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Chronicles
of Narnia
Rating: Good
There's a lot of hype surrounding this film and I went in expecting to be blown away. I honestly wasn't. Even so, this is a really good film. The special effects have pushed the envelop on seamlessness and flawlessness. CGI keeps getting better which will bring more and more complex films to the screen in the future. This is essentially Lord of the Rings lite. You can bring your family and kids to this one. Everyone will enjoy it.
King Kong
Rating: Excellent
Over the top excitement!! Peter Jackson has done it again. Between the story, acting, effects, and action scenes, you'll love this film. I hate heights and big insects - this film has both and much, much more. You may remember some of the old photos and posters in the original film. Jackson creates imagery that mimics this perfectly. This is one of the best films this year.
Doom
Rating: Okay
If Doom set the bar for game-to-film movies, then it will only get better from here. I'm not completely sure why I went to see this film. I'm almost sorry I did. The Universal logo opening is the planet Mars instead of Earth. That was probably the only surprise and cool thing in this film. I was fooled by The Rock's character. I thought he'd be the hero. I'm sure I'll recover, thank you. Overall, it plays, I mean, it shows just like the game. It would be best if you wanted until the DVD to see this one.
Aeon
Flux
Rating: Good
If you saw the original MTV version, you probably won't be disappointed with the movie version. And if you never saw the original series, you still won't be disappointed. Effects are solid and story is good. Some original scenes and a few surprises. I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel in the future. Good pick!
A
Sound of Thunder
Rating: Okay
I've been anxious to see this movie for some time. I have to say that I'm sorry I saw it. The premise was an original and had plenty of potential but the computer graphics were horrible. They were beyond horrible. You can tell in every scene where CGI was being used. This was not the type of film to get cheap on the graphics. With the bar so high these days, this film couldn't compete. Maybe one day in the future, someone will redo this one the right way. Wait for DVD folks.
Serenity
Rating: Good
If you weren't a fan of the television series, don't worry about seeing this film. I've never seen an episode of Firefly and I still liked this movie. I think it stands on its own pretty well, and it would not surprise me to see sequels in the future. The space and ship graphics and scenes remind me a lot of Galactica. Very well done. Clearly, there is some inside jokes and remarks that only fans of Firefly would understand. Even so, you won't feel completely left out. This movie is good for every sci-fi fan.
Fantastic Four
Rating: Good
I'm giving this one a good rating and I'll tell you why. The film basically introduces five major characters with equal backgrounds and the relationships between them very well. You get a real sense of their existence and their problems. It may have seemed not much was going on but the film did establish a foundation for successful sequels. It's not Spiderman nor Batman where you'd have plenty of room for character development and a ton of action. Go see this film and be a little patient. The effects are excellent and the story believable.
The
Island
Rating: Good
I really enjoyed this movie. Right from the start all the way to the end, this film was full of action. Effects were good and fit the tone. There's an excellent car chase if you're like that kind of stuff. There's another part where Ewan McGregor meets his clone. The effects here were seamless for character doubling. The best I've seen. Forget the critics - go see this film.
Batman Begins
Rating: Excellent
If you've lost faith in any previous Batman movies, then go see this film! You won't be disappointed. This film basically wiped the slate clean to start the genre over again. The film is a little dark, and it delivers a ton of action. Gotham is more of a real, modern city rather than the stage production of prior films. Christian Bale plays a believable Bruce Wayne and Batman. Katie Holmes is terrible in the film. She's doesn't play any key role to ruin anything though. I believed that Bruce Wayne was annoyed with her as much as I was. Great villains and establishes a foundation for Batman's existence. Great film!
War of the Worlds
Rating: Good
Tom Cruise plays a believable character in the midst of an alien invasion trying to protect his family. I found myself relating very well to a father that would do anything to keep his kids safe and protected. The effects and imagery in this film were excellent. There's a scene when Cruise's entire neighborhood comes a part. Really, really cool! The aliens have a clear resemblance to the aliens in Independence Day, so I was a little disappointed there. Even though the premise doesn't sway too much from the original, I felt a little let down at the end. Overall, good film and worth seeing it in the theatre
The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Rating: Terrible
Right from the beginning and all the way to the end, this film made no sense, had no purpose, lacked plot, and had nothing of interest. I think it was supposed to be humorous but I didn't see anything funny in it. Only dumb.
Star Wars -
Revenge of the Sith
Rating: Excellent
Lucas has raised the bar in his last film that rounds off the rise and fall of Darth Vader. The imagery, lighting, action, characters, plot, everything was over the top. The film was truly his best and one that will be remembered by fans alike. Go see this film, go see it twice.
Sin City
Rating: Good
Good - If you're fan of Frank Miller's work, you're going to love this movie. The imagery of this film is like no other and the similarities between the original graphic novel and the film are uncanny. The cast is pretty extensive with a lot of actors you'll recognize. It's R-rating is completely appropriate and fits well with the story, the action and, well, you know. Go check out this film!
Robots
Rating: Good
Good - A great movie to bring your kids or someone else's kids. I was amazed at the imagination that constructed the robots and Robot City. Good humor and entertainment that will appeal to all.
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Stealth
Rating: Okay
Hmmm...Top Gun meets A.I. Good flight action and battle scenes. There's a handful of surprises in terms of new effects and angles. The story wasn't half bad either, it's just that the chemistry between the characters doesn't hold very well. Felt forced or maybe just bad acting. I'd recommend you rent the DVD then return it. If anyone saw this in the theatre, don't you wish you could have your two hours back?
Kingdom
of Heaven
Rating: Okay
If you're into epic war movies, you'll probably like this one. There's plenty of battle scenes, sword fights, a huge army against another, and some unbelievable odds against the underdog. However, if you've seen Lord of the Rings, you'll soon see a tremendous amount of similarities with all the battle scenes and well Orlando Bloom. I'm beginning to wonder if Orlando likes doing the same type of film over and over again. Whatever.
The
Devil's Rejects
Rating: Okay
I guess you're either a fan of Rob Zombie's movies or your not. I tend to doubt there's any middle ground since his films seem to target a certain audience that enjoy gore, blood and torture. It's a little far fetched and hard to believe but then again the effects are pretty cool. Rent this one first before you buy.
Undead
Rating: Terrible
Oh my god, this movie sucked. I honestly never would have expected it for some reason. Because it came out in limited release over the summer, I thought for sure it would have held up against other recent zombie movie remakes. I turned it off in the middle it was so bad. If you already saw this one on DVD, I'm sorry. If you saw it in the theatres, demand your money back. If you already bought the DVD, throw it away or auction it on Ebay.
Land
of the Dead
Rating: Good
Well OK, it is just another zombie movie but I enjoyed this one against all others. I suppose it's because it's what I would have expected in a zombie movie. The real living people are smarter than the living dead and can run faster. The effects are awesome and top-notch. There's an extra in the DVD on how they made the effects and make-up. I love that stuff. Check it out for yourself. Add this one to your DVD collection.
Sahara
Rating: Good
I really enjoyed Sahara on the DVD. I'm not a huge fan of Matthew McConaughey but he did a good job. It's not campy. Instead, it had a good blend of adventure, action, and comic relief. I suppose one could argue this is not sci-fi. I would call it a modern day fantasy film with treasure and exploration and good fun. Add this one to you collection.
The
Amityville Horror
Rating: Okay
I remember the original being much more scary. Maybe I was a little more impressionable then. Even so, this is just another haunted house movie using the same formula over and over again. I think there's too much explaining going on, and you can't tell when the father is possessed or not. You know when he should be but it doesn't come through very well. Anyway, no surprises here. Rent it then return it as quickly as possible.
Constantine
Rating: Good
This was actually a pretty good movie. Good effects, good story, and even a bit of a twist at the end. The only thing that didn't make this one an excellent movie was Reeves. Is it just me or did you also get a Matrix feel to this film? Honestly, any other actor would have worked better. I found it too coincidental the way he conjured up his powers. Maybe he's not as diverse an actor as people may think. Either way, a good add to your collection.
Alexander
Rating: Okay
Alexander is one of those epic films that tried way too hard to be authentic. It's over 3 hours long and basically drags on and on about Alexander the Great, played by Colin Farrell, conquering one nation after another while trying to understand his sexuality. There's a bunch of guys, including Val Kilmer, Alexander's father, with one eye shot out of their head. What's that all about? Try not to see this one in one night. Break it up a little over a series of nights, maybe it will be more tolerable.
Hellraiser:
Deader
Rating: Terrible
I thought Cursed was bad. Terrible just doesn't describe this film either. I fast forwarded through half the movie and it didn't get any better. The only reason I saw this one was because I've seen prior Hellraiser movies and they weren't that bad. I still don't understand why Pinhead was in the movie. It seemed like they threw him in there at the last minute. There are reasons why movies go right to DVD. I think I uncovered one of them.
The
Jacket
Rating: Good
People may argue whether this is a sci-fi film or not. It's about time travel but not in the conventional way. Again, you may argue it was due to hallucinogens that allowed the main character to travel. Either way, it was still a good movie and caused one to think a little bit and you might want to see it again too. Rent it first then decide whether you want to add it your collection.
Boogeyman
Rating: Okay
About a young boy who's father supposedly disappears because the Boogeyman "took him." Later in life and after his mother passes, he is forced to face his boyhood fears by returning to his mother's home. The film had a different perspective of trying to scare you, but at the end of the day, it was still a haunted house and dumb people hanging around. It's worth the rental - I hope you didn't see it in the theatres.
Cursed
Rating: Terrible
If you like werewolf movies, don't see this movie. The premise is completely unconvincing and the acting was forced. Forget the effects. They were such a disappointment. Don't let the all-star cast fool you either. Don't buy this film nor rent it. You'll quickly wish you hadn't given up an hour and half of your life watching this film.
Son
of the Mask
Rating: Terrible
This was the second film in the Mask franchise. The mask is found once again and Jamie Kennedy's character conceives his son while wearing it. At birth, his son possesses some unique talents. Honestly, this sucked bad. The animation was horrible. The story made no sense. Jamie Kennedy cannot act. I think the only reason the original Mask film worked was because of Jim Carey. There's no amount of effects that could replace Carey's unique characterization. Don't waste your coin on this one.
White
Noise
Rating: Okay
Micheal Keeting stars in this film about the white noise discovered in electronics and it being a means to communicate with the dead. After the accidental death of his fiancé, he learns of a way to communicate with her. Unfortunately, communicating with the dead has other consequences. Just for its originality, I'll give it a worth renting. I'm not sure I want to own the DVD. There's a couple freakish scenes that will make your skin crawl. I did jump a couple times too.
Darkness
Rating: Okay
Starring Anna Paquin (Rogue from X-Men 2) is about a teenage girl who uncovers that her family's new home in the country has a dark and mysterious past. I was honestly freaked about some of the scenes with the 'ghostly' children in the background. The film raises the typical, horror questions like why are there no lights on in the house? Or, why are people always alone in spooky situations? And, why does it always rain and thunder? There were few surprises in the film and the acting was pretty poor, however I did startle in several scenes. For that alone, it was okay. Worth the rental.
Alone
in the Dark
Rating: Terrible
About an unrealistic, paranormal agency enlisted to learn the truth of an ancient civilization's discovery of another world. Christian Slater, Tara Reid and Stephen Dorff star in this terrible film. There's no way any of them read the script in advance or maybe they're so desperate as actors that any work will do. The premise was so unbelievable that none of it made sense. Just bad acting, crappy effects, and poor plot. Don't waste your time.
Lemony Snickets - A Series of Unfortunate Events
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
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Alien vs. Predator
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I, Robot
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The Village
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Open Water
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Resident Evil: Apocalypse
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Good - If you like zombie movies and video games, this is your film. I watched the first Resident Evil back to back with Apocalypse and enjoyed both. A fun film to watch after blasting some zombies on the video game.
Stepford Wives
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The Day After Tomorrow
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Van Helsing
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The Punisher
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Dawn of the Dead
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