"Twilight"

Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Cam Gigandet
Billy Burke
Ashley Greene
Nikki Reed
Jackson Rathbone
Kellan Lutz
Peter Facinelli
Elizabeth Reaser
Taylor Lautner







PG13           120min           2008


Based on the international bestseller by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight is about a teenage girl moving to a small town in Washington and falling in love with a vampire.

A couple of years ago I came across this web site that named books that were being turned into movies. It had a description of the book and information on the film. Two of the films that happened to be on it were Jumper and Twilight. I read there description and thought they would be interesting reads and they have not disappointed.

This is a faithful adaptation of the book and is one giant shout-out to the fans of the book without leaving out the uninitiated. The angst and drama is all there. The changes made by Melissa Rosenberg and Catherine Hardwicke really make Twilight fresh and new for fans of the book. This going to be a global phenomenon.

There many little things that the fans will recognize from the book. Its these little details that will make fans of the series see it again. But it also a film that girlfriends will take their boyfriends and they can enjoy. There is more action and less of the introspective dialog from Bella that will make most men uncomfortable. Most who are new to the series will not be disappointed.

The angst and drama from the books is there. Pattinson plays Edwards as a younger version of Angel without the curse. Stewart plays Bella unabashed love for Edward rivaling Juliet's love for Romeo. Just as in the book the movie romance scream for a sequel.

The changes made to the screen whether it was in the adaptation of the screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg or the ideas that Catherine Hardwicke made, Twilight is familiar but totally fresh unlike the first two Harry Potter that were almost direct adaptation from the book. It follows the overall plot of the book but makes changes to the story that makes it more accessible for live action. Being a fan and knowing the story I can wait for the next ones to come out.

If you have not be introduce to the Twilight Universe here are the books for purchase:

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
I give Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) 4 out of 5.

Trailers at the beginning of my screening was Knowing, Push, and 7 Pounds

I give Twilight 4 out of 5.

"The Lazarus Project"

Paul Walker
Piper Perabo
Lambert Wilson
Linda Cardellini
Shawn Hatosy
Matthew Goodwin
Brooklyn Proulx
Tony Curran
Bob Gunton


PG13 100min 2008

With parole almost behind him, Ben (Paul walker) can't believe how much he has to be thankful for: a beautiful wife, an adorable little girl and a steady paycheck. Life is good. But when he unexpectantly loses his job. Ben foolishly turns back to crime, joining his ex-con brother (Shawn Hatosy) in a robbery with deadly consequences. Suddenly facing a lethal injection, Ben must say goodbye to his family and prepare himself for the worst.

But his death sentence isn't quite what it seems, as Ben regains consciousness near an eerie psychiatric ward, where he's told he's been hired as the groundskeeper, was his previous life only a dream or is he part of something far more sinister?

The Lazarus Project is a strange film that a savvy movie watcher can pick apart in the first fifteen minutes. But the reason we I watch films is to be entertained. This film accomplishes the task. I don't remember seeing this released in theaters because it does have major weak moments.

Even with its weak moments its still an entertaining drama and trying to find the mystery of the drama is half the fun. The clues that are supposed to be subtle are fully apparent. Which gives away major plot points of the film really early. Leaving the film to loses its edge and fall flat. Only if you're a fan of the actors could you entertain this film.

I give The Lazarus Project 2 out of 5.

"The Kingdom"

Jamie Foxx
Chris Cooper
Jennifer Garner
Jason Bateman
Jeremy Piven
Danny Huston
Richard Jenkins
Ashraf Barhom
Ali Suliman
Kyle Chandler
Frances Fisher
Ashley Scott
Anna Deavere Smith

R           119min           2007

When a terrorist bomb detonates inside a Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an international incident is ignited. While diplomats slowly debate equations of territorialism, FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury quickly assembles an elite team and negotiates a secret five-day trip into Saudi Arabia to locate the madman behind the bombing. – from Universal Pictures

“The Kingdom”is one of my personal favorite war movies. It is not only a good drama but it’s a good action film. It brought to light situations about the war and the country of Saudi Arabia that I never knew. It contains an outstanding cast that brought what it took to make this film what it is. It is a film, I think, everyone will love; it is just that good.

This film pleases both sides of your brain. The action is gritty, realistic, and in your face. The drama and plot is intelligent and believable. It pulls no punches.

One of the elements that make “The Kingdom” works is that uses realistic culture situations to move the drama. From how much we have influence there technologic, grow to the second-class citizenship of women. It showed how we all have cultural biases, which influence our thinking and the way we interact with other cultures. However it also shows how much cultural similarities we also have.

Peter Berg does a great job of directing this film. He uses an outstanding cast to tell his story and shots that bring the audience into the film. The cast is at the top of their game and melded together excellently. They capture the emotions of the audience. Let the audience get lost in the drama. The action makes you film like you are a fly on the wall of a drama that just a small piece of a bigger picture.

There is a feature commentary with director Peter Berg. There are a few deleted scenes. There are four behind the scene featurettes, Character by Character: The Apartment Shootout, Constructing the Freeway Sequence, Creating the Kingdom, and History of the Kingdom, an interactive timeline. There is only one movie preview “White Noise 2”.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Nicolas Cage
Jon Voight
Harvey Keitel
Ed Harris
Diane Kruger
Justin Bartha
Bruce Greenwood
Helen Mirren


PG           124min           2007.


Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.

This one is not as good as the first but still interesting and exciting as before. This time around, they travel to locales that are more international. The plot is too simplistic and Disney driven.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets has Benjamin Gates trying to clear the name of his great, great, great granddad name. The conspiracy theory is more international and a little more nefarious in nature. It deals with more politics that are international but ends up still finding a national treasure that even I had never heard of.

The action was too clean and no one is injury severely. Guns are brandished more than they are fired and mercenary are the worst shot for hired gunman, a definite influence from Disney. You never see an ounce of blood and the only death of the film is off screen. There is a setup of another sequel; that is apparent to anyone watching.

“National Treasure: Book of Secrets” is an alright film and is an ok sequel to the first. Maybe its that I expect more from a Jerry Bruckheimer Film. It felt to Disney influenced and the plot was a little more a stretch of the imagination. I did like what the treasure was and where it was located. The setup of a sequel did make me want to see what it is.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Illegal Tender"

Rick Gonzalez
Wanda de Jesus
Dania Ramirez
Tego Calderon
Gary Perez


R           108min           2007



College student Wilson de Leon, Jr. never stood up for himself until the gangsters who killed his father came to settle a score. In a gripping, adrenaline-pumping showdown, Wilson and his mother decide to settle that score on their own terms in order to protect the people they love and earn back their family’s honor.

“Illegal Tender” is an salute to sing mothers everywhere and the children they raise. It’s tale of the American dream and the price that must be paid to achieve it. It’s also a cautionary tale of what “the game” can cost you.

Wanda de Jesus does a great job of portraying the single mother trying to raise her children to do better and have a better life than herself. She shows that single mothers can be the protector and provider, if she has too. Even without a formal education, she played the game before the game played her. Wanda de Jesus gives a perfect voice to the single mothers out there.

Wilson de Leon, JR. is a shelter person, who takes his good fortune for granted. When the assassins come and open his eyes. He steps up to take responsibility for protecting his family and find a solution to his family’s problem. When the dust clears, Rick Gonzalez portray of his evolution makes this film more entertaining.

What makes “Illegal Tender” stand out in my mind is that is about achieving the American dream and about facing the demons fo the past. Millie de Jesus took her money and made it work by investing in profitable stocks which in turned provide a life style better than the one she had. It’s something everyone things about at some point in life thinking of how to provide for the future.

The second thing that sticks out in my mind is that once the all the while Millie kept running from the demons of the past. But once they came into the light and Wilson was old enough to confront them she had enough confidence in her son to let him become a man. Wilson in an old gunslinger way came out fighting; fighting to protect the life of his family and the ones they love.

The special features on “Illegal Tender”are minimal at best. There are deleted scenes and a making of featurette. There is an making of and music video for “Dame Dome” by Que No. There are previews for American Pie Presents Beta House, Battlestar Galactica: Razor, The Kingdom, and White Noise 2.

I give it 4/5 Gs.