, a writer of books about haunted hotels that doesn’t believe in ghosts. Upon receiving a postcard warning him about room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, where several dozen people mysteriously died, he decides to investigate for himself. Although adamantly discouraged by the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson), Enslin, positive that nothing can happen to him besides a good night’s sleep, decides that he knows best and locks himself in for the night. This turns out to be a bad decision.<BR><BR>1408 starts out really strong, providing some really good scary moments throughout the first half of the film. It’s not that the film isn’t good past the half-way point, but it’s certainly not as terrifying. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since the second half of the film is where the majority of the character development takes place, and without it, it would have probably been just another stupid slasher flick. Instead, what we get here is a smart, thrilling, and suspenseful film that has you guessing till the end. <BR><BR>This is not the best story King wrote, and with that being said, the very short story it is based on is different from the story of the movie. But still, I got the feeling that they wanted to create here another <EM>Shining</EM>, and it just doesn’t live up to the Kubrick classic. On it’s own, it’s a much better-than-average horror flick that doesn’t rely on hardcore torture and gore to thrill it’s audience. </FONT></FONT></p>
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Evan Almighty C-
Rated PG for mild rude humor and some peril
This sequel to Bruce Almighty brings Morgan Freeman back as God, and this time he has a mission for anchorman-turned-politician Evan Baxter, played by Steve Carell. When Evan appears for duty in congress, God suddenly wants him to drop his job and build an Ark. When thousands of animals, all in pairs, start to follow him wherever he goes, the world starts to think that he is crazy and that it’s time for a new congressman.
I have to admit that I absolutely love Steve Carell and think that he is a brilliant comedian. That being said, he doesn’t show it here. While I can appreciate the premise, I can’t see how this was the best they could do with it. The writing is poor and the ideas, aside from the concept, are moronic. Small children and their parents might like the movie due to its family-oriented nature, but most audiences will be turned off due to its simplicity and flat-out stupidity. Among the things I hated the most about the pic is that throughout the film, there is this little “dance” Carell likes to do, and it gets worse and worse until you are so annoyed that you can’t wait to run from the theater. Across the board, it’s just plain lazy film making.
So while the film has a good heart, it’s arteries are filled with cheese.
A Mighty Heart A
Rated R for language
Angelina Jolie portrays Mariane Pearl, the widow of Daniel Pearl, the reporter that was brutally killed by Islamic extremists in 2002. While the film sounds like a depressing downer of a film, it sneaks in an exciting yet gut-wrenching tale of the kidnapping and subsequent rescue efforts. Jolie gives her most powerful performance to date and really shows why she deserved her first Oscar for Girl, Interupted. While it’s still early in the race, she is sure to be the front-runner for this year’s award. I found the film to be similar in nature to United 93, and just like United 93, I am glad I saw it, but I never want to see it again.
Ocean’s Thirteen A-
Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino and Matt Damon
Directed by Stephen Soderbergh
Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality
Appropriate for ages 13+
The Story: Danny Ocean (Clooney) and gang almost lose one of their mates to a heart attack brought on by the shady dealings of a major hotel builder (Pacino). In an effort to seek revenge against him, they do everything in their power to stop his new Las Vegas Strip hotel from opening.
The Good: Unlike the second film, and even the first one, the film makers decided not to trick the audience, but rather to let the audience fully join in on the fun. We get to sit back and watch all of the action taking place not having to worry about an ending that hits you out of left field. These characters are so charismatic and enjoyable to watch that they make you feel part of the gang, and it creates a heck of a good time in the process. The performances are all very good and you can tell right away that they had fun making the movie. Also, while it’s not a comedy, there are some very funny moments, especially a couple involving Oprah, that add the frosting to the cake.
The Bad: We know that director Soderbergh likes to do some weird montage sequences and this film is no different. Throughout the film, whenever a lot of action is taking place, it’s done in a montage, and some of these sequences are just a little too artsy and out of place for a film such as this. Also, everything falls into place a little too perfectly and the story seems a little too simple at times. Still, I’d rather have the simple story than the tricky, nonsensical plotlines found in the first two films.
The Summary: They finally got it right with this third Ocean installment.
<BR>Rated R </STRONG><FONT face=Arial><STRONG>for pervasive crude and sexual content, strong language, drinking, some drug use and a fantasy/comic violent image<BR>Appropriate for ages 17+<BR></STRONG><BR><STRONG>The Story:</STRONG> It’s high school graduation time and three members of the unpopular caste are invited to a major party, under the caviat that they provide the booze. With the gauntlet thrown down, they set out on a journey that will take them to strange and unusual places that most high schoolers will never get the chance to experience. The threesome’s only hope is that they can procure the precious liquid so that they might have a chance not to graduate as virgins. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Good:</STRONG> It took over 10 years for a studio to greenlight this script, and only after producer Judd Apatow’s hit <EM>Taladega Nights</EM>, did it start to go into production. With a small budget of only 18 million dollars, the trick was to find three relatively unknown actors that could play teenagers. The casting of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse was perfect. Hill and Cera have some of the best timing of any comedians working in Hollywood right now, and newcomer Mintz-Plasse is amazing as the soon-to-be-a-national-catch-phrase McLovin. Throw in a terrific script by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Rogen also co-stars) and you have a memorable coming-of-age comedy that will go down in history with classic teen flicks like <EM>American Graffiti</EM>, <EM>Fast Times at Ridgemont High</EM>, and <EM>Dazed and Confused. <BR><BR></EM>It would be a mistake to simply think of this film as just a raunchy teenage sex comedy. I think many will find a sense of familiarity about the friendship, confusion, and pre-conceived notions of the future that go through our protagonists’ heads. It is as deep as it is obscene and should make audiences very uncomfortable that they are laughing themselves sick. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Bad:</STRONG> This is a very offensive film that I would have trouble watching with my mother (if you know what I mean). I cannot describe most of the big laughs due to the fact that my editor couldn’t print the descriptions without losing his job. So, it goes without saying, if you are easily offended, and thought that <EM>Knocked Up</EM> and <EM>The 40-Year-Old Virgin</EM> were questionable, please note that they don’t hold a candle to the material in <EM>Superbad</EM>. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Summary:</STRONG> This very rated-R teenage flick is an absolutely unforgetable gem of movie. </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV></p>
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<BR>Rated PG-13 for some fantasy violence and risque humor<BR>Appropriate for ages 13+<BR></FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT size=3><STRONG>The Story:</STRONG> This adult fairy tale by author Neil Gaiman follows a young man named Tristan (Cox) that tries to win the heart of the girl of his limited dreams by hunting down a fallen star. The star, however has transformed into a beautiful girl named Yvaine (Daines). Tristan finds the star only to discover that an evil witch (Pfeiffer) and a bloodthirsty prince are also close on her heals. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Good:</STRONG> This film excels in the arena of creativity and storytelling. While it follows the typical fairy tale pathway, the details of the journey are unexpected. I will warn that the tale has a dark side, but no darker than those told by the Brothers Grimm. And the story is not only magical, but very funny as well. De Niro’s turn as a cross-dressing pirate, for example, steals every scene he appears in. Even the ghosts of the prince’s dead brothers add a dark element of comedy relief. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Bad:</STRONG> I wish that this film had the budget to pull off the special effects that it desperately needed. They really tried to make them work, but the movie really does scream out “cheap fx.” What the pic lacks in stunning visuals, however, it more than makes up for in imagination. <BR><BR><STRONG>The Summary:</STRONG> We finally have a <EM>Princess Bride</EM> for a new generation. </FONT></FONT></DIV></p>
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<BR>Rated PG-13 for sequences of action violence, sexual content, nudity, and language<BR>Appropriate for ages 15+</STRONG><BR></FONT><BR><FONT size=3><STRONG>The Story:</STRONG> Officers Carter and Lee (Tucker and Chan) partner up again to stop a group of Chinese gangsters in Paris.<BR><BR><STRONG>The Good:</STRONG> There isn’t much here to brag about, but there is a set piece on the Eiffel Tower that could have had real potential. There’s an <EM>Abbott and Costelloesque</EM> sketch in a martial arts gym, a <EM>Monty Pythonesque</EM> sketch with a Nun in a hospital, and a strangely exaggerated sketch in a Paris night club that all could have worked were it not for the contrived set ups and the lack of continuity with the rest of the film.<BR><BR><STRONG>The Bad:</STRONG> From the opening scene this movie sets itself up as a movie that shouldn’t be taken seriously. The first two pics can be described as a comedic <EM>Lethal Weapon</EM>. This third pic, however, almost feels like a parody of the first two. Gone is the impressive stunt work by Chan and slick annoyances by Tucker, replaced instead by unimpressive fight scenes and poorly written jokes embarrassingly performed by the duo. They try so desperately hard to be funny – and fail miserably. <BR><BR>As for the story – wow is it bad! The plot is completely predictable and even Max von Sydow looks like an amateur with this horrid script. It blows my mind that this dialogue sprang from the mind of screenwriter Jeff Nathanson (<EM>Catch Me If You Can</EM>).<BR><BR><STRONG>The Summary:</STRONG> Shame on you Jackie, Chris, Brett, and Jeff – you are all better than this. </FONT></FONT></DIV></p>
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