True Grit

A-

This is a remake of an old John Wayne western. Although I haven't seen the original I really enjoyed this remake. It had a great mix of western cool and humor. The music was great. The scenery was spectacular. And the acting was superb.

Mattie, A 14-year-old girl (Hailee Steinfeld), enlists the aid of boozy, trigger-happy lawman Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to track the fugitive who killed her father. The bickering duo must contend with a Texas Ranger (Matt Damon), also hot on the trail. Together the unlikely trio ventures into hostile territory to seek Old West justice. By the end it leaves you wondering who the title is most describing, Rooster or Mattie.

Hailee Steinfeld was great and really carried her part along side the acting greats of Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, who likewise nailed their parts. The dialog was very interesting, in that by today's standards it sounded very formal. But then I remembered watching the Ken Burns Civil War documentary in school. The letters written by the rank & file soldiers had the same level of formality. So maybe that was just normal talk in those days. Anyway the movie was very well made. Be warned it is kind of bloody, especially one scene. You'll know which one I'm talking about when you see it. And I haven't decided if I am satisfied with the ending or not. It is rated PG-13 for violence.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1

A-
Review Pending

Robin Hood

Grade: C+

This was a mediocre film. Not terrible, but not a stand out. Russell Crowe as Robin Hood delivered a great performance (of course), but it was kind of predictable and a few parts were cheesy to the point of making my eyes roll. I watched it at the dollar theater and I don't regret the $1.50 it cost to see it. But it's probably not one that I'll buy.

This movie is kind of a prequel to the Robin Hood story that we are all familiar with. It follows Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) from his adventures on the Crusades with King Richard the Lion Heart on his way back to England and how he becomes Robin Loxley. We see how his friendship develops with the core group of what will become his "merry men" (Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett, etc.). As well as the budding romance with Maid Marian. But this movie is also full of political intrigue as the palace brat Prince John ascends to the throne and all of England is betrayed to the French by a devious traitor. Who will save the kingdom?

Although the historical person of Robin Hood is almost universally believed to be pure myth, it should be noted that some of the film's plot points regarding King Richard and Prince John are actually based on historical facts (or at least historical theories.) For example, the death of King Richard by a cook with a crossbow as well as many of the details of Prince John's life.

It was fairly entertaining, but not particularly memorable. Not a bad way to spend a $1.00 and a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon. Don't sweat it if you miss it. The movie is rated PG-13 for epic battle scenes which include some brief gore and sexuality.

Inception

A+

Wow, what a ride! Ocean's Eleven meets The Matrix. This brilliant cross between a heist story, a psychological drama/thriller, an action movie, and sci-fi left me wide-eyed and breathless. Writer/Director Christopher Nolan (Batman: the Dark Night, Momento, The Prestige) has hit another home run with Inception. This film engaged my emotions, my adrenaline, and my intellect. Smart and exciting. I loved it.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a thief with the rare ability to enter people's dreams and steal their secrets from their subconscious. His skill has made him a hot commodity in the world of corporate espionage, but has also cost him everything he loves. Cobb gets a chance at redemption when he is offered a seemingly impossible job: to plant an idea in someone's mind. If he succeeds, it will be the perfect crime, but a dangerous enemy anticipates Cobb's every move.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I had thought of writing a story about entering people's dreams, and had even toyed with the idea of using the technology for thievery and espionage. But Nolan did something so much more amazing than I ever could have with it. It is the kind of movie that will need to be re-watched several times in order to figure it all out. It is the next day and I am still dwelling on it. I can't wait to discuss it. It is rated PG-13 for violence, action, and peril.

Iron Man II

B

Iron Man II was pretty entertaining.I can't say it was as good as the first, but it had great action sequences and special effects. I think where it fell a little short was in the area of character arc. While in the first movie, Tony Stark went through some character change, in this one he did not. But I must say that I did like the Iron Man II villain more than the money grubbing business partner from the first. Here's a rundown:

With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey) faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. Tony is reluctant to divulge the secrets of his armored suit, fearing the knowledge will fall into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and ``Rhodey'' Rhodes (Don Cheadle) by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy.

Overall, it is worth watching. The role of SHIELD is increased in this movie with much more information on the development of the future Avengers group. (Don;t forget to stay for the bonus scene after the credits!) Overall, it was a good popcorn movie and hopefully a good enough bridge to the other avenger prequels. It is rated PG-13 for some language (including a "bleeped" f-word) and violent superhero combat.

Avatar

B+

I had a lot of fun watching this movie. the story was compelling enough to work, even if it wasn't spectacular. But the visuals WERE spectacular. It was a Thanksgiving feast of stunningly real visual effects. Even though the movie is almost three hours long, it didn't feel like it.

On a lush planet called Pandora live the Na'vi--humanoid beings who appear primitive, but are actually highly evolved. Because Pandora's environment is poisonous, human-Na'vi hybrids, called avatars, are linked to human minds, allowing for free movement on Pandora. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed ex-Marine, is made whole again through one such avatar, and falls in love with a Na'vi woman (Zoe Saldana). As his bond with her grows, he is drawn into a battle for the survival of her world.

This film is available in 3D and standard. I watched it in 3D. I honestly found that the visuals were so spectacular anyway, I don't know if the 3D made it any better. All the other critics say that "you gotta see it in 3D." You can choose for yourself. As I said, the story was good enough. it has been described as "Dances with Ferngully," if that gives you a handle on the basic plot. Some of the twists were predictable. The action sequences were awesome. But the real star of the show has got to be the breathtaking visuals. Definitely worth and probably buying (on BluRay, of course). It is rated PG-13 for intense action scenes, some violence, peril, and language, and some brief sexuality.

Forever Strong

A

This was a great feel good movie about sports, character, and becoming a man. Forever Strong tells a story from the Highland High rugby team, the winningest high school rugby team in the country. The story, based on true events, is heartfelt, the action is thrilling, and the the moral lessons are needed.

The story centers around Rich Penning (Sean Faris), a troubled teen whose father coaches rugby in Arizona. AS a consequence of another DUI, Penning is sent to a juvenile detention center in Salt Lake City, UT. Eventually, he finds himself on the on the Highland High rugby team, rivals to his father's AZ team. Coach Gelwix (Gary Cole) teaches his players how to be champions in life, not just in rugby.

If you enjoyed Remember the Titans, Miracle, and Rudy, then you will also love Forever Strong. Maybe I am biased, because I am also a high school coach with a very similar coaching philosophy as Gelwix (although I think he executes it better than I do). It was great. The movie is PG-13 for some thematic elements including drug abuse and alcohol.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

B

I liked this movie. I was a little disappointed because I was expecting "great" and got "good." But it was good. It was packed with action, had a few laughs, and even had some tenderness. The violence felt a little excessive for PG-13, though. This film launches a new direction in the X-Men franchise: origin stories for their superheroes. In that sense all of these new movies are/will be prequels to the existing X-Men trilogy.

Seeking solace from his dark past, Logan (Hugh Jackman), better known as Wolverine, seems to have found love and contentment with Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins) . Logan's peaceful existence is shattered when Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), his vicious brother, brutally murders Kayla. Logan's thirst for revenge propels him into the Weapon X program, where he undergoes a painful procedure to bond his bones with adamantium, making him virtually indestructible and more than a match for Victor.

Overall, it was a good movie. It connected some of the dots in the later movies and answers many of the questions raised about Wolverine's past in the trilogy. It is rated PG-13 for sci-fi, superhero violence (some of which may be hard to watch for a sensitive viewer).

Star Trek

A-

What a ride! This newest edition to the Star Trek franchise may be the best film yet. It was exciting and funny. And the opening scene was about the best I've ever seen.

Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, the most sophisticated starship ever built, a young crew embarks on its maiden voyage. Their path takes them on a collision course with Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan commander whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. If humanity is to survive, a delinquent Iowa farm boy named James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and a coolly logical Vulcan named Spock (Zachary Quinto) must move beyond their bitter rivalry and find a way to defeat Nero before it is too late.

I really enjoyed this film. It didn't take itself too seriously and seemed to enjoy poking fun at itself. The characters were believable (given the sci-fi setting). There were plenty of little things that only Star Trek fans would get, yet even the uninitiated will find the the movie thrilling and fun. Well done! The movie is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some brief sexuality.

Batman: The Dark Knight

Grade: A

Just brilliant!

The action was great, the acting superb, and the story compelling. Christian Bale turned in another great performance. Heath Ledger as the Joker knocked it out of the park. Aaron Eckhart, although overshadowed by the untimely death of ledger, was equally brilliant in his role as Harvey Dent / Two-Face. the story was definitely dark (as all Batman stories are), but they seemed to balance it out with having more of the events take place during daylight.

It is a year after the events from Batman Begins and Gotham City is again in trouble. The efforts of the vigilante Batman from outside the system, and Lt. Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent from within the system have made great strides in reducing the city's crime and corruption. The Joker emerges as the city's "new class of criminal," one that is not interested in personal gain but only in spreading chaos and terror. He holds the city in his grips as a homegrown, psychopathic terrorist with no agenda but destruction. The Joker represents all that is evil, Gordon represents all that is good and both the Bruce Wayne/Batman and Harvey Dent/Two-Face are in the middle. Harvey Dent, the "White Knight" who begins by giving the people hope then falls to his demons after personal tragedy in contrast to Bruce Wayne who begins in darkness (see Batman Begins) and rises above his demons to become the Dark Knight. The two characters are like mirror images, identical in every way except exact opposites, or like opposite sides of the same coin. Who will prevail, the ever good Lt. Gordon, the ever evil Joker, the White Knight turned villain Two-Face, or the Dark Knight turned hero Batman?

If you are a fan of the Batman franchise, you will LOVE this film. In fact, I am loving this new direction the Batman movies are being taken. The older generation of these movies were fun at the time, but these new ones are better in every way. It is rated PG-13 for very scary images and intense action. (Definitely not a movie for the light-hearted, or for children).

Iron Man

Grade: A+

I can't think of anything I didn't like. I must admit a few things first. When I heard that Robert Downey, Jr. was playing the lead role, I was very skeptical. And some of the movie's trailers made it look like it was going to be very corny. BUT, it was great. Downey was brilliant playing the likable prick, and soon to be superhero, Tony Stark. His supporting cast (Gweneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, etc.) was equally brilliant.

The mechanical genius and billionaire Tony Stark made a fortune creating and selling cutting edge weapons. However, after he is kidnapped by terrorists and forced to build a super weapon for them, he must use all of his ingenuity to build a weapon that will help him escape. He decides to devote himself to a superhero life, instead of that of a self-absorbed playboy, which he had led to that point. He becomes Iron Man, a hero who, like Bruce Wayne's Batman, holds the world's true superpowers: money and smarts. He builds a metal suit for himself that gives him strength, armor, projectile weapons, and (of course) flight.

I highly recommend this movie. It is PG-13 for some brief sexuality and epic superhero combat.

P.S. Stay until after the end credits for a little surprise.

I Am Legend, PG-13

Grade: A-

Wow! What a movie. Will Smith, once again, proves why he is one of America's national treasures. This post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller was full of emotion and action. The first half of the movie reminded me a lot of Cast Away, where Smith is the only person on screen, indeed in the "world." His means of coping with the loneliness came across as genuine and convincing.

Many critics say the end was disappointing, an opinion with which I can sympathize. It felt a little abrupt, and left a few unresolved plot points. An alternate ending is available (I found it on YouTube), which I am told more closely follows the book. I like both endings for different reasons. The original ending has a messianic quality to it: a savior must sacrifice to save the world, hearkening to the Time Magazine cover page displayed at the beginning with a picture of Smith's character and the title "Savior?" The alternate ending, however, does tie up the loose ends (even the ones you didn't realize were loose at the time), manages to portray the humanity in the "bad guys," and is "happier."

Overall, I really liked it. I am sure that I will watch it again.