(500) Days of Summer

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Zooey Deschanel
Geoffrey Arend
Chloe Grace Morentz
Clark Green
Rachel Boston
Minka Kelly









PG13           95min           2009


When his girlfriend Summer (Zooey Deschanel) unceremoniously dumps him, greeting card writer and hopeless romantic Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) begins sifting through the year plus worth of days they spent together, looking for clues to what went wrong. As he recalls the good and the bad times he spent with the commitment-phobic girl his heart reawakens to what it cherishes the most. – back of movie cover

“(500) Days of Summer” is an unconventional story about love and not a love story. The story didn't feel fake. The acting was amazing and felt organic. The non-linear story telling made the difference.

The story felt real and could happen to anyone. I could relate to these characters. I found that I could see facets of my personality and others around me in their performances.

Eventhough the title sequence says the story is fabricated, its indeed based off one of the co-writer's relationship with a Jenny Beckman, may or may not be her true name. This made “(500) Days of Summers” even more fascinating for me. He even showed her the script and her reply is priceless too.

The non-linear story telling does several things to make the viewer invest in the film. Each scene has a title card telling what day in the relationship it is. As it jumps around in the relationship it makes the viewer have to really concentrate on the action of the film which at times is confusing. Which brings it to the next point, you will have to watch “(500) Days of Summers” at least twice to totally get the big picture of the relationship.

“(500) Days of Summers” instantly became one of my favorite romantic movies. Gordon-Levitt hasn't disappointed since seeing him in “Brick” another one of my personal favorites. Deschanel has a quirky sexy appeal that runs in her family. “(500) Days of Summers” is a must see if you are a fan of either one of these actors.

I give (500) Days of Summer a 4 out of 5.

"Avatar"

Sam Worthington
Zoe Saldana
Sigourney Weaver
Stephen Lang
Michelle Rodriguez
Giovanni Ribisi
Joel David Moore
CCH Pounder
Wes Studi
Laz Alonso






PG13           162           2009


In the future, Jake, a paraplegic war veteran, is brought to another planet, Pandora, which is inhabited by the Na'vi, a humanoid race with their own language and culture. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture. Written by Giorgio_C on imdb.com

As I started watching this film I realize that I had seen this film. It wasn't until I was half thru the film when I realized that it was “Dances with Wolves” with a scifi twist. This is an interesting film with amazing acting. I enjoyed the special effects immensely.

But “Avatar” a story that lacks the same imagination as the special effects. The story takes most of its major plot points directly from “Dances with Wolves.” I not saying its not an interesting story; its just that at the length of 162 minutes it can be a bit taxing to watch. The first two hours is mainly plot development of the three major plots running through the film. The last forty minutes of action is worth the wait.

The special effects that are displayed will bedazzled you. It took James Cameron ten years for technology to catch up with his vision for “Avatar.” I think that the special effect were worth the wait. They drawn you into the story.

Even with a weak story, the amazing special effects, the acting also makes “Avatar” a must see. The emotions that are captured helps you get lost in the film. He come to see the Na'vi as a people and forget that humans played this parts. It's going to firmly puts Sam Worthington on the map for those who didn't see him in “Terminator: Salvation”. He's poised to make his mark on Hollywood with his next major blockbuster as Perseus in the remake of the classic “Clash of the Titans.”

I give “Avatar” 4 out of 5.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattison
Taylor Lautner
Billy Burke
Ashley Greene
Anna Kendrick
Michael Welch
Micheal Sheen
Dakota Fanning
Jackson Rathborne




PG13          130min           2009




After the events of Twilight, Bella has embraced Edward in her life and looks to celebrate her birthday with his family. When a minor accident leads a intense situation, the Cullens leave for Bella's safety. Leaving her broke and unprotected, Jacob Black comes in to fill the void left by Edward.

As their relationship deeps, events lead to Bella and Jacob being torn apart. Leaving Bella to create another accident that leads Edwards to do the near impossible. That leads to a race against time to save Edward.

I have read the entire series and this is my least favorite of the four. This is my least favorite of the two so far. This movie is truly for the fans, but can be enjoyed by others. I was disappointed with this outing.

IF you have read the series then you will understand. For the first two were the hardest for me to get through it to much longing looks and wanting. Its going to be the same thing with the movies if its faithful to the source material, only visually. I did like some of the changes that they did visually to represent some of the mental stuff Bella was going through.

If you're like me you sit down and go through it. I have seen worst films than “The Twilight Sage: New Moon” by far. It does set up the triangle very well. This is what New Moon is about. Jacob Black is the contrast to Edward Cullen.

“The Twilight Sage: New Moon” is a movie faithful to the material but translated for a visual medium, a lot of stuff was left out of the film that doesn't make sense unless you read the book. Too truly appreciate this film you do have to have read the book. Its something that can't be help.

At 130 minutes, “The Twilight Sage: New Moon” is kind of long for a teen drama. I think it need every minute just to set up the other two films. Anyone who has read the books will agree it gave you everything it needed to in that 130 minutes as soon and as fast a possible without compromising the story, that the fans love.

As a fan of the series I was disappointed in this film. “The Twilight Sage: New Moon” did have its moments for me. Three moments for me included the two cougars at 1 p.m. showing on Friday November 20 at the Goldsboro Premiere Theatre 12. You know who you are, you know what you said, and you should be ashamed.

Overall “The Twilight Sage: New Moon” is a sequel and like most sequels its inferior to the first. New Moon does stay faithful to the source material. Which the fans do appreciate by the ticket sales. In its 130 minutes it does everything it visually can to setup the next two films so stop complaining about the time people.

I give “The Twilight Sage: New Moon” 3 out of 5.

"The Stepfather"

Dylan Walsh
Sela Ward
Penn Badgley
Amber Heard
Sherry Springfield
Paige Turco
Nancy Linehan Charles
Marcuis Harris
Braeden Lemasters





PG13           101min           2009


Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward), happily in love with a man known as David Harris (Dylan Walsh). He seems like the perfect father and husband to everyone - except Michael, who suspects that he isn't quite the man he seems to be.

First off this is a remake from the 80's and it had two sequels. Never saw so I can't comment on them. Here's what I do know. This “The Stepfather” was creepier than most and having experience something similar they can go off quicker than him.

Dylan Walsh plays this psychologically damage man to a perfection. There's a part where he asks toward the end “Who am I here?” that one question tells you everything you need to know about this character in nutshell. You see the edge of this character but everything he does can be explain and rationalized, even-though they are the action of an irrational person. What does that say about man?

The acting in “The Stepfather” was above par and I think that helped it from becoming one of those common psych-thriller. There was a lot of build before anything unravels. Which made it all the more sinister. Overall with the acting this wasn't that bad of time. It's not one of the best thrillers I've seen but it did at moments give off a “Disturbia” feeling.

I give “The Stepfather” 3 out of 5.

"Law Abiding Citizen"

Jamie Foxx
Gerard Butler
Bruce McGill
Colm Meaney
Leslie Bibb
Regina Hall
Michael Irby
Gregory Itzin
Christian Stolte
Annie Corley
Richard Portnow






R           108min           2009



A brilliant sociopath who orchestrates a series of high-profile murders that grip the city of Philadelphia - all from inside his jail cell - and the prosecutor assigned to his case who realizes he is the only one who can end the reign of terror. Written by Overture Films


Butler's performance had me gripped and rooting for him. Most would call him the villain of the story but I found him to be an anti-hero. He is charismatic and makes valid points. I felt that Foxx's Rice was too arrogant and never truly learned his lessons. Its more lip service to Butler's Shelton.

I think people will walk away from this film missing the point, Shelton was trying to make. I think people are too jaded to get the message. If Shelton were a real life person and had held Philadelphia in that kind of siege, it would have greater impact.

I was entertain from beginning to end. This was one of the better written thrillers. This films stays together from beginning to end. The ending made sense even if I didn't agree with it.

“Law Abiding Citizen” is a tour de force. Its one of those film that reminds me of that John Travolta speech at the beginning of “Swordfish”. If you don't remember or did not pay attention, go back and watch it. That speech and explosive are worth the viewing.


I give “Law Abiding Citizen” 5 out of 5.

"The Shortcut"

Drew Seeley
Shannon Woodward
Dave Franco
Katrina Bowden
Raymond J. Barry
Nicholas Ella
William B. Davis












Just behind the grammar school and past the 'No Trespassing' sign is the shortcut through the woods that nobody dares to take: People in town still whisper about the creepy old guy who lives back there and the kids that disappeared near his home a long time ago. Now a group of high school seniors has decided to find out just what the shovel-wielding weirdo may be hiding. But even if they can uncover his shocking secret, will they survive what happens when the truth is finally unleashed.

“The Shortcut” is a PG13 scary movie from the producing minds Happy Madison called Scary Madison. Maybe for younger children it maybe scary. To me it just showed how one mistake after another could lead to so many dead bodies.

Give me a horror film where they died because they made the wrong choice not the “stupid move” but just the wrong choice. Give a horror film that people can actually relate to. Not using the cliché.


I give “The Shortcut” 2 out of 5 Gs.

"Superman and Batman: Public Enemies"

A desperate solution for a troubled country: Lex Luthor for President with the Justice League in the service of the government. Only Batman and Superman stand against the new regime – and their disloyalty proves to be exactly what Luthor intended. Using their outcast status to instigate a scandal against Superman, Luthor finally tastes a victory in his vendetta against the Man of Steel. From Executive Producer Bruce Timm and voiced by the cast from the hit Batman and Superman animated TV series including Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Clancy Brown, this DC Universe Original Animated Movie based on Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness's popular graphic novel seethes with political intrigue and action-packed battles between heroes all believing they're on the right side of the law.


Superman and Batman: Public Enemies is just as goods as the graphic novel. Made even better by the familiar voice of Daly and Conroy portraying the Heroes respectively. If you've read the novel then you will love the film. If you haven't read the novel, then get ready of an DC universe Animation that will entertain parents as kids as well.

I give Superman and Batman: Public Enemies 4 out 5 Gs.

"The Unborn"

Odette Yustman
Gary Oldman
Meagan Good
Cam Gigandet
Idris Elba
Jane Alexander
Atticus Shaffer
James Remar
Carla Gugino






Unrated           87min           2009




Enter a world of unrelenting evil as terror finds a new form in The Unborn. In this shocking supernatural thriller, a young woman, Casey (Yustman), is plagued by chilling dreams and tortured by a demonic ghost that haunts her waking hours. Her only hope to break the debilitating paranormal curse is in an exorcism with spiritual advisor Sendak (Oldman). See what lies beyond the doorway of our world in this non-stop nightmare of the undead. – from the back cover

“The Unborn” blends the natural with the supernatural very well. I'm a believer in the others side from various experiences as a child. I don't watch many horror films as a rule. “The Unborn” called out to me with an intriguing premise. Having seen the power of twins first hand, it gave me even more to be frighten of. Many people rule out the improbable as impossible.

I have never liked mirrors and having seen “Mirrors” which is the perfect setup to this film. Remember scary movie night...”Mirrors” and “The Unborn”. “The Unborn” had me jumping like a little girl. The cuts and the musical cues did a perfect job of setting the mood and eeriness of the situation.


I give “The Unborn” 4 out of 5.

"Push"

Chris Evans
Dakota Fanning
Camille Belle
Djimon Hounsou
Neil Jackson












PG13           111min           2009




A group of young American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities are hiding from a clandestine U.S. government agency. They must utilize their different talents and band together for a final job enabling them to escape the agency forever.

There is nothing spectacular about this film that makes it stand out. It's a good science fiction film, but it felt like it was the pilot to a television show or a setup to a better sequel.

This is a quick paced film from beginning to end. All the fat has been cut to the point of almost leaving it tasteless. I want more from the story and I want to see where the rest of the story is going. With most of the cast being second generation “talents” and references being made to the generation before, there's more interesting story to this film that has not been told.

Push does a good job of grounding its science fiction to reality. The character have layers that where lightly pealed in this film. This does two things... leave the film open to sequel and allows the writer much more room to layer onto these characters.

What this film doesn't do well is conclude the story. At the end of this film it still felt incomplete. This was either done intentional or poor writing. If intentional then I'm looking forward to a sequel; but with so much story untold it could easily be adapted to television.


I give Push 3 out of 5.

Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen

Shia LaBeouf
Megan Fox
Josh Duhamel
Tyrese Gibson
John Turturro
Ramon Rodriguez
Kevin White
Julie White
Isabel Lucas










PG13           150min           2009



Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle. | – from imdb

If you were around during the heyday of Transformers then you know the story of ROTF. Most parts are taken from the original cartoon movie. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is modernized and simplified for the commercial marketing

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” definitely does what a good sequel is supposed to. More robots, more hot bodies, and it moves the trilogy arc along. With over 20 different robots represented in the movie, it doubles the number and also most quadruple the screen time from the previous. Jessica Lucas comes to the screen bringing another hot body with a surprise. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen brings more story showing how our civilizations histories are intertwined.

All those crying out that the twins are racists lighten the frak up. They are comic relief and fictional robots as much as I wish they were real. Its the absurdity of the characters that makes them funny.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is what it is... a great summer movie. It's directed by a director at the best of his game. Go, relax, buy some popcorn and soda, and enjoy one of this summer's best film. Coming next week “Public Enemies” starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, in his second outing this summer, and Marion Cotillard.

I give Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 5 out of 5.