The Hangover

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  The Hangover
Where:  AMC Pleasure Island
Why:  It's got "Andy" from the office

I love a good 'ole raunchy comedy (Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), and this movie was no exception.  It was raunch and hilarious!

Doug (the sidekick from National Treasure) is getting married.  He is headed to Vegas with his 2 best friends (Bradley Cooper who is so cute and Ed Helms) and his future brother in law, who looks like a cave man.

They check in to a huge hotel suite, do a few shots to toast the evening then .... it's morning.  The room is trashed, a chicken is walking around, a tiger is in the bathroom, a chair is slightly on fire, a baby is crying from the closet and Doug is nowhere to be found.

The 2 best friends and the brother in-law try desperately to remember what happened the night before, but they have no clue.  Cutie pie Bradley Cooper is wearing a hospital wrist band, so they start there.  As the day goes on, and Doug is still lost, the boys discover more and more about what happened last night.  

Why is Ed Helms missing a tooth?  Why is Mike Tyson in their hotel room?  Whose baby is this?  And where is Doug?!?

As the boys drive around Vegas following their clues, each gag is funnier and funnier than the first.  If you love comedies, I highly recommend this movie!

I think the credits were actually my favorite part of the movie.

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!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspien

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  The Chronicles of Narnia:  Prince Caspien
Where:  at home - Jonathan got the DVD for Christmas
Why:  I've never seen it

Let me just start out with, I'm not a huge fan of Narnia or Narnia-type movies.  In fact, Jonathan saw this in the theater by himself, while I went to go see Zohan (by myself).

This movie wasn't half bad, it's just not my cup of tea.

With in the first 5 minutes, the kids are whisked back to Narnia, which I was happy about.  Why waste time in England?!?  Turns out Prince Caspien is in trouble (people who want to be king are trying to get rid of him and steal the throne), and he blows a magical horn to bring the kids to Narnia.

Once they are there, they realize that Narnia has gone to pot, and try to figure out what happened.  Turns out the land of humans (where Prince Caspien lives) have made the Narnian extinct ... or so they thought!

The 4 kids, and Prince Caspien (totally shocked to see 'real live' Narnians!) wage a war to regain their independence.  They are tired of hiding in the woods, pretending not to be alive.

One big war after another, everybody lives happily ever after.

If you were a fan of the first movie, then I recommend you check this one out.  If you haven't seen the first one yet, then this movie might not make any sense.

Kung Fu Panda

Who:  Amber, Jonathan & Jonathan's family
What:  Kung Fu Panda
Where:  @ the in-law's house
Why:  Jonathan bought it on Black Friday

Jonathan normally has a semi prejudice for non-Disney/Pixar animated movies, so I'm surprised he bought this movie (granted, it was only $9) before we've even seen it!  I think the barrage of marketing finally pulled him in.  Plus that fact that is made tons of money this summer made me believe it was a "decent" movie.

This flick was 'ok'.  But it was your typical animated movie.  It was funny for the kids, and it tried to be funny for adults.  It had way to much childish chatter.  Plus all the A list celebrity voices ... totally unnecessary!  I mean, Angelina Jolie?  There were 2 female characters, and I knew she was a voice in the movie (b/c The Soup made fun of her), but I couldn't pick her out!  Why even pay her all that money to lend her voice.  I wish there were more oriental sounding voices.  This movie was supposed to be based in China.

Ok - on to the plot:  The Dragon Warrior is about to be picked for the first time in China's history.  Po, the fat, noodle-loving Panda (Jack Black) is too late to watch the ceremony.  He managed to light a chair on fire with a firecracker and blast himself right into the middle of the ceremony.  He gets picked on accident!  Oops - I didn't see that coming!

Of course, all the real kung-fu animals (who have been training all their lives to be the Dragon Warrior) are annoyed.  As Jonathan said, "and hilarity will ensue ..."

Did I mention an evil kung-fu warrior has escaped from prison?  This evil warrior wants to be the Dragon Warrior!  Oh no, Po, the fat Panda will have to fight him!  I can't imagine what will happen next ...

It was a cute movie.  I'm glad Jonathan bought it for only $9.  I kind-of hope he decides to sell it on ebay ... after I watch all the special features.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Who:  Amber, Jonathan and my MIL
What:  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Where:  Pay Per View
Why:  MIL picked

This movie was super cute!  I didn't want it to end.  What happens to the girls next?!?  I must know!!!

Although, how old are these girls?  And where do their unlimited funds come from?  Everybody is flying to Turkey, to Greece, Alabama, etc.  I want to be in the sisterhood!

This story leaves off 2 years after the first one (I think).  The girls are home from their first summer of 4 different colleges.  Carmen (America Fererra) is the only one really trying to keep the pants ritual together.  The other girls just aren't into it anymore.  Everything is changing ...

This movie has a lot going on.  It could really be 4 movies in 1.  Tibby is living in NYC going to film school.  Carmen goes to New Hampshire to work backstage in a play (but get's the lead - who could've guessed?).  Bridgette is off to Turkey on an archeology camp scholorship thingy.  And Lena is taking summer school classes somewhere (I can't remember - somewhere in the North East b/c she's close to NYC).

Of course, crazy stuff happens to all 4 girls.  Tibby might be pregnant.  Bridgette rediscovers a long lost grandmother.  Carmen gets the lead in a play (did I ruin it for you?!?).  Lena discovers that her boyfriend from Greece is all sudden married!

Tears ensue ... and everybody ends up happy in the end.

The Pink Panther

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  The Pink Panther
Where:  @ home - on cable
Why:  Jonathan picked it

This movie wasn't half bad!  I expected to hate it because ... I'm going to sound like a jerk, but I find it really hard to understand accents.  And Steve Martin has a super strong fake French accent.

Steve Martin is a cop in France.  He is a bumbling moron.  A super famous French soccer coach is murdered after the biggest game of the year!  He's killed on the field in front of everybody.  Who could've committed such a crime?  Was it the Chinese soccer team?  Was it a French soccer player?  Was it Beyonce?

Seriously, why is Beyonce in this movie?  You have a great voice, but I don't want to ever see you in movies again.  I'm just not a fan.

The head of the French police asks Steve Martin (Inspector Cloo-so) to solve the case.  He figured Cloo-so will bumble around for a while, all while he swoops in to solve it himself, and win some fancy award.

Cloo-so bumbles around France, he bumbles around NYC following Beyonce around.  She seems awfully guilty!

Of coure Cloo-so figures out everything (you knew he was going to).  Beyonce sings a song (you knew she was going to).  And the Pink Panther theme song is still pretty darn cool!

P.S.  The best part is Cloo-so trying to say "hamburger" with out a French accent.  Brilliant!  I can't stop quoting it!

Tropic Thunder

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Tropic Thunder
Where:  AMC Pleasure Island
Why:  Jonathan picked

I thought this movie was really hilarious!!!  It was rated R for a reason (the opening scene shows some skin and words meaning private parts).

I love when movies involve all sorts of random famous people in cameos.  This movie was full of cameos!  I don't want to ruin any of them for you though...

In case you didn't read the other Movie Yak about Tropic Thunder (by John), I'll run down the movie for you:

A bunch of prima donna actors are making a Vietnam War movie based on a true story.  They are over budget, running behind and causing trouble for a first time director.  The Vietnam Vet, who wrote the script about his Vietnam War time, has an idea for the director.  They set up a bunch of cameras in the jungle, drop off the actors in the middle of the jungle, and tell them to get to work!  They will not be taking back to hotel pamper land until they are done shooting.

Of course, things go horribly, horribly wrong, and one of them gets caught by some real bad guys with real guns.  Even though the actors only have guns with blanks, they continue to shot at the bad guys the entire movie -- what's up with that.

Eventually they learn to work together, defeat the bad guys, and live happily ever after.  I highly recommend this movie, unless you're not a fan of R ratings.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Where:  @ home off Pay Per View
Why:  Jonathan picked it out

Let me first stay that I love the first Harold and Kumar movie.  I just love it!

This movie ... not so much.  The first movie was very simple.  This movie was crazy thing after crazy thing after crazy thing.  It was just too much.

I also vote for a title change, because Harold and Kumar break out of Guantanamo Bay with in 15 minutes.

I did like how this movie starts out litterally 10 minutes after the first movie ends.  The boys are back home after their White Castle fiasco.  Harold is dreaming about that hot chick he kissed in the elevator, and Kumar is taking a huge dump (he did just eat 30 burgers).

They hop on a plane to Amsterdam, because that's where the hot chick will be.  Even though they will be in Amsterdam soon, and they can smoke pot legally 24/7, Kumar finds it necessary to smoke on the plane.  He whips out his 'smokeless bong' invention, which, of course, looks like a bomb.  A lady thinks he a terrorist, and it's all down hill from here.

DirectTV gave us the unrated version; there were A LOT of nakedness in this movie.

On the bright side, Chris Meloni (sp?), who played that gross guy with the boils on his neck from the first movie, is back.  This time, in another unrecognizable role as the leader of the KKK.  Also Neil Patrick Harris is back playing 'Neil Patrick Harris'.  His role here isn't as great (or nearly as random) as in the first movie), but he's still great.  There is also a G.W. Bush impersonator playing G.W. Bush.  The accent is great, but he looks nothing like him. 

Am I bummed that I spend $3.99 on this movie?  A little bit ...

P.S.  I labeled this movie as 'hot guy(s)', because I think Harold is a cutie!

Tropic Thunder

Who: Matt (roommate) and Me
What: Tropic Thunder
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: John Stewart said it was funny

A politically incorrect comedy about a troupe of actors that find themselves in the middle of real jungle being shot at by real guerilla soldiers, though they think it's all a set. Robert Downey Jr. gives one of his best performances as "the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude!" Stiller is typical Zoolander-like funny. More than a chuckle, but not quite belly laugh worthy.

I will say that I didn't realize it was rated R and was caught off guard several times (beginning with the opening scene) as to the vulgarity of this film. It certainly had it's moments of heavy laughter, but there was also many times of lull. Jack Black's character tries too hard to be humorous and misses 9 times out of 10.

In general this film is a satire about the excesses of Hollywood and the casting director couldn't have picked a better person to play the role of studio head Les Grossman than Tom Cruise. His atypical role will either crack you up or leave you feeling awkward.

All in all, I give it a rating of 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. If you haven't already scene it, wait until it comes out on DVD. Then see it if you're a Ben Stiller fan or have run out of options on a boring Saturday night.

Mamma Mia

Who: Joanne and Mom
What: Mamma Mia
Where: the mall theater
Why: I have to admit, I love Abba!

I never went to see the theatrical version of this because I felt that building a musical around music that already existed was hokey. And you know what, it was. However, if you let yourself be drawn into the hokiness of it all, you, like me, may find yourself laughing and singing, getting choked up and dancing in your seat. I went to see Meryl Streep sing. And her performance did not disappoint. She has a lovely voice. And I bought into her free-spirited hippiness. Christine Baranski has a number called "Does Your Mother Know" that made me smile through the whole thing!

I loved the juxtaposition of the daughter (adorably played by Amanda Seyfried) and her friends and the Mother's (Streep) and hers. And there are some lovely touching scenes about mom letting go of her daughter. Yep, I teared up! The "dads" in this movie played by Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard definitely do NOT have great singing voices but oh are they entertaining!!

Also notable was the stunning location and very well done lighting in this movie. Made me want to go to Greece!!

My advice is to go to this movie to enjoy the feeling that you get from it. It is silly; it is campy and at times over the top, but it is thoroughly entertaining. You leave the theater with a HUGE smile on your face. I have to look for my ABBA's Greatest Hits CD while I anxiously await the DVD release.

P.S. Stay for the credits!! :-)

The Dark Knight

Who: Kerri Scott Emily & Mitchel
What: The Dark Knight
Where: At the crappy little theatre in Beloit, because the good theatres sell out
Why: It's Batman - and we had to say goodbye to Heath Ledger

Could be slight spoilers if you don't know the basic characters of the series, but I tried to remain vague...


I am a fan of 'comic book' movies, I am not however a HUGE fan of the first round of Batman movies. I liked them, yes, but they were rather 'cheesey.' Not to say I don't like cheesey, I'm a fan of cheesey (except in football). But I never became 'attached' to them like other movie series.

What I loved most about this movie is that Gotham was filmed in Chicago and it had a 'real world' feeling. You felt that these people, characters, and places were real. It was not some stylized green screened 'fantasy world.' That, along with Heath Ledgers brilliant and creepy Joker made the danger, and the fear seem real.

Ok, I realize there's also a guy running around in a batsuit, but it is the movies.

This was also not some over the top Tommy Lee Jones Two Face - Aaron Eckart's character was very sympathetic - even after he changed. And I liked how they created him - and the effects for his face.

Back to Heath... if you didn't know it was him, you may not have figured out who the actor was. He became the Joker, the voice, the mannerisms, Very creepy - they never really fleshed out why or who he was - but I think that was a brilliant choice. It's scarier when you don't know the villian, you don't know what's motivating him and there's no 'magic movie scenario' which will turn him back good. He is bad for the sake of bad. He is motivated by nothing more than just 'enjoying his job.' A villian with nothing to lose is one you can hardly beat.

Michael Caine and Morgan Freemen were back - both excellent actors adding nice weight, and even some comediac lines. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel. She did a good job, but there's something about that actress that doesn't always smack for me, but I think she fell into the story nicely and it wasn't so "hey that's a different actress" through the whole movie.

I thought the first one with Christian Bale was a good film, this sequel - Tops it. I don't often say that. It could be Batman's "empire" if you know what I mean.

Go See this movie. Now. Don't wait for the DVD.

Wanted

Who: Jaclyn
What: Wanted
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: I indulged my friend Sandy who LOVES Angelina. (Barf!)

Let me start by saying that I'm only blogging this because I felt bad (for Amber) that I've been neglecting the blog. I didn't really want to talk about this movie because it was AWFUL.

This was one of those movies that during it, you're looking at your watch and/or pondering if you'd really feel bad if you spent all that money and left during it. Well, I sucked it up and went with only the first. Like I said, Sandy loves Angelina...I couldn't ditch her while she was enjoying eye candy. Though the next Dane Cook movie that comes out, she owes me.

The movie is about...well...I wasn't really paying attention. Just kidding (sort of). It's about a group of "elite" assassins who are trying to rectruit this every day shlub who's life sucks. They lure him in saying his father was a top assassin (who he never knew) who was apparently killed by another assassin that broke away from "the group" and went rogue.

Morgan Freeman (who was the only reason this movie was tolerable) was the group's leader and he basically tells his team who's next to die. He gets the names from some super secret loom that feeds him the names and he decodes them. In theory, certain people are set to die to keep balance on the planet. Ooookay.

Anyhoo...turns out there are some plot twists and people you think are good are bad (ooh shocker) and vice versa. It all ends up being really loud and bloody.

Save your money and time kiddies. If you must see it, rent it.

Get Smart

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Get Smart
Where:  AMC Pleasure Island
Why:  Jonathan wanted to see it

This movie was HILARIOUS!!!  I can't recommend this movie enough.  I'm guessing it was rated PG13 (a guess), but there was little to no swearing, no nudity or sexual stuff.  There were guns and violence, but nothing graphic at all.  Fun for the entire family (over the age of 6).

I have no recollection of the TV show, so I have nothing to base this movie on.  I assumed Steve Carrell would play a bumbling, moronic FBI type agent who would constantly almost get himself killed and blow the mission.  But he was nothing like that!  He was a super smart agent who was a great shot with a gun.  I think he saved his partner more times than she saved him.  He was a little bumbling, but nothing over the top.

A great supporting cast including The Rock, Alan Arkin (who was kind-of a moron), a giant Russian guy, David Koeckner, the dad from Everybody Hates Chris, and more.  Again, I can't recommend this movie enough - just good old fashioned fun.

And a shout out to the guy who was SNORING really loudly in the theater for about 1 minute.  Was the movie keeping you awake sir?

Sex and the City

Who: Alina
What: Sex and the City
Where: Altamonte 18 Movie Theatre
Why: Religiously watched the show during it's first run and now in syndication (if I'm up that late!)

I enjoyed this movie immensely! I was a little wary b/c I am a HUGE fan of the show and I had heard mixed reviews. You don't have to be a fan of the show to understand the movie but you probably should have watched a few episodes here and there to kind of get how the personality of the girls work. Knowing what happened in the series finale might be helpful too. They do give you a quick synopsis of the personalities of the each of the girls and what has happened to them from the last season of the show to the past 3 or 4 years in the opening credits so you won't be totally lost. I can't say too much of the plot without giving the movie away but it's basically picks up after 4 years. Carrie is still with Big, Charlotte is still married to Harry, Miranda is still married to Steve and still lives in Brooklyn, and Samantha is still with Smith.

I'm not going to give any spoilers away but I cried (didn't think I would) and I laughed a lot. Samantha lives in LA with Smith but she is in a lot of the movie so Samantha fans don't need to worry, she's still Samantha! There is an interesting plot twist with Miranda that surprised me. Charlotte was the comedic relief. Carrie's storyline was heartwrenching (grab the tissues) and heart warming. All four of the stars were great in their roles. They reverted back to Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha like they had never left and gone on to other things. Jennifer Hudson was a great addition to the cast too.

This movie was nothing like I thought it would be. It was so much better! Yes, there was some talk of fashion. Yes, there was talk of love. Yes, there was a lot of nudity and sex (they even show a penis for a split second!). Yes, it is a supreme chick flick but it was great! Some people may not like how the girls ended up where they did at the conclusion of the movie, but I don't think it could have ended any better. It was very true to their characters and the show. Viva Sex and the City!

edit:  I brought this movie review back up to the front because I finally saw it!  And it was great!!!  I'm still annoyed how these women throw money all over the place, and why does Carrie need an assistant?  I haven't seen her do a lick of work.  Regardless, it was great, and I recommend it to all.

Wall-E

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Wall-E
Where:  AMC Pleasure Island
Why:  It's Disney/Pixar!

I have seen a million previews for this movie (at work), so I still didn't really know what the story was going to be about.  Turns out it was really cute!  Who knew a robot love story would be so touching.

I kept hearing that there would not be any dialog (except for Wall-E's limited robot speak) for the first 30 minutes of the movie, and I was expecting to be bored - but surprisingly, I was not bored!

Questions I have for the writer:

1.  How did the humans go to the bathroom?

2.  Where did the babies on the spaceship come from?

3.  How was that plant live in the fridge?

4.  How did the plant live in outterspace?

But who cares about the answers to these questions!  The movie was great!  Normally after I see a Pixar movie, I start to compose a list of best Pixar movies (in order).  I can't decide where to rank this one.  I think I need to see it again.

And the Pixar short before the movie was REALLY funny.  I've been a little disappointed with the recent batch of shorts.

The Love Guru

Who: Jaclyn
What: The Love Guru
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: Hello, there's hockey in it! Who needs another reason?

Ok, here's the deal: Go into it with an open mind, don't expect Oscar winning performances and revert back to being 15 and this is a great movie!

It's very slow at first but starts to pick up quickly. Mike Myers plays Guru Pitka, who's hired by the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Jessica Alba) to help get their star player, Darren Roanoke back on track after he "breaks up" with his wife, who is now coincidentally sleeping with Jacques "Le Coq" Grande (Justin Timberlake) who plays for the Los Angeles Kings.

Guru Pitka must help Darren through many personal hurdles so that he can get back together with his wife and win the Stanley Cup. It's just all around hilarity in my opinion. The jokes are sometimes right there and sometimes subtle. There is a fantastic Wayne's World reference as well.

There were many cameos in this movie and they're all equally funny. I definitely recommend this movie for laughs!

Batman Begins

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Batman Begins
Where:  at home on cable
Why:  Everybody else has seen it

I'm not really into the Batman Movies at all, but I was really enjoying this movie.  Maybe it is my yearning to always know the back story when I meet a movie character I like.  Or maybe it is because Christian Bale is super hot.  Either way, I liked it, and it makes me want to see Dark Knight (I had no desire to see it previously).

This movie shows how Christian Bale learns his arse-kicking movies.  It shows where the bat suit comes, and even why he is called "Bat" man in the first place.  Morgan Freeman makes him all kind of crazy stuff in his lab.

The villian Scarecrow was pretty creepy too.  I have no clue about the backstory about Batman, Scarecrow, or even the girl (she was unforgettable - I don't even remember her name), but that didn't really matter.

The ending 'battle' was a little far fetched, but it was exciting non the less.  On to the Dark Knight!

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Who: Jaclyn
What: You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: I love Adam Sandler!

I have been waiting for a new movie by Adam Sandler to come out for a while, one that was actually a comedy. So imagine my delight when this movie popped into previews a few months ago. Sadly, I was very disappointed. I laughed a few times, fell asleep a few times. By far, not his best.

The funniest parts of the movie have already been shown in the previews. The two things worth mentioning are his unholy lust for hummus and Rob Schneider trying to call the Middle East.

Thank God it was only $6...and I even had a gift card!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Who: Alina
What: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Where: At home on Fuse
Why: One of my favorite movies as a kid

If you like dance movies this a good one. It's about a talented military brat, Janie, who always wanted to go to Chicago because her favorite show, Dance TV, was there. Dance TV is looking for a new couple to be regulars on the show so she auditions, against her father's wishes, and gets picked to be one of the finalist. They pair her up with her complete opposite, Jeff, and they automatically clash. Of course, they get close and challenge the obstacles that are in their way. Janie has a really strict father causing her to sneak out for rehersals. A rival's rich father threatens to fire Jeff's dad if he doesn't throw the competition and others typical stuff. It's a feel good movie so its totally predictable, totally cheesy, totally 80's, and totally fun!

You'll recognize some familiar faces such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, and a preteen Shannon Doherty. SJP's Janie is a far cry from Carrie Bradshaw but endearing none the less. Hunt is funny as her outrageous best friend. I don't know what is up with the guys in this movie since they seemed to have vanished the last couple of years but they were great too. The rest of the cast is good.

You won't find any hip-hop, electric boogaloo stuff here. This is straight up dancing with a sprinkling of gymnastics thrown in! Todays dance films are impressive with their dancing but it's too much rump shaking and dependant on stunts. The dancing here is great, technical, and old school. The choreography is awesome and it was a nice change of pace to see dancers actually perform routines in a tradtional style rather than hip hop. As a dancer in my younger years I was totally enthralled with this movie.

It's great rainy day movie! It's a great filler movie since there is absolutely nothing on TV now that it's Summer. You'll come away with a smile. At the very least get a chuckle out of the 80's styles we all know and love!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Who: Jaclyn
What: Indiana Jones 4 (for short)
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: Everyone else was doing it...

Ok, let me first start off by asking, "why!?"! Why was this movie made? I know a lot of IJ fans were wanting another one, as well as George and Steven wanting to make one, but COME ON! At 2 hours and some odd minutes, this could have been cut down to one hour, maybe one and a half.

It's a few years after his last "adventure/crusade" and Indy is captured by Soviets in a plot to find this so-called "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". Cate Blanchett is wonderful as Irina Spalko, the leader of this communist group. She is completely obsessed (yet sometimes really annoying) with finding the crystal skull that seems to have power over people and is somehow a magnet.

There are a lot of funny moments in this movie, including Indy finding out he has a son, played by Shia LeBeouf. But the effects are not great. Gone are the old-time stunts that made movies more exciting and in their place, CGI effects that are so fake.

This movie is not like any of his past quests because he's not looking for some typical ancient artifact (well, not really) but rather alien remains/objects that somehow have something to do with Area 51. He spends only minimal time in Area 51, but the atomic bomb testing is priceless.

This movie rips off every Pirates of the Caribbean movie and some National Treasure moments as well. Now, some may argue that since the "idea" or maybe even the script for IJ4 was started some 15 years ago, that these movies stole from IJ...but I'm thinking no.