"Stomp the Yard"

Columbus Short
Meagan Good
Ne-Yo
Darrin Henson
Brian J. White
Laz Alonso
Valerie Pettiford
Jermaine Williams
Allan Louls
Harry J. Lennix
Chris Brown

PG13           115min           2007


”Stomp the Yard” DJ (Columbus Short), an amazing underground street dancer, hasn’t been in college for a day before he’s entranced by the lovely April (Meagan Good). Working as a gardener to pay the bills. DJ doesn’t fit in with the wealthier students around campus, but one thing does catch his attention – the rival fraternity competitions known as “stepping.” With April’s help, DJ learns about the legacy and heritage behind the fraternities and decides to join up. Now part of an official step group, DJ must balance rehearsals, work, and school, while at the same time winning the heart of the girl of his dreams. With the National Step Championship drawing closer, DJ must learn to stop dancing as an individual, and to start stepping as a team. – from the back cover

This film does what it’s was design to do, showcase steppin’ to the masses. What it fails to due is give an interesting story to go with the steppin’. It tries to relate the history of it to the masses with a few pictures of prominent African-American figures. It comes off as a divertive of a much better film Spike Lee’s “School Daze” And “Drumline”.

The steppin’ in ”Stomp the Yard” is some of the best I’ve seen in film. The steppin’ is exciting and unbelievable. You feel then energy that the crowd was feeling and you get caught up in it too. You see and feel the rivalry between the Wolves

But with so much great steppin’ scenes the rest of the movie falls flat. The story is takes more of a back see to the steppin’ as moments of interlude between. You never really care for the characters and could care less for the drama that their lives entail. The death of Chris Brown so early in the film you never really care that he died to senseless violent and by extension the motivation of DJ.

”Stomp the Yard” tries express the history of steppin’ in one two-minute scene. It lists people like Dr. King and Maya Angelou are part of something bigger than themselves. They tell you from the dialogue that this is what you’re supposed to feel. Maybe it is powerful in person but it’s never really express to the viewer on screen.

More often than not it comes off divertive. It tries to make commentary that Spike Lee did in “School Daze” with the aunt and uncle story line but its not really developed into the main storyline and comes out of left field when introduced. The main story line of DJ finding love and overcoming his setbacks is ripped straight from ”Drumline”. Without the steppin’ this would be a horribly predictable movie to watch and Even with the steppin’ this is a are sell as a good movie. The steppin’ is the highlight of the film and they come far and few between.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

"Smokin' Aces"

Ben Affleck
Andy Garcia
Alicia Keys
Ray Liotta
Jeremy Piven
Ryan Reynolds
Peter Berg
Taraji P. Henson
Chris Pine
Martin Henderson
Jason Bateman
Common

R           109min           2006

“Smokin Aces” is about a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy “Aces” Israel (Piven) decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob, it seems that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing.

This is a film that will blow you away. This is about one thing smokin’ Aces and the violent that a million-dollar contract hit will entail. It’s full of some of Hollywood most notable name and some amazing performances by some crossover artists Common and Alicia Keys. It’s an experience to watch this film.

“Smokin Aces” has some graphic senseless violent. If you have surround sound you will literally be blown away. The recoil from that 50 cal and the violent and destruction scene on film is worth the price of this film. The action and shoot out are so violent and sudden that at some points it will make you laugh.

This is a film that has namable Hollywood talent in every part except for a few throwaway characters. Ben Affleck in an uncharacteristic cameo part that dies in the first 30mins. Which is shocking in itself but it also has a good performance by Alicia Keyes in her first motion picture part. The stand out has to be though is Jeremy Piven as Aces.

His performance of a man unraveling at the core is so raw that all you can to is laugh at it. Not that his performance is comical its just that disturbing to watch. A man who’s life it coming undone by his own making and he’s losing control and a grasp on his own reality. It’s one of Jeremy Piven’s best performances to date.

Once “Smokin Aces” has ended you will exhale a sigh of relief to be away from this violently convoluted take. Then you will say WTF just happen. Will have to watch it more than once to get all the subtle nuisances of this film. Once you watch it will the endgame in mind it will seem less convoluted and the performances can be appreciated better.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Live Free or Die Hard"

Bruce Willis
Timothy Olyphant
Justin Long
Maggie Q
Kevin Smith
Sung Kang
Mary Elizabeth Winstead







PG13           130min           2007


”Live Free or Die Hard” is the fourth installment in the “Die Hard” franchise taking place 18 years after the first, this time around aging officer McClane has to fight internet terrorist out to bring down the United States government infrastructure, as an example of its weakness.

Bruce Willis bring back a character that is the epitome of one-man defense. It’s the same formula that makes the others work but a different flavor. John McClane is out just doing is duty when he’s draw into a larger than life situation that is typical of his life.

I liked that it showed McClane older and a bitterer version. “Live Free or Die Hard” showed that his previous adventures have shaped a bitter character. He’s a man that has lost his family because of the turns his life has taken from the previous films.

This time around the bad guys are more of a gray area. We’re to believe that this terrorist attack is bad because it against the United States. Many people have warned that the US is vulnerable and we need to take steps to fix the problems. Instead the government takes the governmental stance and the chicken came home to roost. I was rooting for the terrorist until they took McClane’s daughter Lucy what was a political statement became personal; the Achilles’ heal of typical bad guys.

Something that I gleamed from this film is that Len Wiseman loves to film strong female characters fighting equally against men. From the moment Willis and Maggie Q start to fight there is not doubt that she can kick his ass. If this were the really world that fight would have turned out differently. But it was a great fight anyway.

It’s not as good as the classic but I do think its up there with Vengeance if not better and it’s way better than Die Harder. Justin Long, a computer hacker, targeted by the group lead by Timothy Olyphant is the comic sidekick just trying to grasp the destruction that he thought would be funny in his mind. Timothy Olyphant plays the thinking man’s bad guy, I think better than Hans Gruber but too easily distracted by McClane.

”Live Free or Die Hard”is a great popcorn movie for the summer of 2007. I can’t say what you’re looking fro from this outing of the ”Die Hard” franchise but for me it did not disappoint. I expected big explosions. Check. I expected a high body count. Check. I expected the authority to be running around hold their dicks. Check. With inside jokes referencing all the previous movies and a funny cameo by Kevin Smith, “Live Free or Die Hard” is a good addition to summer movie season.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Breach"

Chris Cooper
Ryan Phillippe
Laura Linney
Dennis Haysbert
Caroline Dhavernas
Gary Cole
Bruce Davison
Kathleen Quinlan


PG13           110min           2007

“Breach” is based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.

This film is slow but outstanding. I don’t know how much has been dramatized and how much is fact but Robert Hanssen was truly disturbed from all his years of treason. Spy left this man a shell that was truly evil and self-righteous.

I do think that Hanssen, his character has been demonize to a degree but it works in telling this film. This man is the worst criminal in the history of United States and his crimes are so numeral, hurtful to the public at large, and the security of the nation, that they have been classified.

After watching “Breach” I came to the conclusion that some of the secret that Hanssen released could have led to 9/11. That’s why his crimes are classified. I think American could not stand to see just how bad they fouled up and how much of our security has been lost because of him. Then it made me think that he could be an escape goat for a larger conspiracy.

Either way this is an entertaining and suspenseful film. Remembering when this was on the news and now finding the behind the scenes makes the one of my top picks. This is one of those dramatized history lessons that will be appreciated in years to come.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"Deja Vu"

Denzel Washington
Val Kilmer
Paula Patton
Bruce Greenwood
Adam Goldberg
Matt Craven
Elden Henson
Jim Caviezel
Erika Alexander
Rich Hutchman
Brian Howe

PG13           126min           2006


“Déjà Vu” is about a group of scientist and an ATF agent uses a government-funded experiment that views the past to stop a ferry terrorist attack. In the process the agent falls in love with the murder victim that is the key to finding the attacker(s).

Washington is everyman’s man reminiscent of his ”Virtuosity” character. Paula Patton is a star on the rise. This is a good science fiction action thriller, on the surface the science works but as you dissect the film it breaks down.

Denzel Washington is again that everyman action hero, reminiscence of his performance in Virtuosity. You believe he’s just a guy trying to solve a case but as he becomes more invested in the case be becomes more invested in the woman. This is what drives this film and he believe and see the changes in his character.

The woman at the heart of “Déjà Vu” Paula Patton. She was previously seen in “Idlewild” she is an actress on the rise, having been behind the camera for a number of years. As you are watching her character you see a woman just living her life at the end of her days. Seeing her mainly from the past, they are reaction to her life and its now entire final twenty minutes that you have her interacting with Washington and see the frailty she brings to the character.

“Déjà Vu” has everything that works in good science fiction films. The science is grounded in reality. They state actually scientific theories, which are used to defend the characters actions, yet you’re not bogged down by it. On the surface the science is sturdy but as you look closely at the foundation you find cracks in it.

Once you realize the significant of certain things and think about them logically they break down. Things that are past and are actually future events down make sense. Only someone obsessive will even figure out what I’m talking about and the only reason I brought it up was that it factors into my grading this film.

Once I started to deconstruct the film it had major plot holes in it. Then I would rewatch it and then another hole would form until it became a black hole. The average viewer may not even pick these things up. I’m not giving the details of them because I don’t want to disappoint an otherwise enjoyable film.

I give it a 3/5 Gs.

"Blood & Chocolate"

Agnes Bruckner
Olivier Martinez
Hugh Dancy
Katja Riemann
Bryan Dick


PG13           98min           2007

“Blood & Chocolate” based on the book of the same name by Annette Curtis Klause, Is about A young teenage werewolf (Bruckner) is torn between honoring her family's secret and her love for a man (Dancy).

There are major differences in the book and the movie. The book was geared to young females and the movie is more geared to young males. I liked the book but I appreciated the movie better. The film did capture the majestic beautiful of what Klause described.

“Blood & Chocolate” is more of a Romeo and Juliet meets Underworld. It’s a pretty standard film but the appeal for me was watching the realization of a book that I read and could appreciate better. The film rendered the transformation better than I did in my imagination.

The changes to the plot make it truly transparent and I would suggest reading the book if you have the time. Agnes Bruckner,Olivier Martinez, and Hugh Dancy make an interesting triangle, but is heavily slanted in one direction. Agnes Bruckner easily handles being the star of this film and I hope to see more interesting things from here.

The legend of the Loup garoux is what makes this interesting. Having werewolves be blessed creatures instead of being cursed. That if you’re not loup garoux then you will never been is fascinating yet scary at the same time.

I found that there was a deeper message to pick from “Blood & Chocolate” but it also raise many questions. It leaves you to wonder what the future holds for these characters. I think if you never read the book then you can’t really appreciate the film and that contributed to the movie’s failure.

This is one that you must judge for yourself. Having read the book and liked it I could appreciate the movie. I think you need to read the book to understand where the movie is coming from and understand some of the things that are left out but explained in the book. A friend that never read the book didn’t like it because the story was too transparent and the characters were never full developed.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls"

Gabrielle Union
Idris Elba
Louis Gossett Jr.
Tasha Smith
Tracee Ellis Ross
Malinda Williams
Terri J. Vaughn
China Anne McClain
Gary Sturgis
Lauryn McClain
Sierra McClain
Rochelle Dewberry


Drama Romance
PG13           95min           2007

“Tyler Perry’s Daddy Little Girls” is about Monty (Idris Elba), a mechanic struggling to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters. When the court awards custody of his daughters to his shady ex-wife, Monty desperately tries to win them back with the help of Julia (Gabrielle Union), a beautiful, Ivy League-educated attorney. Monty and Julia couldn’t be less alike, but a flame is ignited… touching off a firestorm of love and conflict. – from the back cover.

What this movie is really about is another masterpiece from Tyler Perry telling another inspiration, heartfelt film that is what fatherhood should be about. This is where Mr. Perry shines in that its not only inspirational for black men but for men in general. Monty has the qualities that as a male we should strive too. He loves his daughter and tries to do right by them, all the while striving to provide his family the American dream.

But “Daddy Little Girls” is not just about Monty’s family struggles it is also about Julia, a successful black woman in corporate America. It highlights the struggle that successful black woman claim to have in finding partners in love. I think it’s a part that Gabrielle Union really showcased her talent in. I believed her character arc. I believed that once she widens her view that she would found what she was looking.

What makes this film and all of his plays works is that the stories has relevant subplots. “Daddy’s Little Girl” focuses on the community being responsible for the community. Louis Gossett Jr. as the “elder statesmen” of the community Willie gives a moving speech about the responsibility of the community to take responsibility for the community. If the community is active the government will be active in its assistance.

“Daddy Little Girls” continues the tradition of great plays and films, by Tyler Perry, that focus on the black point of view but has a wide appeal. The first film not to feature Perry as his famous Madea, this is a more dramatic film as where the “Madeas” are more comedic. I hope to see more from the mind of Mr. Tyler Perry. Don’t forget to watch the “House of Payne” on TBS coming June 2007.

I give a 5/5 Gs.

"Ghost Rider"

Nicolas Cage
Eva Mendes
Wes Bentley
Sam Elliot
Peter Fonda
Donal Logue
Matt Long
Raquel Alessi
Brent Cullen






PG13           114min           2007


“Ghost Rider” is based on the Marvel comic of the same name, Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt driver, makes a deal with a demon to save a love one and years later when the demon comes to collect he must become the demonic bounty hunter known as the Ghost Rider.

It wasn’t what I expected. It was campier than I would have liked. Nicolas Cage gave patented Nic Cage delivery. The story needed more work.

For an origin story I found “Ghost Rider” was too campy. The tone of the film was too light with many of the actors’ deliveries were too ADD. This movie could not make up its mind in what it wanted to be. half the actors were taking themselves seriously and the other half were making quips every five seconds .

Nicolas Cage played Johnny Blaze a little too jovial, for a man in his position. A demon owns your soul and he knew this for twenty plus years. A man walking in those shoes would be less of optimist and more of pessimist. He plays it flat, there is no difference, you could have taken which for me didn’t work for a character that is constantly living with this cloud over his head.

Eva Mendes one of the most beautiful actresses on screen but this character didn’t fit her. Even with the weak character develop this character was conflicted all around. Her character is heart broken when he leaves her and jovial years later when Blaze stops her in the middle of the road; and her sporadic delivers didn’t help this conflicted film.

“Ghost Rider” is a film that needed major work before filming. For an origin story it is the weakest of all the Marvel film, even weaker than “The Punisher.” The characters were never developed enough for you to care for them. Toward the end I cared more for Blackheart than I did for Ghost Rider and really wanted Blackheart to kick his butt.

Even the outstanding special effects cannot help this film; it left itself nowhere to go. I was left totally disappoint that it wasn’t better. I think I should have pony up to buy it instead of renting it; maybe the extended cut is better, anyone out there if you made it this far and you have the extended cut could you give the 411 in a comment.

I give it 1/5 Gs.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"

Ioan Gruffudd
Jessica Alba
Chris Evans
Michael Chiklis
Julian McMahon
Kerry Washington
Andre Braugher
Laurence Fishburne
Doug Jones
Beau Garrett




PG           92min           2007


“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” is about the Fantastic Four learning that there are far superior super-powered beings in the universe bent on destroying our world. They square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.

This film rose to the occasion. This time around we find that the Fantastic Four are fallible and are struggling to control their lives as they spiral in the spheres of superheroes, celebrities, and normalcy. This film is better than the first. The story line coming from the comic it has been enhanced and modernized.

The Silver Surfer looks awesome. Given voice by the bass of Laurence Fishburne and the miming of Doug Jones, together this makes the character work. Laurence conveys so much emotion that it gives life to the semi-computer generated character.

“Rise of the Silver Surfer” find our heroes in a turning point in their lives. The character developments are complex yet progress naturally. Even though you know how its going to turn out its well developed and gives each character growth yet keeping true to their characters. There are funnier moments in this film.

This time around this is a more traditional and familiar story from the comics. Combining several story arcs from the comic to make a great comic book movie. Doom returns this time around in his more traditional comic book outfit and character traits.

If you a fan or not you will enjoy “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”. It’s a defiant winner. Where as other comic book movies kills its main villain FF shows its villain’s defeated but never destroyed just as in the comics. The only bad thing I can say about this film is that it ends too soon. You will want another twenty minutes.

I give it 4/5 GS.

"When A Stranger Calls"

Camille Belle
Brian Geraghty
Katie Cassidy
David Denman
Derek De Lint
Kate Jennings Grant
Tessa Thompson
Madeleine Carroll
Arthur Young
Clark Gregg

PG13           87min           2006


“When a Stranger Calls”is a re-imaging of a film from 1979, taking the urban legend of the babysitter and the prank call killer.

Supposedly a horror film there was never really shows anything horrible. This is more of a psychological thriller playing on subconscious. Camilla Belle’s character is a smarter heroine.

Marketed, as a “smart and edgy horror” is not here unless you mean the implied horror of a family murdered with out a weapon and carried out in trash bags. Now movies are trying to be smart and edgy and try to scare you without all the gore of the eighties. There’s not one scene with blood in it. The horror comes in the situations that the babysitter faces.

A psychological thriller at heart it plays on the subconscious. It uses all those little tricks your mind plays that frighten you. This film will scare not everyone or other will not appreciate its subtleties. But does give you enough to give you a jumping scare at least once.

“When a Stranger Calls” has a smarter heroine a the front of this film, for the majority of this film it’s just Camille Belle and a phone. She says a lot with her facial expressions. The decisions her character makes are smarter than the average horror film heroine. She uses her brain in every action she takes. Each action has a purpose and reasoning behind it, and done with the ultimate goal of overcoming this killer and coming out of this situation alive.

The DVD is bare on special features but movie previews a plenty. It features two commentaries, one by the director Simon West and actress Camilla Belle. The other features the writer Jake Wade Walls. It has deleted scenes and a making of featurette. The bulk of the extras are previews: “UltraViolet”
, RV, “The Da Vinci Code”, “The Cave”, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”, “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children”, “Talladega Nights”, “The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold”, “The Fog”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Benchwarmers”, “Fun with Dick and Jane”, “The Pink Panther (2000)”, “The Ultimate James Bond Collection”, and “Click”.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Blade"

Wesley Snipes
Stephen Dorff
Kris Kristofferson
N’Bushe Wright
Donal Logue
Udo Kier
Traci Lords
Arly Jover
Kevin Patrick Walls
Tim Guinee
Sanaa Lathan
Eric Edwards

R           120min           1998


“Blade” is a marvel comic’s superhero. While still in his mother’s belly a vampire attacks her and he is given all the strength and abilities of vampires without any of their weakness. With the help of a mentor named Whistler (Kristofferson), Blade fights the vampire nation where ever they maybe.

Having never read the comic I think this is a cool entry into the “Blade” world. It’s an amazing action film but it doesn’t stand up with the time. It was one of the more grittier comic book movies made at the time.

“Blade” was really a full out showcase of Wesley Snipes skills as a fighter. I would have to say it was one of the highlights of his career. It really showed that comic book characters, other than Superman and Batman, could make money and be appealing to the modern audience. It started the modern comic book craze in Hollywood.

At the time in its own right it had some of the best action sequences. They were stylized violence of high caliber that was exciting to watch. They were kinetic and felt fluid until the Wachowski Brothers changed the game.

The special effects were cheesy looking then and nine years haven’t helped. Now that you look back at it, there are obvious errors in judgment and it was a little rushed. Two sequences that come to mind it when Deacon Frost throws the little girl it obvious and when Blade enter the building in the final showdown, when they explode where is the blood that should have landed on him. If he was going to get sprayed then it wasn’t any reason for him to react.

“Blade” was the first of the new comic book wave that has taken hold of Hollywood. It was the first time that comic book not featuring Superman or Batman, made money. It showed that the audience didn’t even need to been acquainted with the character to enjoy the movie. If it was told with a realistic point of view, filmgoers could get behind a story.

This was the film that got Wesley Snipes out of the B-Movie hell that his career had fallen into and is now back in. It had some of the best action sequences for the pre-Matrix era, but that also makes the movie date itself. It facilitated the Hollywood comic book craze.

The DVD is full of special features, some exclusive to the PC DVD-ROM. “Blade” features a commentary track with stars, Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff, writer, David S. Goyer, and producers and an isolated music track with composer Mark Islam. It contains 4 featurettes and other things that are exclusive to the PC.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"The Count of Monte Cristo"

Jim Caviezel
Guy Pearce
Richard Harris
James Frain
Dagmara Domincyzk
Michael Wincott
Luis Guzman
Henry Cavill




PG13           131min           2002


“The Count of Monte Cristo” is a tale of betrayal, adventure and revenge. When the dashing and guileless Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is betrayed by his best friend (Pearce) and wrongly imprisoned, he becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. After a miraculous escape, he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the French nobility and puts his cunning plan of revenge in action.

Based on the book of the same name by Alexander Dumas, “The Count of Monte Cristo” keeps the basic themes and the overall plot of the book but changes some of the major events from the book. You can’t use this version to pass your test. It is still entertaining and exciting to watch.

Caviezel and Pearce play off each other well enough to believe that they are best of friends in the beginning and total enemies in the end. Pearce comes across with an underlying anger that is believable through out the film. Caviezel transformation from a young man naive to the world into a man that has seen the world at its worst and embraces those darker impulses is subtler.

An outstanding cast featuring Richard HarrisLuis Guzman and Dagmara Domincyzk, the woman at the heart of this conflict, supports them. Richard Harris in one of his final performance is Dantes’s mentor in the Chateau d’If. Luis Guzman as “his man for life”, Jacopo is Dantes’s conscience. Dagmara Domincyzk is stunning as Mercedes and Dante’s one true love.

This re-imaging is more accessible to the modern youth than the book is. Having first read this in the ninth grade “The Count of Monte Cristo” has always been a favorite of mine but his a complicated read. I was always intrigued with the betrayal and revenge part of the book, and how it transformed a naïve young man into a harden survivor. This film completely captures what’s in the book with out being completely faithful to it.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"8MM"

Nicholas Cage
Joaquin Phoenix
James Gandolfini
Peter Stormare
Anthony Heald
Chris Bauer
Catherine Keener
Myra Carter
Amy Morton
Jenny Powell



R           123min           1999


“8mm” is about a private investigator (Cage), known for his discretion, is hired by a recent widower to find out if a SNUFF film is real or not.

I could see where this film tried to do, but actually failed to do. It was trying to be edgy, take you on a journey of a taboo subject without giving the user a truly disturbing image. As a viewer you’re asked to imagine that the world of underground fetishes is sold in seedy neighborhoods and other questionable neighborhoods but the real monster are your next-door neighbor.

Joel Schumacher tries to hard to make this world of fetishes seem so “dirty” that “respectable” people would never be caught in this world. This is exactly where this film fails. “Eight Millimeter” tried to stay too mainstream, the visuals come off more like psychological torture film than fetish sex tapes, they are laughable at best, bizarre not taboo. He stylizes this world as being seedy as the drug world.

As a viewer, “8mm” ask you to believe that the journey to film this SNUFF film is skating the dark seedy corner of a hell on earth, a place so seedy that you need a guide into the world. That this journey changes you fundamentally but you never the film never truly accomplish this or it could just have been Nicholas Cage’s acting.

You never really care about the characters and the situation that befall them. Joaquin Phoenix’s character has a line to Cage’s: “When you dance with the devil, the devil don’t change you do.” I never saw the change. Cage’s character has the same deadpan delivery and Catherine Keener seems absurdly irate for no reason. I never believed that this family was a couple and that they had problems seething underneath the surface.

Overall it’s a film that is complete but never full develops. The scope of the film hiders the viewers to the complete depravity of the world that “Eight Millimeters” tried to portray. I film that tried to be shocking and edgy came of as neither and more as a morality tale that miss fired. It came off more as a revenge tale than a tale about justice. For what it tried to do its still an ok film but could have been better.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Walk the Line"

Joaquin Phoenix
Reese Witherspoon
Ginnifer Goodwin
Robert Patrick
Dan John Miller
Dallas Robert
Tyler Hilton
Waylon Mallory Payne
Shooter Jennings



PG13           136min           2005


“Walk the Line” recounts Johnny “the Man in Black” Cash’s journey to American Icon, in music, and his relationship with, the love of his life, June Carter.

The film should be in everyone’s movie collection. It features award winning performances and actual singing from the stars. The story of Johnny and June is a modern fairy tale that everyone is striving to find. It will make you appreciate the man and his music more.

“Walk the Line” stars two of American top film stars in Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. It also features some of well-known actors in supporting roles such as Robert Patrick and Ginnifer Goodwin. Phoenix and Witherspoon show in their performances why they are box office gold but it’s their vocal talents on display that drew me in. I could not believe that they were actually singing. They did outstanding jobs at both becoming the iconic Johnny and June Cash. They both should have won awards even though Witherspoon did walk away with the Golden Globe for Best Actress.

What is displayed on screen has been collected from biographies by Johnny Cash. “Walk the Line” is a modern day fairy tale. He faced lost and battled demons to come out on the others side to find the love of his life. When he found her he had to fight to get her and that road wasn’t easy by any means. Even at the end of his life you realize how much he loved her.

Having never really been a fan of Johnny Cash, after watching this film I came to appreciate him and his music. It’s not something I listen to every day but when I feeling nostalgic he comes to mind now. His story is one of triumph and can be appreciated because he beat the odds in life, profession and love.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"High Crimes"

Ashley Judd
Morgan Freeman
Jim Caviezel
Adam Scott
Amanda Peet
Bruce Davison
Tom Bower
Juan Carlos Hernandez
Michael Gaston
Jude Ciccolella
Emilio Rivera

PG13           115min           2002


“High Crimes” is about what starts out as a case of mistaken identity turns into a case full of conspiracy as a highly successful lawyer’s (Judd) tries to get her husband acquitted of military court martial; to help and co-chair her husband’s case she hires a alcoholic former JAG, Morgan Freeman.

This was a film that I never watched and it goes to show that some film you can miss and know the entire plot. This was a very predictable film with no punch and it was almost boring. The only thing about this film for me that was watch-able was finding out, “how the bad guy is done in”.

Morgan Freeman just phoned in this performance. It was like his heart wasn’t really in this one. Maybe he knew the script was bad and did it for the money, I didn’t know but I expected more from Freeman and Judd.

Her performance was wooden, hollow and it hurt that her character was ill conceived. A woman that successful should never have been taken in that easily. Clues that were staring at her face she ignored. When she identified and confronted her husband she believed lies full of holes big enough to drive a Mac truck through.

The conspiracy concocted by the government is about as believable as there are bridges made out of gold. It was amateur on display something that the government isn’t in the habit of doing. Where suppose to believe that the government would allow and leave that many things to chance. Would do the moviemaker’s think his audience was kindergarteners?

From the opening credits until the end “High Crimes” is stumbling in the dark. You know where they were trying to go and do but it comes off a little out of focus. They never quite hit the mark. This is one that you only watch if you are a fan of the stars.

I give it a 1/5 Gs.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

Johnny Depp
Geoffrey Rush
Orlando Bloom
Keira Knightley
Jack Davenport
Bill Nighy
Jonathan Pryce
Stellan Skarsgard
Naomie Harris
Chow Yun Fat
Lee Arenberg
Mackenzie Crook
Kevin McNally
Tom Hollander
Martin Klebba




PG13           168min           2007


“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is the continuing pirate adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Barbossa. This time around they are banded together to fight the East Trading Company.

This is the best in the series. It not only concludes one of the best trilogies in movie history but it’s a great film in its only right. You don’t have to have seen the previous two to enjoy this film but knowing the history behind these characters makes it easier to understand.

It has something for everyone. Johnny Depp funnier and the story is epic for beginning to end. Once the action starts it doesn’t stop. Coming in at nearly three hours it wraps up not only the journey that was left from the second but also the overall story being told, with an tale that is sometimes convoluted and confusing, but leaves the door open for more pirates adventures.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is grand on scale that you don’t expect. The cinematography is amazing. They capture the open seas in all its glory but even this is outshined by the CGI. The CGI is flawless and massive. There is sensory overloaded; there is so much happening on the screen that you just have don’t enough time to process what everything on screen.

The film starts at a jog and around the ten-minute mark its starts running and continues at a break neck pace until the end. This is truly a pirate film; and must be closely paid attention to. Alliances switch faster than 3-card Monte on a street corner. The theatre is the best place to appreciate the grandiose scale of the action captured on the screen.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is funnier and darker than the other films. All the main characters of this trilogy have satisfying conclusions. Will and Elizabeth have a conclusion befitting their relationship, but its bittersweet. Stay pass the credits, just as the others; there is a “bonus” at the end.

As a stand alone film its one of the best film I’ve seen this year. It concludes and does justice to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and it is on par if not better than the original Pirates. You will enjoy this film for its intrigue, the new characters, the reveals of some, and the plot twisting that continue to turn on themselves until the very end.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"Beowulf & Grendel"

Gerald Butler
Stellan Skarsgard
Sarah Polley
Ivgar Sigurdsson
Eddie Marsan
Tony Curran
Rory McCain
Ronan Vibert
Martin Delaney
Steinunn Olina
Spencer Wilding

R           103min           2005

“Beowulf & Grendel” is a tale of a Norse warrior’s battle with a murderous troll, based on the old English epic poem “Beowulf.”

This is a film that I found entertaining but it had many flaws. The dialogue is hard to understand and at some points in the movie incomprehensible. Gerard Butler shines as Beowulf. The cinematography is more outstanding than ‘Lord of the Rings.’

The dialogue in “Beowulf & Grendel” tried to sound ancient but modern in understanding. What it came off as for the most part was incomprehensible. The volume of their voices fluctuates and key scenes are cloaked in whispers that the mike didn’t pick up. The dialogue tried to hard and it came off as hollow, gibberish. Having to rewind several scenes in the film was annoying.

Gerard Butler shines in an other wise average film. Showcasing that he is the number one goto guy form epic warrior. Butler used this film as a precursor to the break out hit ‘300’. Even with the questionable dialogue Butler imbues Beowulf with the conflict of being torn with what is right and his duty.

Using Iceland as the backdrop of Denmark 500 A.D. is just breathe- taking. The rolling green hill and the torrential caves give the film a feel of being in the pass. If it weren’t for the dialogue you would believe that you were in Denmark 500 A.D.

If you can overlook the disconcerting dialogue “Beowulf & Grendel” is entertaining. Having tried to read the poem when I was younger, I found it to be to complicate to read. I found that the conflict being told, and faced by the character will resonate with viewer even now in today modern conflicts. Questioning what motivates one to kill and war should be asked soldiers, commanders and governments more often.

Although I found the dialogue disconcerting, the story being to made it bearable. Half the time you don’t know what’s going on but the scenery and Gerard Butler acting push you through it. The message of the story: Questioning one motivates? It is an important one that does get lost in the dialogue but shines through with the acting.

I give it 3/5 Gs.