Alphabetical

Aeon Flux
Assault on Precinct 13
Aviator, The
Batman Begins
Be Cool
Bewitched
The Brothers Grimm
Chicken Little
Constantine
Constant Gardner
Deuce Bigalow:
European Gigolo
Dukes of Hazzard
Elizabethtown
Fantastic Four
Finding Neverland
Flash Gordon
Flightplan
40 Year Old Virgin
Four Brothers
Harry Potter and the
Goblet of Fire
Hitch
Hostage
The Ice Harvest
In Good Company
Interpreter, The
The Island
The Jacket
Just Friends
Kicking & Screaming
Kingdom of Heaven
Life Aquatic
The Longest Yard
Lord of War
Million Dollar Baby
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Rent
Robots
Sahara
Sky High
Sideways
Sin City
Star Wars Episode III
Stealth
Wallace & Gromit
Waiting
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds
The Weather Man
Wedding Crasher
Zathura

Action/Adventure
Aeon Flux
Assault on Precinct 13
Batman Begins
The Brothers Grimm
Constantine
Fantastic Four
Flightplan
Hostage
The Island
Kingdom of Heaven
Lord of War
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Sahara
Sky High
Sin City
Star Wars Episode III
Stealth
War of the Worlds

Drama/Suspense
Aeon Flux
Assault on Precinct 13
Aviator, The
The Brothers Grimm
Constantine
Constant Gardner
Elizabethtown
Finding Neverland
Flash Gordon
Flightplan
Four Brothers
Hostage
The Ice Harvest
In Good Company
Interpreter, The
The Island
The Jacket
Kingdom of Heaven
Lord of War
Million Dollar Baby
Rent
Sideways
Star Wars Episode III
Stealth
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds
The Weather Man

True Stories
Aviator, The
Constant Gardner
Kingdom of Heaven
Lord of War
Walk the Line

RENT -  A Film by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Mrs. Doubtfire)

This is one of the most faithful cinematic adaptations of a musical we have ever seen. The power of the story and the music is adeptly brought to the screen under the masterful eye of director Chris Columbus. The performances, largely driven by their musical performances, are spectacular. In the entire 135 minutes of the film, there were probably only 15 minutes of actual dialogue. The rest of the story is told, as in the play, by the lyrics of the songs. As someone who saw the play several years ago, I felt the film was easier to follow and I realized that there were several nuances that I missed during my viewing of the play. And I had a greater appreciation for the songs which are powerful, evocative and full of energy and meaning. The fact that this play came out at a time when the acceptance of gays and their vilification due to the spread of the AIDS virus is significant and the topic and the play is still valid and poignant even today. Of course, this movie is not for everyone. If you hate musicals, chances are you will hate RENT. If you like musicals, RENT is going to be a perfect holiday treat for you. Add great cinematography and well-crafted scenes to the music, direction and performances, and RENT is easily one of the best films of the year.

Aeon Flux - A Film by Karyn Kusama (Girlfight)

Aeon Flux is at times flashy but in general is a lackluster attempt at creating a sci-fi classic. The original animated series on MTV was cutting edge and the nature of animation allowed it to take the story and imagery to a unique place. The film captures a limited amount of that feel and look but the direction, script and performances are generally flat and uninteresting. Perhaps fans of the series may have a different opinion about that but this reviewer was not impressed with the film in several ways. Earning points for style (but limited points) and some interest in where the story was going are the only elements that give Aeon Flux anything above a zero rating. The group in attendance had some differing opinions on what the rating should be on this film. Some felt it deserved at least a two. Based on the review you just read, Aeon Flux gets a rating of... One out of Five Kernels.

Just Friends - A Film by Roger Kimble (The Sweetest Thing, Cruel Intentions)

A very funny movie, Just Friends surprised us. We expected a sophomoric comedy with a sufficient amount of potty humor and sight gags and that's what we got. It met or exceeded our expectations and need for laughter after gorging ourselves on turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing during Thanksgiving dinner with the fam. Reynolds scores for a second time in a matter of months with Just Friends, following closely on the heels of Waiting... The cast of characters and their interplay on screen kept the movie in motion and the jokes come at a steady pace. Sticking to our policy of reviewing movies based on whether or not they met expectations rather than whether or not they will win Academy Awards, Just Friends hit the mark. And, don't we all wish we could go back and erase the memory of who we were in high school, at least a little bit?
 

The Ice Harvest - A Film by Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Caddyshack)

The Ice Harvest works off a premise and has the cast and crew to make for another holiday classic but it fails to deliver. A few good chuckles cannot make up for the flaws with this film. It makes one wonder why anyone would ever make a film in which there are no characters for the audience to root for, and we've seen a number of films like this lately. Cusack's character is certainly not a person of high moral character and even the affable Platt is detestable, being the obnoxious drunk at the bar and his in-laws house during dinner. Charlie is a dirty lawyer, a distant father to two young children and a crook. And who ever knew that Wichita (yes, THAT Wichita, the one in Kansas) was such a seedy town. It seems as if the filmmakers were trying to create a movie along the lines of Fargo but The Ice Harvest is missing, among other things, the one key element that made that other film a winter classic: a hero or heroine for us to care about. Who in this film is worth the price of admission? No one. When you stop at the ticket counter, spend that precious money on Harry Potter or Walk the Line this holiday season. And keep in mind, there should be plenty more good movies on the way as we near the end of 2005.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - A Film by Mike Newell "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Enchanted April" and "Donnie Brasco."

This series continues to entertain and also continues to get darker with each installment. This story, like the previous three, is interesting and engaging. As the actors grow older, so do the characters and they too begin to deal with changes in their lives that all teenagers do. Goblet of Fire is a fitting next piece to the puzzle.  Parents should be aware that the darker tone of this film may be too much for many kids as it is even sppoier that the Prisioner of Azkaban. Goblet, however, also includes more humor than Sorcerer's Stone or Chamber of Secrets. With additional books being released in the series, we can count on additional movies as well and we doubt anyone is going to complain. Warner Brothers is not the only one hoping we see more of Harry Potter's life in the future. Let's just hope that Radcliffe and his friends don't age too fast and that Smith, Rickman, Coltrane and company stay on in their previous roles.

Walk the Line - A Film by James Mangold (Identity, Kate & Leopold)

While I have never been a big fan of Johnny Cash, I am now. This film is an excellent production that sheds light on the life of someone that few people probably every really understood or knew. The music is incredible and amazingly enough is performed in the movie by the actors themselves. Phoenix is Oscar worthy and watch for him to follow in Jamie Foxx's footsteps with a nomination if not the Oscar as Best Actor for so effectively portraying a musical genius. Witherspoon also shines as the spunky June Carter-Cash. The script covers enough of the highlights of Cash's life from his early years in Arkansas to the day on stage in Canada where Carter finally accepts his marriage proposal to give us insight without over-telling his story. I can say I never knew much about Cash but I wish I would tried to learn more before. Fan or not, this is a great film and well worth your time. See it.

ZATHURA - A Film by Jon Favreau (Swingers, Elf)

For fans of JUMANJI, the similarities between the two films will be obvious: an old board game, some unsupervised children, an adult thrown into the mix unexpectedly, an adventure that can only end with the successful conclusion of the game, the destruction of the family home, etc. Even with these similarities and the knowledge of how it might all end, ZATHURA is still completely enjoyable and keeps your interest. The young actors in this film are incredibly believable: Hutcherson as the cruel older brother who refuses the play with his younger sibling and blames him for everything wrong with their lives, and Bobo as the younger brother who cheats at games to get a competitive edge and only wants to be friends with the older brother he admires. For those of us with older brothers, their portrayal of these two characters will bring back some memories of youth. The pace of the film is slow at first but picks up quickly once the game begins, much like JUMANJI. You will be captivated by the story, the jokes and these charming young actors. Throw in a robot and some aliens in the form of the lizard-like Zorgons and you've got the makings of a fun family movie-going experience. Be forewarned by the PG-13 rating, some of the scenes are a little more intense than some of your younger children might appreciate. For the rest, grab that bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Chicken Little - A Film by Mark Dindal

Chicken Little is obviously Disney's attempt to create it's own Pixar-like animation division. The graphics are different but fit well with the imagined world of Oakey Oaks where the inhabitants are all animals rather than people. The movie should be a kid favorite though a few of the scenes and images may be a little scary for littler kids. I could explain but it would give away some of the story. One cannot help but see some similarities here between Finding Nemo and Chicken Little. A youngster whose father has little faith in him, the female friend with the odd looks and voice, even the remainder of Chicken Little's group of friends bear a striking resemblance to the ensemble in the fish tank at the dentist's office. Still, this is a cute children's movie with just enough adult oriented humor (in the form of pop culture references ala The Simpsons) to make it enjoyable for the parents in the audience. It does not have many slow moments that might lose the interest of kids and there is a minimal amount of musical interludes. As with most Pixar knock-offs, the musical numbers in Chicken Little seem forced in some instances. You know what, the kids won't notice or care.
 

The Weather Man - A Film by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring)

The Weather Man is a middle-of-the-road dark comedy/drama about everyday life in 2005. It hits on a few notes but misses on several others. Some scenes are well scripted and played but the majority of the film is disjointed, uncomfortable and artsy for artsy-sake, if you know what I mean. Of course, the film is inhabited by a stellar cast (Caine, Cage, Hoult) but even they cannot make this story more interesting than the words on the page. As the film trudges along, we were left at times to wonder where it was going and why we cared. Saved from the depths of a bad review by one particular scene in a parked car toward the end, The Weather Man is only worth seeing if you (1) are a weather man who has fast food thrown at you all the time, (2) are a huge fan of Caine or Cage or (3) if you have absolutely nothing better to do and the weather man has predicted rain (or snow, I guess, since it is already November.)

Waiting... - A Film by Rob McKittrick

A sophomoric comedy full of potty humor and poor hygiene, Waiting... does for restaurants what Clerks did for convenience stores and Office Space did for, well, every office in America. Guaranteed, you will never look at eating out the same again.  The rude customers, the poor tips, the long hours and the overdone memorabilia on the walls of the restaurant are perfectly portrayed here. We have all wondered what really happens when we send that steak back to the kitchen for just a few more minutes on the grill. We have all thought about what really goes on behind the scenes at our favorite restaurants but we probably won't not like the answer offered by Waiting. Of course, this is not the way it is in every restaurant (or so we hope), I would bet it is more than standard rather than the exception. While the movie script has a sufficient amount of humor and every actor gets into the act at some point, the stand-outs of the film are definitely Guzman as the cook with the insatiable libido and Alanna Ubach as Naomi, the angry waitress with the foul language. She carries the movie at several points and elicits the biggest laughs. Either way, it was a nice diversion on a cold and rainy evening.
 
Four out of Five Kernels (the recommendation of the group) You may very well hate this movie.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit
Directed by Nick Park - Chicken Run

Elizabethtown - A Film by Cameron Crowe (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Say Anything, Jerry Maguire)

Flightplan - A Film by Robert Schwentke (The Family Jewels)

Lord of War - A Film by Andrew Niccole (GATTACA, Simone, Truman Show)

The Constant Gardner - A Film by Fernando Meirelles (City of God)

The Constant Gardner is the feel good movie of the summer. Well, not really.  Actually, not by any stretch but it is an incredibly well crafted movie. The story is intriguing and the way it is portrayed on the screen is compelling and gripping. The acting by Fiennes and Weisz help propel the story, bringing a tremendous amount of emotion and realism to the roles of Justin and Tessa. The cinematography creates a documentary type feel to the film which works well with the storyline and the content.  The settings in Kenya are compelling and give the audience a look into life in Africa, one that we can imagine is not far from reality. As the film develops, the tension builds as Justin's research reveals more deceptions and the director creates incredible scenes where the audience is lead to distrust every character in them, wondering who may be involved and working the other side. There really is very little negative to say about this film. It may be too slow for some but the pace of the film is completely in keeping with where the story needs to go and how it needs to get there. From acting to directing to cinematography to sound editing, The Constant Gardner is a film that will garner considerable attention come Oscar time.

The 40 Year-Old Virgin - A Film by Judd Apatow (Directorial Debut - Executive Producer for Anchorman and Kicking & Screaming)

Carell has been making a name for himself with his comedic performances on Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as the arrogant anchorman in Bruce Almighty and as the weatherman in Anchorman. Here, he finally gets his shot at a leading role and brings the same zany antics to the role of the 40 year-old virgin. A strong supporting cast of characters portrayed by equally talented peers help make The 40 Year-Old Virgin a funny look at the subject of late-in-life virginity. No need to talk about cinematography or sets or costumes with this one. The jokes, especially in certain scenes, will leave you in stitches. A well paced and performed comedy, The 40 Year-Old Virgin should come with a warning label for guys with lots of body hair. If you don't know what I mean, you will after you see the movie. After a stressful day at work or with the kids, The 40 Year-Old Virgin would make a great diversion and could be just what the sex therapist ordered.

The Brothers Grimm - A Film by Terry Gilliam (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 12 Monkeys)

The Brothers Grimm is another inventive, twisted tale from the mind and through the camera of Terry Gilliam. Visually intriguing and cleverly interwoven is the story of Will and Jake Grimm, two brothers who are best known for their fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel, all of which are included here in some variation. The way that the scriptwriter's managed to incorporate many of the Grimm tales into one story is pretty amazing. Each time one presents itself, you cannot help but chuckle at the possible way the story came to the brothers, Jake with notebook in hand constantly writing his stories. Much like Gilliam's other outings, The Brothers Grimm seems very disjointed at times and tests ones ability to keep track of everything. Some sequences include imagery that appears to be included for the shear folly of it without really adding much to the movie or story. Damon and Ledger play off each other well and there are some bright comedic moments but in general, it was mostly an interesting exercise in filmmaking. A great concept and clever script but The Brothers Grimm will not be everyone's cup of tea.

Four Brothers
A Film by John Singleton (Boyz in the Hood, Poetic Justice, Shaft)

Deuce Bigelow: European Gigolo - A Film by Mike Bigelow (Directorial Debut)

The Dukes of Hazzard - A Film by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, Club Dread)

Some TV series really do not need to be made into movies and The Dukes of Hazzard is one of them. This film earns one kernel for so faithfully recreating the look, feel, car chases and humor of the original series. Unfortunately, it also loses four kernels for faithfully recreating the look, feel, car chases, humor, stupid dialogue, dimwitted jokes and bad acting of the original series. Sometimes, being so faithful is not a positive. While several members of the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves during the screening of this film which we attended, we can only assume they were not even born when the original series aired. If they had been, they would have realized that the only redeeming aspect of the original series, besides the fact that our own Ertl Toys had the contract to create all of the die cast replicas of The General Lee, was that it was followed on Friday nights by primetime soaps Dallas and Falcon Crest. Now that says a lot about how pathetic the series was. Which begs the question: why do a remake of The Dukes of Hazzard? Ah, one of the true mysteries of the universe.

Stealth - A Film by ROB Cohen (XXX, Fast and the Furious)

Several technical points on the film made me scratch my head (like why aren’t the pilots wearing g-suits and survival gear?), but these can be put behind you with a good soda and popcorn in hand. The flying scenes are fun, especially with the digital sound in the new Star Theater.
 
I came out of this movie a little dumber than when I entered. I think you will too. It can be a good popcorn flick but use plenty of salt and butter, which barely allows it to earn its 2 popcorn reating.
 
Review Submitted by Todd "Toad" Wehrenberg

Sky High - A Film by Mike Mitchell (Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo)

Sky High seems to be a movie searching for an audience. It has the feel of a movie attempting to be like those movies we all loved during high school: kinda quirky with campy humor, geeks, bullies, crazy teachers, etc. The humor will undoubtedly fly right over the heads of the younger members of the audience and some will be below that of the older members. Oddly, the experience was somewhat enjoyable but this film has the feel of a direct-to-video effort. The debate was on after our viewing of the film as to whether or not it should get a two or three kernel rating. Is it good enough to make it over the hump? In the end, I just could not do it.

Wedding Crashers - A Film by David Dobkin (Clay Pigeons, Shanghai Knights)

Formulaic at times and totally unique at others, Wedding Crashers has several comedic moments that elicit a strong belly laugh. Other moments are disturbing to say the least. In general, it is an interesting storyline that moves along at a reasonable pace. Wedding Crashers is a hard movie to put your finger on. I guess it was enjoyable enough to get a better than average review but I would not rush out to see it. If you want a good laugh some night after a long day at work or in class at Loras, Clarke, UD or NICC, certainly see it at the multiplex. Otherwise, save it for a rental some night this winter when the weather outside is frightful.

The ISLAND - A Film by Michael Bay (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor)

Director Michael Bay is an unashamed maker of popcorn flicks. The high-concept, high budget summer movies that keep studios alive. With movies like The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys I & II under his belt, you pretty much know what's coming. Now I am also an unashamed lover of popcorn action flicks, including those of Bay and regular producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer. And for Bay, this film was among his best. I say it that way because some people will always hate Michael Bay films. If that's you. You'll hate this one too. But if you can suspend a lot of disbelief and forgive some excruciating product placements, in the end, this was a very enjoyable summer action flick. I can't believe more reviewers have not drawn strong comparisons to 1976's sci-fi classic Logan's Run. In many ways, it's the exact same story premise. (Go watch that one if you have not already.) There's burgeoning love, suspense and lots of stuff blowing up. And with the stunning theater experience added by seeing the film at the new Star Cinema's stadium seating theater, this is a sci-fi action lover's dream. Movie fans, get your tickets. "Film" fans, run far far away.

Fantastic Four - A Film by Tim Story (Barbershop, Taxi)

Is one more trip to the comic book well one trip too many? Fantastic Four is the longest running comic book series in history and becomes the latest Marvel comic to be brought to life by Hollywood. This film does not rank as high as some of the other previous outings but that may be largely due to the fact that the filmmakers had to spend a considerable amount of time with character development. Like the original X-Men, Fantastic Four sets the groundwork by showing these superheroes gained their abilities and learned to cope with them. The action, once it happens, is brief to say the least but the development of the back story is interesting and amusing at times. Not the best of this genre, Fantastic Four may gain credibility based on the success of its sequels, which we are sure are already in the works.

War of the Worlds
A Film by Steven Spielberg (you name the great movie, he was probably involved)

Steven Speiberg is the greatest storyteller of our age and this movie is just further evidence. This is not a movie about battling aliens, but rather of human story of survival in the face of hopelessness. Great performances and dazzling special effects give life to what is really a very simple plot. Don't die. There is also a sub plot about a deadbeat dad finding the importance of his family which gives the movie its emotional high points. They could have really followed anyone through their experience in dealing with the situation which is what makes the film so interesting. It's just one man's story of survival... or not surviving. But you'll have to go to the movie to find out. You will not be disappointed.

Bewitched - A Film by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail)

An at times amusing film with much of the Ephron feel of her other movies, Bewitched fires on a few cylinders but misfires on several others. There are some comedic moments that will have you in stitches, especially if you like Farrell or the original series. Some of the other funnier moments were ruined by their being overplayed in the trailers and by some all-too-standard Ephron moments. For example, fans of You've Got Mail may recognize similar music behind some early scenes and a familiar line ("Don't cry, little witch." sounds amazingly like "Don't cry, shopgirl.", even in the inflection of Farrell as compared to Hanks.) Still, it is an enjoyable film, but for adults. Kids probably won't get some of the adult humor and, even if they have seen Bewitched in reruns, probably will not have the appreciation for some of the Bewitched moments.

Batman Begins
A Film by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia)

He is joined by Alfred (Michael Caine), his family's trusted butler and the man who acted as his guardian after the death of his parents. Supplying his gadgets is Wayne Enterprises technician and former board member, Lucias Fox (Morgan Freeman), and Katie Holmes as assistant district attorney Rachel Daws, Bruce's childhood friend and love interest.

Batman Begins makes major strides toward reviving a movie series that had floundered under the poor direction and nipple covered costumes of Joel Schumacher. While Keaton surprised many with his performances in the first two modern Batman films, both Kilmer and Clooney faltered as the Caped Crusader, the latter never really given a real shot at the role when surrounded by the aforementioned Schumacher and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl. Here, Bale takes the reigns and shows that he has a bright future as Bruce Wayne, playing the character as both playboy billionaire and tortured superhero with ease. His Batman voice leaves a little to be desired at times but that is a small complaint for an otherwise effective performance. And who can complain about a supporting cast that includes Caine, Freeman, Gary Oldman (as future Chief Gordon) and Rutger Hauer (as the CEO of Wayne Enterprises during Bruce's absence.) What really sets this film apart is how Batman moves through his attack scenes, like a bat, barely visible other than as a black blur. This adds to the mystery for both the audience and the characters opposite him. With Batman Begins, the franchise is reborn and has a fighting chance to continue for several more films. With the hint at the end of this movie, it seems obvious which villain we will be seeing next.  We are already looking forward to that one.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
A Film by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Swingers, Go)

The Longest Yard
A Film by Peter Segal (50 First Dates, Anger Management)

Stars Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
A film by George Lucas

For lesser fans of the series and those starting foolishly with this film as their first foray into a galaxy far far away, this would not deserve a five kernel rating. But for those of us who lost and destroyed what would by now be a priceless collection of Star Wars action figures back in the early 80's, it is was a feast for the senses, the memories and a perfectly fitting capstone to a second life we all lived together. George Lucas finally comes through. Now it's 4:00 a.m. and time to sleep. We'll see you back at the theater,lets say the 3:40p.m. showing?

Wando's addendum...

Geez, "I'm out of it for a while and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"  OK, it may not be an exact quote but if you are a true Star Wars fan, you know where it came from and will probably correct me on it. Thanks to the other 365 guys for filling in for me while I was wallowing in the outer rim territories at a conference, missing my opportunity to see this film at midnight last Thursday morning. I do, in general, agree with their review of Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.  While George Lucas once again proves he has limited abilities when it comes to writing good dialogue, the action and story of Episode III carry the movie and satisfy the long-time Star Wars fans. We all wanted to see how Anakin became Darth Vader, how Luke and Leia were split up, how the Jedi (save for Yoda and Obi Wan) were eliminated, how the Emperor became the Emperor, etc. This movie did an excellent job in tying together many different strings from Attack of the Clones to A New Hope. I would have preferred to see more of the actual war but the Star Wars series has rarely focused on that, dealing more with the back stories, the intrigue of the inner workings of both the Jedi and the Empire. Each movie has it's main battle sequence but have typically only had one or two skirmishes. With a slightly better script in Episode III, the acting also improved. And, once again, limited Jar Jar always makes for a better film. I highly recommend Revenge of the Sith to any Star Wars fan and for those who just crawled out from under a rock, go get the other films, see them in the order in which they were released (it will have more meaning that way) and spend some couch time catching up with the rest of the inhabitants of your own galaxy. Bravo to Lucas for completing his dream and let's hope that, if he has additional story content for the three episodes that we all thought would follow Return of the Jedi, he passes them on to someone with capable hands to continue this saga for another 10 years.

Kicking & Screaming - A Film by Jesse Dylan (How High, American Wedding

I was not dragged to this movie Kicking & Screaming but felt the need to drag others out of the theater in that manner. Kicking & Screaming is by no means meant to be an award winning film. It is a light hearted comedy about a team of sad-sack kids who need to come together to beat a team of much more talented youngsters. But, in the shadow of such classics as Bad News Bears, this is a weak outing to say the least. The good belly laughs (and even light hearted moments) are spread too thin and occur only after what seems like hours of Farrell's whining and hackneyed shenanigans. I was not expecting very much with this one but it did not even meet my low expectations. I had put my faith in Will to pull out a respectable movie but I doubt even the kids had all that good a time. If you are desperate for something to occupy your child for a few hours, this might suffice but I would recommend flying a kite or looking for frogs along Catfish Creek (or along the streets of Dubuque currently.)

Kingdom of Heaven – A Film by Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Blade Runner)

The Kingdom of Freedom website touts Ridley Scott as the “Master of the Modern Epic” and they probably are not far from the truth. With the overwhelming success of Gladiator, both in the theaters and at the awards ceremonies, Scott has proven that he has the talent to pull off an epic of that importance. Kingdom of Heaven comes close to the same success and perhaps the greatest criticism one can have for this film is that it resembles Gladiator too much. The young man whose family is destroyed becomes a powerful leader who is driven not by greed but by principle. The films resemble each other in many other ways including the cinematography, the battle between good and evil, and the basis in actual historical events (and the liberties that are taken with each.) Kingdom of Heaven, like Gladiator, has the potential as well to be a film that one may view repeatedly as the story is timeless and the quality of the film is top notch, from the story to the script to the acting to the costumes to the editing. The battle sequences are awe-inspiring and well choreographed. The battle over whether to give this film a four or a five kernel rating will live on for years but we decided to give it…

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
A Film by Garth Jennings (Feature Film Directorial Debut)

Entering and exiting the scene at various points in the film are dolphins ("We're leaving, thanks for all the fish."), mice (one of the more intelligent creatures on Earth, prior to it being blown up, that is) and the Vogons (bureaucrats and really poor poets.) Thus you have the backbone of the inter-galactic tale of destruction, love, power, towels, manic depression, improbability and hitchhiking that is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

If that description doesn't leave you somewhat intrigued, you must not have read the whole thing. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, based on the classic BBC radio show from the 1970s and the follow-up novelization, is a wickedly weird tale that answers few questions but finds humor in how idiotic our world (and apparently our galaxy) actually is at times. Satirically sharp in its portrayal of the bureaucratic mentality and hilarious in its depiction of the absolute chaos that is our galaxy, The Hitchhiker's Guide is a well deserved escape from our occasionally mundane Earthly existence. There are moments in the film that are absolutely side-splitting and others that are merely visually intriguing or thought provoking. Not having heard the BBC radio program (yet, I have it on CD) or read the book, I walked in not really knowing what to expect or expecting anything in particular. What I found was an interesting cast of characters speaking dialogue that was funny and thought provoking at the same time.  The filmmakers had fun in creating the characters and the galaxy in which they reside. By far, I found Marvin to have the best lines in the film and Sam Rockwell was his usual zany self as Galactic President Zephod. I cannot speak for the Hitchhiker purists out there but I thought this movie hit the mark on a number of levels. I would be curious to know what one of them thought after seeing it.
 

The Interpreter - A Film by Sydney Pollack (Absence of Malice, The Firm)

A fairly well thought through suspense thriller, The Interpreter keeps a good pace from start to finish and keeps the audience guessing as to the ultimate outcome. The story is unnecessarily complicated at times, though, and not every lose end is tied up (or logically explained) but some of those minor shortcomings can be overlooked.  The performances by Penn and Kidman are fine but not spectacular. That sums up the movie. It is an average movie that is a nice diversion and therefore worth a trip to the movie theater if you like this kind of movie or these actors. What I found most interesting was just the opportunity to see behind the scenes at the United Nations, an organization I think too few of us really understand.

Sahara - A Film by Breck Eisner (TV mini-series Taken)

Kicking off the summer movie season a little early, Sahara has the potential to be the early sleeper. It is not rocket science but the formula is tough to mess up. Action/adventure movies are meant to be escapism and Sahara uses the same mold that the Indiana Jones films and National Treasure used to rack up millions at the box office. If you want to shut your brain off for a couple of hours after a long day at work or dealing with the kids, this is the movie for you. Zahn is his usual zany self and his comic relief buoys the film. McConaughey and Cruz seem to make a pretty good match in the context of the script and there is enough gun fighting and artillery to satisfy those of us who like to see stuff blown up. True, the story goes pretty much where you expect it to but it is a fun ride. This is one of those movies that you might not think is great but you will watch every time it is on TNT or TBS on a lazy Saturday afternoon in the winter. Sahara is a fun movie to watch while munching on some over-buttered popcorn. Just be sure to have a beverage nearby. If the popcorn were not enough, the images of the desert will leave you parched.

Sin City - A Film by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez (Il Mariachi, Once Upon a Time in Mexico)

A slick and visually stunning film, Sin City sacrifices everything else for the imagery. The script is oddly timed and the lines are, well, comic book-ish. Perhaps that is the way it should be but it does not make for a good movie necessarily. Unlike Pulp Fiction, I was not as interested in knowing how all of these disjointed storylines tied together and was anxious for the film to make some sense of it all. The violence is watered down by the lack of color throughout much of the movie, which is probably a good thing. Blood running white seems less graphic, less shocking and there is A LOT of it. The splashes of color are typically well placed for effect and emphasis, much like Shindler's List. Because much of the scenery and action is computer generated, the un-reality of the film creates the fantasy world envisioned by Miller in his original novels. Perhaps that is why I really never cared what happened to characters. That is also why we are torn on how to rate this movie. Many of the aspects that make Sin City a less than perfect movie-going experience are the exact same elements that serve to create the feel of a comic book where the city is dark and forbidding, the women are merely objects to be gawked at (or slept with) and the men are tough, no-nonsense, gun toting heroes. Still, if you do not enjoy the experience, is it a movie you want to see?  Ay, there's the rub. So, we will split the vote and say that the film gets high marks for visual interest and "cool", low marks for pacing and script.

Hostage - A Film by Florent Siri (U.S. Directorial Debut)

Robots - A Film by Chris Wedge (Ice Age)

Robots continues the trend of polished, refined computer animated movies that began with such classics as Ants and Toy Story and continued through Ice Age and Finding Nemo. The premise here is not completely original (reminds one of Toy Story a bit with the toys being replaced by newer versions and fighting back) but it has some new twists.  Robin Williams once again dominates most of the scenes in which his character appears with his antics, albeit animated in this instance. As with most animated films, time killers such as musical numbers, gratuitous roller coaster rides on mass transit systems and needless robot antics abound but the film is enjoyable. One can imagine just about any 8-year old boy being completely mesmerized by the images of robots who can walk and talk and have their body parts falling off at various times. Though the film uses many tried and true devices to move the action along, it never loses your interest and elicits several good belly laughs. A great movie to take your kids to, Robots appeals to both the young and those of us who still enjoy a good animated amusement park ride.

The Jacket - A Film by John Maybury (First major film)

We had the opportunity to screen Flash Gordon at a local drinking establishment one recent Monday night as a way to pay homage to a cult classic from 1980. With 2005 being the 25th Anniversary of the film's release, it seemed like a good idea and the adult beverages certainly helped. Flash Gordon, like most cult classics, is a poorly written, poorly acted, cheesy exercise in modern cinema.  But, like most cult classics, it is purely enjoyable for these reasons. The special effects are as bad as anything you might have seen on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the flying monkeys are less convincing than the ones that populated Oz. If you can find a video or DVD copy of this film to watch some evening in 2005, grab some friends, a heaping bag of heavily buttered popcorn and the beverage of your choice and get ready for a campy ride through late 70s, early 80s science fiction. It may not be great film making but it is definitely entertaining.

Who says wine is the only thing that gets better with age.

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365 popcorn scale... John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) was born under a bad sign.  He is cursed with the ability to recognize half-breed angels and demons walking the earth among the rest of us. Not able to handle this special "gift", Constantine attempts to take his own life, only to be revived against his will. Now a marked man, he has a temporary lease on life and vainly scours the zone that exists between heaven and hell searching for the agents of the devil, hoping to send them back to the depths and earn his way to salvation. When Los Angeles Police Detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) enlists his help to solve the murder of her twin sister, Constantine must leave his disillusioned, bitter life of hard-drinking behind in order to get the reprieve he so desperately desires.

Keanu Reeves has found his niche and he fills it perfectly. Make no bones, you definitely have to be a fan of these kinds of movies to enjoy this one, but if the premise has you interested, chances are you're going to have a good time here. A great mix of suspense and even a bit of horror mix with a touch of dry humor and apathy from Reeves to give the movie life and make you root for his character even if his character doesn't seem to root for anyone. A great mix of religious lore mixes with fantasy and slick futuristic Sci-fi to make Constantine one of those movies may Matrix fans will eventually own on DVD. On the Matrix scale, not as good as the first but better than both sequels put together.

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365 popcorn scale... Finding Neverland is a fictional account of the genesis of the play Peter Pan. The story follows author James Barrie (Johnny Depp) from the first moment of inspiration to the play's premiere at the Duke of York's theater in 1904. Barrie has just come off a disastrous premiere when he meets the Llewelyn Davies family during his daily trip to the park with his dog. He is as enthralled with them as they are of him. The recently widowed mother (Kate Winslet) is struggling to raise four boys while her own mother (Julie Christie) constantly looks over her shoulder, criticizing her every move. Barrie brings a little irreverence to their otherwise drab life, helping create fanciful worlds of imagination for the children and bringing some joy to their mother's existence. While his disapproving wife looks on, Barrie grows closer and closer to this family and begins to document the adventures that eventually became the backbone of the story for Peter Pan.

Three great movies within a year is rare; three in a row is unheard of. After seeing The Aviator and Million Dollar Baby, we thought we had seen the cream of the crop when it came to Oscar contenders for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, etc. We were mistaken. Another film in the same league with these two is Finding Neverland, a fanciful and thoroughly entertaining film loosely based on the life of playwright J.M Barrie around the time he created the classic children's story, Peter Pan. It is ironic how terrific these three films are while being completely different in their subject matter and approach. This movie is full of stunning visuals, flipping back and forth from reality to fantasy as Depp adeptly works each scene. Winslet, Christie and Dustin Hoffman (as Barrie's longtime producer) are consistent with past performances and the child actors who play the Llewelyn Davies boys are excellent, most notably the one who portrays Peter, the one most devastated by the untimely death of their father. How he did not get nominated as Best Supporting Actor, we'll never know. As the movie progresses, Finding Neverland moves the audience along the emotional spectrum from joy to sadness, back and forth several times with apparent ease. This is an uplifting film that serves to inspire each of us to not take the world too seriously and to realize that the only thing holding us back is our own imagination, or our willingness to let it shine through. Like Million Dollar Baby, Finding Neverland will stick with you for awhile but for completely different reasons. See this movie and let us know if you agree.

Reviewer's Note: We promise to see a bad movie very soon, even if it kills us. Based on the previews for Son of the Mask (which we have seen WAY too many times already), that might be a good contender. We'll keep you posted.

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365 popcorn scale... A wine tasting road trip to salute Jack's (Thomas Haden Church) final days as a bachelor careens woefully sideways as he and Miles (Paul Giamatti) hit the gas en route to mid-life crises. The comically mismatched pair, who share little more than their history and a heady blend of failed potential and fading youth, soon find themselves drowning in wine and women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen). Emerging from a haze of pinot noir, wistful yearnings and trepidation about the future, the two inevitably collide with reality.

This is a wine lover's ultimate comedy. Much of the humor will go right over everyone else's head, but luckily there's plenty in this script to keep the beer drinkers entertained. Maybe best known now as the movie the relaunched the careers of Madsen and Church, Sideways is an entertaining mix of humor and pain while not falling into either comedy or tragedy. You feel for the characters, even the ones you want to smack, and you end the movie with hope and a big weight off your chest. This is certainly an intellectual film and not something for a younger audience who does not have the relationship vocabulary that comes with a few years of experience and perhaps disappointment. But I can't imagine most people will find it a very worthwhile two hours in the theater.

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365 popcorn scale... Clint Eastwood portrays Frankie Dunn, a former boxer, now boxing trainer who owns a run down gym. He struggles to make contact with his estranged daughter and God, writing a letter a week to the former and attending mass daily to reach the latter. When his prize fighter defects to another manager with better connections, Frankie reluctantly takes on a female boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) who has been hanging around his gym, probably to avoid her no-good family. Her no nonsense attitude and persistence pay off when she enters the ring and begins a whirlwind tour of the United States and Europe in the hopes of bringing that elusive world championship to Frankie. Assisting Frankie in the training of Maggie is another former fighter and Frankie's maintenance man, Eddie Dupris (Morgan Freeman.)

Eastwood continues to amaze. It is astounding how he has re-invented himself as a consumate producer/director after so many years as one of Hollywood's most successful actors. His use of color, shadow, light, music and camera angles is nothing short of masterful. This film could have utilized a script without any words and it would have had just as much impact. He has created the new Rocky and generated a solid Best Picture contender for The Aviator. Million Dollar Baby differs from The Aviator in so many ways but they are each examples of great filmmaking. Eastwood has established a reputation as a director that draws talents like Freeman and Swank to want to work with him. They populate his movie in a way that will make you believe they have always resided there. This story is powerful, there's no other word to describe it. When the acting, directing, script, cinematography, editing, score, lighting, etc. are brought together in such an artistic way as they are in Million Dollar Baby, one cannot help but be affected by it. It is difficult to believe but Eastwood continues to top himself. See Million Dollar Baby before the Academy Awards so you will know why it was nominated in so many categories and can appreciate it when it wins.

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365 popcorn scale... The Aviator is Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), the eccentric billionaire industrialist, film mogul and aviation pioneer who risked his fortune more than once on his revolutionary inventions and endeavors. The film begins with Hughes as a child, influenced by his hypochondriac mother. This sets the course for the remainder of the movie and is used to explain the eccentric recluse that Hughes eventually became.

As the mystique of Hughes grows, he romances some of Hollywood's most beautiful and intriguing women such as Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale.) The film primarily follows Hughes from the late 1920s when he struggled to create his movie epic "Hell's Angels" through the 1940s, culminating in his successful flight of the Hercules, his colossal airplane which is now housed next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach and is known as the Spruce Goose, a nickname given to it by his arch nemesis, Senator Owen Brewster (Alan Alda.)

The story of The Aviator would be less interesting or shocking if it were not based on actual events and real people. The story of Howard Hughes fascinates the general public today, almost as much as it did when he was alive. The fact that the movie does not show the later years of his life when he became a complete recluse, hold up in the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, refusing to bath or wear clothes, the windows blocked so no sunlight could come in, is a credit to the filmmakers. They chose to concentrate more on the years of his life when his true genius resulted in his invention of several advancements in aviation, his successful creation of a media empire and his becoming the richest man in the world. DiCaprio is uncanny in his depiction of Hughes and Blanchett is amazing as the confident Hepburn. The great performances are bolstered by incredible visuals, a solid script, sound direction by Scorsese and all of the other elements that make for good movie-making. One that deserves all of the praise it is receiving, in this reviewer's estimation, The Aviator is not one to miss on the big screen.

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365 popcorn scale... A remake of the 1976 John Carpenter film, Assault on Precinct 13 is set in a soon-to-be-demolished police station on New Year's Eve. It's about a group of policeman, led by a jaded captain (Ethan Hawke), that must form an alliance with the prisoners they are guarding in order to prevent a riot staged to free an incarcerated mobster (Laurence Fishburne).

Ok, if you're a fan of the original film (or a fan of Quentin Tarantino who loved the original so now you claim you loved the original too so you look cool seem like you're hip) you're not likely going to love this film. It's very much a modern hollywood action movie with a big twist at the end. No campy action or wacky John Carpenter soundtrack that endeared so many indie fans. But if you're seeing this movie for the first time, you will likely enjoy it a bit more. While a bit slow after a heart-pounding start, the action starts off with some very humorous violence thanks to John Leguizamo. Some great actors are kind of wasted in thin character roles, but that goes back to the original which had essentially a one track script... live till morning. We had some hearty laughs at times and there was definite tension but we thought they should have been more remorseful at the end. And a lot of people get shot in the forehead. But I never checked my watch, so chalk it up as a good good popcorn suspense action flick, worth seeing in the theater if that's your shtick.

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365 popcorn scale... When the parent company of the weekly magazine Sports America is bought out by an international conglomerate, Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) finds himself In Good Company, though it takes him awhile to realize it. He is a 51 year old sales executive who has a loving wife and two grown daughters. He has a good life with 23 years with the company. After the takeover, he is demoted and has a new boss in the person of Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), a 26 year old marketing whiz with no sales experience. Complicating matters is the burgeoning relationship between Carter and Dan's oldest daughter (Scarlett Johansson.) When Dan discovers the secret relationship, the situation reaches a breaking point.

This is certainly not a comedy along the same lines as American Pie (a film by the same director) but it has some good comedic moments. The juxtaposition of the aging Quaid and the youthful Grace creates a scenario that can be seen happening in many large corporations in today's global economy. A long-standing company is gobbled up and the existing staff is replaced with younger, eager executives who have limited loyalty and lots of motivation for upward mobility. Grace's character exemplifies these characteristics and plays the role well. Quaid is perfect as the older, seasoned veteran who is torn by his loyalty to the job and his distaste for the changes that have been thrust upon him. The story is touching while being humorous and avoids the standard feel good ending. While there is resolution and many of the characters discover what really matters, not everything is tied up nicely with a red bow. In Good Company would make a good date movie on a cold night this winter.

365 popcorn scale... The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou pays homage to the life of Jacques Cousteau as only Wes Anderson can. Bill Murray plays the Cousteau-esque Steve Zissou, an aging undersea explorer who is struggling to figure out why success now eludes him. His latest documentary takes on a personal slant when his closest companion is eaten by a "jaguar shark" and he undertakes an expedition to find and destroy the beast that consumed his friend. Along for the ride are Klaus (Willem Dafoe), his slightly estranged wife Eleanor (Anjelica Huston), a pesky journalist (Cate Blanchett) and the son he never knew he had (Owen Wilson.) The journey takes them through unprotected waters and includes run-ins with his arch nemesis (Jeff Goldblum) and a bond company stooge.

Yet another strange film from the demented mind of Wes Anderson, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou has some moments of brilliance and others that are less successful. The film is buoyed by the performances of such stellar comedic talents such as Murray, Huston and Defoe (yes, Willem Dafoe has some of the best comedic moments here.) The writing is typical Anderson as is the "hand-held camera" feel of the cinematography. Fans of Anderson's other films will enjoy The Life Aquatic but probably not as much as Rushmore. An open mind and a willingness to enjoy the pure absurdity of the whole endeavor are necessities when viewing this film. Bill Murray has found his niche in his advancing years, starring in quirky comedies such as this and Lost in Translation. The Life Aquatic is not a must-see, especially on the big screen, but it may very well be worth a look as a rental from your favorite, neighborhood video store.

Three Popped Kernels
This movie passes. Not great but not a waste of time. Perhaps great performances in a weak script or vice versa or maybe it is just to formulaic. You may enjoy it while you are in the theater but it will not likely spark conversation afterword.

Two Popped Kernels
This film is hard to recommend unless it has some feature that appeals directly to certail circles of fans; a favorite actor or plot topic or setting. It falls short on story and or performances. It was either a bad idea to start with or a good idea done the wrong way. You will likely be glad you waited for this one on video. The visuals do not beneit by viewing it in a theater vs. at home. So wait for this one.