P2

Who:  Amber
What:  P2
Where:  @ home - free Starz weekend!
Why:  I like horror movies

This movie wasn't so much as "scare the pants off you" as it was "how is she going to get out of this".

Angela is a young go-getter who works in a corporate office.  She is stuck working late on Christmas Eve.  She is totally late for a family get together.

When she finally tries to leave, her car won't start.  Thankfully, the parking garage attendant is there to help ... or kidnap her!  It seems young Tom, our parking attendant who owns a very vicious dog has a crush on Angela.  And working the night shift in a parking garage is very lonely.  It's a good thing Tom has video camera everywhere, so he's been watching Angela for months.

I never got the feeling that Tom was going to hurt Angela.  Sure, he chained her to the table for a Christmas feast (in his parking attendant office), and he handcuffed her when they went to 'take a ride' around the parking garage.  Tom introduces us to a little back story about Angela, and about a jerk guy she works with.

Angela is pretty smart, and she's always thinking of ways to escape.  Unfortunately, Tom has keys to everything in the parking garage (floors are P1, P2, P3, etc ... hence the name of the movie), so it's impossible to escape.

Since the only 2 actors in this movie are Tom and Angela, I figured one of them would eventually kill the other one.  Who will it be . . .

Live Free or Die Hard

Who:  Amber
What:  Live Free or Die Hard
Where:  @ home, I own it on DVD
Why:  It's a classic!

NYPD Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) randomly receives a phone call from the FBI to drive NY hacker named Matt Farrell (Justin Long) down to Washington. Turns out there was a hack in an FBI computer system, so they would like to question all hackers who are on the "list".

Right when John gets to Matt's apartment, a group of men show up and try to kill John and Matt. Of course, McClane manages to get them both out, and kill a bunch of the bad guys in the process.

As it turns out, a group of terrorists have hacked into EVERYTHING - shutting down airports, traffic lights, social security, everything!

Thankfully, Matt knows enough about hacking and can help McClane shut them down. But not with out some crazy adventures! Since the hackers can see everything (there are cameras everywhere you know), they are making it extremely hard for our 2 heros. McClane kills more bad guys and gets him self out of unbelievable situations (seriously - they were a tad unbelievable).

The final straw is when the hackers kidnap Lucy, McClane's college age daughter. Yippe-ki-aye - let's go rescue her!!!

If you love action movies, then this is a MUST SEE. There are some great action and fight scenes. Did you know you can blow up a helicopter with a car? And Justin Long and Bruce Willis work really well together. Bruce Willis is an old school dude, and Justin Long is a young whipper snapper. But their banter back and forth is hilarious!

Duplicity

Who: Me & Bob
What: Duplicity staring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen
Where: AMC PI
Why: Date Night and I had a free ticket!

I wanted to see this movie because I usually enjoy Julia Robert's movies. The story was very complex and Julia was great. Clive was good but compared to her, his acting was not as believable. They just seemed like an odd match for a couple. I kept thinking she could do better. It had the look and feel of Ocean's 11 but it was not edited together as well as that movie.

It is the story of two corporate spies. They meet early in their careers and have a moment together in Dubai. Years later they reunite in Rome and New York and things don't go well... so you think. They have the most complex relationship in addition to the complexities of their jobs. The whole movie you just kept wondering if their relationship was real or were they just playing their spy parts well. The men who play the CEO's of the companies were great characters that were portrayed as crazy, paranoid, goofs. Just when you think you have it all figured out things end very different. I thought the movie was over and then in the last 5 minutes we learn things were not as they seemed.

The movie kept moving back and forth through time. This made it hard to follow, not impossible but more of a challenge that was needed. I would have loved to have seen the movie put together in sequence then when things ended go back and review all the secrets. I give it a B- or 2.5 out of 5 stars depending on which scale you like.

MONSTERS VS ALIENS

Who: Kerri, Mitchel, & Emily
What: Monsters Vs Aliens
Where: Showplace 14
Why: Spring break, and the kids have been stuck inside with crappy weather!


After being struck by a meteor on her wedding day, Susan changes to "the attack of the 50 ft woman mode" She's taken to a secret government facility which houses some other monsters.

When the government discovers aliens have landed, their only defense is 'the monsters'

Chaos ensues, people learn lessons. A fun time for all.

The animation is well done, we didn't get to see it in 3-D because we live in Podunk Illinois and they don't do that 'fun' stuff I can see where some of the shots would have been great in 3D though.

There were LOTS of famous voices, Reece Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Hough Laurie, Will Arnet, Paul Rudd, Seth, Rogan, to name a few. I hardly recognized Keifer - he did a great job, and Rainn Wilson was hilarious as the alien. Seth Rogan as B.O.B was great fun too.

I took Mitchel, my 13 year old autistic son, he's STILL laughing over it. The kids in the audience loved it, and there was enough humor to keep the adults engrossed in it.

Jeepers Creepers 2

Who:  Amber
What:  Jeepers Creepers 2
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  Why the heck not!

If you've seen Jeepers Creepers (1), you know it was one of Justin Long's first leading rolls.  You also know it was a pretty lame horror movie!!  So when I heard they were making a 2nd one, I threw up a little in my mouth.

Honestly, it wasn't so bad.  In the sequel they didn't have to do a lot of character interaction, they just jumped right to the scary, winged man who eats people.

The movie opens and explains that every 23 years this weirdo comes out to feed for 23 days.  Thankfully, today is day 22.  Unthankfully, he's snatched a young boy from his father's farm.

Minutes later, a bus full of cheerleaders and basketball players gets a flat tire.  When the bus driver looks at the tire, she can tell it's been tampered with.  They are stuck in the middle of know where.  I wonder if that tire has been tampered with ... huh?!?  I mean, the crazy, fugly, winged guy is hungry and it's his last night!

Thankfully, the cheerleaders and basketball players aren't a bunch of horny, smoking hot teens (so cliched!).  They are a bunch of normal kids who are getting picked off one by one by the hungry dude.  All of a sudden *horn sound!*, the farmer shows up with a home made harpoon gun!

Will he save the day?  Or is this thing unkillable?

In typical horror movie fashion, it leaves it open for a sequel.  But the ending was really good!  It don't want to give anything away, but I was really pleasantly surprised.

Also, kudos for Justin Long coming back.  He only had 2 short scenes when he appears in a dream of a cheerleader, but it was refreshing to see.

Run Fatboy Run

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Run Fatboy Run
Where:  @ home
Why:  Jonathan owns the DVD

Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) is a lazy and slightly overweight guy. 5 years ago, he left his 8 month pregnant fiance Libby (Thande Newton) at the alter because he was too scared to get married. Ever since, he's been a great dad to his son and he's regretted his decision. He really loves Libby.

When he discovers that Libby has found a hot new boyfriend, Whitt (Hank Azaria), Dennis tries to make his move on Libby, even if that means befriending Whitt. Whitt is good looking and in shape - he even runs marathons!

In order to prove to Libby that he's a worthy man, Dennis vows to also run the marathon.

Now, this sounds pretty cheese huh? Running a marathon to impress a woman. But the story is pretty solid. Libby and Dennis both admit that running a marathon won't the love back "on". But the running scenes are pretty funny, and it's really a moving story. I highly recommend it!

Blade Trinity

Who:  Amber
What:  Blade Trinity
Where:  @ home on cable
Why:  I like background noise

Seriously, the budget for this movie must have been unbelievable!  Everywhere you turn there is a famous person!  Wesley Snipes, Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds, Spence (from King of Queens), and Triple X (from WWE wrestling) is one of the vampire henchmen.  Awesome!

After killing human/vampires for 2 movies, Blade finds himself a wanted man by the cops and FBI. He's also still fighting an up hill battle with more vampires and their "humans".

But there are still some good guys around, the Nightstalkers (Biel and Reynolds). Blade joins forces with them to hunt the king of the vampires himself - Dracula. The vampire nation has awakened Dracula in order to use his blood to help them become hybrids, or daywalkers, like Blade. Man, those other vampires are so jealous of Blade!

Thankfully, Blade and a scientist have come up with a permanent solution. Some super drug that will kill all vampires (yeah, I didn't really understand how it would work). You know how you always hear that you should "kill the head vampire and all other ones would die". Well, injecting Dracula should kill all the other ones.

One huge vampire blood-kicking fight later and they are saved! Or are they ...

Honestly, if you've seen Blade 1 (great movie!) and Blade 2 (meh ...), then finish up the trilogy with Blade 3.  If you haven't bothered with the 2nd movie, then don't bother with this one.  Unless you enjoy seeing Ryan Reynolds shirtless, then by all means, check this out!!!

Into The Wild

Who: Liz
What: Into the Wild
Where: my living room
Why: I bought at the Circuit City close out!

I had heard this movie was really good and Emile Hirsch did a fabulous job, so I really wanted to see it. So when it was $4.00 I just bought it!
It was excellent. It is about this young man, Chris, played by Emile, who wants to live his life instead of seeking a job or law school after graduating from college. So he gives the balance of his college funds to charity and sets off across the US. Wow, I give him a lot of credit. It is based on a true story and it takes place in the early '90s.
The movie tells of the people he comes across on his quest to get to the wilds of Alaska and then what happens when he gets there. How he survives on almost no money and learns to take care of himself. The bad part was that he was mad at his parents and never called them. They were very concerned and it brought them together. But he never called his sister either and she narrated part of the story. One of the persons he met across the way was this older man Ron, played by Hal Holbrook. Mr. Holbrook was nominated for an Oscar for this role.
There was this really gross part when he killed a moose, it was horrible as he skinned it and stuff. Also you should be aware that there was some nudity, but it wasn't gratuitous nudity!
The cast was excellent including Vince Vaughn, Jena Malone, Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt. The movie was directed by Sean Penn, too. I think he is so talented.
Of course the ending was very sad to me, but in the end, I really enjoyed this movie.

Sleath

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Slealth
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  It looked decent

In the not-so-distant future, the Navy has teamed the 3 best fighter pilots together. Ironically, they are the 3 most gorgeous people in the world (Josh Lucas - man, he's got some great eyes, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx). At first, my thought was "Jessica Biel as a fight pilot, this is so lame!" But I've got to give her a hand, she was really believable. She was covered up the entire time. Even at a nightclub scene she has on the standard white navy uniform. Kudos Jessica Biel!

But, alas, the Navy is introducing a 4th member to the close knit team, a fighter jet piloted by a computer. Josh Lucas, the leader of the team, is leary of the new jet. He thinks you need emotions and moral judgement to fight in wars.

Of course, he's correct. As the jet "learns" combat manuevers from the super attractive human pilots, he learns some bad mannars as well. It also doesn't help that 'he' got struck by lightning!

Ok, seriously, this sounds like a horrible movie huh? Computer controlled jet, struck by lighting ... but this all happens with in the first hour. Then the movie gets really good. Jessica Biel has to parachute out of her plane into North Korea, and Josh Lucas has to crash land in Alaska, then attempt to save Jessica Biel.

Honestly, this movie is pretty good - if you enjoy action/adventure type stuff.

Cliffhanger

Who:  Amber
What:  Cliffhanger
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  I wanted some background noise

Who hasn't seen Cliffhanger? It was all the rage in the early '90s.

Movies like this amaze me. No, not the stellar acting (Sly Stallone), but the awesome scenery. Granted, I never know what backgrounds are real and not real (like a matte painting) in the movies, but the mountain ranges are so vast! It's pretty incredible.

While mountain climbing with some buddies, Gabe's (Stallone) friend's equiptment breaks. While trying to save her from falling, she slips out of his hands. Man, falling to your death would really be a horrible way to die.

A year later, Gabe finally goes back to the ranger station. Unfortunately, at the same time they get a distress call from some 'stranded' people. Actually, it's a group of bad guys led by Qualen (John Lithgow). They were attempting to steal some money from an airplane, but the suitcases (of money) fell out of the plane, and landed somewhere in the mountains. The suitcases have tracking devises, but only an experiences team could climb the mountains and retrieve the money.

Will Gabe find and keep the money? Or will he kill all the bad guys and save the day? Search for this movie on your DVR and find out!

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector

Who: Amber & Jonathan
What: Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector
Where: @ home off cable
Why:  B/c we were going to watch his roast pretty soon

This movie wasn't as bad as you're thinking. Granted, it was bad, and I'm REALLY glad I watched it for free (while I was making lunch), but it wasn't awful.

Larry The Cable Guy plays a big city health inspector (filmed in Orlando - you can clearly see Lake Eola and the city hall building!) who loves visiting all his mom 'n pop diner friends and crazy ethnic restaurants. Being a healthy inspector means free food!

His easygoing, fart when ever you feel like it, life is turned upside-down when he's assigned a new partner, a very masculine girl named Butins. Oh man, he loves that last name of Butins! She's a rookie "agent", who loves the rules. Larry is ... well, he's just Larry.

Every super fancy restaurant in town is getting poisoned. Going undercover, and wearing his trademark no sleeved shirts, Larry and Butins (who is totally disgusted by Larry) attempted to break this case wide open, or Larry will be fired!

Along for the ride is a cute waitress and Larry's boss, none other than Biff from Back to the Future. Remember in Back to the Future when they put make up on high school aged Biff to make it look like he was 40. Seriously, that make up artist deserves a Lifetime Achievement award because real life 40 year old Biff looks exactly like make-up'ed 40 year odl Biff!

'Git-R-Done!'

Rachel Getting Married

Who: Liz
What: Rachel getting Married
Why: I heard about it and wanted to see it.
Where: home on DVD

Well this movie was kind of intense. I loved it. Anne Hathaway did a fabulous job as Kym, the addict sister.

This movie starts out when Paul and his wife, Carol, pick up his daughter, Kym, from rehab to come home for her sister Rachel’s, wedding. Apparently, Kym has been in trouble with drugs for a long time and is only clean for about a month this time. This film is about the family’s interactions with Kym over the weekend of the wedding. Kym is so self absorbed. She has to make everything about her. Rachel is upset about this and just for once since she is getting married, would like to have the family pay some attention to her and not Kym. Paul, the dad, is such an enabler. Finally, we meet Kym’s mother, played by Debra Winger…she was excellent.

This movie is filled with interesting characters. Sidney, the groom, has a cousin, Joe, who is in the army and on leave for the wedding. He always has a video camera in his hand and Paul twice alludes to him “coming back, safe and sound”. Sidney has horrible glasses, I mean really, a little ridiculous. I couldn’t tell if the wedding was supposed to be non-denominational or whatever…but they all dress in Indian garb. The ceremony takes place in the family home, with the reception later on, outside. Lots of music and singing and a universal cast of characters.

Some scenes were hard to sit through, but sometimes I think movies need to be a little more reality based, rather than these fantasies of “happily ever after”.
I think if you like movies with a little substance, you will want to see this film.

Take the Lead

Who:  Amber
What:  Take the Lead
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  I like dancing movies!

Based on a true story, this movie is all about a ballroom dance teacher, Pierre (Antonio Banderas) and a group of good-for-nothing teenagers.

One night Pierre sees to see a boy destroying a principal's car. The following day (for some odd reason) Pierre goes to the school to speak to the principal. He doesn't tell her that he knows what happened to her car, but he overhears that nobody is available to 'teach' detention and volunteers. The director has little confidence in this idea, but figures "what the heck!"

The kids, who (of course) prefer hip-hop to any ballroom dance music are against learning dance. Then Pierre brings in a hot, sexy, tango dancer and they are hooked! Pierre convinced them to even sign up for a dance competition.

As a former teacher, it's a little hard to believe that a bunch of kids would flock to a prim and proper teacher trying to teach the foxtrot. And why does detention seem to last all day? And why is one of the math teachers so against Pierre teaching dance? These kids were kicked out of your math class for a reason - enjoy a classroom full of kids who want to learn! I know when there is a trouble maker in your class, it just consumes you!

The ending of this movie was great. It wasn't about who wins or loses the dance competition, it was all about learning about yourself, trying hard, and making a better life for yourself. Kudos to ballroom dancing!

Idiocracy

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Idiocracy
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  Jonathan's brother recommended it

Jonathan's brother kept going on and on about Idiocracy the last time we hung out with him, so I was thankful that I found it on my DVR. It was a decent movie, but not one I'll be raving about. I'm glad I didn't pay any money to watch it.

The opening is hilarious. It talks all about how stupid people easily out-breed the intelligent, which will eventually create an dysfunctional society. 

Army librarian man Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson) and prostitute Rita (Mya Rudolph) are guinea pigs in a military hibernation project.  They are put to sleep in a chamber, and they will be awaked 1 year later.  Joe is picked because he is the epitome of average.  If you look at a bell graph, Joe will be right in the middle.  Unfortunately, the experiment is forgotten when the officer in charge is arrested, and the Army building where Joe and Rita are sleeping is bulldozed over.

500 years later, their hibernation chambers are jarred open by a  garbage avalanche.  Joe is disoriented and confused.  After seeing the date on a magazine in a doctors office, he is stunned to find himself in the future!

Since all the "stupid" people have been doing all the breeding the past 500 years, the world is a very "stupid" place.  Everything is misspelled and dirty.  The doctor Joe visits gives him a diagnosis as "retarded".

Long story short, even though Joe was totally average in 2005, in 2505 he is BY FAR the smartest person in the world.  Will Joe use his superior intellect to save the world from what has happened to it?  Or will Joe find Rita, track down a time machine (or time "masheen" as it's now spelled), and make it back to his century?

Look for a lot of cameo appearances by all of Mike Judge's friends (the writer/director of Office Space).

Step Up

Who:  Amber
What:  Step Up
Where:  @ home on cable
Why:  I love hip hop!

I saw Step Up 2 on an airplane, so I figured it was about time I saw Step Up (1).  Plus, I love watching hip hop dancing.  I'm amazed at how fast they move, and the crazy acrobatics they can do with their bodies (like holding themselves up on one arm).

This movie has been made 100 times:  troubled attractive teen who can hip hop dance meets a 'rich' teen who can also dance.  They dance together, and learn lessons from one an other.

This time, troubled rich kid is Tyler.  He and his friends break into an art school, and find an auditorium with tons of cool props.  They do a little nuts playing around with the props, and end up breaking about half of them.  A rent-a-cop catches them, and Tyler gets hauled off to court.  Shocker of all shockers, Tyler must work off his debt by being a janitor at this art school from 2-5:30pm every night.

This is where Tyler sees Nora.  She's such a cutie!  Not your typical "hot movie chick", she's kind-of short, she has crazy redd-ish hair and a pushed up nose.  I just love seeing normal girls in movies.  It makes normal girls like me feel good!

Nora is a senior, working on her senior dance routine every evening.  Her dance partner hurts his ankle ... and nobody is available to set in ... or is there.  Tyler to the rescue!

At first he's awkward because he's never really danced a routine before, and Nora is annoyed with him.  Plus the other kids in the school are hesitant.

Yadda, yadda, yadda ... you all know the ending!

There is a side story about Nora's family and Tyler's foster family.  There are 2 other great side stories about other kids in school, and Tyler's ghetto friends.  Everybody learns some lessons, and lives happily ever after (well, kind-of).

This movie was so much more than dancing (but it also had some great dancing).  I highly recommend it!

One bummer was Tyler's foster sister - Allyson Stoner.  She's the little girl from the Missy Elliot video, the sporty girl in "Cheaper by the Dozen", and she was a Disney movie watcher kid for a while.  Anyway, in this movie she's about 12, and I know she can bust a move (she was a hip hop little tyke in the Missy Elliot Video "Work It").  I was dying for Tyler to go home, practice his dancing, and she works it along with him.  Alas, they didn't focus on Tyler's home life very much, so she never got a chance to dance.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Where:  @ home on cable

Why:  I like Luke Wilson

I totally remember seeing a preview for this movie in theaters and thinking, "that looks cute/different".  Then I remember hearing that is made no money in theaters, which is normally a tell tale sign that it's no good.

It wasn't very good (I'm glad I didn't pay for it), but it was a fun free movie found on cable.

Matt (Luke Wilson) works in an office with his buddy Vaughn (Rainn Wilson - from the Office) and Hannah (Anna Ferris).  You can tell right away that Matt and Hannah have a flirty thing going at work, but Hannah really loves her boyfriend.

Matt meets Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) on the subway, and asks her out.  Jenny is hot, but in a nerdy way (with boring brown hair, bangs, glasses, and a librarian's wardrobe).  As they go on a couple dates you can tell something is off with her.  She's just not a very good girlfriend, but she's great in the sack (which they had to show a sex scene - totally unnecessary.  I'm no prude, but I'd rather not see a sex scene if I don't have to).

Jenny admits to Matt she has a big time secret.  She's actually ... pull off glasses and brown wig ... G girl.  New York City's favorite super hero!  She can do it all, fly, lazer eyes, super strength, lightning speed ... you get the idea.  Matt is totally turned on, but Jenny is just not a good girlfriend.  And she's totally jealous of Hannah, even though they are clearly just friends.

So Matt breaks up with her.

Have you ever wanted to get back at an ex-boyfriend, but didn't know what to do?  Well, as super hero, Jenny can do what ever she wants!

I won't ruin all the movie for you.  Basically, Jenny ruins Matt's life, but he's got a comeback of his own ...

Bewitched (2005)

Who: Bill and Melanie
What: Bewitched
Where: Aired on ABC
Why: We wanted to see it.

The 2005 comedy Bewitched takes a unique approach. Rather than a straight adaptation of the classic sitcom, the movie is about the attempts to make a new TV version of the old series. In another twist, the woman chosen to play the new Samantha is actually a witch just like her character.

Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) is a conceited jerk of an actor whose movie career is fading. He turns to television and conceives of a revived version of Bewitched where as Darin Stephens, he will be the actual star. Searching for an unknown actress to play wife Samantha--and stay in the background, he meets an attractive young woman named Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) and hires her. Unknown to Jack, Isabel really is a witch and trying to live a normal life. However, her magic powers prove too tempting and uses them in the filming of the series, to the delight of the studio audience and the chagrin of Jack. But as Jack continues to be upstaged, he becomes more attracted to Isabel. Will that change when he finds out she is a witch just like her character and will he be willing share the spotlight?

Bewitched the movie boasts a top notch cast including Shirley MacLaine as the actress playing Endora in the TV show, Michael Caine as Isabel’s father Nigel Bigelow, David Alan Grier as Jim Fields, Kristen Chenowith as Maria Kelly, and Steve Carell in a scene-stealing cameo as Uncle Arthur (originated in the series by Paul Lynde). All in all, Bewitched is really not a bad movie, boasting many funny moments. Where it comes up short is in the awkward pairing of Ferrell and Kidman. It’s hard to pinpoint, but they simply don’t make a great screen couple. As a whole though, the movie is good as escapist fare and may put you in the mood to enjoy an episode or more of Bewitched the series. And let’s face it: no one can twitch their nose quite like the original--and best--Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) could!

Not coincidentally, Bewitched was recently presented on ABC, the network that originally aired the show from 1964 to 1972. The series has been released on DVD and reruns can currently be seen just about every day on WGN America.