. If you like the type of movie that I just described, definitely pick this up. I highly recommend it.


Director: Michael Lehmann

Starring: Anna Paquin; Stephen Moyer; Sam Trammell

Genre: Drama

MPAA: NC-17 (I'm pretty sure MPAA only applies to movies but I think my guess for the True Blood MPAA rating would be correct.)


Rating: A+


Let me just start off by warning you: This series is very addicting and very dirty. If you don't like to watch movies with very revealing sex scenes and cussing every 1-2 minutes, then this is NOT for you. But as long as I don't have to watch it with my parents, I don't mind the promiscuity.

This TV series focuses primarily on a young telepathic waitress from Bon Temps, Louisiana named Sookie Stackhouse, who begins a romantic entanglement with her vampire neighbor amongst a series of murders of young women in town.

I actually rented all five discs of this season in one week. I was very surprised at my strong interest in this series to be honest. I kind of thought I would like it but I didn't think I would like it nearly as much as I do. This series is sexy, dramatic, sometimes funny and sometimes scary. It has a bunch of emotions for you to bring out and I can almost promise will not let you down.

I have not read the books but I do know that Season 1 was based off the first book of the series, which means if Charlaine Harris keeps writing, we should still have the pleasure of watching Sookie Stackhouse and her adventures that await her.

-B