The Golden Compass (2007) PG - 3½ Stars

A very elaborate production and visually the movie is stunning but acting wise, it lacks. The best part to me was the Polar Bear "Ice Bear" fight. Sometimes I felt there was more CGI than competent acting going on. There's a lot left unsaid that made me question the movie instead of loosing myself in it. For example, what time period are we supposed to be in? How did Lyra become to live in the dorm where she did? At first I questioned why Lyra would talk to this strange bearded man and then just leave aboard a ship with him. The ending apparently brings the lure of a sequel but a let down after a fairly good battle scene. I'm not sure why the movie had so many problems being labeled anti god or anti religious. Could it be the witches? It's just a fantasy good vs. evil story to me but I think it could have been so much better.

Our star is a young girl who befriends a bear and travels to the north to save her best friend. Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) is a 12 year old on the quest of a life time. The Magesterium is working to maintain their power within a developing society of people wanting to think for themselves. They're against people like her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), who wants to travel to a parallel world and then is almost poisoned for his non conformity.

The Golden Compass is the last of it's kind and everyone wants a look at it. But Lyra is the true owner as she is the only that can read it. The compass shows the owner, with it's hidden codes, the answers to all truths. Lyra uses it to travel north to find her best friend and the other children who are being separated from their demons. Every human has a demon, your soul in the form of a creature traveling outside of your body. Together with the Egyptians, the flying witches, the fighting Ice Bears, a crazy arrogant Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman), Lyra tries to complete her quest.

2007 - The Golden Compass - Academy - Best Visual Effects.

New Line Cinema
Directors: Anand Tucker, Chris Weitz
Writer: Chris Weitz
Producers: Deborah A. Forte, Bill Carraro

I viewed 5/08

Hancock (2008) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I was a bit disappointed in the concept of this movie. Not like "Superman" or "Spiderman" seems like reality to me, however this idea was borderline silly. I just loved Will Smith, in his powerful performance in "I Am Legend" but to me this was plain silly. To me, it's more of a comedy than a believable drama but still a decent rental.

Hancock (Will Smith), is not your average superhero. He wants to do good, but the fact that he is an alcoholic, clouds his judgement when it comes to properly addressing a problem. He's sarcastic, crude and doesn't really care much what the public thinks of him. As he saves the life of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), from being hit by an oncoming train, it costs the tax payers of Los Angeles plenty from all the damage he causes, trying to protect. The people have finally had enough of his shenanigans and Ray, feeling indebted to the Superhero, takes on the mission of giving Hancock a new public image.

Public Realtions is Ray's job and he is sure he can change Hancock's perception by the public. On the other hand, Ray's wife Mary (Charlize Theron) is not pleased when Ray is brought home and literally dropped off, with his car, in the front yard. But there's a close bond between them all that put's Hancock back on track, to becoming the greatest Superhero the world has ever seen.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Director: Peter Berg
Writers: Vy Vincent Ngo, Vince Gilligan
Producers: Will Smith, James Lassiter, Akiva Goldsman

I viewed 11/08

Equilibrium (2002) R - 3½ Stars

When this movie first started, I was thinking, oh man this is going to suck as I didn't understand what was going on. But I stuck with it and actually it ended up having a decent story line. If you like a good action Matrix type - kick ass movie, then you'll like this one.

It's the beginning of the 21st Century and WWIII has erupted and from it a new nation is born called Libria. This nation is run by Dupont (Angus MacFadyen) under "Father's" law of complete conformity. The belief is that all wars are based on people's emotions of jealousy and rage so by making everyone equal there is no competition. This new society of equilibrium is insured when citizens must inject themselves daily with a dose of Prozia II to eliminate any chance of feeling emotional. Any form of creativity or any objects that trigger vanity and emotion are outlawed and immediately destroyed. Citizens caught with such items or showing any form of emotion, are immediately subject to death by incineration.

Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) is a Grammaton, a real bad ass when it comes to fighting, and his job is to track down and punish these "sense offenders." Four years prior his wife was taken from his family of two children, and burned for showing feelings of emotion with them.

When John was washing his face one morning, his dose of Prozia II was breaks when it hit the floor. Not being able to get another dose right away, he starts to look at the world in a new light. When the Grammaton raid a commune of sense offenders, a small puppy licks him and triggers a whole array of feelings. In the raid, Mary O'Brian (Emily Watson) is taken prioner and he becomes completly fascinated with her. After meeting with her a few times, Mary tells him what type of life is worth living if there is nothing to be felt. He begins hiding his doses of the drug and eventually awakens his feelings that had lay dormant for so long. Now with these senses hightened, he joins up with the underground refugees that refuse to take their meds and together it gives them the passion to fight for freedom.

Dimension Films/MGM
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Producer: Lucas Foster, Jan de Bont

I viewed 4/18

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

Paul (2011) R - 3½ Stars

I have to say this is a movie I would probably not have rented on my own. My friend owns a copy and told me to put on my happy face, sip a little wine and keep an open mind while I watched it. I have to say Paul is an unexpectedly funny almost "cute" movie, though watching the unrated version, I doubt "cute" is the proper word. This is not a movie for children as it does contain many adult situations and strong language but if you need a good laugh it can probably find one of your funny bones.

Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), an alien from another world, has been on planet earth now for years working solely with our government answering and sharing information. Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg), and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost), two English Sci-Fi geeks and comic book fanatics, are on their way to the Comic-Con convention in San Diego, California. They have rented an RV and vow to have their greatest adventure by visiting every site of major extraterrestrial importance along the way. While headed to New Mexico deserts of Area 51, they stop to help a car that raced passed them and crashed off the side of the road. Paul emerges from the accident he tells Graeme and Cliff the Feds will be looking for him and they must help him escape and get back to his spaceship so he can return home.

Awards: 2011 Best Comedy Award - National Movie Awards, UK

Universal Pictures
Director: Greg Mottola
Writers: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Producers: Eric Fellner, Nira Park, Tim Bevan

I viewed 10/15

Skyline (2010) PG 13 - 2 Stars

This movie almost makes me mad for wasting my time as I had such high anticipation of it being a great movie. It's nothing more then a good concept with bad execution. Though it has decent special effects, with a teeny bit of suspense, it does nothing with character development making the viewer not care whether the people are taken or not. The dialog doesn't explain anything and when you factor in the cheesy acting with direction leading all over the place, it's really is a huge waste of time. It looks as if the story was built around the CGI animation instead of a solid foundation to support it. Truly disappointing to me and just plain cheesy from start to finish.

Jarrod (Eric Balfour), and his girlfriend Elaine (Scottie Thompson), have come to Los Angeles to help celebrate Jarrod's best friend Terry's (Donald Faison), birthday. But as soon as they arrive, invaders come to take over the planet.

Rogue, Hydraulx Entertainment, Rat Entertainment, Transmission Pictures
Directors: Greg Strause, Colin Strause
Writers: Liam O'Donnell, Joshua Cordes
Producers: Kristian James Andresen, Liam O'Donnell, Colin Strause

I viewed 10/11

Source Code (2011) PG13 - 4 Stars

This film belongs in an episode of a modern day Twilight Zone. A great psychological thriller, Source Code weaves you through an alternate reality that hooks you into solving the mystery.

The story is of a soldier being kept alive to channel the last fragments of his brain via "source coding" helping him look into another man's life. He has just 8 minutes to ride the train, uncovering the bomb and it's creator. The problem is, he must re-play the scene over and over again as he keeps running out of time. With each replay the viewer is slowly allowed deeper into the story, almost the same as Captain Stevens is.

Aboard a crowded Chicago train, a bomb goes off derailing the train and killing hundreds of people. When it's learned that a larger bomb will explode in the heart of town, the government has no choice but to try a wild card experiment known as "Source Code." US Army helicopter pilot, Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), is kept alive to be artificially transported back in time to the 8 minutes before the train explodes. The last thing he remembers is flying in Afghanistan and now waking up in a commuter train, bound for Chicago. As the train explodes, he finds himself in a small pod where the voice of one doctor, Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga), encourages Stevens to go back 8 minutes and try to find the device and bomber. She explains the importance of encountering the bomber to save hundreds preventing a much larger explosion about to hit downtown. But Stevens begins to loose reality after encountering a passenger Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan).

Vendome Pictures, The Mark Gordon Company
Director: Duncan Jones
Writers: Ben Ripley, Billy Ray
Producers: Jordan Wynn, Philippe Rousselet, Mark Gordon

I viewed 8/11

Splice (2010) R - 3 Stars

I was in need of a good Sci-Fi so I rented Splice hoping to be a little horrified and/or amazed over the concept of this movie about playing God. This was not the movie to do it. The sad part is the movie leaves itself open for a sequel. Not sure we need to see it all over again. First off, I would have liked to had a little more information on how Ginger and Fred, the blob like organisms, were created. I felt we are rushed in too quickly before building a story line to get us there. But then as I was thinking about that, the writers probably didn't want to tell us too much or it would have been even more unrealistic. I did however like the splice "D's" very intriguing face.

Genetic engineers, Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley), have created a hybrid creature that could revolutionize modern medical science. Fame and glory are bestoyed upon them until they add human DNA into the mixture. Dren (Delphine Chanéac), is born and as she evolves they soon learn trying to play God can be a mistake.

Gaumont, Copperheart Entertainment, Dark Castle Entertainment
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Writers: Doug Taylor, Vincenzo Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant
Producer: Steven Hoban

I viewed 10/10

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

Monster (2008) NR - 1½ Stars

I gotta say folks, this is one of the worst monster movies of modern times. Shot in a Blair Witch, Cloverfield, type format, this movie really stinks. Here's what you do. Give two fairly decent looking girls a camera , break the switch so it turns on and off randomly, throw in a few Japanese friends willing to lower their dignity and a squishy octopus you rarely see and yes you too can make a movie. Supposedly, this footage has been found two years after Tokoyo Japan is reported to have had a major earthquake.

The so called "monster" you never really even see. I think they could have done so much better with some sort of special effects that at least focus on the ministering menace. Oh yeah, it's an octopus but it leaves underground like a giant worm? I'm confused but I guess I've seen worse.

After a massive earthquake hits Tokoyo Japan, thousands are dead. The world chocks it up to just another earthquake in that part of the country. But two years later, tapes are found belonging to sisters Erin Lynch(Erin Evans), and Sarah Lynch (Sarah Lieving), documenting what really happened to the town as they captured while on and expedition to report on global warming.

The Global Asylum
Director: Erik Estenberg
Writer: Erik Estenberg
Producers: Jeff Cagle, Paul Bales

I viewed 2/12

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

Left Behind: The Movie (2000) PG13 - 2½ Stars

It's sort of ironic my sister and I were just having this conversation about if she suddenly disappears, I should not be worried because I will know where she has gone. With everything that is going on in the world right now, we have much debate into it's destiny. I choose to look at the world in more of a pragmatic fashion and entertain prophecies of the bible, Nostradamus predictions, and the Mayans calender as they are all open to interpretations of their content. I than prefer to form my own beliefs based on open minded and factual information. However, I can not dismiss the deep feelings I have that the world is headed for a major disruptment. I look for answers from the earth itself just getting tired of mankind taking it's toll on her over time. I feel she's ready to do something major to kick a bunch of us off. Reversal of the magnetic poles or something catastrophic to wake us up. My sister on the other hand, 100% believes in the bible and everything that is happening is just as it says it will. She constantly urges me to take a stand with God and avoid the horror that will be left for the non believers and sinners left on the planet. This movie is based upon a series of books written explaining Revelations and the Antichrists that will visit before Jesus makes his return to earth. Though in looking at some of the reviews, I fear the movie leaves a lot out.

I spent one entire weekend with the History Channel watching these different interpretations played out. First few hours was religious prophecies of the bible. Next few hours all about the Mayans and their calender that is suppose to show the world ending on Dec. 12, 2012. And then the predictions of Nostradamus. I choose to form my own opinions based on education and not faith. Maybe that is my problem too. I have no faith in much other than that of what I place in myself for my determination to get something down. Perhaps that is why it's sort of strange for me to keep finding myself renting movies that unbeknown to me, carry a religious content. Is something trying to tell me something? I am a spiritual person and do believe in a higher power that created us all and I do believe Jesus Christ did exist. I've even prayed to God many times for purely selfish reason, "PLEASE GOD, get me out of this one!" But it takes faith to believe in Adam and Eve, the rising up of Jesus from the dead, and that 12 virgins that are awaiting the Ala believers. For me, who's religion can possibly be the right one?

It would appear that organized religion is the cause of most problems in the world today. Ask a Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic, Buddhist or Christian and they all think their religion is the truth, just as my beliefs tend to come more from the earth itself. I guess I have more Mayan, Pagan, Indian belief that what we do in this world will come back to you. So now let me step off of the preachers box and get back to this movie regarding the "Rapture." It does seem a bit scary when you witness the scene at the United Nations where the Antichrist uses mind manipulation to gain control over the members. They walk out the door speaking a different tune then what was just played out. Basically the movie is about surrendering our lives to Christ before it's too late. I think "Left Behind" is a fair movie of the beliefs of the Christian faith. Though it was made 11 years ago, it sure fits into what the world is becoming today. I think it did a good job at taking the story to the big screen. At least giving me one more thing to rack around in my head regarding the return of Christ.

Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron) is a journalist headed to London where pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) is at the helm. Without warning, some of the passengers awake to find their loved ones are missing. All that is left in place is their material belongings, clothes, jewelry etc. But on a plane flying over 37 thousand feet, this is impossible. So where could all of these children and people go? Pilot Steele turns around and heads back to Chicago where he finds the same occurrences on the ground. It seems millions of people and all of the innocent children have vanished without a trace. As he arrives home, he finds his wife and son also are gone and the only thing remaining are the clothes left exactly as if they had melted out of them. Now, feeling extremely guilty over the affair he's been having with a flight attendant Hattie Durham (Chelsea Noble), to make up for the time he's felt his wife was wasting devoted to the church, he is beginning to take the bible more seriously.

Buck, being the journalist, is determined to get to the bottom of these disappearances as he ponders over reports about Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig (Colin Fox), an Israeli scientist who can turn the soil into the Garden of Eden making anything easy to cultivate in the soil of the earth. Dr. Rosenzweig is just ready to make his announcements to Nicolae Carpathia (Gordon Currie), who's taken over as head of The United Nations after some of the world leaders have vanished. Buck believes that Nicolae might is the Antichrist and that Revelations has begun. God help all us non believers now.

Cloud Ten Productions, Angel Studios, Namesake Entertainment
Director: Victor Sarin
Writers: Paul Lalonde, Alan B. McElroy, Joel Goodman
Producers: Ralph Winter, Peter Lalonde, Joel Goodman

I viewed 2/11

The Final Destination (2009) R - 3 Stars

While this isn't the type of movie I normally reach for, it was a better horror movie than a lot I've seen. The director seems to have a knack for making the death scenes pop out in your face. I hear the 3D version amplifies this effect.

A teenage boy has a premonition that he and his friends will be killed watching a car race. He urges them to leave before the accident occurs but now discovers each will meet their own demise, exactly as it should have been in the first place.

Nick O'Bannon (Bobby Campo), and his girl friend Lori (Shantel VanSanten), are attending a car race at McKinley Speedway with their friends Hunt (Nick Zano), and Janet (Haley Webb). While sitting in the audience, Nick gets a strange premonition that an accident will happen causing many injuries in the area they are sitting. As he notices other people in the audience like the racist Carter Daniels (Justin Welborn), and his wife Cynthia (Lara Grice), the cowboy Jonathan Grove (Jackson Walker), a mechanic Andy Kewzer (Andrew Fiscella), his girlfriend Nadia Monroy (Stephanie Honore), MILF Samantha Lane (Krista Allen) and her husband (Phil Austin), all interacting around him, he gets a vision that one of the cars will loose a wheel, hurling it straight into the crowd. He convinces his friends and the security guard George Lanter (Mykelti Williamson), to leave just in the nick of time. But two of the survivors end up dying and Nick starts retracing the time frame of the event to see who's may be next.

Practical Pictures, Parallel Zide, Soundelux, New Line Cinema
Director: David R. Ellis
Writer: Eric Bress
Producers: Craig Perry, Warren Zide

I viewed 10/10

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

Silence Becomes You (2005) NR - 2½ Stars

Here's another one that goes in my bizarre category. Bizarre, because I really have no idea what the movie is trying to say. But yet, it visually and seductively draws you into this pair of sisters behavior, that appear to be up to no good. Most men would think this looks like their fantasy, being taken prisoner by two beautiful women. But the direction of the movie is all over the place. While it holds you sexually captive, it doesn't do a good job at showing you where it wants to take you. I guess the point of the movie is Grace becoming one with child, though it makes no real sense to me. Was she just trying to pass her craziness onto the next generation? What did their parents really do to them as children and how did they die? What do the secret paintings represent? As a matter of fact, the whole movie does little to lead you in any direction and just has to be labeled bizarre. Though I did have to watch it till the end hoping for something more. The colorful visuals and the innocence of Silverstone with her seductively pouty lips, probably makes the movie.

Grace (Sienna Guillory), and Violet (Alicia Silverstone) are two sisters living isolated in an enchanted looking mansion deep in the forest. Their parents are dead but memories of their presence still fill the house. The girls have little contact with the outside world and instead love playing dress up in their mother's old clothing. Violet is in the village one night and makes eye contact with Luke (Joe Anderson) who is with another woman. But something in Violet's smile completely overwhelms Luke and before he knows it, he is leaving with Violet back to the mansion. Luke thinks he's hit the jackpot when the other sister Grace appears and they two tempt and tease him with their seductive movements. Before long, Luke is living in the isolated world with them. But when Violet becomes close with Luke, Grace becomes jealous and tries to break the two apart.

First Look, Sequence
Director: Stephanie Sinclaire
Writer: Stephanie Sinclaire
Producers: Stephanie Sinclaire, Karl Richards

I viewed 4/09

Clash of the Titans (2010) - 4 Stars

These 3D movies are growing on me and had to make sure I saw this one opening Easter weekend. The original Clash of the Titans is one of my very favorite all time movies so I was interested in seeing what could become of it today. The movie has great entertainment, action with my biggest complaint of why show Bobu, the mechanical owl, if you're not going to take it on their quest. I didn't care for the witches makeup, as I feel it could have been done a whole lot creepier. For me, the battle with the scorpions was filmed too close up. I suppose that was for the 3d surround effects but made it hard to stay focused on the battle. I loved Medusa but where was the two headed creature that protected her entrance. I feel the suspense of that scene wasn't there and way more intense in the original. While I feel the director should have stayed closer to the original story, it's still definitely an enjoyable and entertaining remake. I think seeing it in 2D is the way to go.

Perseus (Sam Worthington), the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), survives the banishment of he and his mother from the Heavens. Cast away to earth, and raised by man, Perseus is considered the Demigod with the power to defeat the underworld God, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), before he unleashes his wrath of hell on earth.

It seems man has become too independent with little need for prayer thus weakening the God's strength as prayers gives them their power. Hades convinces Zeus to instill the fear back into man by unleashing the Kraken and destroying the City of Argos. Princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), will be sacrificed unless Perseus can defeat the Kraken sending Hades back to his hellish underworld. But in order to defeat such a great power, Perseus must survive a maze of challenges and learn to except the gifts of the Gods.

Thunder Road Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures
Directors: Steve Norrington, Louis Leterrier
Writers: Travis Beacham, Matt Manfredi, Phil Hay
Producers: Kevin de la Noy, Basil Iwanyk

I viewed 4/10

Blindness (2008) R - 2 Stars

Giving this two stars because Danny Glover is in it and I love Danny Glover. But Danny, what the heck are you doing in this one? What seems weird to me is I stayed with the entire movie all the way to the end. It had a way of attaching me to it maybe because I was waiting for something exciting to happen. Well, I'm still waiting and the ending is horrible. They never tell you why everyone went blind and why one lady is the only one who can see. I guess the dark drab cinematography is to make you blinded yourself and perhaps claustrophobic.

One person (Yusuke Iseya), suddenly becomes blind seeing everything white instead of black. He is helped out from behind his drivers seat while another man takes over to avoid a traffic jam. When he returns home to his wife (Yoshino Kimura ), he's missing his eyesight, car and keys. They see the doctor as well as the man who stole his car, who also can not see now. The doctor (Mark Ruffalo ), has never heard of anything like this and starts to research into it further. The doc returns home to his wife (Julianne Moore), and suddenly the doctor is blind too along with everyone who's been in contact with him and so on and so on The entire city, possibly the entire world as no one ever explains, is blind except for the doctors wife who fakes it to be allowed to stay with her husband. They are driven to a holding area and quarantined since it appears to be a contagious virus. But the government treats them as if they have the plague, locks them away where they must fend for themselves to stay alive.

Rhombus Media, Inc., O2 Filmes, Bee Vine Pictures, Miramax Films
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Writer: Don McKellar
Producers: Niv Fichman, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Sonoko Sakai

I viewed 4/10

The Box (2009) PG13 - 2½ Stars

The best thing about this movie is the special effects of Frank Langella's scarred face. It had me staring in amazement of how well that was done. With Cameron Diaz starring, it has to be great right? Not! Wow, I was so disappointed, as the trailer looked so very thrilling. The beginning is okay but really, why would anyone take a box from a complete stranger and even listen to what he had to say about it. And if the stranger explained the consequences of pushing the button, why did he leave out the most important part of their greediness? What is the point of the movie taken in an earllier time period, 1976? The family is selected based strictly on their work background. Without saying to much about that, well really I can't say too much about that because I am pretty lost there, I did like the very ending with the box being passed to another. But, the middle of the movie has little direction and the outcome is preposterous. Cameron, must have saw the trailer too which is why she probably signed on for this let down.

Norma Lewis (Cameron Diaz), her husband Arthur (James Marsden), and son Walter (Sam Oz Stone), are living a basically normal life until a strange package arrives at their door steps. The door bell is rung, no one is there, just a plain brown wrapped box as a car drives away. The family opens the package to find a wooden box with a domed glass top covering a large red button. The box is locked and no key is included so they think it must be some part of a surprise for an upcoming wedding they will be attending.

Arlington Steward (Frank Langella), shows up at the front door while Norma is home alone and explains the purpose of box. It's simple, she only need take the key he is offering, open the box and press the button. For doing this, she will be paid one million dollars. But, there is one big consequence. Once the button is pushed, someone, somewhere in the world will die.


Lin Pictures, 1821 Pictures, Darko Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Richard Kelly
Writer: Richard Kelly
Producers: Sean McKittrick, Kelly McKittrick, Richard Kelly

I viewed 3/10

The Fourth Kind (2009) PG13 - 2½ Stars

The First Kind is when a UFO is sighted. The Second Kind is when there is evidence collected to support the sighting. The Third Kind is when contact is made with an extraterrestrial and The Fourth Kind, well that's the scariest of all and until now, has never been documented. In 1972, this grading scale was started to categorize all UFO reports.

While the movie was a little freaky, it just didn't give me the chills like I expected it to. Since it was based on a true story from the 1960's, along with actual footage documented from Dr. Abigail Tyler, and I do believe we are not alone in this universe, I was hoping for something a little more realistic and believable. Instead, ever time there is an encounter on film, it's distorted to the point of being unrecognizable and therefore not real believable to me. However having said that, the real footage of Dr. Tyler shows a woman who totally looks like she's been abducted. I do like the switching back and forth from the actual footage to the modern day movie.

Psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich), swears she's witnessed someone killing her husband as he lie in bed next to her. Trying to get her life back together for her two kids sake, she continues working, seeing patients. She begins to notice a pattern of patients complaining of the same reoccurring dream. These patients awake unexpectedly and all report a large owl staring at them. As more strange behavior and disappearances start occurring here in her rural home town of Nome Alaska, she's dedicated to uncovering what it all means. Along with the help of a colleague Abel Campos (Elias Koteas), Dr. Tyler begins hypnotizing and video taping her clients, finding some very disturbing evidence of the Fourth Kind. When her daughter vanishes from her home, Sheriff August (Will Patton), begins to think Dr. Tyler is responsible for all the strange disturbances.

Universal Pictures
Director: Olatunde Osunsanmi
Writer: Olatunde Osunsanmi
Producers: Joe Carnahan, Terry Lee Robbins, Paul Brooks

I viewed 3/10

Talking to Heaven (2002) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I don't really have a category for a religious type of movie like this so I added it to Sci-Fi as it really depends in what you believe in. I am a spiritual person but I'm against organized religion and do not support any religion's bible, but then again, that's a whole other topic. Even though this story has been done before, a man being able to see and hear from the dead where other's can't, this one has a pretty good all star cast with some great acting that kept me involved all the way till the end. It's also a good murder mystery of "who done it" with a surprising ending. Made for a two part television mini-series drama.

James Van Praagh (Ted Danson), is an ordinary man with what he feels a curse that allows him to see and feel things from the dead. Since he was 6, he has found he's seen and talked to people that others have not seen. Frowned upon by the other children as an outcast and close to his religious mother Regina (Diane Ladd), James tried to ignore and forget any psychic abilities he once had. With his company failing and his mind preoccupied with signs from the dead surrounding him, James hires Midge (Queen Latifah), to design a web site to build sales. He's gotten a good worker, but also a new good friend he can talk about these images that are haunting him.

After his mother's death, he begins to again see more of these dead people who can't get settled without resolving certain issues. And when young boys with their hands bound, start appearing, James works with Detective Karen Condrin (Mary Steenburgen), using his visions to help stop a serial killer.

Timeless Media Group, RHI Entertainment
Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Writer: John Pielmeier
Producers: James Van Praagh, Preston Fischer, John Pielmeier

I viewed 3/10