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The Rage Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“The Rage” is directed by Robert Kurtzman, who is responsible for directing the near masterful work known as “Wishmaster”, and partly written by him also. The cast is full of actors and actresses who are unknown for a good reason.

A mad scientist experiments with a virus known as rage. He uses this to experiment with innocent victims deep in the woods. When a few of his patients escape, the woods become terrorized by blood hungry monsters who are in search of their next victims. In this case, the victims being the usual group of partiers.

It does take a kind sadistic talent to artistically splatter blood and spew guts, and Robert Kurtzman has that perverse talent. Everything, from the horrible acting to the rambunctious occurrences, are overlooked thanks to Kurtzman’s nag for directing over-the-top, campy horror films. I realize that it’s bad. Scratch that. I realize that it’s really bad, but this horror film actually brings some new ideas to the table. One innovative idea being the mutated vultures who vomit on and devour their victims. If your hungry for a blood and guts galore, then look no further. Maybe it’s not the goriest film ever made (Dead Alive), but it’s surely packing lots of grotesque moments that will have people arguing over this subject matter.

“The Rage” is a gooey and delightfully gory feature guaranteed to satisfy any gorehound. The story is flimsy and the acting is cheesy. So to really enjoy this one for what it’s worth, you have to be a hardcore horror nut, which is certainly the category I fit under. My suggestion is to cut out your brain and kick it out the door before you watch this film, meaning don’t think hard about it. There is one somewhat dull moment featuring a flashback. This is just a dire attempt at character development and ends up being a careless moment. Those who don’t like the shaky camera work (like me) will be mildly disappointed at the excessive use of it during the vulture attacks.

Overall, this is worth a look for die hard horror buffs. Anyone with a weak stomach should avoid this one. One thing that would make me admire this movie much more than I already do, is if they didn’t go overboard with the CGI blood and vulture effects. Don’t take the acting and story so seriously and enjoy this movie for the brainless, blood-drenched horror movie it truly is, and you won’t be disappointed. 3/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

P2 Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“P2″ stars Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley and a number of unknown actors and actresses. It’s directed by first-timer Franck Khalfoun and written by Alexandre Aja (High Tension) and Franck Khalfoun.

A woman (Rachel Nichols) gets stuck inside the parking garage of her work late on Christmas Eve and becomes pursued by a psychotic security guard (Wes Bentley). Her chances of escaping become very slim when the security guard has cameras watching her every move. This leads to her struggle to survive the night and maybe, just maybe get out of P2 alive.

I just watched the movie and I’m already forgetting it. It tries so hard to be a throwback to the 80’s slasher flicks, but only succeeds in being basic and unoriginal. This holiday horror flick has weak characters, a sloppy script, poor acting, and lack of style. It starts off dull and doesn’t ever pick up the pace, in which some moments of dozing and head-nodding occur. It’s sporadically gory and is extremely low on the suspense. The acting by Wes Bentley was so terrible, it’s almost unbelievable. His features are more the preppy school boy type than the unstable human being, resulting in the most unconvincing psychopath I have seen in recent years.

“P2″ should’ve been released in it’s suitable form. That form being directly to DVD. I feel terribly bad for those poor horror fans who paid admission to see this. I’m sure most walked out to watch whatever was playing at the multiplex next door. “P2″ is one of the dullest thrillers made in the past few years. In fact, you might have to glue you eyelids open for this one. A mundane slasher flick with practically nothing to recommend. The dialog is about as unoriginal as you can get and after watching “P2″, you’ll be tired of hearing the names Tom and Angela.

I recommend that you rent “High Tension” and any other throwback to 80’s slasher flicks if you intend on getting even the mildest of thrills. The film was so boring, it almost crossed into the unwatchable zone. The three gory scenes were executed and shot poorly. Even the most radical ending wouldn’t save the film from being a total waste of time. Completely avoid this one at all costs. 1/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Penelope Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Penelope” stars Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Richard E. Grant, and Reese Witherspoon. “Penelope” marks director Mark Palansky’s first full length feature film debut, which proves to be a pretty decent movie.

Penelope (Christina Ricci) is a young girl who was born is the nose of a pig because of a curse place upon her family by a witch. The catch is the curse isn’t permanent. It can be broken by finding true love and liking herself for who she is. Her mother (Catherine O’Hara) faked the death of her daughter to protect her from the public, leading to Penelope’s escape from home into the real world.

A few elements are exaggerated in the film. These include the dates jumping out nearby windows after seeing “the nose” and also the fact that she is unbearable to look at. They can be forgiven for the fact that this is a fairytale story. ”Penelope” is bombarded by overacting from Catherine O’Hara. On the other hand, Christina Ricci is so appealing here that you look right past that distinct pig snout and see a charming performance. There is impressive dialog that is poetically narrated by Christina Ricci in the beginning. The rest of the film’s dialog is trite, but not abrasive.

Reese Witherspoon gives a short, but memorable, performance as the one who shows Penelope around the “outside world”. As vivid predictions lapsed through my head, I was completely surprised that the ending wasn’t as predictable as I thought. Sure the part about her living happily ever after was foreshadowed, but there are a couple of clever twists at the end. It’s quite refreshing.

There is a cliched subplot containing two characters who plan to get a snapshot of the nose for public appeal, but I enjoyed it for the most part. “Penelope” puts a small twist on the average fairytale. Nothing explosive (it’s just a nose), but cute enough to acknowledge. The direction isn’t top-notch, but acceptable considering this is Mark Palansky’s first full length feature film. I have to say that it was worth my time. It wasn’t an effort, but a pleasure watching “Penelope”. 3.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Vantage Point Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Vantage Point Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Vantage Point” stars Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and many others. This is the directorial debut of Pete Travis and the story is written by first time writer Barry Levy.

The story follows the attempted assassination of the president of the United States, shown from total of eight different perspectives. These viewpoints include innocent bystanders, bodyguards and even the president himself. Each of these people have their own incidents that relate to the shooting and inadvertently tie in at the end.

My interest was scattered through the film, losing and gaining interest from time to time. The spectacular cast failed to completely impress. Each performance was below average. Especially Dennis Quaid, who adds yet another horribly unconvincing performance to his lists of efforts. He has this expression stamped on his face that is similar to Harrison Ford, confused and angry. He deserves an early worst actor nomination for his attempt here, it was horrendously bad.

The film does contain a few good chase scenes that are shot well and the action is non-stop, but the film is extremely repetitive. The president gets shot, an explosion occurs, then a chase scene shortly after. It even felt like a directorial debut with the director never really getting the actors to show what they are made of. William Hurt, Forrest Whitaker, and Sigourney Weaver are all great actors, yet the perform on subpar levels here. There are many minor twists and turns, but no true surprises. We have the trailer to thank for that. It ruined the biggest twist in the movie.

Each perspective failed to climax until the end. It’s not a really bad movie, but I certainly wouldn’t watch it again. The downpour of bad acting by Dennis Quaid and the continuous rewinding of the movie, only to view the same thing in a different perspective, left me very pleased that it ended. Viewing this movie once is like viewing it eight times and that can’t be a good thing. 1.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Gracie Movie Review by armchaircritic

Yet another entry into the genre of "stand up and cheer" sports movies is Gracie. This time around, the sport is soccer. However, this film is a little more than just another sports film. Carly Schroeder stars as Grace "Gracie" Bowen.

At the Bowen house, the family lives, breathes and eats soccer 24/7. The focus of this effort is centered on the eldest child, Johnny, an athletically gifted high schooler that is the star soccer player, coached by his father (ably played by Dermot Mulroney) who is reliving his glory days. Tragically, Johnny is abruptly killed, and reasonably so, it effects the entire family.

As the Bowen family attempts to move on from their loss, Gracie, the sister, decides to play soccer and pick up right where her brother left off. This film chronicles the true story of the uphill battle that she faced, from her family, her friends and the school. Oh, I should mention that this took place in the 70's, and there was no girls soccer team so she was fighting to take the field with the boys.

As a child of the Seventies, I appreciated the soundtrack that used all time appropriate tunes. The props department also paid attention to details such as the 70's specific packaging of the Cornflakes and Gatorade. While neither is essential, it does go towards making a decent film better, and keeping the time setting authentic and believable.

The bottom line is that I enjoyed Gracie. It tells a story of fighting for equality, and moving on after tragedy. It's good drama, and a good sports movie, which are always a combination worth watching.

Overall Grade: B+

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Drillbit Taylor Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Drillbit Taylor” stars a young uprising cast that includes Kate Hartley, Troy Gentile, Ian Roberts, and the veteran actor Owen Wilson. It’s directed by Stephen Brill (Heavy Weights, Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds) and the screenplay was written by Seth Rogan (Superbad).

The story follows a group of geeks who are tormented on their first day of high school by a corrupt and immoral bully. This leads to the idea of hiring a professional bodyguard to put an end to the unrightful beatings. They hire Drillbit Taylor, a bum posed as a retired army veteran aimed at coning the freshmen for their personal belongings.

I like the cast of youngsters in the film. They all have a certain chemistry that hold the film together. This feels more like an 80’s John Hughes movie released too late. It might have worked better for the earlier generation of kids, but this generation of kids have no taste and are looking for a more rude, crude and vulgar film. Being claimed as the prequel to Superbad, this is more mature and honest and I respect it for that reason. This doesn’t have anything original and feels oddly familiar, but it’s simple and direct.

Some of the truly funny moments were spoiled in the trailer that had me biting at my lip to see it. It ends up being light on the laughs and heavy on the smiles. The story is widely predictable and the characters are very similar to the ones in “Superbad”. These factors don’t hurt the film entirely. What hurts the film is the trailer. If you haven’t seen the trailer, you will probably have some good laughs. Owen Wilson does a pretty good job as the cereal loving bum posed as a bodyguard, and the young cast is fresh. Especially Troy Gentile, who exerts facial expressions that are quite funny. Fans of the boxoffice hit “Superbad” will probably dislike the film, for it is lacking in immature and tasteless lowbrow humor.

Overall, it is a sweet and cute story, but it has all the elements that make up a rental. It’s predicable and not funny enough to warrant a recommendation for a theatrical viewing. I did have fun and enjoyed the ending, even though I saw it coming. This is the very definition of an average comedy that earns a mild recommendation when it comes out on DVD. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

30 Days of Night Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“30 Days of Night” stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, along with other actors I won’t waste my time mentioning and co-stars a strong performance by Ben Foster as The Stranger.

When an Alaskan town experiences a total of 30 days of darkness, this gives advantage to the prince of darkness known as vampires. These screeching bloodthirsty vampires are bent on destruction and plan to suck the life out of the town’s civilians. This leads to the overthrow of the town and singles out a few survivors to save the day…or should I say night.

The vampires having full advantage gives me the impression that it will have it’s fair share of kills, and it did. One vampire really shined. He looked like a modern day Nosferatu, bald and hideous. I expected it to have a thrilling beginning, but in this case the film started of slow. It picks up the pace once Ben Foster appears on screen. He gives the most effective performance in the movie, while Josh Hartnett was mediocre and Melissa George administers a pale and forgettable performance. Each character is lacking in depth, resulting in a root for the vampires.

The film has shaky camera work (which I am not too keen on) but does it well enough to be able to tell what is going on. Some of the kills are brutal and jaw-dropping, with the weapon of choice here being an axe. This is a dark and exceedingly bloody vampire flick with the ultimate vampires, featuring blackened eyes, long nails, sharp teeth, and even their own fictitious language. This gloomy vampire flick certainly has it’s moments. I had a good time watching the snow become blood-stained red.

This is a fun movie to watch when your in the mood for blood dripping fun. Every attack by the cold blooded vampires can be foreshadowed by the viewer resulting in few startling moments, it features “heard it before” dialog, and it’s not very scary. Yet, I am still recommending it for the blood thirsty movie goer like myself. 3.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Prestige Movie Review by star757

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I thought this was a great movie. It keeps you interested the whole time with twists and turns, and it isn't predictable. This movie is about two magicians trying to make it big in England in the 1900's. It is set as flashbacks as each magician is reading the other's diary. You will have to watch to see why this is so. To get jobs you have to have the most impressive illusion, and the two main characters, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, will stop at nothing to be the best. Each illusion consists of three parts which you learn about in the movie. The third part is the prestige, when you bring something back that disappeared. The movie begins with Borden and Algier, Bale and Jackman, as workers for Cutter, played by Michael Caine. They are both learning the ropes waiting for their chance to become popular magicians. Early in the movie something tragic happens that will set the two as enemies throughout the movie. Borden makes it big and Algier will stop at nothing to bring him down. The movie follows this back and forth as one magician has a great trick and the other exposes him. Thrown into this is Scarlett Johannson's character. She plays Algier's assistant who later works with Borden. I won't go into much more, except for the big illusion, The Transported Man. Borden devises this illusion and Algier has to have the secret to it. It drives him thoughout the movie. There is so much more to the story. It has a rich, well developed plot. I would highly recommend it. The ending is interesting and you'll never figure it out.

The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford” stars Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, and Sam Shepard. It’s written and directed by Andrew Dominik (Chopper) and based on a novel written by Ron Hansen.

Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) is a 19 year old who has idolized Jessie James (Brad Pitt) since he was a child. Wanted by law for train robberies and the murder of many innocent people, Robert Ford shoots him in order to gain fame and get the reward for his death. This is the story of the assassination of Jessie James.

This is spectacular film. Everything is well shot and the performances first-rate. The cinematography was remarkable and it was brilliantly narrated by Hugh Ross, who has a gripping voice. Both shocking and startling at times, the whole experience was unbelievably gripping from start to finish. Featuring very strong direction by Ron Hansen, who digs deep and find the true essence of filmmaking with this beautiful film. This has everything, from style to an intelligently written script.

It is slowly paced, but the film doesn’t feel drawn out. This is certainly one of the years very best films with some moments that are sure to catch you off-guard. Most of the credit goes to Brad Pitt for portraying a character who makes every scene tense and nerve wrecking. For creating an unpredictable and ruthless killing machine with a soft core. A man with a split personality. This is what acting is all about. Casey Affleck gives a more lively performance than usual, which was acknowledged by the Academy.

Easily earning my recommendation, this is a most amazing film with some sleek, not-to-be-missed performances that will have your eyes wide open. Brad Pitt delivers the goods, swinging from one mood to another, always catching you by surprise. With some stunning camera work and one of the years best performances by Brad Pitt as the cold hearted outlaw Jessie James, this is clearly a must-see movie event. 4.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Deaths of Ian Stone Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The Deaths of Ian Stone Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“The Deaths of Ian Stone” stars Mike Vogal, Jamie Murray, Christina Cole, along with others who I wont waste my time mentioning. It’s directed by Dario Piana (They Come Out At Night) and written by Brendan Hood (They).

Ian Stone is a man who has to live every day of his life being murdered by unnerving creatures, only to wake up again living a slightly different life. This happens every time the clocks stop and Ian has no idea as to why this is happening to him. Is he just going insane or is he really experiencing death every day?

“The Deaths of Ian Stone” was one of the 8 Films to Die For featured at 2007’s Horrorfest. The movie starts off with a promising beginning, which is the one and only time that I jumped. Fans of the famous producer and creature effects king Stan Winston probably won’t be too disappointed. He adds to his legacy of creature features which includes the special effects for films such as “Aliens”, “Predator”, “The Relic”, “Lake Placid”, along with many others. Even though this creature film ranks at the bottom of the list of remarkable monster movies created by him, you still have to admire the work of Stan the Man.

I liked the story’s concept, even if it was extremely bizarre and outrageous. The acting done by Mike Vogal as Ian Stone is mediocre and the rest of the acting is just barely passable, but the real stars are the creatures who feed on the fear of people. Death is their ultimate pleasure. This is like an addiction for these ghost-like creatures. Near the end, it started to get really strange. This doesn’t necessarily hurt the film, but it knocks it around a bit. ”The Deaths of Ian Stone” is a movie that’s worth dusting off come Halloween time. The finale is pleasing, which is always a nice thing.

Stan Winston scores once again, creating another creature extravaganza. The only real problem with this film is that it does have a “been there, done that” feeling. The creatures are too similar to the tooth fairy featured in “Darkness Falls”, a creature Stan Winston designed. Can it be true that Stan Winston has run out of ideas. It’s really nothing special, but I certainly recommend that you check out everything that Stan Winston has to offer, whether it is something he produced, directed, or worked on in the special effects or make-up department. This film being at the bottom of that list. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

30 Days of Night Movie Review by ajazfiazuddin

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Sam Raimi co-produced this fright flick starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George. Although unoriginal in the basic plot - vampires killing simple towns folk - the twist lies in the setting. "30 days of Night" is situated at the "top of the world" in Barrow, Alaska. What makes the setting particularly sinister for the 152 human residents of this sleepy frozen village is that every winter the town undergoes 30 days without sunlight. And yes, its that time of year again. And yes... 30 days without the only natural weapon against vampires. Now enter the vampires, who arrive with little fanfare presumably aboard a derelict ship briefly shown floating of the Barrow coastline. When they discover the town of Barrow and its unusually long nightfall, its the start of a grisly 30 night block party. And very few of the 152 winter residents of Barrow will survive the month... despite the best and unexpected efforts of a dedicated town sheriff (Hartnett) and his deputy wife (George).

The special effects were quite gruesome, though not out of the ordinary. Something about the bone chilling cold and snow made the violence seem more intense, more bestial. The acting was good ... with Harntett taking charge of himself and his group of survivors pretty well. A surprising and poignant ending closes the story for our main characters.

The movie had some analogues to other cold climate creepshows like Stephen King's "Storm of the Century". But otherwise, on the whole, it was a typical vampire flick that benefitted more than most such movies via an original setting and solid acting. Fix the Possible Mistakes: Sam Raimi co-produced this fright flick starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George. Although unoriginal in the basic plot - vampires killing simple towns folk - the twist lies in the setting. "30 days of Night" is situated at the "top of the world" in Barrow, Alaska. What makes the setting particularly sinister for the 152 human residents of this sleepy frozen village is that every winter the town undergoes 30 days without sunlight. And yes, its that time of year again. And yes... 30 days without the only natural weapon against vampires. Now enter the vampires, who arrive with little fanfare presumably aboard a derelict ship briefly shown floating of the Barrow coastline. When they discover the town of Barrow and its unusually long nightfall, its the start of a grisly 30 night block party. And very few of the 152 winter residents of Barrow will survive the month... despite the best and unexpected efforts of a dedicated town sheriff (Hartnett) and his deputy wife (George). The special effects were quite gruesome, though not out of the ordinary. Something about the bone chilling cold and snow made the violence seem more intense, more bestial. The acting was good ... with Harntett taking charge of himself and his group of survivors pretty well. A surprising and poignant ending closes the story for our main characters. The movie had some analogues to other cold climate creepshows like Stephen King's "Storm of the Century". But otherwise, on the whole, it was a typical vampire flick that benefited more than most such movies via an original setting and solid acting.

The Game Plan Movie Review by armchaircritic

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In the film, The Game Plan, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays the guy who lives and breathes football. In fact he's the star quarterback for a fictitious Boston professional team. Suddenly he discovers he has an eight year old daughter, Peyton Kelly (Madison Pettis) when she literally appears on his doorstep. Somehow, she doesn't fit into his plans for the all night party at the local club, or the team practice, or the rotating girlfriends. Her interest in ballet also clearly doesn't fit into this jock's macho image.

However, quite predictably, as the film progresses, the father and daughter bond. He gets involved in the ballet; she in his football. We learn the circumstances as to how she ended up at his door, and he'll do anything to keep her around and happy.

All right, I know that The Game Plan is put out by Disney, and everything they do tastes at least a little saccharin sweet (and they probably put Prozac in the coffee down at the happiest place on earth"). While I suppose that if I were 10 years old, and hadn't seen too many films before, I probably would have enjoyed it. However, it's not that this is a terrible movie, it's just not too original, and not a really good one. I can't really recommend it that much as there's nothing truly memorable or well done. Still, for some family friendly retread, The Game Plan isn't the worst if you don't expect too much from it.

Overall Grade: C+

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Horton Hears a Who Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Horton Hears a Who!” stars the voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett and those who listen closely will recognize the voices of Will Arnett, Seth Rogan, and Jonah Hill. It’s directed by both Jimmy Haywood and Steve Martino and the screenplay was written by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (College Road Trip).

Horton (Jim Carrey) is an elephant who lives in the Jungle of Nool, enjoying himself while bathing in a pool. On the fifteenth of May Horton hears a faint yelp, as if a small person were crying for help. This voice came from a speck floating around in the air. A town known as Whoville, with little who’s living on a speck unaware. This takes us to Horton, our hero who is faithful to the end. He himself will work for this speck, containing his tiny friends. Afterall, a person’s is a person, no matter how small.

Taking a book written by the famous Dr. Seuss, the creators of “College Road Trip” create a fun animated film, featuring a lovable character known as Horton. Maybe it was all a bit busy at times, but the message doesn’t evaporate into the hyper pace of the film. Instead, it was made very clear. What makes this a Jim Carrey favorite by critics is the absence of his trademark over-the-top antics performed in his live-action roles. Here, he is unable to perform on screen, giving the critics a break from what they call “annoyance”.

The animation was what you would usually expect from the studio that brought “Ice Age” to the screen, with the exception of a short act that involved Japanese Animation. Jim Carrey stages the voice for Horton, adding a zany and crisp voice to the beloved character. This is a wonderful addition to his creative roles. Horton, being a wild and imaginative character, fits him perfectly. The story stays true to Dr. Seuss. Its never offensive or destroys the moral, like the live action version of “The Cat in the Hat” did so directly and without any remorse. Appealing to a wider audience than Ron Howard’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, this was a feel great movie thats both a charming and lively attempt at stretching a short story into a feature length film. I believe that adults will certainly appreciate this adaption of the great Dr. Seuss story.

I really enjoyed myself during it’s running time. Never once was I bored or did I feel that urge to fix the entire set-up, bringing to mind one terrible Dr. Seuss adaption that I have no need to name. Everything felt like Dr. Seuss in “Horton Hears a Who!”, bringing a legend back to life in the most modern way possible, including some scenes of karate. The narration was dead on and timed just right. It stamped a smile on my face from beginning to end. That, along with the infamous Jim Carrey, create another Suessical gem. See it I say, see it or you’ll pay with a day of dismay. 4.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Darjeeling Limited Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“The Darjeerling Limited” stars Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and features a cameo appearance by Bill Murray. It’s directed by Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic, The Royal Tenenbaums) and written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola.

A story about three brothers, who haven’t spoken to with each other in a year. To bond with together and make things the way they used to be, they set off on a journey through the most spiritual country in the world known as India. During their spiritual journey, they encounter some of the most spiritual places in the world, discover a building relationship in the most clumsy way and become closer than ever.

Wes Anderson introduces us to the best work that he has to offer. Part 1 of the film is titled “The Hotel Chevalier”, which gives us an insight on the character Jack, who I am guessing is the youngest brother. Creator of the terribly unfunny and pointless “The Life Aquatic”, Wes Anderson revives himself here with a minor independent gem. It’s shot smoothly and with a brightly detailed vision. A more interesting story than any of Wes Anderson’s previous films. Minor flaws, like it being moderately slow and having a somewhat muddled story, are the only things that weigh this movie down.

An awkwardly touching film by Wes Anderson, who finally makes something actually entertaining. As the camera sways from one character to another, you can’t help but recognize the breakthrough style that Wes Anderson displays for the first time. This deserves a viewing, especially for those who are fans of Wes Anderson. A strange and unforgettable film that I believe is Wes Anderson’s makeup for his previous disasters.

Each character is unique. Jack writes short stories about his experiences and claims they are based on fictional characters, Francis got in an accident and was actually dead for a moment, then revived by two joggers and, and Peter left his pregnant wife home and took things that reminded him of his deceased father, including his prescription sunglasses and useless car keys. Adding to these unique characters presented in the film are rare tunes and the excessive use of slow motion, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is written so well that it will be difficult to turn away from. 3.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

No Country for Old Men Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“No Country For Old Men” stars Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, and co-stars Woody Harrelson. It’s Directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen, who are credited with the screenplay for this adaption of the Cormac McCarthy novel.

In Texas, a hunter named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a drug deal gone terribly wrong. Instead of reporting this to the police, like any normal person would, he decides to take the two million dollars left at the scene. This leaves him wanted by a psychopath (Javier Bardem) and by a soon-to-be retired Sheriff named Ed Tom (Tommy Lee Jones).

The words masterpiece and flawless seemed to be used to describe this movie without hesitation. This is hard to believe as I nearly fell asleep during it. What could have been a taunt and disturbing thriller ends up being sluggish and with a disappointing aftermath. The camera work was swift and the direction was solid, but was the acting really that good? Javier Bardem gives a mannequin like performance that isn’t anywhere near disturbing, repeating lines like “Call it.” among others. This is a role that anyone could’ve achieved as to the powerful performance by Hal Holbrook in the film “Into the Wild”.

One of the major problems that this film beholds is it’s absent of a mesmerizing score, or even any score for that matter. Before movies even had sound, they had music. It’s hard to appreciate a film that lacks the oldest form of entertainment. No music equals a yawn here and a sigh there. It’s probably more interesting to read then to watch. I began to lose interest in the dialog, and dialog is what the tasteless ending is composed of. Dare I say that this is a true snoozer. Why did this win best picture of the year? Why did Javier Bardem win best supporting actor, giving a lazy and emotionless performance? It just doesn’t feel right.

I know I am the minority here, but I wasn’t impressed. There are many flaws. One of the most irritating is the lack of any music that would’ve made the film at least mildly suspenseful. The acting was somewhat disappointing, spooning me the impression that anyone could’ve pulled it off the stiff performance that won Javier Bardem an academy award. Even the most famous coin-flipping scene was pointless and ineffective. It’s sad that I can’t even recommend what was crowned the best picture of 2007. 1.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek Fleek

Tommy Tiernan Something Mental DVD Added To Prize Catalog

Another Great Prize added to the Popcornmonsters.com Prize Catalog, Tommy Tiernan Something Mental
Click on the picture below to find out more details about how to get this great prize shipped to your door for free*. *Must live in the USA

Having conquered the rest of the English-speaking world, Ireland’s top comedian, Tommy Tiernan, will release his first U.S. special, “Something Mental,” on CD and DVD on Tuesday, March 11 from Image Entertainment. “Something Mental” will also premiere as an hour Comedy Central special on Friday, March 14. Recorded at The Mercury Theater in Chicago, “Something Mental” captures Tiernan’s boundless energy taking his audience on a journey through what the British press called, “the devilish wonderland of his mind.” Weaving contemplations and observations on relationships, religion, being Irish and his travels through the U.S. Tommy’s stories blend a playful absurdity with an intellectual depth that cuts with a philosophical edge. The “Something Mental” CD features Tommy’s hour performance with an additional bonus track. In addition to the hour performance of the main program, the “Something Mental” DVD features over 30 minutes of extras including “Walk in the Windy City,” “Interview With Tommy” and “Meet The Badger: Outtakes.”

Run, Fatboy, Run Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Run, Fatboy, Run” stars Simon Pegg (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz)and co-stars Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, and Dylan Moran. It features David Schwimmer’s directorial debut and a script written by Simon Pegg and Michael Ian Black.

David (Simon Pegg) is an out-of-shape slacker who has never finished anything in his entire life and is always running in the wrong direction. Libby (Thandie Newton) was his pregnant fiance that he left five years ago. He regrets this every day of his life, especially when he discovers that Libby has found a friend named Whit, who spends his days running marathons. This encourages David to lose weight and win back his only love.

Simon Pegg stars without his usual co-star Nick Frost. This doesn’t hurt the film, but it certainly doesn’t help any. The film is missing a strong supporting cast to add the side laughs. I had low expectations for “Run Fatboy Run”, but proves to be a more amusing British comedy than “Hot Fuzz”, which was obviously a hit or miss. Simon Pegg doesn’t try really hard to be funny and still managed to throw in consistent chuckles while adding some generally hilarious moments into the mix.

This is the comedy you should see when it’s released in theaters March 28th. This is full of smiles and the occasional belly laughs. The moments that are gut-bustingly funny are disgusting, but stays within the acceptable boundaries. This is a feel good and inspirational movie that many will rave as being a cute romantic comedy that is carried by Simon Pegg’s ability to cause uncontrollable laughter.

With David Schwimmer behind the camera, you would expect this comedy to run itself straight into the dirt. Instead, it’s a steadily entertaining film. There are many flaws, but they just don’t seem to hurt the film entirely. “Run, Fatboy, Run” is an overall delightful movie. It’s sentimental without being cheesy, crude without being offensive, and predicable without being aggravating. That’s an huge accomplishment all it’s own. 3/5 stars

10,000 B.C. Movie Review by Ross_Miller

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For the average movie goer 10,000 BC will probably have them shrugging at the film being just okay. But for anyone looking closer at the film, at its actual filmmaking, they will see the bad film it really is.

Set, yes you guessed it, in the year 10,000 BC the film tells the story of a young, brave mammoth hunter and his journey through uncharted territories to save his people.

The film is at an immediate disadvantage with me as I am not a fan of action/adventure films involving huge creatures, fantasy or otherwise, that people have to battle. It’s purely a thing of personal taste and not a thing I can hold against the film for the general public. I can, however, hold the sub-par action, historical inaccuracy and boring and plodding plot against it. You feel every minute of the film’s near two hour runtime, all the time aching for something exciting and attention grabbing to happen on-screen. Instead you get action scenes we have scene a million times before, not-so-special-special effects and unconvincing actors that look like they’ve just walked off a soap opera set. It’s all very hap-hazardly done in favour of what the makers think are stunning set pieces and visuals.

The special effects within the film would have been impressive a few years ago. But CGI has moved on this since then, and after such showcasing like Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the recent bringing to life of the Transformers, and thus 10,000 BC’s aren’t bad in any way but just are nothing we haven’t seen before.

The film, above most other things, is blatantly historically inaccurate. Correct me if I’m wrong but people didn’t speak English as we speak it now back in those times. They attempt to tackle this by having the characters speak in broken, not fully formed English when actually it comes off as a foreigner trying to speak our language so that we, the audience, can understand. Obviously if the film was in the appropriate language, with accompanying subtitles, then it wouldn’t draw in the masses, which is a sad thing indeed. And also correct me if I’m wrong but they didn’t have good dental plans and make-up in those days either. So outwith the boring story and same-old action sequences we also have implausibility’s and inaccurate details that made me countless times roll my eyes in disbelief.

The acting in the film leaves something to be sorely desired. Apart from the actors being unconvincing that they would actually be in this time period and not in 21st century Los Angeles, their mannerisms, look, and actions are what irked me the most. Like I said, if I’m not mistaken, they didn’t speak English in those days and they also didn’t have the morals, values and ways of looking at things like we do now. It’s not only totally unconvincing on the actors parts but at points really embarrassing.

Despite my general less than enthusiastic interest in battle scenes involving huge fantastical creatures I was at least clinging onto that to carry away with me a vague sense of enjoyment. But those action sequences are not only the kind we have seen plenty of times before but they are also short lived. There is more boring dialogue and concentration on the plodding storyline than there is action and visuals.

10,000 BC is a disaster on virtually every intended level. The acting is bad, the special effects not so special, it’s very historically inaccurate and to top it all off I can’t even recommend it on a pure action-oriented level as it’s nothing we haven’t seen a million times before. It all amounts to a film you should completely avoid.

Overall: 1.5 out of 5

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The Great Outdoors Movie Review by star757

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This is a funny, enjoyable movie. It's a John Candy movie from the 80's, and most people may have seen it, but it's worth a watch. It's the kind of movie you can watch again. It stars John Candy as Chet, a man who takes his wife and two sons up to the woods in MN for vacation. His rich brother-in-law, Roman, played by Dan Akroyd, finds out and decides to join him. His brother doesn't quite fit in in the great outdoors. His being there turns Chet's vacation upside down. Roman takes charge of everything and out does every idea that Chet has. Instead of a canoe, they get a speed boat. This produces a funny scene with John Candy on water ski's. There are many funny parts to the movie...raccoons raiding the garbage, the bear, the bat, and the old 96er. The 96er is a 96 oz. steak, whoever eats it gets the entire party's meals for free. I enjoyed this movie. Anyone looking for a good comedy to watch should check this one out. Watch it for the first time or watch it again.

The Accidental Husband Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“The Accidental Husband” stars Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Jeffery Dean Morgan. It’s directed by Griffin Dunne (Practical Magic, Famous) and written by first time writers Mimi Hare and Clare Naylor.

A radio talk show host named Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) who sets relationships straight via phone conversations. She advises a caller to break up with her fiance before their wedding date. This sets off a revenge scheme by Richard Bratton (Colin Firth), the man who’s wedding she destroyed, to get back at Emma by getting her married to him without her consent. Hence the name “The Accidental Husband”. This brings me to an early review for “The Accidental Husband”, being released in theaters in August 2008.

This isn’t an anticipation review, but an anti-anticipation review, meaning don’t be too excited about this soon-to-come disaster. “Charm runs thin” claims Emma Lloyd and she is certainly right, for this romantic comedy lacks even the slightest bit of charm. I don’t even think that this qualifies as rental worthy. If you want to see a decent romantic comedy staring Uma Thurman, go rent “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”. At least that one isn’t torture to sit through and isn’t scarce of even the smallest of chuckles.

Stay away from this one when it hits theaters. The story isn’t even moderately cute and becomes more of an endurance test. One thing is for sure, this was a big time accident. There is absolutely no chemistry to be found between Uma Thurman and Colin Firth. Not since “Shall We Dance” staring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez has chemistry been so stagnate. “The Accidental Husband” is guaranteed to get bad reviews when it opens wide in August.

I found myself slapping my cheeks to stay awake, just to see the predictably sappy ending that irritated me more than anything. I could’ve turned this film off fifteen minutes in and tell you how it will end. This aggravated me greatly and certainly made me regret viewing it. I am letting you know months in advance, save your money and see anything else upon it’s meaningless approach to theaters. 1/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek Fleek

New Pictures for the movie The Incredible Hulk

Coming to theaters on June 13, The Incredible Hulk, looks like it is going to be a great summer movie. Check out the pictures below.

Synopsis:

THE INCREDIBLE HULK kicks off an all-new, explosive and action-packed epic of one of the most popular Super Heroes of all time. In this new beginning, scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk.

Living in the shadows—cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler)—Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power.

As all three grapple with the secrets that led to The Hulk’s creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination (Tim Roth), whose destructive strength exceeds even The Hulk’s own. And on June 13, 2008, one scientist must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or find heroism in the creature he holds inside—THE INCREDIBLE HULK.

Flawless Coming to Theaters March 28

Some great pictures for the new movie Flawless

Synopsis: From director Michael Radford (THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, IL POSTINO) comes FLAWLESS, a clever diamond-heist thriller set in swinging 1960s London. Demi Moore plays Laura Quinn, a bright, driven and beautiful executive at the London Diamond Corporation who finds herself frustrated by a glass ceiling after years of faithful employment, as man after man is promoted ahead of her despite her greater experience. Michael Caine is Hobbs, the nighttime janitor at London Diamond who is virtually invisible to the executives that work there, but over the years has amassed a startling amount of knowledge about how the company runs. Hobbs has his own bone to pick with London Diamond. Observing Laura’s frustration, he convinces her to help him execute an ingenious plan to steal a hefty sum in diamonds. But unbeknownst to Laura, Hobbs plans go even farther than he’s let on, and together they set in motion a thrilling heist of dizzying proportions, the likes of which London has never seen.

The Bank Job Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“The Bank Job” stars Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Cambell Moore, David Suchet and Keeley Haws. It’s directed by Roger Donaldson (The Getaway, Dante’s Peak) and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Based on a true story about the one of the most notorious bank robberies ever. This 1971 bank robbery resulted in cash and jewelry from safety deposit boxes that was worth over three million dollars. The infamous robbery took place at the Lloyds Bank in Marylebone, London. The robbers use the popular tunneling plan to get into the bank vault and attempt to escape with the money and jewelry.

Heist movies are almost always entertaining because you find yourself rooting for the robbers. This isn’t a bad thing, but more of a guilty pleasure. A chuckle here and there keep the audiences on their toes, but don’t expect a bright and happy film. It’s more of a dark and cunning approach into the heist genre. The first half has the character development, which is a little lacking is depth. Halfway through the film picks up the pace and we have ourselves an undeniably entertaining heist flick.

True stories usually catch my interest and I’m glad I took the time to check this one out. Jason Statham stands on his own here. “Stealing the spotlight” is what I like to call it and he does it well. He does it so well that he keeps the film moving briskly, without tripping over itself. An old-fashioned caper flick that satisfies, but not to the extent of greatness. It’s smart and exciting, but don’t expect the ultimate heist movie, for it’s lacking in a coherent storyline. This effects the film, but not to the point of annoyance.

I went in with high expectations and came out satisfied. This holds up to be solid entertainment and nothing more. It contains a couple intense moments that hold the film together and make it interesting. It’s hard to say that the acting was good because the only actor that really stands out here is Jason Statham, who gives a standard performance. It doesn’t surprise me that this is probably the best film currently playing at the multiplexes, which isn’t saying much. 3/5 stars

Atonement DVD added to prize catalog

Another great prize added to the Popcornmonsters.com Prize Catalog

Atonement was a wildly popular hit at both the box office and at award shows. If you are looking for a great movie that has a wonderful story, then pick up a copy of Atonement. This DVD does not come out in stores until March 18, but thanks to an advanced copy we received you can pick it up at Popcornmonsters.com today for free. Click on the picture of Atonement below to find out how to get this or any of the great prizes offered at Popcornmonsters.com

All you have to do to receive any of the prizes in the Prize Catalog is review movies, add content and gain points. Once you have enough points, just click order and it will be shipped to your door free of charge *Must be in the USA Nominated for seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture

Winner of Best Music Score

Winner of two Golden Globe® Awards including

Best Motion Picture- Drama

Winner of two BAFTA® Awards including

Best Film Synopsis: From the award-winning director of Pride and Prejudice comes a stunning, critically acclaimed epic story of love, betrayal, and all its consequences. When a young girl catches her sister in a passionate embrace with a childhood friend, her jealousy drives her to tell a lie that will irrevocably change the course of all their lives forever. Academy Award® nominee Keira Knightley and James McAvoy lead an all-star cast in the film critics are calling "the year’s best picture" (Thelma Adams, US Weekly).

Into the Wild Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Into the Wild” stars Emile Hirsh and co-stars Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, and Hal Holbrook. It’s screenplay was written by Sean Penn, who also directed this stunning feature.

After graduating from College, Christopher McCandless burns all his money, donates all of his savings to charity, and sets out into the wilderness of Alaska. This leads him to many different characters who change his way of life and help set him in the right direction. These characters include many hippies and a lonely old man who enjoys his company and wants to adopt him.

Emile Hirsh deserved an Oscar nomination for his heroic performance here. This is one of the most memorable performances all year. Keep in mind that this is a character study and that Emile Hirsh had to study this man and his remarkable goal in life in order to capture the true essence of this true life character. The scenery is breathtaking and shot very well. Academy Award Nominee Hal Holbrook gave a emotionally unforgettable performance that might make the eyes a little misty, crowning him the well-deserved nomination he received.

This might be hailed as Sean Penn’s masterpiece. It will be hard to top a film with such power and heart, let alone find a story this riveting. This is one of the best films of 2007 with a poignant and dedicated performance by Hirsh. A timeless film that will rest in the hearts of many long after viewing it. I will never forget the extraordinary adventure that Christopher McCandless (aka Alexander Supertramp) ensued to reach his goal in life and ultimately leave behind a legend. This is one to watch. One to savor for years to come.

I highly recommend this film, for it was an all around first-rate motion picture. I was thoroughly engaged during it’s entire 140 minute running time. Nominated for two Oscars, including best supporting actor, this was a moving and passionate film geared towards reviving a legend in the most superior way possible, and succeeds in just that. 5/5 stars

Number of Prize points doubled at Popcornmonsters.com

As a thank you for all the great reviewers at Popcornmonsters.com we are doubling the point values you gain by reviewing movies and adding content. This means you will win prizes twice as fast!

Highlights
Add a movie Review and gain 100 points
Add any other content and gain 2 points
With prizes starting at 800 points, that means you can have a free DVD for as little as 8 movie reviews.

All you have to do to receive any of the prizes in the Prize Catalog is review movies, add content and gain points. Once you have enough points, just click order and it will be shipped to your door free of charge *Must be in the USA

Vantage Point Movie Review by Ross_Miller

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Throw a stick at new action thriller Vantage Point and you’re bound to hit a major name. And with the help of some great fast paced action, a challenging albeit ridiculous amount of different things going on at the one time and an interesting premise the film isn’t actually as bad as you might have heard.

In a Rashomon-style narrative, the assassination of a US president is seen from several different vantage points.

The key to keeping the audience guessing in a film like this is to keep major plot points hidden until they get into the cinema and proceed to watch it. The marketing team behind this film made some major mistakes when putting together the trailer for it, as at least one or two major, and I don’t use that word lightly, plot points are given away to audience even before they settle into their seats to see it. As a result of this I knew exactly what was coming at several points throughout, leaving little mystery left. Now in the film’s defence it does have some hidden tricks up its sleeve, with one other major plot point that left me pretty shocked. And the way in which the spoiled plot points are played out still have at least a whiff of intrigue left in them. But I hope that whoever did the marketing for this film learns a lesson here and hopefully it won’t happen again in the future.

The narrative style of the film, although not completely original, seems fresh and new, at least to a modern audience. I admire the film for taking a risk, as showing the same event over and over could have backfired drastically but luckily, at least in my eyes anyway, the film plays around with it in a way that holds your interest and at least attempts to keep you guessing. But even though I had no problem and actually really liked the concept of showing the same event over and over from different view points it is the way in which they do it throughout that really irked me. At the beginning of the movie we see the events from the perspective of a news report room, we see the president (played by William Hurt) walk up onto the podium, someone shoots him and then promptly the podium explodes. The film then stops and rewinds (literally) to just as the clock is hitting midday, we hear a clock bell ring and then we see the same event from another point of view. Now this was a fine and an almost necessary tactic for the director to employ but what really bugged me about it was the fact that they do this same exact thing every time we go to a different vantage point. It was fine the first time, and possibly the second, but by the third, fourth and so on I just thought, “Okay I get it, we are seeing the same event from a different point of view, you don’t have to keep rewinding back to the same point.” In doing this it is basically treating the audience like idiots as if we can’t work out that we are seeing the same thing from the same point in time but from a different viewpoint.

I think the one thing that has bothered most people about Vantage Point is the amount of absolutely ludicrous plot points. And I must concur with those complaints as yes the film has more moments than I can count where I just rolled my eyes in disbelief and embarrassment. I can’t believe such a high powered cast would agree to do a film like this after reading the ludicrous script, but hey; I guess money really does talk.

But when a movie is as fun and enjoyable as this one actually turns out to be I can forgive some of its wrong doings in favour of my enjoyment. So even though I lost count of the amount of times I rolled my eyes I forgave that in the name of entertainment, and I was far better off for it. Now some may never dream of doing such a thing, some will crush such a film for having such big fault and problems and I can understand that but luckily for the film I am a huge fan of this genre and I was able to overlook certain failings.

But even though I am ultimately going to forgive pretty much all the wrong doings of the film there was something that bothered me more than anything else and something I would be remiss if I failed to mention. I hate to say it but the ending is one of the stupidest, most ludicrous, most unbelievable endings to a film of this kind that I can remember in a good few years. I won’t say what it is obviously, but let’s just say after all the trouble that has happened within the course of the movie it is something that pales in comparison to the bigger picture that brings everything to a halt. Thankfully I got wind of the fact the ending was terrible, although not what actually happens, before I saw it so I was prepared but still I was left bemused and disappointed at the ridiculousness of it.

The cast of the film is probably the biggest reason to see it. Even though there wasn’t really any need to have such an amount of big names in the one film, it is none the less a movie goers dream to see them all in the one place.

So it may not be a film for the ages, one that will probably be forgotten in a matter of a couple of months but it’s got enough enjoyment and ridiculous intrigue to make it worth the price of admission. A mind blowing cast and fast paced action make up for the ridiculous plot points and terrible ending (jus barely but still). So in the end Vantage Point may be dumb but at least it’s on the right side of it.

Overall: 3 out of 5

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Jumper Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Jumper” stars Hayden Christensen and co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, and Jamie Bell. The sci/fi actioner is directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity,Mr. and Mrs. Smith) and written by David S. Goyer and Jim Uhls.

David Rice (Hayden Christensen) has a power known as “jumping”. This allows him to teleport himself practically anywhere you can think of, from the top of Mt. Rushmore to the Eiffel Tower. Jumpers also have enemies known as Paladins. Roland Cox (Samuel L. Jackson) is the leader of the Paladins and believes “Only God should have this power”.

This is an outrageous use of the true concept of teleportation, but without the monstrosity there is no entertainment. The special effects are decent but shot a little incoherently. You can’t blame Hayden Christensen for accepting a script sponsoring one of the coolest concepts of mankind. Who wouldn’t want to be the laziest superhero ever, sometimes transporting yourself inches for things like reaching the remote and getting some milk from the refrigerator.

They could have had much more fun with the concept. “Jumper” lacks in consistent action, but is never boring. I never really understood where his powers originated, something that will probably be told in the expected sequel. I am having a hard time remembering how well Samuel L. Jackson’s performance was. His hair distracted me from his acting, which is usually the more demanding role in a movie. Hayden Christensen gives a wooden performance, but works for the slothful role he was assigned.

The cinematography is a little rickety, making the viewers scope out and pin-point where our hero jumped to. Near the end, they finally have a little fun with the concept, jumping something distinguished earlier in the film. This helps the film from being repetitive. The last two minutes should have been placed somewhere in the middle of the film. I did enjoy it for a brainless superhero movie but it’s just not satisfying enough for a recommendation. 2.5/5 stars

Semi-Pro Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Semi-Pro” stars slapstick comedian Will Ferrell and features a supporting cast that include Woody Harrelson, Will Arnet, Andre Benjamin, and Rob Corddry. This is the directorial debut for Kent Alterman, who was the Executive Producer of “Elf”, and written by Scot Armstrong (Road Trip, Old School).

“Semi-Pro” centers on the crowd pleaser Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell), a well out-of-shape basketball player that resorts to ridiculous stunts to fill in the unoccupied bleachers. After being told that the NBA plans to merge the top four best teams in the ABA at the end of the season into the NBA, Jackie Moon and his team have to dig their way out of last place in order to become an NBA team.

This is typical Will Ferrell, blurting out obscenities and humiliating himself once again. Some of the scenes end up being fairly funny (although most of these scenes are played out). Woody Harrelson is surprisingly humorless here. Whats wrong with “Semi-Pro” is that it all feels like a Will Ferrell re-run, basically using the same tired material that’s been evident in his previous films, such as “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights”.

The basketball scenes are shot poorly. Will Ferrell tries his hardest here, (as always) but falls short of creating a memorable comedy. Just seconds after watching it, I forgot the funny parts. The second-rate editing was what really ruined the comedic timing of the jokes. I was never really a fan of Will Ferrell, but after “Blades of Glory”, I thought I would give “Semi-Pro” a chance. I should’ve just avoided it. Why doesn’t it take me by surprise that Andre Benjamin was funnier than Will Ferrell? Maybe it’s because Will Ferrell is the same as always here, bringing nothing new to the table. One thing is for sure, Will Ferrell displays the greatest fro on earth.

Skip it. The ending was predictable and completely inane. The first half of the movie is semi funny, but it’s not long after all of this becomes exhausting. This is a pretty decent directorial debut, but i was expecting more from a guy who has previous experience in movies, being a executive producer and all. My suggestion to Will Ferrell is to stop making sports comedies, they are getting old. Semi-Pro is semi-gray. 2/5 stars

Heavy Metal 2000 Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

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“Heavy Metal 2000” stars the many unfamiliar voices that aren’t even worth the time naming. It’s directed by Michael Coldewey and Michel Lemire and the dreadful screenplay was written by R. Payne Cabeen and Carl Macek.

This follow-up to the near masterpiece “Heavy Metal” doesn’t even associate to the original. The plot is such a mess, involving a glowing crystal that turns those who encounter it insane, a snot-nosed monster, dinosaurs with pierced nipples, and six eyed warrior. As you can understand, I had a hard time being aware of what was going on, let alone get the time to meet the characters individually. Leaving me with the review for this crappy movie.

The story was incoherent and lacking the traits of the 1981 original. What happened to the good music? No Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, or Sammie Hagar? The music featured here is nothing but loud and obnoxious. It does have three dimensional animation, but lacks three dimensional characters. All of the effort here was put into the visuals and none of it towards character development.

The first fifteen minutes of “Heavy Metal 2000″ is much more gory than the entire running time of it’s antecedent “Heavy Metal”. This is just a result at how much work was put into the violence and not the storyline. I found myself impatiently waiting for the trademark song “Heavy Metal” performed by Sammy Hagar. I was sorely disappointed when it was never played. It’s plain and simple, this just should’ve never been made.

“Heavy Metal 2000″ ends up being a major disappointment. This includes everything from the animation that was much too busy, to the sketchy sound effects. The music is beyond bad and the whole thing becomes tired after the first five minutes. Watch the original, but bypass this disappointing one way ticket to midnight. 1/5 stars

The Jane Austen Book Club Movie Review by Armchaircritic

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If ever there was a film that could be designated as a "chick flick" it has gotta be The Jane Austen Book Club. I've never read a Jane Austen novel, but what the heck?

Kathy Baker plays Bernadette, the senior woman of the group. She decides to start a book club devoted to the six novels of Jane Austen. The plan is to meet once a month, and each member will lead a discussion of the next Jane Austen book, whose novels focus on "the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security."

Anyway, the other members are all female, save one. Before the first meeting, a chance encounter with Jocelyn (Maria Bello) ends up with Trey (Kevin Zegers) being the lone member possessing a Y chromosome. While at first he is like a fifth wheel on a four wheel drive car, he integrates in before too long. It's interesting to see how the group becomes a surrogate family as the film progresses, and their relationships deepen. There are also plenty of references to the Jane Austen novels, and I would had an even deeper understanding for the film had I read this author's works.

Still, I shouldn't have to read six novels just to watch a film. Even for the Jane Austen naivetè, there was much to enjoy. This was hardly a simple and zany romantic comedy, and could also fit into the drama comedy at many points. While The Jane Austen Book Club is stuck in the "chick flick" mode for much of the film, it is still a flick worth watching.

Overall Grade: B+

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment.

Four Rooms Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

"Four Rooms" stars Tim Roth and co-stars many stars including Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Kathy Griffin, and Quentin Tarantino. Salma Hayek even has a cameo appearance as the TV Dancing Girl in the segment “The Misbehaviors”.

The movie opens with a retiring bellboy handing his job over to the flamboyant Ted the Bellboy (Tim Roth). The four tales take place all on New Year’s Eve at the Mon Signor Hotel. Four connecting stories told by four of the hottest Indie filmmakers around. On Ted’s first night on the job, he encounters a coven of witches, a man who believes that Ted the Bellboy slept with his wife, a Mexican gangster who bribes him to watch his kids, and finally a group of friends who make an unforgettable wager. Along the way, Ted the Bellboy is getting large tips along with an unforgettable New Year.

First story is titled “The Missing Ingredient”, written and directed by Alison Anders. This sketch has a outrageous concept involving male fluids of the overly dramatic Ted the Bellboy. Other than having a few topless hotties, this short story didn’t interest me. If you can get pass this strange and disappointing ritual done by the erotic coven of witches, you will discover that the rest of the movie is uphill from there.

The next story is titled “The Wrong Man”, written and directed by Alexandre Rockwell. This act easily crowns the first by a large margin by introducing us to Sigfried, a pill munching psycho who believes that Ted the Bellboy had an affair with his wife Angela (Jennifer Beals). Apart from Angela ranting off a list of slang terms pertaining to the male organ and being introduced to the high-powered character Sigfried, it still disappoints by leaving me confused in the end.

The third story is titled “The Misbehaviors”, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. They just keep getting better as they go along. At least this one is a more entertaining segment than the last two bleak tales. A gangster looking to have a good time with his wife, pays Ted the Bellboy a total of five hundred dollars to watch after his mischievous children. The ending is sure to make you crack a grin.

The last story is titled “The Man from Hollywood”, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The most interesting and satisfying of the four skits, involving a group of wasted middle aged men who made a wager and want sober, clear eyed Ted the Bellboy to be their so-called “dice man”. Filled with Tarantino’s dialog, style and wit, this routine has a climax that is unsuspected and surely jaw-dropping.

In the long run, the first story falls flat with it’s outrageous concept, the second is mediocre at best, the third is an entertaining romp, and the last is pure gold. One thing is for sure, Ted the Bellboy gets rich in tips at the end. This leaves me to the conclusion that I only recommend this for hardcore Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino fans like myself. 3/5 stars

Tiernans: Something Mental Coming to DVD March 11

If you are looking for a great comedy, then pick upTommy Tiernans: Something Mental coming to DVD March 11.

Synopsis: Winner of 6 International comedy Awards, Irish stand-up superstar Tommy Tiernan finally hits America with Something Mental. Wild, unpredictable and politically incorrect Tommy is now regarded as one of the top stand-ups in the world. Unleashing a torrent of satire, offbeat observations and hilarious stories he continues his interrogation into the big ideas, sex, family, religion. Nothing is sacred as he takes the audience by the hand and leads them into the devilish wonderland of his mind where he revels in the world's absurdity. You're in the hands of a master here!

The 40 Year Old Virgin Movie Review by star757

40 Year Old Virgin Movie Review by star757

Buy the Movie Poster for The 40 Year Old Virgin

I thought this movie was ok, but definitely not side-splitting funny. Most everyone has heard of this movie and I thought it was supposed to be very funny. This movie stars Steve Carrell as Andy, a guy working at an electronics store. He is 40, collects action figures, likes to play video games, and is a virgin. One night the guys at work ask him to play cards and in the course of the evening they discover he's a virgin. The three of them make it their mission to help him out, each with their own weird advice. Meanwhile, Andy meets Trish who has a store where she sells items on ebay across the street from his store. He really likes her, but doesn't know what to do. He has given up on women and tries to avoid them. He really likes Trish, but the guys at work who have now become his friends tell him he needs to have sex a bunch of times before the right girl comes along. Throughout the movie Andy tries some things their way and their are a few comedic scenes...some gross like when he gets thrown up on by a drunk girl who almost kills him driving home. Will he end up with Trish? Will he mess things up? Can he make it on his own or will he keep following his friends dumb advice? This movie is ok, but I'd wait to watch it on TV.

Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby added to prize catalog

Another great prize offered at Popcornmonsters.com

Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby DVD
and
A gift card for $20 off at Dale and Thomas Popcorn

Click on the picture below to find out how to get this great prize free.

Synopsis: Equally entertaining for both kids and parents alike, UNSTABLE FABLES: 3 PIGS AND a BABY takes on a whole new twist as a cunning team of special ops wolves hatch an ingenious plan to infiltrate the intrepid pigs’ impenetrable house of bricks. When the unassuming pigs (Garrett, Cryer and Zahn) find a tiny wolf cub on their doorstep, they do what any responsible pig would do – take him in and raise him as one of their own. It’s one big happy family as Lucky (McCartney) enters his teens not knowing his history or his role as a sleeper cell in the wolves’ devious plan. Comedy ensues when Lucky meets and bonds with the wolf gang. Faced with a huge decision, Lucky must choose between the madcap lives of his new wolf friends or the loving pig family that raised him.

All you have to do to receive this or any other prizes in the Prize Catalog is review movies, add content and gain points. Once you have enough points, just click order and it will be shipped to your door free of charge *Must be in the USA

My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Friendly Tails DVD added to Prize Catalog

Here at Popcornmonsters.com we are proud to bring you some great new prizes for the prize catalog.

We received My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Friendly Tails DVD
Click on the picture below to find all the details

Synopsis: Hooray! It's a hunny-ful day; so put on your cap, hop on your scooter and join Pooh, Tigger, Darby and the whole gang as they laugh, play and discover fun new mysteries in the heart of the Hundred Acre Wood! Any time there's a problem to solve or a riddle to unravel, the Super Sleuths are on it.

All you have to do to receive this or any other prizes in the Prize Catalog is review movies, add content and gain points. Once you have enough points, just click order and it will be shipped to your door free of charge *Must be in the USA

Black Rain Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Buy Black Rain Movie Review

"Black Rain" stars Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, and co-stars Ken Takakura, and Kate Capshaw. It's directed by the three time Oscar Nominated director Ridley Scott and written by Craig Bolotin and Warren Lewis.

After arresting a member of the Yakuza, two New York cops (Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia) are ordered to escort him back to Japan. Once arriving in Japan, the two cops are tricked and the convict escapes. In search of the Yakuza member, they are lured deep into the underground world of Japan, the center of the Japanese Mafia.

This has got to be the most stylish character Michael Douglas' has portrayed in his career. He just reeks with coolness through the whole movie. The film opens with him riding a motorcycle, wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses, and a cigarette hanging out of the left side of his mouth. You know, the type of guy who has a hard time saying "thanks". Michael Douglas rules this character, taking the public eye away from veteran actor Andy Garcia. Some of the dialog is bland but, once in a while Michael Douglas blurts out a few intelligent one-liners.

It's got a dimly lit and foggy atmosphere, non-stop action, and is highly entertaining. These are the many things that gives it the feeling of a Ridley Scott film. It also has a few explosions here and there. Not to mention, it's chalk full of gunfire. The multiple chase scenes and shootouts are shot with style. Ridley Scott turns an otherwise mediocre movie into a damn good one. It could have been cut a little shorter, but the pace is snappy enough that it doesn't feel long.

The fight scenes are intense, and who wouldn't want to see Michael Douglas take names. This isn't the best Ridley Scott film, but it certainly isn't his worst. He accomplished an undeniably entertaining feature here. With some experience in working with films involving police (i.e. "Someone to Watch Over Me"), I think it's safe to say that Ridley Scott has found his genre. 4/5 stars

Welcome to the Dollhouse Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Welcome to the Dollhouse” stars Heather Matarazzo, Brandon McCarthy Jr., Daria Kalinina, Mathew Faber, and many other unknowns. It’s written and directed by Tod Solondz, who directed the widely overlooked film “Fear, Anxiety, and Depression”.

Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo) is a homely 7th grader who is constantly ridiculed at school because of her appearance. Her older brother has a band with a lead singer that is in High School who Dawn falls in love with, but is soon rejected for a older, more attractive woman. Her younger sister is favored by her parents and is always getting Dawn in trouble. This leads to many difficult situations that this young girl has to face, all in her tender preteen years.

This is heavy material to be working with. It examines the disturbing look at a tormented girl’s struggle to survive the bitter world of adolescence. This was a supremely casted picture, featuring a young and all around talented cast. This is a harsh and sobering adult dramedy with a very well written script. The young Heather Matarazzo is the real spotlight here, proving her comfort on screen by seeming unaware that the camera is on her most of the time. This isn’t only a successful attempt at telling a honest and powerful story that is sure to be engaging, but it is also timidly disturbing.

One of the main reasons why independent films are usually so great is because they are rarely trite and usually very well done. While some of the scenes are mildly funny, others are horrifyingly realistic. Director Tod Solondz puts on screen a disturbingly thought-provoking film that is both honest and frightening. Don’t be surprised if you feel like the ending was incomplete. I pretty sure this is what Solondz wanted.

This movie is much too awkward to dislike. It is a little bit vapid here and there, but it’s mostly engaging from beginning to end. This is a strong film that’s a shockingly accurate portrait at how cruel kids can be to one another and how deeply this effects them. A smart and harrowing work of art that takes you back to the torturous time known as Junior High. 4.5/5 stars

The Man with Two Brains Movie Review by star757

Buy the Movie Poster

This movie is about a brain surgeon played by Steve Martin. He is world renowned and the best in his field. The only thing missing in his life is love because his wife is dead. In a strange turn of events the Dr. is driving one day and hits a beautiful woman, Kathleen Turner. She flies up into the air, over the car and lands on the road. This is a comedy, but I did not find it extremely funny. Anyway, he decides to operate on her and save her life. He falls in love and ends up marrying her. Little does he know that she caused her last husband to have a heart attack, and is only after money. The Dr. and his wife attend a conference in Austria where he meets a fellow brain researcher. This man keeps brains alive and is working on transplanting them into humans....though he's only worked on gorillas so far. Steve Martin has a strange telepathic connection with one of the brains and falls in love. Will he ever be able to have a real relationship with her/the brain? What about his wife? Will she succeed in getting his money? This movie is ok. There are some funny parts, like the Austrian doctor who lives in a condo that looks like a castle inside. It is complete with stone walls, although they are really paper thin. If you like Steve Martin you may want to watch it, but there are better ones out there like The Jerk and Roxanne.

Popcornmonsters.com

Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Rage Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

P2 Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Penelope Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Friday, March 28, 2008

Vantage Point Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Gracie Movie Review by armchaircritic

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Drillbit Taylor Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

30 Days of Night Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The Prestige Movie Review by star757

Sunday, March 23, 2008

The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Friday, March 21, 2008

The Deaths of Ian Stone Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Thursday, March 20, 2008

30 Days of Night Movie Review by ajazfiazuddin

The Game Plan Movie Review by armchaircritic

Horton Hears a Who Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The Darjeeling Limited Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Monday, March 17, 2008

No Country for Old Men Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Tommy Tiernan Something Mental DVD Added To Prize Catalog

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Run, Fatboy, Run Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

10,000 B.C. Movie Review by Ross_Miller

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Great Outdoors Movie Review by star757

The Accidental Husband Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Thursday, March 13, 2008

New Pictures for the movie The Incredible Hulk

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Flawless Coming to Theaters March 28

The Bank Job Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Atonement DVD added to prize catalog

Into the Wild Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Monday, March 10, 2008