28 Weeks Later (2007) R - 2½ Stars

The rage virus in London destroys the entire town but there are survivors. Don Harris (Robert Carlyle) and his wife survive the zombie like creatures only later to become one and the outbreak begins again. Will the entire town be nuked to put an end to the virus once and for all.

Not very scary and not real exciting to me.

20th Century Fox Distribution
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Writers: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Alex Garland, E.L. Lavigne
Producers: Alex Garland, Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald

I viewed 10/17

Frozen (2010) R - 4 Stars

I really don't remember hearing about this movie coming out but I have to say, I LOVED IT. The movie made me completely eerily uncomfortable with chills and the feeling of coldness. For that alone, I have to give it 4 stars for evoking that "edge of your seat" feeling throughout most of the movie. Frozen is a simple yet believable story line of 3 teens getting stuck on a chair lift as the mountain closes down for the weekend and everyone goes home not realizing they are still aboard the lift. Though the movie is sometimes slow it manages to raise your blood pressure significantly at times. I really loved the concept of the story line and you will think twice about being one of the last to get on a ski lift.

Parker O'Neil, (Emma Bell), her boyfriend Dan Walker, (Kevin Zegers), and his best friend Joe Lynch, (Shawn Ashmore), are all looking forward to a full day of snowboarding on Mount Holliston. Unfortunately they don't have enough money to all afford the lift tickets so they talk Parker into sweet talking the lift operator Jason, (Ed Ackerman), to let them ride for a flat cheaper rate. Jason agrees to pocket the extra money and look the other way. Parker is just learning how to snowboard so much of their day is spent with her practicing rather than racing downhill. Right at dusk, the three decide to take one last ride up the lift and give it everything they have coming down. Jason again lets them on the lift one last time but is called away after they depart and his replacement is told to look for three last kids coming down the mountain. As he sees three youths make their way down the slope he turns off the lift unaware these are not the three just sent up. Mount Holliston is in a small town and only open on weekends and now they are closing down until next weekend leaving Parker, Dan and Joe dangling in mid air. With a snow storm approaching, their cries going unnoticed and the trio must find a way off the lift before frostbite and hypothermia set in. That won't be an easy task as other unknown obstacles are in their way.

A Bigger Boat, ArieScope Pictures
Director: Adam Green
Writer: Adam Green
Producers: Peter Block, Cory Neal

9/11 The Falling Man (2006) NR 4 Stars

Very good documentary, tastefully done, about the worst day in modern U.S. history and in particular, one of it's most controversial photos published after the attacks on 9/11/2001.

The media quickly filled the newsstands with images of devastation and destruction of the terror attacks. It also filmed and published controversy images of people seemingly jumping to their deaths. One photo in a series taken by photographer Richard Drew, who just happened to be there, was labeled "The Falling Man." With it's powerful imagery, Drew captured the quiet and calmness of one man alone who felt there was no other choice. Many images were taken that day of people jumping/falling to their deaths but this one stood out symbolically. But after it's appearance in the next mornings news, it was "quickly airbrushed it out of history" due to it's gut wrench emotion no one wanted to continue to feel. The photograph was stifled and never seen again about being published on 9/12.

I remember viewing that photo and it was very hard to look at yet I couldn't look away. The images were quickly replaced with images of the heroic side of America coming together in the face of disaster. To prove you couldn't keep America down. But it's hard to imagine looking out of a window so high in the sky and thinking, yep I'm jumping. One can only imagine those horrific last moments of these victims lives.

The documentary follows one journalist who is committed to finding out the identity of this one brave man who seems so calm looking falling to his death. Like many others that day, who felt the better choice was to jump rather than burn, one can only imagine being faced with their options. But while trying to identify the man, one family's religious beliefs are shattered when the journalist tells them he believes it's their beloved father, brother and husband. They are unable to rest knowing his soul would go to hell by taking his own life. When it is finally revealed it is not their beloved, they can finally accept his death in peace. Even though the film finds a pretty good idea of who this man is, the film establishes the strength of the photo speaks for itself of the terror of that horrific day.

Like the tomb of the unknown soldier in, the picture represents everyone who lost their lives that day especially those who had felt they had no other option but to jump.

Awards:
2007 New York Festival - Best Documentary - Henry Singer

Darlow Smithson Productions
Director: Harry Singer
Writers: Tom Junod
Producers: Harry Singer, Sue Bourne, John Smithson

I viewed 5/16

The Reef (2010) R - 3½ Stars

The suspense in this movie is pretty good. I could feel my blood pressure raise more than a few times. Based on a true story, the movie offers you a good thrill ride. Though I would have liked to have gotten more acquainted with the characters before they were thrown out to sea, you really begin to feel their fear yelling to yourself, "Swim, you fools swim!"

A brother and sister, plus their significant others, Luke (Damian Walshe-Howling), Kate (Zoe Naylor), Suzie (Adrienne Pickering), Matt (Gyton Grantley) and Warren (Kieran Darcy-Smith) head off to explore Australia's Great Barrier Reef. When the boat tears a hole in the bottom of its haul, it capsizes leaving it's five travelers in the water. Now,the group has to decide if  they stay with the boat hoping to be rescued or put themselves in shark infested waters,  to swim to a shore more than 12 miles away they can't even see?

Lightning Entertainment, Screen Australia, Image Entertainment
Director: Andrew Traucki
Writer: Andrew Traucki
Producers: Andrew Traucki, Michael Robertson

I viewed 7/12

Stranded: I've come from a Plane That Crashed (2007) NR - 4 Stars

This is a very moving documentary about the 16 survivors of Uruguay's cricket team, who's plane crashed deep in the Andes October 13, 1972. After stranded 72 days, high atop the Andes mountain range of Chili, 2 exhausted survivors did the unthinkable by trekking over 8 large mountain ranges to get back to civilization. When all other hopes of rescue exhausted, these two brave young, men with little choice but to make it or die trying, crawl to freedom from their frozen tomb. Once they were found barely alive, their only thoughts were of getting help for their 14 friends still trapped in hell on the mountain. This documentary will make the hair stand up on your arms listening as the recapture their ordeal in the Andes.

I read the book, "Survived", when I was young and it has always stuck with me how these young men were forced with the decision to eat their fellow players in order to survive. Even learning that grinding done parts of the bone would give them a source of magnesium and calcium supplements their bodies needed to survive. These 16 survivors have uniquely special bond of a lifetime. Now, 30 years later in 2006, they reunite at the crash location and tell the stories to their families, and us the viewers, of permanent memories etched in their heads of the lose of their fallen friends.

Jose Algorta - Himself (as José Pedro Algorta)
Roberto Canessa - Himself
Alfredo Delgado - Himself
Daniel Fernandez - Himself (as Daniel Fernández)
Bobby Francois - Himself (as Roberto François)
Roy Harley - Himself
Jose Luis Inciarte - Himself (as José Luis Inciarte)
Alfredo Mangino - Himself (as Álvaro Mangino)
Javier Methol - Himself
Carlitos Paez - Himself (as Carlos Páez)
Nando Parrado - Himself (as Fernando Parrado)
Ramón Sabella - Himself
Adolfo Strauch - Himself
Eduardo Strauch - Himself
Antonio Vizintín - Himself
Gustavo Zerbino - Himself
José Gilberto Bravo Castro - Himself
Laura Canessa" - Herself (as Laura Inés Canessa)
Antonio Caruso - Himself
Juan Catalan - Himself (as Juan Catalán)
Sergio Catalan - Himself (as Sergio Catalán)
Jorge Massa - Himself
Juan Pedro Nicola - Himself
Mateo Nicola - Himself
Carlos Páez Vilaró - Himself (as Carlos Páez-Vilaró)
Madelón Rodríguez - Himself
Alejandra Strauch - Herself
Lucas Zerbino Payssé - Himself
Martín Zerbino Payssé - Himself
Sebastián Zerbino Payssé - Himself
Bernardo Antonaccio - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Rafael Beltrán - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Mauro Bettega - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Mario Bianchi - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Hilario Canessa - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Rodrigo Castellanos - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Pablo Collazo - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Juan Antonio Damiani - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Alfonso Díaz Cat - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Pablo Di Leva - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Nicolás Estrada - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Nicolás Furtado - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Joaquín Jaume - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Simón López Ortega - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Romeo López Ortega -Actor in reconstructed scenes (as Romero López Ortega)
Pablo Magariños - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Silvana Magrini - Actress in reconstructed scenes
Javier Martínez - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Pedro Musto - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Pilar Pelfort - Actress in reconstructed scenes
Carlos Scure Lacoste - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Ariel Tornin - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Rafael Soliwoda - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Alejandro Zivov - Actor in reconstructed scenes
Ernesto Cantu - Narrator (noncredit)

Columbia Pictures
Directors:Gonzalo Arijon
Writers:Gonzalo Arijon, Deborah Ford
Producers:Sally Jo Fifer,Mariela Genta,Sergio Gándara,Virginia Martínez Vargas

I viewed 4/12

Aftershock (2010) NR - 4 Stars

The film, aka "Tangshan dadizhen," is dedicated and based upon the true story of separation and loss in families from an earthquake in Tangshan, China on July 27, 1976, killing over 240,000 people. Be prepared for a tear jerker as you witness a town pick up the pieces of their life and try to move forward. The movie starts out with a swarm of dragonflies and the sky turns bright purple at the beginning of the earthquake. I'm unsure if that is suppose to represent eye witness accounts or just special effects to enhance the story. Either way, these actors work their little fanny's off with superior dramatic performances from all. You won't mind the Chinese subtitles but instead be completely absorbed by the story. I would recommend viewing this film to anyone who needs to write a chapter in their gratitude journey.

Fang Da (Chen Li) and Fang Deng (Jingchu Zhang) are brother and sister and twins living with their family in the small town of Tangshan in China. Their father, Fang Da Qiang (Guoqiang Zhang), is a truck driver and takes the children on his errands in his truck. They live a simple life an he's just bought his family a new fan to help cool them off. Their mother, Li Yuanni (Fan Xu), welcomes the new addition as she adores her family so much she is trying to convince dad they need another child. But as they are planning their new bundle of joy, an earthquake erupts and as they fight to get back in their home, it begins to topple. Li Yuanni is pushed back by Fang Da Qiang as he fights his way through the falling debris to get the children. The building can withstand no more and caves in burying him in the rubble. The children are pinned below a piece of concrete that is crushing the boy's arm on one side and pinning Fang Deng completely beneath. Since there is now way to life the heavy material and more aftershocks threaten to crush the remaining pockets of air they have, the rescuers force Li Yuanni to decide whether to swing the concrete in one direction or the other, only allowing one of them to survive and be freed. Though she begs to save both she must utter the fatal words to save her son and Fang Deng is written off as dead along with her father.

The next 32 years of Li Yuanni's life will be scarred with the memory of her daughter and having to make the choice over her son. Even though Fang Da tries to move her into a nice location, she refuses to leave in case the souls of her daughter and husband try to come home. Meanwhile, Fang Deng comes back to life after being pulled free of he rubble and left for dead, surrounded by her father and many more dead bodies. When she awakes, she can not remember anything and ends up in an orphanage where she is adopted by two members of the Chinese army Wang Deqing (Daoming Chen), and Dong Guilan (Jin Chen). The couple raises the child as their own but eventually Fang Deng gets her memory back and the tell her of her adoption. Now, in the back of Fang Deng's memory is the one of her mother choosing to save her brother which she finds unforgivable to bother to try and find her. Even though Fang Deng now lives in Canada and has a child of her won, she must return to her home country when she learns another earthquake has just leveled her small home town. She works side by side in the rescue efforts with a man she will learn is her brother. Little does she know she's about to be reunited with her long lost family.

Awards include:
2010 - Asia Pacific Screen Award - Best Film
2010 - Asian Film Awards - Best Actress Fan Xu

Tangshan City Government, China Film Group, Huayi Brothers
Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writers: Wu Si, Ling Zhang
Producers: Yanhong Guo, Xiaofeng Hu, Sanping Han

I viewed 8/12

9/11: In Plane Sight - 2007 N/R - 3½ Stars

There have only been a couple handfuls of movies I've seen that have inspired me to immediately go to my computer and write down my review. Sometimes it's because the movie is so twisted if I don't write it now I'll never be able to fully remember. At times,some movies are so bad I'm angry to have wasted my good time viewing it, and to warn others to avoid it. Even occasionally they hit me deeply and I feel everyone should get the opportunity to view. In this case, this documentary affected me and I sit here thinking what can one person do to change it, and more importantly can anyone stop or change it. This makes me just plain angry and if anything I can do as one person is to encourage you to at least keep an open mind, watch this film, and be aware that all you see and read is not always as it seems.

It seems we, as Americans, go about our daily lives like a herd of cattle being led into eventual slaughter. We choose to not see what "CONTROL" our government has over us. From what we eat, what we buy and where we buy, to what we hear, read and believe to be true, as broadcast through our many forms of media, we've become controlled robots. And whether you want to believe it affects you personally, take off those rose tinted glasses and watch this film before you say that can not be true and it happens to us again.

I've always said War is good business! Some of our biggest monetary corporations have been formed around the business of war. Without it, we would not be the Super Power of the world and could get away with some of the shit we pull on other nations. But not only does war bring in the big money, it does something way more important; it creates fear! Fear can be the biggest form of control over a human being. As a rule, if we humans are led to believe certain truths, we are then bred to react in a certain fashion. It's human nature that we form our opinions based on what we've done, we've seen and what we are told by others. This can in sense me to an extreme when I listen to people speak who are so close minded they have allowed this conditioning to control their thought process and would never allow their minds to think in a different direction. Thus, probably why we are - where we are today.

I am one of the people "Oh ye, of little faith," was named for. I question almost everything that I am told and actively seek out other forms of documentations to form my own opinion of what is the "truth". It's so easy to get caught up in the fear of what it might be, to the effort it takes of figuring out what it really is. Example, if I hear a strange noise in or outside my house fear instantly is instilled due to my involvement of media influence, but instead, I pragmatically and logically figure our the root of the noise. We'll our new 21st century fear is Terrorism!

The thought of being terrorized, stalked and prayed upon has always been a fear in the back of the minds of most of us. That uneasy feeling that makes you clutch your purse tightly, install extra locks for your doors, judge people by the color of their skin and believe what people in power tell you to do, all because of fear. It's a great way to control. Conspiracy theories have always abounded and 9/11 is nothing new there. But, I am one to believe that everyone has a price and can be bought, people disappear for knowing too much and/or questioning authority and I don't believe everything I see and hear. Yes there are times that bad things happen to good people for no reason at all. And even though you can not make logic of it, you must accept it. But I will never accept that what happened on our own soil on September 11, 2001, was carried out by a third world - under educated country with box knifes.

Watch this documentary, one of the best I have seen on the subject. Someone has actually taken the time to construct evidence that proves these mighty structures could not have come down on their own. Look into why there are such limited remains of plane parts and bodies, and how what they say happened just isn't logically possible. If you think big government doesn't have the control to pull one over on your eyes, watch some of the other documentaries I have posted showing how big business, government and greed are taking over how our food is created, produced and chemically altered in the name of progress. Remember, the health industry is one of the most productive industries of today and major players in our Congress, Senate and all forms of government were once CEO's and major players of these huge corporations are making the decisions of our health. Form your own opinon on how 3 buildings can implode, large planes fit in tiny holes and also disinigrate in open fields.

After watching, please stop blaming Obama for all of today's nations problems. Educate your selves to see where the largest money is to be made with the biggest influence of control. Remember Romney is already one of the biggest financial big-wigs going. Another good ole boy like the Bush's. His monetary power can only help secure a larger fence between us common folk and the fear backed by big business with control.

Wow I do sound like a radical.
After thought, I just asked my boyfriend if he thought there was any possibility of our government behind 9/11 and his answer was absolutely NOT. "Someone would have talked by now as it would have been too big of an operation." I completely disagree as too many people work in our government on a "need-to-know" basis. Thus, I guess that names me the radical type buying into conspiracy theories. I'm that cattle over watching the neighbors field, trying to contemplate my escape, while he is one of the cattle calmly grazing in the field. Watch the film and decide for yourself.

Director: William Lewis
Writer: Dave Vonkleist
Producer: Dave Vonkleist

I viewed 5/12

Apollo 18 (2011) PG13 - 2½ Stars

I have mixed emotions about this film. On one hand, I love thrillers that involve monsters and for that fact alone, the movie intrigued me to pay close attention. On the other hand, even though some of the shots are re-created of the moon fairly well, you have to say WTF to the tease on the box that the movie was made from actual footage. Though the movie did give me the heebee jeebees a few times, I was disappointed when the "evil" appeared as I had envisioned it a whole lot differently. This film could have been so much more as the story line is an interesting topic but I feel the creators blew it by trying to promote it as actual footage rather than focus on special effects. The effort should have been made jazzing it to more of a "War of the Worlds" epic. It's a decent attempt at capturing the era, just not executed very well. Anymore said would be a spoiler to those who want to see it. I guess I have to put it in my based on a true story category as that's what the box says.

Found old footage from NASA's 1974 top secret Apollo 18 mission, is exposed to show why the United States has never made another trip to the moon. Astronauts Ben Anderson (Warren Christie), John Grey (Ryan Robbins) and Nate (Lloyd Owen) set out for what they are told is a top secret mission back to the moon. Instead, they find out just why we have never been back.

Dimension Films, Bekmambetov Projects Ltd. (BPL), Apollo 18 Productions
Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego
Writer: Brian Miller
Producers: Michele Wolkoff, Timur Bekmambetov, Cody Zwieg

I viewed 1/12

Monsters (2010) R - 3 Stars

So I just joined Netflix from my Xbox and flipped through a few movie selections and accidentally hit the icon for this movie. Okay so since it's a lazy rainy day, I decided to give in and check out what Monsters has to offer.

The movie sort of throws you right into the action with very little set up, making it take awhile to warm up to the characters. She's a semi spoiled rich girl seeking answers to her reservations against her upcoming wedding while visiting San Jose, Central America. He's an arrogant cocky yet determined photographer who's more concerned with getting his shot then the couples safety. Though the stand out like a sore thumb in the middle of another country, fear knows no boundaries and they soon fit in with the other panicked residents.

I did like the electrifying baby growths attached to the trees and the monsters were pretty good. I also liked showing two languages with sub titles easy to follow. For a low budget independent Sci-Fi's thriller, the special effects are pretty damn good. It's cheesy but does have it's moments and worth the rent if you like Sci-Fi.

When a NASA space probe crashes to earth, not far from the American border, Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy), an American journalist, is on the front line in the danger zone, trying to capture the first live photos. Samantha "Sam" Wynden (Whitney Able), the daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner who happens to have hired Kaulder, has gone missing from her trip inside of Mexico. Kaulder pledges to his boss, Sam's father, that he will find her and get her safely back to the United States. But their journey will not be a easy one since it will take them directly into the Infected Zone where alien monsters run ramped, destroying anything in their way. Two strangers stuck in a nightmare will discover romance and terror as they make they way back to safety.

Awards include:

• 2010 - Austin Film Critics - Best First Film
• 2010 - National Board of Review - Best Independent Film

Vertigo Films,  Magnet Releasing
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writer: Gareth Edwards
Producers: Allan Niblo, James Richardson

I viewed 2/12

Contagion (2011) PG13 - 3½ Stars

Scary look at our world's bacteria and germ problems and how what we do can effect the entire world. Through something as simple of a bat eating a banana, the world's immune system becomes compromised, with millions of people dying. Contagion gives a reasonable account on what the world is faced with in the fear of a pandemic viral outbreak. Rumors spread fast throughout the Internet, people panic and rules are broken all to save personal life yet we still don't take proper precautions to keep ourselves safe.

With an all star cast, the movie could have been so much better if the focus was more on the horrible deaths and lives upended globally. At the beginning it's very scary watching how fast a virus can infect the world and the lives it takes. For me, it would have been much scarier and more realistic if the focus showed more of the taking of lives, showing how tragically a virus can spread and it's horrible consequences. With our recent epidemic of Swine flu, effecting the entire world, the movie is probably loosely based on that fear brought to the surface showing how easily this can happen. Luckily we live in a modern world with modern technology to work on solutions faster, but the threats of bacterial contamination producing deadly viruses are real and should be in our faces more often.

Dr. Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard), Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne), Dr. Ally Hextall (Jennifer Ehle), and Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet), are up against the wall when an unknown lethal airborne virus is discovered and people around the world are dying within 24-48 hours of contact. Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), is a business woman traveling to Hong Kong in the wrong place at the wrong time. She comes in contact with a virus newly formed after her company recklessly bull dozes banana trees down in a community of bats. As she returns home, her husband Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon), hopelessly watches her agonizing death that quickly spreads to their small son. Though Mitch appears to be immune to the disease, the world is at a standstill awaiting a solution from administrators at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. With the government not telling all, people have turned to the Internet and battle with false information and reporters like Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law), trying to make a name for themselves.

Participant Media, Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, Warner Brother Pictures
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns
Producers: Steve Soderberg, Ricky Strauss, Stacey Sher

I viewed 1/12

The Edge (1997) R - 4 Stars

Though the movie, aka  "Bookworm," and "The Wild," could have been a little more action packed, I really liked the way it gave me tingles up and down my spine, making me nervous. A 3½ Star movie, I'm pushing it up because of that uncomfortable feeling it gives and it's subtle message of surviving life. Bart the Bear is very intimidating in this movie and remarkably, a great actor. Hopkins, as always, brings his role to the table, first class, playing an introverted millionaire, preserving a mind filled to capacity with trivial, yet important, information. He's married to a younger wife and suspects her photographer, Baldwin, and she are having an affair. Quit by accident, the men are left to fend for themselves when their tour plane crashes, leaving them stranded in the wilderness, fighting for survival. The scenery is awesome!

Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins), is an eccentric old millionaire married to a much younger wife, Mickey (Elle MacPherson). She's asked him to go away with her to a lodge in Alaska where she will be doing a photo shot for Robert, 'Bob' Green (Alec Baldwin). As it's his birthday, it would be good for them to get away.

Along with photo assistant Stephen (Harold Perrineau), they arrive at the lodge owned by Styles ((L.Q. Jones). The birthday party is a success but Charles can't help notice the way Bob and his wife look at each other. He tries to put his differences aside when Bob gives him a gift of a sharp pocket knife for his birthday. Mickey gives him a stylish pocket watch, engraved inside of her devoted love.

Bob is looking for something to take his photo shot to the edge and notices a picture of Indian Jack Hawk (Gordon Tootoosis), on the wall. He wants to find Jack and include him in his photo shoot. Jack lives about 70 miles away and the only way to get there is by plane. Pilot (Eli Gabay), arranges to fly Charles, Bob and Stephen, to find Jack Hawk and persuade him to come back for the shoot. As the plane runs into flying geese, the motors are torn a apart, sending the plan into the river below, killing the pilot as the plane goes down. Barley escaping with their lives, Charles, Bob and Stephen are trapped in the middle of nowhere with very limited resources. When a massive grizzly begins to stalk them, it's every man for himself as they try to stay alive.

One Step Up Inc.,
Director: Lee Tamahori
Writer: David Mamet
Producer: Art Linson

I viewed 2/11

Polar Storm (2009) PG13 - 2½ Stars

Oh why can't we make a good science fiction with some good acting and special effects. While this made for T.V. movie did have me captivated, half way through the movie things were becoming absurd. The submarine animation was ridiculous and impossible and the fact the world can be in one mans hand, God help us all. The acting couldn't be much worse for most of the star characters, I mean the kids friend and a father dies and they hardly show emotion? But in fairness, it looks like they did the best they could in their budget. It's not a horrible Sci-Fi, I've definitely seen worse. The stories concept is right on for me just not well executed.

All eyes are star gazing a massive comet passing closer to earth than ever before. Dr. James Mayfield, (Jack Coleman), is taking calculations from a post in Alaska when a peice breaks off and heads straight towards earth. Mayfield is able to download his data before the comet collides proving his therory that the earth has been thrown off it's axis disturbing the Earth's magnetic field.

Mayfield's wife Cynthia, (Holly Dignard), and son Shane, (Tyler Johnston), are left to fend for themselves as they try to get out of the electrical pulse zone. The President, (Roger R. Cross), must enlist the aide of Dr. Mayfield, his father the General, (Terry David Mulligan), and a group of Russian sailors to try and save the planet.



First Look Studios, Cinetel Films, Insight Film Studios
Director: Paul Ziller
Writers: Paul Ziller, Jason Bourque
Producer: Breanne Hartley

I viewed 12/10

Food, Inc. (2008) PG - 4 Stars

Food Inc., is a very eye opening movie that everyone should see and hopefully respond, forming a stronger unit of American consumers. If we ever want to see Agricultural and Industrial standards changed, our collective voices must be heard. We all need to answer the questions of why it is cheaper to feed your family fast, over processed food than it is to eat healthy. It appears this whole agricultural automation might just be what kills us. Instead of celebrating less people visiting hospitals, big business uses their control to send us there faster.  Small farmers have been forced to work for big corporations that put profit ahead of consumer health. After all, pharmaceutical, health, and insurance companies all feed off this political corporate business of America. Please watch this documentary, get angry and help do something about it to insure the health of future generations The part that was the scariest to me is when it shows how many people we have put in the White House that have solid ties to our USDA and FDA regulations. Follow one woman's journey to reform the system after her young son died of E. coli from consuming hamburgers at a fast food restaurant. He died 12 days later and in his absence, "Kevin's Law" was born.

Awards:
2009 - Washington D.C. Film Critics Association - Best Documentary

Participant Media, EFilm, Film Finances, Inc., DeWitt Stern Group
Director: Robert Kenner
Producers: Elise Pearlstein, Robert Kenner

I viewed 12/10

2012 (2009) PG13 - 3½ Stars

While 2012, was a fun epic disaster movie, I was little disappointed in it's visual effects. I liked the volcano eruptions at Yellow Stone but the ground giving way while a limo hangs to the road as it unfold behind it, that part was a little far fetched to me. Though I have to admit it has good action and makes you hang on the edge of your seat a few times. But I'm wondering was this is the only family from that city that was able to get out in time? A perfect role for Woody Harrelson as I love him playing dim witted yet intelligent roles.

Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), is now a single dad competing with his ex wife's Kate's (Amanda Peet), new husband in the eyes of his children. Only seeing his children Noah (Liam James), and Lillie (Morgan Lily), on occasional weekends, has caused bitterness with his young son who simply adores his new step father Gordon (Tom McCarthy). On Jackson's weekend trip with his kids to Yellowstone, they stumble across a strange man Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), who's broadcasting through his RV radio that the world is coming to an end. Even when Jackson finds the ideal spot he and Kate used to camp in, the small lake is dry and no one seems to be having a good time. The kids want to go home and see Gordon and their mom so the camping trip is cut short.

But as Jackson drops the children back home, he starts thinking about what Charlie Frost was broadcasting over his radio and as the ground starts to shift around him, he heads back to Kate's house to retrieve everyone and get them to safety. The household unloads into Jackson's limo and they all race away barely avoiding the street that is breaking in two behind them. But where do they go from here? Charlie had mentioned he had a map to a secret place that large Arks were being built in order to survive the massive floods and turmoil the entire earth is about to go through. Now, they're only question is can they make it in time.

Centropolis Entertainment, Mark Gordon Company, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Director: Roland Emmerich
Writers: Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser
Producers: Larry Franco, Mark Gordon, Harald Kloser

I viewed 3/10

Knowing (2009) PG13 - 3½ Stars

This movie had me really going until the ending. Perhaps, a better ending would have been to show Earth, accepting the disaster thrown upon it, while "knowing," that life will still exist some day. I felt it somewhat presumptuous on the writers part taking into consideration only one religion of the world. But having said all that, I think Cage was at one of his better moments in time with this movie. Plenty of special effects and the action scenes and the airplane crash is pretty awesome. So much so, I backed up one part up about 4 times to see it over again. Granted there are a lot of things that happen in this movie that couldn't possibly really happen, but I love the concept and would have given it 4 stars if it didn't end so bad.

It's Massachusetts, 1959, and the newly constructed William Dawes Elementary School is having a ceremony to mark the occasion. Miss Taylor (Danielle Carter), and her class of young students, have been chosen to draw pictures of what they think the future will look like. Most of the students draw pictures of space ships and robots and fantasy worlds. But one young girl Lucinda (Lara Robinson), spends the entire assignment scribbling the front and back page of her imagery with a series of numbers. The class drawings are then placed in envelopes with the name of the student who drew it printed on the front. Now these images have been consumed into the time capsule where future generations of young students will unlock them, 50 years from now.

Professor John Koestler (Nicolas Cage), lives alone with his young son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury). Caleb's mother was killed from smoke inhalation in a hotel fire, two years prior making John overly protective on what he allows his young son to do. While he and Caleb attend the ceremony of the opening of the time capsule, Caleb is given the drawing Lucinda, made 50 years ago. At dinner, Professor Koestler sees the paper, wondering what the numbers represent. As he studies it closer, he notices amazing coincidence between certain numbers and certain disasters that have happened over the last 50 years. Next to each date, lays also the number of lives lost from each particular tragedy. The more his obsession grows over cracking this seeming decoded message, the farther his beliefs show him Lucinda was predicting the future. With the last three dates showing disasters yet to have happened, he feels he must try and intervene where ever possible to prevent the codes from harming his son.

Escape Artists, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment
Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Ryne Pearson, Stuart Hazeldine, Juliet Snowden
Producers: Steve Tisch, Alex Proyas, Jason Blumenthal

I viewed 7/09

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) PG13 - 3 Stars

I have to say I was anxiously awaiting this movie to come out but was disappointed in the results. Especially, when comparing it to the 1951 version. Yes all the special effects are there, but why such a Huge Electrifying, yet visually stimulating, space glob for one man and a large robot? I think I prefer the good old flying saucer type ship of old. However, I did like the flamed inferno they tried to hold Gort in while trying to penetrate his metal to see what makes him tick. That was probably my favorite part of the movie. For me at least, the remake would have been better if they pretended like it was still the 50's and just souped it up with some believable special effects. Perhaps added a tinny sounding twilight zone type soundtrack, that made the original such a success. The relationship between Jacob and this alien was not really believable to me. He had the "little poor kid" syndrome and I didn't feel that bond like the bond between the "eager to teach" Bobby and Mr. Carpenter in the 51 version.

I read a review saying feeling this nostalgic was like trying to recapture childhood memories. I just watched it for the first time since my youth and was not etched in my mind as one of my favorites from back then. But the concept IS from the innocent era of one alien man and his robot sent to earth to put it back on the right track. If you're going to remake it, than keep the same feel, otherwise take it to a totally new level, based on the original, maybe with more aliens causing havoc. Example, the 1964 version of War of the Worlds is one of my favorite childhood movies, I'll never forget. The remake was based on the same concept but the movie took it to a totally different scariness for the audience of today.

Scientists are immediately brought together when NASA discovers an object is rapidly approaching on a collision course with earth. Their mission, to come up with way to stop this gigantic meteorite from crashing into New York and taking out the rest of the planet with it. But there's no time, in approx. 70 minutes, life on earth will come to an end. As the team counts down the seconds awaiting impact, there is none. Instead, a huge cosmic sphere embarks in the middle of Central Park. Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), is one of the first on scene to view the orb up close and as the smoke clears, out from it emerges an iridescent alien being. And of course, being the human race that we are, we immediately shoot it. After realising the creature is dying, it's rushed, under military guard, to a hospital hoping to repair it's injuries. But this extraterrestrial didn't come alone. His enormous bodyguard robot, Gort, emerges from the pod. Little does anyone know, these two beings are on a mission to heed warning of a global destruction since the people of earth don't value their planet.

Doctors are amazed as the alien begins to mend his own wounds and evolve into a human looking species who calls himself Klaatu (Keanu Reeves). He and his robot are here to meet with all heads of nations to warn them that they will be destroyed for the ridiculous wars, lack of humanity, and human destruction that has been bestowed upon the planet. Regina Jackson (Kathy Bates), Secretary of Defense, is determined to hold the alien under guard and refuse to grant him a his wish of meeting with the world. But Dr. Helen Benson, feels there is good inside of Klaatu and helps him escape into the crowd. Now it is up to her to make Klaatu understand that the human race is worth saving. Along with her son Jacob Benson (Jaden Smith), the two will stop at nothing to try and convince Klaatu to leave the planet intact.

20th Century Fox Distribution
Director: Scott Derrickson
Writers: David Scarpa, Ryne Douglas Pearson
Producers: Gregory Goodman, Erwin Stoff, Paul Harris Boardman

I viewed 4/09

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) G - 4 Stars

I decided to watch the old version of this movie first in order to see the similarities between this, and the 2008 version. The 1951 version is a timeless classic, "G" rated none the less. You just can't replace the innocence of that time period. Families huddled together in front of their small black and white televisions and radios, while the crowds outside gather eagerly to get a closer look of the spaceship that's landed in Washington D.C.. The broadcasters and reporters, always with their fedora hats, smoking at their desks, while spitting play by play live broadcast into huge microphones, as the events unfold. And the music is priceless and quite frankly, having grown up in this era, they just don't make um like this anymore. Other than the wrinkles in the robots suit when he walks, I'll stick to this old version!

It's just another typical day in 1951, for the typical people of Washington D.C.. As they go about their daily business, a space lands in the middle of an open field. As the crowd of onlookers gather around, out pops Klaatu (Michael Rennie), a dashingly debonair spaceman from another planet, along with his bodyguard robot Gort (Lock Martin). Their mission, to communicate with the leaders of all nations of planet earth in a peaceful manor. But as Klaatu reaches for a gift to share with the earth, he is shot. This doesn't make Gort very happy but before Klaatu passes out, he mummers language to Gort that stops him dead in in tracks.

Klaatu is taken to an observatory hospital to have the bullet removed when he pulls out a chemical that heals himself. He is then sent to take a lie detector test to prove who he is. Instead he turns the tables and escapes into the general population, taking refuge in a boarding house under the name of Mr. Carpenter. It is there he meets Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Bobby (Billy Gray). Helen and Bobby take a liking to Mr. Carpenter and Helen even entrusts her son to spending the day with him, touring the important buildings of Washington. It is his hope that he can find someone smart enough to get his message through to. Bobby suggests that scientist, Dr. Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), is the smartest person he knows and together they approach his home looking for him. Even thought Dr. Barnhardt is out, Mr Carpenter makes quite an impression with him as he adds to an equation on Dr. Barnhardt's blackboard. But when no one will take him seriously, he literally makes the world stand still at 12:00 noon the next day, to prove his point.

Awards:

1951 - The Day the Earth Stood Still - Golden Globe - Motion Picture Promoting International Understanding
1951 - The Day the Earth Stood Still - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Motion Picture Promoting International Understanding
1994 - The Day the Earth Stood Still - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry

20th Century Fox
Director: Robert Wise
Writer: Edmund H. North
Producer: Julian Blaustein

I viewed 4/09

Nature Unleashed: Avalanche (2004) PG13 - 3 Stars

Even though the acting can't get much cheesier, even though the special effects are far from special, even though the story is possible but oh not practical, I still found myself somewhat engaged in the movie. I guess there is just enough anticipation of "the event", to keep me wanting of more. Not your greatest disaster movie but then most aren't, it gives just enough to cheer on the crowd, searching for those buried alive. Problem is, they sure didn't search for many and of course there's that one villainous bad guy that you want to see bite it first. You can probably bury this one unless you like snow or disaster movies.

A new hotel is just about to open at an elite ski resort in the small village of Dubruz, high in the Ural mountains. Satellite pictures are reported to avalanche specialist, Katya (Kate Henry), that the ice is cracking and giving way underneath a glazier high atop the mountain, and it's about to cause major problem for the town below. Two brothers Thom (Adam Croasdell) and Jock (Andrew Lee Potts), who run a snowmobile business, many vacationers, and other snow seeking adventurers, take heed to the warning signs that the mountain is about to swallow them alive.

Nu Image Films
Director: Mark Roper
Writer: John Sheppard
Producers: Avi Lerner, Iliya Sotirov, David Varod, Jamie Brown, Gary Howsam

I viewed 11/08

20 Years After (2008) R - 3 Stars

I think this movie, aka "Like Moles, Like Rats" is styled after the same theory as "Children of Men." Mankind's existence is threatened after plague and war. Even though a lot of the acting is pretty weak, I did love the Doctor of the Soul, Samuel. For a small budget film, it's a decent rental at 3 stars.

Basically this Post-Apocalyptic film takes place after World War III erupted, with the fallen out of bombs, and the plagues that ran their course, not many have survived. Those who have, are living underground like moles and rats, or sealed up in a basements. Everyone is in it for their own gain and it's hard to know who to trust. Food consists of insects, water is scarce and wondering to far outside could get you killed. But hope lies ahead for the future when one pregnant girl is about to give life to a new generation.

Sarah (Azura Skye), and her mother Margaret (Diane Salinger), are held up in a basement as Sarah is almost ready to give birth. No child has been born in 15 years and Sarah is about to make history. But it's not safe to go to far away from your shelter, so the two have made the best of it where they are. Sarah clings to her radio listening to the voice of Michael (Joshua Leonard) who broadcasting from another area, and brings new hope from the outside world. Samuel (Reg E. Cathey), comes up from the very sub basement beneath them, where he's been living. This doctor of the soul, has a way to take the viewer back to see themselves before the war.

Samuel encourages the women to leave the home and head towards a larger colony in a cave. Michael from the radio has also made his way to the cave and everyone finds comfort in each other. That is until David (Nathan Baesel) Margaret's son and Sarah's brother, whom they have not seen in 20 years, is working on the side of evil to take Sarah's baby away. Will the good of family win out over the greed of evil?


Kooroc Films, LLC.
Director: Jim Torres
Writers: Ron Harris, Jim Torres
Producer: Derek Thornton

I viewed 11/08

War of the Planets (2005) PG13 - 2½ Stars

The movie should be called War ON the planet as the battle the entire movie doesn't go to far from the site of their crashed rocket. It's pretty bad when the graphics on the cover of the DVD box look better than any of those in the movie. Very low budget Sci-Fi film that appears to feature the director and his family members and friends as cast. Story line ends up being very weak however having said all that, I actually somewhat enjoyed the movie. I liked the concept of the crews vulnerability at the start of the film being picked off as a food source and they could do nothing about it. Though all of the monster, alien and special effects not very scary and that of something you could do in your back yard, I would be very interested in seeing what a high quality special effects production company could do with the story. I was unable to find a list of the actors names but I do know that Mike Conway also plays the minister in the film and I'm assuming the other Conway must be his wife.

A group of 12 scientists, engineers and experts in their fields are sent to a mission to colonize a new planet. The journey will take 15 years to reach so the crew are put to sleep for that time period and awakened at their new destination. Problem is, as they slept, the ship was hit by a meteor that knocked out their tracking and monitoring and they crash land into an unknown world.

Everyone knows that after sleeping in a pod for 15 years, none of your muscles or joints will function until they are re-awakened with stimulation thus making it impossible to move until the recirculation occurs. Well that's the freaky part of the film as the crew are now sitting ducks for a flesh eating creature that is munching on them one at a time. When they finally are free of the creature, the learn that their ship and crew have been put behind a in a giant wall of glass as they are being studied by aliens. Their new mission is to survive and colonize this hostel world.

Lightning Entertainment, Lion's Gate Films
Director: Mike Conway
Writer: Mike Conway

I viewed 10/08