Alphabetical

3:10 To Yuma
The Astronaut Farmer
Bourne Ultimatum
Breach
Bridge to Terabithia
Children of Men
Evan Almighty
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Ghost Rider
Good Luck Chuck
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Live Free or Die hard
Next
Ocean's Thirteen
Pan's Labyrinth
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Queen
Ratatouille
Shooter
Shreck the Third
The Simpson's Movie
Smokin' Aces
Spiderman 3
Transformers
Wild Hogs

Action/Adventure
300
Bourne Ultimatum
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Ghost Rider
Live Free or Die hard
Next
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Shooter
Smokin' Aces
Spiderman 3
Transformers

Children/Animation/Family
Bridge to Terabithia
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Ratatouille
Shreck the Third
The Simpson's Movie
Transformers

Comedy/Romance/Musical
The Astronaut Farmer
Evan Almighty
Good Luck Chuck
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Ratatouille
Shreck the Third
The Simpson's Movie
Wild Hogs

Drama/Suspense
3:10 To Yuma
The Astronaut Farmer
Bourne Ultimatum
Breach
Bridge to Terabithia
Children of Men
Live Free or Die hard
Next
Pan's Labyrinth
Ocean's Thirteen
The Queen
Shooter
Smokin' Aces
Spiderman 3

Science Fiction/Fantasy
300
Children of Men
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Ghost Rider
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Next
Pan's Labyrinth
Spiderman 3
Transformers

True Stories
300
Breach
The Queen

Horror

Good Luck Chuck
- A Film by Mark Helfrich (Rush Hour 3, X-Men: The Last Stand)

Good Luck Chuck was a let-down for this reviewer. Dane Cook has been receiving a lot of attention lately (including being the on-air promoter for Major League Baseball's playoffs) but really did not live up to the hype in this film. Jessica Alba actually generated more amusement with her clutzy penguin loving Cam. Adding to the comedic timing is Fogler as Stu, the completely breast obsessed plastic surgeon. Sophomoric to the extreme at times, Good Luck Chuck just isn't that funny. Additionally, the previews that we saw over the past few months were misleading as to what the plot of this film is. Perhaps the studio realized that the best parts of the film surrounded Alba and Fogler and focused less on Cook's character. Of course, for all those testosterone driven males out there, the film includes plenty of nudity, especially with Chuck bedding every female in town and Stu being a plastic surgeon. Good Luck Chuck is definitely a rental. And, for the testosterone driven males out there, then you can pause the video or DVD. Think about it. Just don't expect a lot of belly laughs during this one.

3:10 to Yuma
A Film by James Mangold (Walk the Line)

As other critics have pointed out, 3:10 to Yuma is probably the best western since Unforgiven and follows on the heels of another recent modern western, Open Range, in being true to the genre but with a level of action that will keep the interest of today's movie-going audience. The pairing of Crowe and Bale is at the heart of the story and drives the film from start to finish. The remaining cast filters in and out of the action as needed, providing the perfect ensemble around our two stars. The gritty Peter Fonda is effective as the grizzly Pinkerton guard, Ben Foster plays the psychotic Charlie Prince to great effect, and Logan Lerman brings Evans' teenage son William to life. As with most westerns, tons of gunfire leave the audience in doubt as to who will live and die, right up to the final scene. And, as with the most successful movies of the genre, 3:10 to Yuma does not disappoint as the action comes to a fitting and profound end when the train whistle blows and the 3:10 train to Yuma lurches forward down the tracks.

The Bourne Ultimatum
- A Film by Paul Greengrass (United 93, The Bourne Supremacy)

Click here for the trailer

365 popcorn scale... Matt Damon returns for the third time as trained assassin Jason Bourne in The Bourne Ultimatum. Still hunted by those who orchestrated his training and still haunted by the death of his beloved Marie, Bourne continues his search for the secrets of his past. He travels all over the world during his quest and encounters some familiar faces including Nicky (Julia Stiles) and Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) along with some new ones. David Strathairn joins this installment as CIA division head Noah Vosen and Scott Glenn plays CIA Chief Ezra Kramer. As Bourne tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together, he discovers a more tangled web of deceptions and half truths than even he imagined. Car chases and foot races take Bourne and those tracking him to such exotic locales as Morocco, Spain, Italy, England and the United States.

The Bourne Ultimatum picks up where The Bourne Supremacy left off, sort of. The action in this installment is as energetic and frenetic as that of the first two, if not slightly higher in its octane level. The camera moves fast and Damon once again seems to actually be in the thick of things as he beats the living you-know-what of the other agents and smashes just about every vehicle into which he steps foot. Joan Allen reprises her role of Pamela Landy with the same amount of compassion as before and still shines as a determined and focused intelligence operative. The additions to this cast, obviously, cannot be overlooked. It says a great deal about a film (from script to director to lead actors) when actors the caliber of Strathairn, Glenn and Albert Finney (as the doctor who psychologically broke Bourne in the first place) agree to be part of the cast. While the back story, the acting and the action are sound, this movie is driven a little too much by the fight scenes and car chases, a couple of which seem to be longer than necessary. The search for his past also seems a bit tired and a retread of the previous two films but it is that search that is at the heart of the novels written by Robert Ludlum. This is well worth the ticket price and those car chases need to be seen on the big screen. Just promise us that, if you wait to see it until you can only view it on the small screen, you at least get the Widescreen version so you can see ALL the action.

The Simpsons Movie
- A Film by David Silverman (Monsters, Inc.)

Click here for the trailer

365 popcorn scale... The Simpsons clan comes to the big screen after 18 years on the small screen and numerous awards and honors. And, good thing too because this story is too big (and Homer is too large) to be contained. Springfield is in jeopardy after it becomes apparent that Lake Springfield has become a cesspool of pollution. As Lisa Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) tries to convince the town to clean up its act, Homer (Dan Castellaneta) comes through as always and ignores the warning, thereby bringing the EPA down on Springfield like an iron hammer, or glass dome, as it were. With Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa and baby Maggie in tow, Homer leads the family out of Springfield to escape the horde of citizens bent on killing them for his ignorance. After relocating to Alaska, it becomes apparent that the family must return to Springfield and save their family and friends before it's too late.

The Simpsons have been named the best television show of the twentieth century but it took 18 years to get them to the big screen and it was worth the wait. The Simpsons Movie is hilarious, not losing a step from its small screen version. The humor is biting and often times off center. The first thirty minutes will have you rolling in the aisles, if you have any affinity for this dysfunctional family. And, the big screen allows the creative team behind the series to let their hair down, so to speak, and take some risks with language and, yes, even animated nudity. The story is true to The Simpsons credo with Homer as the central figure in a disastrous situation. After the first thirty minutes, there are some slow moments but a slow moment in The Simpsons Movie is like a speedy moment in most other comedies. Of course, any review of this movie would be remiss without mentioning SpiderPig. There, it was mentioned. Take our word for it, you'll be talking about SpiderPig (or laughing about it) for days to come.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
A Film by David Yates (Feature Film Directorial Debut)

Click here for the trailer

365 popcorn scale... Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) are accused of being liars as they attempt to convince everyone in the wizarding world that Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), prefers to hide from the truth, too afraid of the implications of Voldemort's return to face it. To bring order back to Hogwarts and put Dumbledore in his place, he appoints Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) as High Inquisitor and she quickly begins to seize power at the school. Fearing that help is going to be difficult to come by from the establishment, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermoine (Emma Watson) and the other students at Hogwarts band together along with their teachers, fellow wizards and witches to resurrect the Order of the Phoenix to prepare for a showdown with Voldemort and the army he has begun to build.

In the fifth film in the series, Harry Potter has grown up and Daniel Radcliffe has grown up with him. The Order of the Phoenix is not as light-hearted and upbeat as the first film and more closely resembles the much darker third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Still, there is plenty of humor and some bright moments when Harry is interacting with his two closest friends and the other students. With the maturing of Harry, Ron and Hermoine, the atmosphere and mood has necessarily shifted. They are approaching adulthood and dealing with different issues than they were in their first year. This is also driven by the fact that the film makers no longer need to establish these characters. They can now focus more on the story and the action, of which there is quite a bit in this outing. Unfortunately, that means that some characters (and the quality actors portraying them) get little opportunity to really have a strong screen presence. Of course, as with the other Harry Potter movies, the film cannot fully live up to the book upon which it is based. The time constraints of a major motion picture force the storytellers to shorten important sequences, leave out what could be important information and not include some of the visuals that may not be able to be replicated on screen. According to those in our group who had read the book awhile back, the film is pretty faithful to the overall story and they were forgiving of the omissions. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are definitely growing up and word that Radcliffe has signed on for the final two films gives us all hope that the remaining two installments will bring this series full circle and give us a fitting climax. We at 365 cannot wait for the seventh and final book to be released later this month. It will certainly be tough not to skip to the end to see how our time with Harry will come to a close.

Ratatouille - A Film by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, The Iron Giant)

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365 popcorn scale... Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) is a simple country rat who aspires to be a chef in the world famous Paris bistro of recently deceased Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). Upon arriving at the bistro, Remy quickly discovers and befriends the hapless Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano), a young man who is all thumbs in the kitchen. Remy becomes the puppet master, serving as Linguini's brain as he attempts to cook and impress the beautiful Colette (Janeane Garofalo) and prove to the new head chef (voiced by Ian Holm). Through a bizarre twist of fate, Linguini takes over as head chef and is put to the test when the imfamous food critic, Anton Ego (voiced by Peter O'Toole) decides to drop by for dinner.

Ratatouille is a delightful outing from the creative geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios. Despite their acquisition by Disney, Pixar has not lost any of its steam as Ratatouille combines spectacular animation with clever dialogue and witty humor that appeals to kids and parents alike, much like the vast majority of their other offerings to date. Thankfully, the Pixar miscues have been few since they burst on the scene several years ago and this story of a rat who wants to be a chef keeps that steam rolling. Participation from the likes of Peter O'Toole, Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy (as Django), Brad Garrett and Janeane Garofalo show the appeal of working with this studio and their voices lend a certain pinach to the entire movie, especially O'Toole as the pompous food critic. And, once more, the payoff in a Pixar film makes the ride all the more worthwhile. Ratatouille is definitely worth the price of admission and really only suffers from a few slow moments. Probably the biggest plus is that we do not recall one moment in the film where we were unnecessarily subjected to the ubiquitous musical interlude. If that were not enough, the theater is air conditioned, the popcorn is freshly popped and the beverages are ice cold. What more can you ask for on a Sunday night.

Transformers
A Film by Michael Bay (Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys)

Click here for the trailer

365 popcorn scale... Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is your average teenager. He desperately wants to own his own car and date the hottest girl in school. He gets his first wish when he and his father purchase a classic, if not somewhat dilapidated, Chevy Camaro. As luck would have it, an opportunity presents itself and the hottest girl in school, Mikaela (Megan Fox), suddenly needs a lift. But Sam's car is more than a car, which he discovers when it transforms into an alien robot known as BumbleBee. Sam learns that BumbleBee is part of a race of aliens known as Autobots. The Autobots, lead by Optimus Prime, are in a centuries-old battle with another group of alien robots known as the Decepticons, lead by Megatron. The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons has come to Earth as both are searching for a mysterious Cube, whose powers would allow the robots to rebuild their home planet, or convert Earth into their new home, destroying all humans in the process.

Transformers is a pure joy ride from start to finish. Michael Bay leaves nothing in his bag of tricks as he creates believable robots that transform from cars, semis, planes, helicopters, you name it. He even uses colors other than orange and blue this time around. The action dominates the film and at times seems like it will never cease. The only negative is that the action is so intense sometimes that it's hard for the audience to keep up. But this film is a crowd pleaser. One only needs to sit in a packed theater and here the crowd react with laughter at the humor and gasps at the action to know that Bay has succeeded in drawing the audience in and giving them exactly what they want. Transformers will undoubtedly be one of the most successful films of the year and it deserves to be. It is the quintessential summer, popcorn movie. Just be sure to stay for the first few minutes of the credits so you can catch a few snip-its that provide you with a last laugh and a little something more. Transformers is the most entertaining movie of the summer…so far...

Live Free or Die Hard - A Film by Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld II: Evolution)

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365 popcorn scale... Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is at it again. It's been 12 years since he last wrestled with really bad guys in Die Hard with a Vengeance and when he's not doing detective work, he's spying on his teenage daughter Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). On a routine Fourth of July holiday, McClane gets the call to head to New Jersey to pick up a known computer hacker, Matt Farrell (Justin Long), and escort him to FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. What seems like an easy assignment quickly turns into another extreme holiday for him as terrorists lead by Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) begin a calculated attack on the nation through the use of technology, affecting everything from traffic control to utilities to national defense. Detective McClane and Farrell become the country's best hope to stop the terrorists and return everything to normal.

The fourth in the Die Hard series that launched Willis into superstardom and spawned the global box office champion of 1995 (Die Hard with a Vengeance), Live Free or Die Hard has all the same elements as the previous three films: gritty Detective McClane, some really nasty bad guys, lots of explosions, lots of guns and plenty of humor. Much like its predecessors, Live Free or Die Hard is a roller coaster thrill ride as cars, helicopters, semis, roads, planes and buildings are laid waste all in the name of stopping the aforementioned bad guys. Of course, the thing that initially set Die Hard apart from other films in the same genre and continues in Live Free or Die Hard is the personality and humor that Willis brings to the role of Detective McClane. Many have copied or tried to copy the formula of the Die Hard films but few have succeeded. Thankfully, Live Free or Die Hard does. McClane is older and slower but his determination and stubbornness has not subsided. Long is excellent as the geeky computer hacker and adds plays off Willis well. The action is often intense and the film is quite enjoyable. Live Free or Die Hard is a good follow-up to the other three films.

Evan Almighty - A Film by Tom Shadyac
(Ace Venture: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar, Liar)

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365 popcorn scale... Bruce Almighty is a thing of the past and polished television news anchor Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) has just been elected to the United States Congress.  Upon arriving in Washington with wife Joan (Lauren Graham) and their three sons, Evan is immediately enlisted by the powerful Congressman Long (John Goodman) to co-sponsor a piece of legislation that would allow development along the outer fringes of our national parks.  His excitement soon turns to confusion and a visit from God (Morgan Freeman.)  In his posh suburban community, Evan is instructed to construct an ark.  Lumber and animals begin arriving at his home and the animals even follow him to work.  The Lord works in mysterious ways and convinces Evan to take on this mighty duty after causing his facial hair to grow uncontrollably, among other things.  Once he's convinced to build the ark, he must enlist the aid of his family to complete the ark in time for the flood scheduled for September 22.

A sequel that pales in comparison to the original, Evan Almighty has a few good laughs to it but generally misses the comedic mark.  Carell is obviously a comedian with a future but Evan Almighty is not likely to advance his career a great deal, no matter how much money it makes, and it will make some good money as it is a family friendly film with tons (or at least pairs) of animals.  The special effects in Evan Almighty led to it being the most expensive comedy ever produced but the money could have been better spent.  You can tell when watching the film where the money went since it is obvious that all of those animals were not really there and the flood (including the ark floating through it) were mostly digital.  There would be no other way to do it and you'll understand why when you see that scene.  While Carell has showed that he can carry a major motion picture (see The 40 Year Old Virgin for proof), his comedic talents are not enough to carry Evan Almighty in the way that Jim Carrey carried Bruce Almighty.

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer: A Film by Tim Story (Barbershop, Fantastic 4)

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365 popcorn scale... Reed, Susan, Johnny and Ben (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis respectively) are still saving the world as the Fantastic 4 in this follow-up to the highly successful original Fantastic 4 film.  As Reed and Susan attempt to plan their wedding, the world is embroiled in a mysterious series of unexplained events.  They soon discover that an intergalactic traveler (Doug Jones as voiced by Laurence Fishburne) has arrived on Earth in preparation for its destruction.  Based on his appearance and the elongated disk he flies on, the alien is named The Silver Surfer.  Reed struggles with his commitment to Susan when he is asked by the military to help them track down the alien and figure out a way to stop him.  Eventually, the Fantastic 4 is forced to partner with their arch nemesis, Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon), who has somehow been revived through a close encounter with The Silver Surfer.  Will Reed and Susan ever walk down the aisle and can the Fantastic 4 stop The Silver Surfer before it's too late.

Yet another comic book film hits the big screen in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the first sequel to the successful first adaptation of the Marvel comic started by Stan Lee.  Our four heroes are once again portrayed by the same four actors, all of which pick up where they left off last time.  Chiklis is by far the best placed character actor in the series.  Alba and Evans have the looks, obviously, but they are not the greatest actors in the world.  And, for some reason, Gruffudd and McMahon are just there.  Hearing Fishburne's voice coming out of a shiny silver guy seemed a bit out of place at first but somehow worked throughout the film.  Some great special effects, some nifty gadgets (with amazing product placement which someone paid through the nose for, we're sure) and the interactions between The Thing and the Human Torch, though, cannot elevate Fantastic 4: The Rise of the Silver Surfer above the rating we are giving it.  It was enjoyable but not a "must see".  It is worth seeing on the big screen but we cannot recommend rushing to the theater, much like we didn't rush to write this review.

Ocean's Thirteen
A Film by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, Erin Brockovich, Traffic)

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365 popcorn scale... Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his group of sophisticated thieves are at it again, this time in defense of one of their own. When Willy Bank (Al Pacino), a ruthless casino owner, double crosses one of the original Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's mentor, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), putting him in the hospital, Danny gathers the group together to pull off one of the most daring heists in the history of Las Vegas. Not only will they take Bank for every penny, they will do it on the night of the grand opening of Bank's newest casino. To top it all off, the plan also includes ending Bank's winning streak of earning his fifth straight Royal Review Board Five Diamond Award for new hotels. At every turn, the crew seems to run into snags from a worker strike at the dice manufacturing plant in Mexico to a broken down tunnel drilling machine to an unbeatable security system. Such roadblocks force the team to enlist the help of an unlikely partner. Can they pull off this latest heist and restore Reuben's faith and health?

For this, the third film in the series, Clooney is once again joined by the same all-star cast from the previous two films (i.e. Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Gould, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan and Carl Reiner among others.) Besides Pacino, Ellen Barkin also joins the cast this time around as Bank's casino manager. Missing from the list in Ocean's Thirteen are Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The story is not all that different than the first two films though it is a twist on the same theme. The rapport between the characters is well played and one gets the sense that these high priced stars get along just as swimmingly in real life as well. You can visualize Clooney, Pitt, Damon, et al hanging out in a bar, taking turns buying each other drinks. Ocean's Thirteen recreates the same swagger that the first two films did and as long as they can continue to come up with unique twists on the same basic story, this is one fan that will continue to pay the admission price. Ocean's Thirteen, like the others, never seems to slow. That may actually be the movie's biggest flaw, consistent with the other outings. The terminology of the world of gamblers and thieves and the speed with which the information is offered may escape some audience members as the dialogue and pace are necessarily frenetic. The ride may be fast and bumpy, it is a fun joy ride none-the-less. Ocean's Thirteen is a good follow up to its predecessors and avoids the jinx of the number thirteen. Just what will Ocean and his partners in crime be up against next time? We'll just have to wait and see but our guess is they'll find a way to get themselves into trouble once again in Ocean's Fourteen and beyond.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
A Film by Gore Verbinski (Pirates I and II, The Weatherman, The Ring)

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365 popcorn scale... Darkness has fallen as Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) has gained control of the seas after attaining the heart of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) at the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. With the power of the British fleet at his disposal and the Flying Dutchman leading the charge, Beckett and the East India Trading Company (EITC) have begun systematically hunting down and killing all pirates, any known associates of pirates and anyone who has ever thought of associating with a pirate. The fleet is now led by Admiral Norrington (Jack Davenport), who attained his lofty position by being the man who brought the heart to Beckett in the first place. In order to counter the EITC, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) seek to assemble the nine Lords of the Brethren Court with the hopes that as a collective, the world of pirates can defeat the armada. Ironically, that is what Beckett is hoping for. Unfortunately, one of the lords is missing: Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). To get Jack back, they must travel to World's End and Davy Jones' locker. Once rescued, can Captain Jack, Elizabeth, Captain Barbossa, Will, Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) and the rest of the pirates stop Beckett and Jones? Will freeing the sea goddess Calypso help? Only time will tell as allegiances are formed and the ultimate battle approaches.

Following on the heels of two hugely successful predecessors, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End had a lot to live up to. We went into the theater the other night, not knowing if it would succeed or not, especially after some of the poor reviews we read prior to paying our admission fees. Still, and perhaps somewhat as a result of those poor reviews, we left the theater pleasantly surprised. Yes, At World's End is longer than it needs to be. Some of the fight sequences do drag on. But all in all, At World's End is an enjoyable ride, a fitting payoff for the 4-year journey we've all taken with Captain Jack and his merry band of pirate misfits. Depp reprises his role as Captain Jack without blinking. Bloom, Knightley and the remainder of the returning cast also keep their characters going strong. The addition of Chow Yun-Fat and cameos by the likes of Depp's inspiration for Captain Jack, Keith Richards, only add to the fun. The length of the film and the complicated nature of the storyline (which may be difficult for many to follow) are the only two real strikes against the film but they are enough to keep At World's End from being a Five Kernel film. Still, it is the best of the summer blockbusters so far, besting Spider-Man 3 and Shrek the Third so far.

Shrek the Third
A Film by Chris Miller (Feature Film Directorial Debut)

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365 popcorn scale... With his father-in-law ailing and unable to attend to his duties as King of Far Far Away, Shrek (Mike Myers) must assume the role, knighting knights and christening ships, among other things. Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) tries to help Shrek through this difficult time but she is distracted by her desire to start a family. When King Harold (John Cleese) passes away, it opens the door to a power struggle. On one side is Shrek who is a reluctant King. Then there is Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) who is still smarting from the way Shrek took his supposed one-true-love away from him. When Shrek finds out Princess Fiona has a long-lost cousin named Artie (Justin Timberlake), he, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas) embark on a journey across the sea to find Artie and convince him to come back with them to Far Far Away to take his rightful place on the throne.

As with other mediocre reviews we have written, the synopsis above makes the movie sound better than it actually is. This Shrek is no where near as funny or entertaining as the previous two in the series. While there are a few good belly-laughs, they are Far Far and Away too few and far between. Myers, Murphy and Banderas, even though you never see them, seem to be just going through the motions on this one. The story is weak compared to the other two films, each of which introduced some really great characters (like Puss-in-Boots). In Shrek the Third, the additions of Artie and Merlin (Eric Idle) just aren't as significant or funny. And, as has been the norm with animated films over the past several years, Shrek the Third has a lot of humor that will go right over the heads of the children in the audience. Considering that a good portion of the audience for this movie is under the age of 10, being more obtuse in the jokes does not serve the movie well. Even the adults in the audience seemed to be bored at various points during the movie, I know I was.

Spiderman 3
A Film by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spiderman 1&2, For Love of the Game)

Click here for the trailer

365 popcorn scale... In the third Spiderman film, Peter Parker (Tobey McGuire) has finally found a balance between his personal life and his secret life as Spiderman.  He and Mary Jane have gotten closer and though his best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco) has turned against him, his life has settled into a good pattern.  The general public adores him in spite of the best efforts of Daily Bugle editor Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) and that adoration eventually goes to Peter's head and he begins to neglect those closest to him.  As his focus shifts, he is changed by a mysterious alien entity that falls from the sky in a meteor.  It overtakes Peter, changing his Spiderman suit into a foreboding, black version of the patriotic red and blue suit the world is accustomed to seeing.  As the black goo takes greater control, Peter becomes a changed man, virtually unrecognizable.  He is overshadowed at work by an upstart photographer (Topher Grace) and, when he discovers that the man (Thomas Hayden Church) who really shot Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) is still at large, his need for vengeance is heightened by the alien force.  Can Spiderman/Peter Parker pull it together before he loses everything?

Anticipation for Spiderman 3 has been high for months.  The appeal of this film was the conflicted nature of the main character and the potential emergence of Harry Osborn as the New Goblin.  Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the film was that these two main plot points and storylines are overshadowed by too many other storylines and villains.  Sometimes less is more and this is one of those cases.  The love story with Mary Jane, the conflict with Harry, the realization that Uncle Ben's killer is still at large, the competition at work, etc. create a jumbled mess.  Then throw in the competing genres of comedy, drama, action, etc. and the film never seems to find a niche.  The funny moments are funny, the action is exhilarating (if not difficult to follow or focus on at times) and the drama is dramatic.  Is this installment as good as the other two Spiderman films?  Probably not for the reasons cited above.  Is it an entertaining film?  Sure.  The script could have been tighter and some of the comedic moments could have been less hokey but it is a movie based on a comic book.  Spiderman fans will enjoy the film but probably not as much as they would like.

Spiderman 3 (Review # 2)

Well True-Believers, let me preface this review with one simple statement: I am the Spyderfreek. I’ve watched everything Spidey for as long as I can remember. I’ve been to all three movies on opening day, and at a midnight showing for the last one to boot. I waited in quiet anticipation for this movie, avoiding as much of the hype and advertising as possible. I went into this movie with as open a mind as any can have in this day of instant information. I truly wanted to enjoy this movie as much as I did the last two, but I was disappointed. Sam & the gang did a fine job of story telling, it’s just that the story feels contrived and clunky. Sam is an old school Spidey fan, so that is where main villain number one comes from. Avi Arad & the rest of Marvel demanded a more mainstream villain, which gives you villain number two. Villain number three has been building since the first movie, and was by far the most wonderfully executed part of the movie. I don’t want to spoil the “surprises”, but suffice it to say this movie is decidedly different in tone and flavour than the other two. Trying to cobble together a continuing coming of age story, love story, and revenge story all into one along with the typical villain/enemy dynamic makes for a mind twisting stretch that even the most avid fan is hard pressed to follow. Spider-man 3 is somewhat entertaining, but I would put it far below the other two movies in the trilogy in the likeability category. 2.5 kernals, maybe 3.

- Ryan “Spyderfreek” Winkelman

Spiderman 3 (Review # 3) WARNING - BIG SPOILERS - HUGE!!!

Okay, so, the butler waited for a couple of years to randomly tell Harry that his old man was the Goblin, and did so conveniently right as Peter was getting the crap kicked out of him? And the oh-so-convenient amnesia? 

Emo Spidey? HELLS NO! That was ridiculous. I can't believe actual screen time was devoted to watching Peter COMB HIS BANGS. Seriously, the entire sequence reminded me of Superman 3. This is NOT a good thing.
The entire Sandman plot was entirely superfluous and unnecessary to the movie outside of driving Peter's vengeance, and his dark side was more than adequately developed elsewhere. 

One of the fundamental aspects of Spider-Man's character through over 40 years of comics, television and movies is his guilt over his part in Uncle Ben's death. With great power comes great responsibility, and all that. By making Uncle Ben's murder an accident, you mess with something that you should not mess with. It essentially destroys the only real motivation that Peter has.

Hey! Here's this gooey black stuff that falls from the sky, and just happens to land right near Peter's moped. As we find out from Professor Cameo, it's a symbiotic gooey stuff that amplifies whatever the host is feeling, and becomes part of the host.

I have a genuine dislike for the Venom character, I have never been a fan whatsoever and I cringe everytime he appears in the comics, but I was pleasantly surprised with how Venom was handled in the movie. That may have to do with Sam Raimi, though, as Raimi has gone on record since Spider-Man 1 as saying that he hates Venom, and he said during the cycle for this movie that originally the only villain was Sandman, but producer Avi Arad convinced him to include Venom, as Venom is somehow a fan favorite.

I really, really, really hated the stupid news-cast in the end, with the on-the-scene reporting of the climactic fight. The whole breakup thing was horribly written. Ugh. And whoever thought it was a good idea to have Kirsten Dunst sing needs to be shot...

It's not nearly as big a drop in quality from X2: X-Men United to X-Men: The Last Stand, but definitely one of the most disappointing comic-book films in recent memory. Really, the only thing I can say I genuinely and truly loved about it (outside of the brilliant Bruce Campbell cameo) was that the central villain (the alien symbiote) has the last laugh, in a manner of speaking: Peter's probably totally alienated Gwen Stacy from his life forever due to the way he used her; Peter and MJ need serious relationship damage control from everything he did to her; and Peter has to live with everything he did during the time he wore the black suit. And he can't say it was all the symbiote, because, deep down, he has to know that the symbiote was merely taking the dark side of him that was already there and amplified it. It's a downbeat ending, with a little sliver of hope.

Harry was the best part of the entire movie. In a Spider-Man movie, this is not a good thing.

NEXT - A Film by Lee Tamahori (XXX: State of the Union, Die Another Day)

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365 popcorn scale... What would you do if you could see what was going to happen to you, two minutes into the future? For Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage), his tortured existence has led him to Las Vegas, where he performs as a small-time magician and quietly wins modest sums of money at blackjack. That is, until he confronts a would-be thief and becomes a target. Little does he know that others are watching him, namely the FBI led by Agent Ferris (Julianne Moore), who believes that Johnson can use his gift to help her find a nuclear bomb somewhere in Los Angeles. With everything else that is going on around him, Johnson is preoccupied by a vision: A woman (Jessica Biel) he has never met but whom he will meet someday. That day comes right on the heels of these other events and she becomes part of the action. What will happen NEXT? NEXT is based on the short story The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick.

We at 365 have typically given reasonable reviews to recent big screen versions of Philip K. Dick stories (see our reviews for Imposter, Minority Report and Paycheck), and obviously Blade Runner came out before we began reviewing movies but it is a classic sci-fi movie. NEXT appeared to be heading down that same road. In fact, the concept was intriguing: A man can see two minutes into the future but only if the events involve him personally. And, of course, the cast is a quality cast so they carry that story well. The action is fast-paced and trying to figure out where the film is going, how it is going to get there and what will happen along the way kept our interest. And it keeps steaming along until the end, which comes abruptly. Just when we thought we were witnessing one of the best-played twists in recent movie history, the movie ends and we were left wanting more. NEXT went from a four kernel rating to a two in about ten seconds. And, as the credits rolled, that's where it stayed. Rent it and when the big twist happens, turn off the television before they ruin the movie for you.

Shooter
A Film by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day)

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365 popcorn scale... Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former Marine sharp shooter living in the mountains, far away from the life he left behind after his last mission went awry. That mission, which lead to the death of his partner, has left him disillusioned and betrayed. Suddenly, he is thrust back into the world of intrigue when Colonel Johnson (Danny Glover) approaches him about a mission that only he can complete: plan the assassination of the President in an effort to smoke out a real assassin. Little does Swagger realize that this mission will be more treacherous and dangerous than his last one. Along the way, his partner's former fiancé (Kate Mara) becomes his only refuge and a rookie FBI agent (Michael Pena) becomes his primary ally. Chased from the streets of Philadelphia to the mountains of Montana, Swagger must solve the case and clear his name in a desperate race against time.

Fuqua brings the look and feel of Training Day to this 2007 suspense thriller. Wahlberg seems well cast as the ex-Marine who, when asked to do his patriotic duty, reluctantly agrees to help uncover an assassin. The tension is well played, creating a fast-paced and exciting ride for the audience. Watching Wahlberg as Swagger using his knowledge as a Marine to not only unravel the mystery but also survive is enjoyable. Some good car chases, shoot outs and explosions never hurt as well. The story is somewhat tired (the old conspiracy theory that reaches to the highest levels of government and involves some sort of desperate need to protect a cover-up) but it is always nice when it comes with some new twists. In the end, Shooter is not exceptional but it is edge-of-your-seat entertainment. Is there anything really wrong with that? Grab a bucket of popcorn and a jumbo Pepsi, relax for awhile and let Markie Mark have the really bad day tonight.

300
A Film by Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead)

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365 popcorn scale... An epic retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 B.C., 300 is based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. The story begins by giving background on how King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) came to be a Spartan warrior. From his training as a young boy to his exile into the wilderness as a teenager, Leonidas was trained in the way Spartan warriors had been trained for centuries. His rise to the throne included marriage and a young son whom he was now training. When the Persian King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) sends messengers throughout Greece, asking each city-state to submit to his rule, Leonidas casts the messengers into a well, refusing to give in to this self-proclaimed God-King. This enrages Xerxes and he begins a march into Greece with his massive army. Leonidas, without the support of the council, heads to the Pass of Thermopylae with his 300 best soldiers to head them off. His plan is simple. If this small group of warriors can make a statement by fighting to the death against insurmountable odds, perhaps all of Greece will band behind the effort and rally all of Greece's forces to keep Xerxes and the Persians from further advancing into Europe.

300 is a visually stunning movie, there is no doubt. The combination of live action set against a backdrop of virtual backgrounds is interesting and visually appealing. The story is larger than life, perhaps enhanced much as the story of this epic battle was at the time to incite the rest of Greece to take up arms against the invading Persians. The script carries that theme throughout the film, generating heroic lines for the pumped up Spartans to utter. At times, the movie seems like a cheap knock-off of Gladiator, taking everything to another level of cheese but, in hindsight, that's what the film is all about. The Spartan warriors have barrel chests and six-pack abs just like all of the classic paintings and sculptures. They are tough and unflinching in the face of certain death, just like the stories always tell us. And they are fiercely loyal to the concept of democracy and freedom. After all, the Greeks invented democracy, right? So, though I walked out of the theater not really sure whether or not I truly liked the film, it has grown on me as I have thought more about it. Additionally, I did some research on the actual events and discovered that the script is pretty accurate, though everything in it is larger than life. A movie worth seeing just for the way it depicts the ancient Greeks and presents their world in the way we all picture it growing up.

Wild Hogs
A Film by Walt Becker (National Lampoon’s Van Wilder)

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365 popcorn scale... Doug (Tim Allen), Woody (John Travolta), Bobby (Martin Lawrence) and Dudley (William H. Macy) are four middle-aged men living in Cincinnati. They each own motorcycles and, when their lives and wives allow it, they get together to ride around as the Wild Hogs. They wear leather jackets and pretend that they’re rough and tumble bikers. When Woody decides that it is no longer time to pretend, they cast their cell phones away and head out on the open road with the Pacific Ocean as their final destination. Along the way, they encounter some real bikers known as the Del Fuegos, led by Jack (Ray Liotta), who don’t quite accept that these four guys have any right to hang in the same circle as them. Through a series of unfortunate events, the Wild Hogs and Del Fuegos become bitter enemies and their fight takes them to the quaint town of Madrid and a diner owned by Maggie (Marisa Tomei).

The Astronaut Farmer
A Film by Michael and Mark Polish (Twin Falls Idaho, Jackpot, Northfork)

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365 popcorn scale... Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) has dreamed of only one thing since he was a young boy growing up on a Texas ranch: being an astronaut. Though he entered the military and was on the path to fulfill his dream, his efforts were short circuited by the untimely death of his father and he was forced to return home to take care of his family. Now, as an adult with a devoted wife (Virginia Madsen as Audie) and three children (Max Thieriot as Shepard, Jasper Polish as Stanley and Logan as Sunshine), Farmer is building a rocket ship in his barn. The cost of his dream has put him in a financial pinch so he steps up his efforts to complete his rocket and launch himself into space. As he fends off his banker (Rick Overton), the FBI, NASA and the FAA, Farmer takes his kids out of school and continues to reach for the stars, despite being the butt of jokes to all the townspeople.

The Astronaut Farmer is a nice little piece of Americana, the pursuit of a dream in spite of rules, regulations and economics. No matter how much people try to put Farmer down, he continues to push forward. His poignant speech in front of a panel of bureaucrats, ending with an impassioned statement about pursuing ones dreams, being whatever you want to be when you grow up is a reminder to all of us of our own childhood dreams. What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you still reaching for your dream? For those of us who are doing what is expected and easy versus what we really want to do, we cannot help but root for this man. His unwavering focus is inspirational and we question whether or not he will succeed, what the ultimate outcome of the film will be at several points throughout the film. We cannot say any more without giving away what happens but let us just say that the ending will leave you wanting more. The acting, action, cinematography and script are well crafted. There are some slow points but the overall package is worth the ticket price. Date movie, family film, great diversion on a snowy night, The Astronaut Farmer is worth a look.

Ghost Rider - A Film by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil, Simon Birch)

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365 popcorn scale... Superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) works alongside his daredevil father in a traveling show. When he discovers that his father is dying, he strikes a deal with Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda) to save him. The deal is for his immortal soul. One day, Johnny will be called upon to serve the devil as the legendary Ghost Rider, a skeletal traveler tasked with collecting the souls of the damned and sending them to hell. Knowing that his life is over, Johnny leaves his girlfriend in the lurch, only finding her years later as successful television reporter Roxanne (Eva Mendes). Risking his life on extreme motorcycle jumps, knowing that the devil will not allow him to die, Johnny finally gets the call he's been dreading for years. The devil wants him to hunt down Blackheart (Wes Bentley), the devil's own son.

Ghost Rider works on several levels as a campy, fun interpretation of yet another comic book turned motion picture. Cage seems to have fun portraying the larger than death Johnny Blaze and Mendes is a good romantic interest for our angst ridden, cursed daredevil. Donal Loque adds the comedic counter to Cage, as he often does as a bit actor in several feature films. Peter Fonda playing the devil in a movie about a motorcycle daredevil turned Ghost Rider is an interesting twist to a film career that includes the ultimate motorcycle movie, Easy Rider. And, we're big fans of any film that has Sam Elliot in it, here as the Caretaker. He just brings a bravado to any film in which his gravelly voice is put center stage. Of course, Ghost Rider has many of the same flaws that many of the recent comic book adaptations has had. A weak script and relatively mediocre acting are just a few of those flaws. Sure, some of the lines are memorable (though I can't think of any right now) and the special effects (especially when it comes to the skeletal appearance of the Ghost Rider and the flaming motorcycle he rides) are pretty amazing but it cannot compensate for the script and acting. Fans of the comic book may find the film a welcome diversion and we enjoyed it more than we thought we would.

Breach - A Film by Billy Ray (Shattered Glass)

365 popcorn scale... Inspired by the true story of the greatest security breach in United States History, BREACH follows the waning days of the investigation that nabbed operative and spy Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). After trying for months to get the dirt on Hanssen, the Bureau takes another tact by re-assigning Hanssen to FBI headquarters in Washington, putting him in charge of the newly created Information Assurance Division. He is given an assistant in the person of Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) who sees this as an opportunity to get out of his low-level surveillance job and brings him one step closer to becoming an agent. The catch is that he is told to monitor Hanssen and report all of his actions and comments to Agent Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney) who is leading the investigation. As O'Neill struggles to learn the truth, he must deal with the lies he has to tell his wife (Caroline Dhavernas) and Hanssen's religious bombardment.

BREACH is a well written and acted suspense thriller. It is not the typical thriller of today but more akin to the suspense thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock where character development and uncomfortable, tense moments propel the story. Known as one of the most well respected character actors, Chris Cooper is over-the-top as the ultra-religious double agent. He is creepy, paranoid, intelligent, savvy, cruel and kind at various points throughout the film. One never knows who he is exactly. Is he this super spy and sexual deviant that Phillippe's character has been told about or a devout husband, father, grandfather and FBI agent? The supporting characters add life to the scenes, providing critical mass to the story and people with which these many sides to Hanssen can be displayed. Set within the halls of the J. Edgar Hoover Building and on the streets of Washington, D.C., the movie is cold, dark and foreboding most of the time, as if to portray the atmosphere in the intelligence world during the Cold War and the years that followed the fall of the Soviet Union. Do not go to BREACH expecting to see a Jerry Bruckheimer spy shoot-em-up type thriller. The story develops slowly and there are no car chases, shoot outs with automatic weapons or huge fire-ball explosions. That creates some incredibly slow moments but a more effective story.

Bridge to Terabithia
A Film by Gabor Csupo (The Simpsons, The Rugrats Movie)

365 popcorn scale... Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is an outsider both at home and school. His father (Robert Patrick) constantly barks orders at him to do his chores and get his head out of the clouds. The bullies at school push him around and make fun of his clothing. The one thing he has going for him is his speed. He consistently wins the schoolyard races that he and his friends compete in at recess. That is until a new kid arrives at school. Not only does this new student win the race but she's a girl. Ironically enough, this girl also lives right next door and her name is Leslie Burke (Annasophia Robb). It does not take long before Jess and Leslie become fast friends, fending off bullies and sharing a secret place known only to the two of them. That place is across a creek that runs behind their properties. A simple rope hanging from a tree provides them their passage to a place they call Terabithia. In Terabithia, Jess and Leslie escape from their everyday lives to fight the Dark Master and plot against the bullies at school. With the imagery in Jess' drawings and the stories in Leslie's head, the two friends rule the kingdom whenever they cross over into Terabithia.

Based on the Newbery Award-winning novel of the same name, Bridge to Terabithia is a combination of fantasy, drama and comedy that is geared toward the early adolescent in all of us. We all imagined going to another place where our homework and chores were a distant memory. We all cherished our closest friends. We all dreaded that one crabby teacher, had a fondness for that one kind teacher and took our lumps from the class bully. Bridge to Terabithia is not a movie for young children. Some of the scenes with the Dark Master lurking in the woods are creepy. Additionally, several adult themes are too intense for younger children to understand. The acting is fine but not exceptional, which is often the case with a cast that is composed of so many children. Hutcheson, Robb and Bailee Madison as Jess' younger sister May Belle are definite standouts, though, and Zooey Deschanel as Ms. Edmonds and Robert Patrick as Jack Aarons are their usual selves. The early scenes tend to drag along as it takes the film several minutes before it really begins to hit its stride. Once it does, it pulls you in and you become emotionally involved with this cast of characters.

The Queen - A Film by Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity)

365 popcorn scale... In the early morning hours of August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died from injuries sustained in a high speed car crash in a tunnel in Paris. This news event wise widely covered by every media outlet in the world but The Queen tells a different story, one not previously known. Though fictional, the film follows Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the Royal House of Windsor as they cope with the tragic death of a former member of the royal family and the mother of the future King of England. As the film begins, Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) is going about her normal daily tasks as monarch. When her slumber is interrupted by her personal assistant on that fateful morning, she is quickly given advice by her husband Prince Philip (James Cromwell), newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), the Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms) and her son Prince Charles (Alex Jennings). While Blair is simply trying to understand what his role is with regard to the Queen, the family is reluctant to react to the situation in a way that counters their contention that Diana was no longer part of the royal family and therefore her death was a private matter. As they go about their typical summer at Balmoral Castle, the country and the world wonder whether or not the royal family even cared about the former Princess of Wales.

A well crafted movie that brought some haunting memories of that tragic week in 1997, The Queen was riveting from start to finish. Mirren is phenomenal and deserves to win the Oscar for Best Actress. This is by far the best performance by any actor or actress of 2006. She is so convincing as Queen Elizabeth that it is easy to believe that this is what happened behind closed doors. And, no matter how misguided her decisions appeared to be, you will feel a sense of respect and affection for her in the end. The other standout performance comes from Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair. Not only does he look like him, but he is effective in his portrayal of the young prime minister who bucked the trend of decades and won the post as a Labour Party candidate. As the events unfold, the position of the royal family, though perplexing at the time and in the film, make some sense. They were working from centuries of tradition. Unfortunately, those traditions are no longer valid in the world of the late 20th century. The film highlights the fact that Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family were out of touch with their subjects at the time of Diana's death and it was the Queen who eventually realized it and made the necessary changes. Perhaps it was this lack of touch that lead to the departure of Princess Diana from Buckingham Palace in the first place. Perhaps she never "fit in" because she was too much of her time, and they could not relate to her nor her to them. An excellent film with a well written script, great cinematography and solid acting. What else do you want in a movie-going experience.

Smokin' Aces - A Film by Joe Carnahan (Narc)

365 popcorn scale... Mob boss Primo Sparazza (Joseph Ruskin) has taken out a million dollar hit on former partner turned rival Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) and everyone wants a piece. From the Feds to a wide array of hit men and women, the world seems desperate to find Israel and keep him from taking another breath. Joining the search is an all-star cast that includes bail bondman Jack Dupree (Ben Affleck); federal agents Stanley Locke, Richard Messner and Donald Carruthers (Andy Garcia, Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta respectively); former cops Pete Deeks and Hollis Elmore (portrayed by Peter Berg and Martin Henderson); the black female assassins Georgia Sykes and Sharice Watters (Alicia Keys and Taraji Henson); master of disguise Lazlo Soot (Tommy Flanagan); and the three demented Tremor brothers (Chris Pine, Kevin Durand and Maury Sterling). Standing between them and their prize are a slew of security guards, Israel's entourage (including Common and Joel Edgerton) and about a dozen sleazy hookers. As the movie progresses, the scene is set for criss-crossing storylines and gunfire as this cast of characters converge on the location of this most wanted man.

Often violent but twisted, Smokin' Aces is a non-stop attack on the senses, all of it augmented by an energetic soundtrack and automatic weapons (and chainsaws). Several of the characters are just fun to watch like the Tremor brothers and our black hit women Sykes and Watters. Liotta and Garcia seem born to portray federal agents while Reynolds is pretty effective as a young agent who hasn't been soured by years of back door dealings and corruption. The story is complicated, sometimes unnecessarily so, and it jumps around a lot. Occasionally, it seems that the chronology of the script is potentially incorrect. It probably is not but it appears to be unintentionally non-linear. Yet, the movie is a visceral experience as the audience waits for the inevitable conflagration of all of these characters. The build-up to the final confrontation is worth the wait though the ultimate explanation of everything that occurred did not have the impact the filmmakers were probably after.

Pan's Labyrinth - A Film by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Blade)

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365 popcorn scale... A classic fairy tale set in a 20th Century landscape, Pan's Labyrinth combines historic and moral themes with great cinematography and unspeakable brutality. The story centers on Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a little girl in 1944 Spain, who has been uprooted and moved to a rural military outpost commanded by her stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez.) Her mother Carmen (Adriadna Gil) is pregnant with the captain's child but her health is precarious. Carmen is determined to get Ofelia to accept her new father upon their arrival but Captain Vidal is more interested in rooting out the rebels hiding in the nearby forest than in being a father to Ofelia or a husband to Carmen. Feeling alone and vulnerable, Ofelia clings to the fairy tale books that transport her to another world away from the reality she does not understand. With those stories in her head, she ventures into the nearby labyrinth where she meets fairies, fauns and giant frogs, all on a path that will take her away from the monsters in her daily life and make her a princess.

A few scenes of absolute cruelty and the fanciful world of Ofelia's imagination come together to create a visually stunning and intriguing film in Pan's Labyrinth. Entirely in Spanish with English subtitles, this film is what one could imagine Alice in Wonderland would be like if it were directed by Tim Burton. The characters of Ofelia and Vidal are deftly portrayed by Baquero and Lopez with strong support from Gil as Carmen and Maribel Verdu as Mercedes, the housekeeper. At times, the film is very dark and violent but that only makes Ofelia's desire to leave this world more understandable as she ventures into places that only a curious child could ever go. Baquero is the perfect combination of childhood innocence, curiosity, maturity, vulnerability and strength. The setting within the context of World War II provides the backdrop for this tension. Captain Vidal is a brutal man, exacting punishment before guilt has been established. His methods are extreme and his treatment of Ofelia is no different. Pan's Labyrinth is not for the faint of heart. Some scenes will gross you out, some will creep you out and others will just make you scratch your head. It is a fairy tale but it is one that is well scripted, acted and directed.

Children of Men
A Film by Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y tu mama tambien)

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365 popcorn scale... Children of Men is set in London in the not-so-distant future in November 2027. In less than one generation, the human race has become infertile. When Diego, the world's youngest citizen, is killed at age 18, the grief becomes even more severe. There is little to no hope for the survival. Bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) is less affected by Deigo's demise than most and goes about his typical day among the city which is being torn to pieces by warring sects of the populace. He becomes a reluctant participant in the fight for survival when he is abducted by one faction bent on safely transporting a pregnant woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to the ocean. Theo becomes her protector, realizing himself that even in the depths of despair, there is always hope.

Children of Men portrays a gritty and bleak image of our future but one that is completely plausible. With the current talk and preparations for a pandemic, it is not impossible to imagine that such an occurrence could send our race spiraling into a tailspin, the ultimate outcome of which could be the inability of mankind to reproduce. Owen is joined in the cast by Julianne Moore as Julian, the leader of the underground opposition group that enlists Theo's help, and Michael Caine as Jasper. The three of them along with Ashitey form the backbone of the movie but there are plenty of bit players that wander into their lives. There is a considerable amount of violence throughout the film but it is necessary to create the atmosphere that the filmmakers needed to reinforce the hopelessness of the situation. It all works perfectly to generate the same tension, apprehension and desire in the audience for there to be a positive outcome, even if it is bittersweet. Children of Men is an apocalyptic movie but one that actually may uplift you. Be prepared. Children of Men is not the feel good movie of the winter but it does utilize the phrase "Pull my finger" to great effect.

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.