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May 16 2008
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What Happens In Vegas – Review

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I checked out the movie What Happens In Vegas. Starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, this film is a winner. Joy McNally (Diaz) and Jack Fuller (Kutcher) both decide to go on a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas after being dumped and losing a job, respectively.

The two coincidentally meet after accidentally being booked for the same hotel room. After a night on the town, they find that, in their drunkenness, they spontaneously got married. When Jack hits the jackpot at a casino, the “what’s mine is yours” clause of marriage goes into effect. The plot centers around what they must do in order to divide up the money, as prescribed by the court.

Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz work wonderfully together in this film. Their chemistry is apparent and makes for a very enjoyable movie. The scripting was great and the plot is fast-paced. This is a movie full of one-liners and quirky comments. I’d highly recommend it as a good date movie.

Overall Rating:

May 15 2008
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Story Of My Life

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No, I’m not using a cliché here in preparation to tell you about some negative thing that always happens to me. The title of that post would be something like “A Day Late And A Dollar Short.” But seriously, I really am writing the story of my life. Over the past few weeks, when I’ve had the chance, I’ve written a few pages at a time in reflection of my life thus far. I started at age 3, which is as far back as I can go with any sort of tangible memories, although obviously they’re vague. 50 pages later, I’m at 5th grade.

Why am I doing this? Well, several reasons. First off, I just really like to write. Secondly, I’m a very nostalgic person. I like writing and thinking (but no, not living) in the past. It’s kind of theraputic personally. Of course I realize no one would want to read it. That’s not at all the point. In fact, even though I’m pretty darn honest and open here on my blog, I held absolutely nothing back when it comes to filing through my memories, so there are very few people, if any, who I’d probably ever let read this anyway.

I know another common cliché goes something like, “If your life was a movie, would anyone want to watch it?” Honestly, probably not. And I’m okay with that. I’m doing this for me. I’m sorting out memories, dealing with past regret and conflict, and just want to remember every little detail of my life. Maybe my kids or grandkids will enjoy reading it someday. It’ll also be interesting personally to see my perspectives of things and the way I think today, decades down the road.

May 13 2008
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Iron Man – Review

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I went to see Iron Man last night. Robert Downy, Jr. stars as Tony Stark, a genius inventor who’s come up with numerous revolutionary military solutions for the United States’ defense and war use. After hostile forces kidnap him from the military convoy he’s riding in, the only way for him to live is for him to build a super intelligent rocket system to be used by the enemy against the United States. He instead builds a computerized suit of armor and becomes Iron Man.

The plot in this movie was action-packed and fact-paced. Downy shines in this role and gives the movie an edgy tone. The special effects, explosions, and other CGI were well done. I’ve always gone into the superhero movies of the past few years thinking I won’t like them, but have always ended up impressed. This movie was no exception. For great action and suspense, check this one out. Oh, and stick around after the credits for a bonus scene and lead-in to Iron Man 2, scheduled for release on April 30, 2010.

Overall Rating:

 

May 05 2008
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Made Of Honor – Review

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I went to see Made Of Honor the other night. The plot of this movie is pretty simple.

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) became best friends in college. Almost ten years later, after becoming absolutely inseparable, the two part ways when Hannah goes to Scotland for a six week period.

While she’s gone, Tom realizes how much she means to him and wants to tell her when she gets home. However, he’s horrified to find out she’s met a man on her trip and plans on marrying him. She subsequently asks him to be her maid of honor in the wedding. The plot unfolds around Tom’s plans to convince Hannah he’s the more worthy man.

This was a lighthearted comedy that was filled with smart humor and a great storyline. The character development is somewhat stagnant, but this was overall a great film.

Overall Rating:

Apr 29 2008
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Prom Night – Review

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On Saturday night, I checked out the movie Prom Night. Let me just cut to the chase here. It was bloody awful. And no, I’m not turning British. I say that because it was both bloody (albeit fake) and awful. Brittany Snow stars as Donna, a contender for Prom Queen. We learn in the beginning of the film that one of her high school teachers became obsessed with her. He was fired after acting inappropriately and subsequently subject to a restraining order from her family. As a result, he killed her entire family as Donna watched in horror.

Flashing back to the present, her and her boyfriend Bobby (played by Scott Porter) descend on their prom at a historic local hotel, just as her aunt and uncle, with whom she now lives, find out that the killer has escaped from prison and is on the loose. As predictability would have it, he shows up at the hotel and, through a series of poorly-orchestrated scenes and events, systematically kills her friends as they go back to their rooms one by one for different reasons.

The plot is boring, stagnant, extremely predictable, and just overall terrible. The supposed gory stabbing scenes reminds me of the blatantly fake and outdated shower stabbing scene in the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock classic, Psycho. I’m telling you, it couldn’t have been made much worse. Honestly, I’d go so far as to say I’d be embarrassed to have had any part in this film.

Oh, and tell me this: What’s up with having older actors play teenagers? It’s not just in this movie, but it’s so obvious in this one. Brittany Snow is 22 years old, which isn’t extremely noticable, but come on, Scott Porter is 29 and it shows! That’s just another thing to add to the list of things that were fake or not believable in this film.

I also saw editing flaws. For example, there’s a scene where the couple is talking on the side of the dance floor (Side note: What’s up with the dance floor? It looks like something out of a ridiculously-overdone bubblegum-pop music video. Completely unrealistic) and as they’re chatting, the music cuts out and you hear nothing. Then it starts again once they walk back on the floor. I thought it was some weird technique, but no, it’s not.

There’s no plot in this movie, just people dying (in as many phony ways as possible). And I was even more surprised to learn that this is a remake of the 1980 film by the same name? Apparently it starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Leslie Nielsen. Interesting. From reading about it, it seems like a typical ’80s slasher film, but I bet it was better than this.

I found myself (as well as my friends and the rest of the audience) laughing through many of the supposedly scary parts. It was one of the most poorly-made movies I’ve ever seen, period. I wish I could somehow give it negative stars.

Overall Rating:

Apr 29 2008
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Baby Mama – Review

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I went to see Baby Mama this past Friday. Tina Fey stars as a busy woman in her late thirties who has always put her career before her personal life. She suddenly comes to the realization one day that her biological clock is ticking and, after trying every other way, decides to have a baby through a surrogate mother.

The mother (played by Amy Poehler) is desperate for money and will do anything for the cash given to her for carrying the baby. There are several big plot twists that I’m tempted to share, but like I said, I’m not doing spoiler reviews anymore!

The plot line is funny and relatively easy to follow. The character development is strong as well. Steve Martin adds comic relief as well with his role as CEO of the organic foods company Fey works for.

If you’re up for a feel-good comedy, check this one out, but don’t expect a whole lot more.

Overall Rating:

Apr 27 2008
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Forgetting Sarah Marshall – Review

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Quick Note: So I’ve decided I’m going to stop posting spoiler reviews. While I always got comments from people about how they appreciated me saving them nine dollars at the theater when the movie wasn’t all that good, I think I’m just going to stick to the synopsis and my overall take on the movies I see in the future. With that said, let’s get down to it!

I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall the other night. Honestly, it probably wouldn’t have been my top pick, but it was awesome.

Jason Segel plays an average guy who writes music for a CSI-type TV crime drama. His girlfriend of four years (played by Kristen Bell) is the star of the show. She meets a new man, a British rock star, and leaves him for the new guy. Brokenhearted, he decides to take a trip to Hawaii, where the couple just so happens to be vacationing. The plot focuses around the new people he meets on his trip and his ex’s ultimate decision to try and win him back.

The script and plot line in this movie are both incredible. The dialog is quick, punchy, and extremely witty. I laughed out loud through the whole thing. There was, however, a lot of unnecessary nudity. I’m not exactly preaching against it or anything, it’s just that there really wasn’t any need for it. It was almost as if it was thrown in without explanation. It just didn’t really fit in with the overall feel of the movie.

In summary, this was an overall excellent film. It has the perfect blend of comedy, romance, and drama that will satisfy most anyone’s tastes.

Overall Rating:

Apr 13 2008
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Smart People – Review

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WARNING: Spoiler Review! If you haven’t seen this movie and plan on it, you’ve been warned.

I went to see the movie Smart People last night. Dennis Quaid stars as Lawrence Wetherhold, widowed, a self-centered, slightly arrogant English professor at Carnegie Mellon University. After jumping a fence at a university impoundment lot to get a briefcase out of his car, he injures himself and ends up in the hospital. There he meets a former student of his, played by Sarah Jessica Parker.

After a few awkward incidents, he finally asks her out on a date. He proceeds to drive her away on their first date, though, after talking about a book he’s writing for forty-five minutes without letting her get a single word in. He then goes back to the ER to ask her for one more chance, and the second date goes much better.

He ends up finding a publisher for his new book and decides to bring her along to New York City for the meeting. She ends up getting pregnant and tries to tell him, but he’s being too arrogant and unapproachable to notice. They end up together and relatively happy in the end, though.

Ellen Page, star of last year’s hugely successful film Juno, plays Quaid’s daughter and provides comic relief, along with Thomas Haden Church, who plays his adopted, sedentary, do-nothing brother. They do little more than lighten the mood, though. Their characters both remain very stagnant and have hardly any dimension to them throughout the duration of the film.

If you like movies such as The Family Stone, you’ll probably enjoy this film, but will probably also notice the lack of a dynamic story line or character development. Overall, though, I really didn’t think it was a bad film at all.

Overall Rating:

Mar 27 2008
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Drillbit Taylor – Review

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WARNING: Spoiler Review! If you haven’t seen this movie and plan on it, you’ve been warned.

I went to see Drillbit Taylor the other night. Starring Owen Wilson, the film portrays a laid back homeless man (Drillbit Taylor) who is trying to make it to Canada to start a new life. With no other options for a job, Taylor hears about three high school freshmen who need an affordable body guard to protect them from the wrath of some older bullies at school. He comes to their school and blends in as a teacher, even dating one of the other teachers. His laziness and lack of attention leads to his non-effectiveness as a body guard.

He proceeds to train the three boys to defend themselves, but his tactics prove unsuccessful. In order to make more money, Taylor claims to need to collect defense supplies from the boys’ houses to use in training, but instead pawns them at a local shop.

I was pleasantly surprised at how great this movie was, and found myself laughing hysterically throughout a lot of the film. Still, it was a little long and drawn out. If you’re looking for a great laugh-out-loud comedy, definitely check this one out.

Overall rating:

Mar 27 2008
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Shutter – Review

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WARNING: Spoiler Review! If you haven’t seen this movie and plan on it, you’ve been warned.

Joshua Jackson plays Benjamin Shaw in this suspenseful drama that follows a couple on their honeymoon to Japan. Shaw is a professional photographer and plans on working while they’re on their trip. The couple hits a girl walking down the road to the cabin they’ll be staying in for the week with their car and feel horrible about it.

Then the couple begins to experience paranormal behavior when they take pictures at the cabin and notice strange things in the pictures when they’re developed. The first picture seems to resemble a ghastly looking woman kissing Shaw. The paranormal pictures just get more and more haunting from there.

In the end, it is revealed that the girl in all the pictures is a woman who Shaw dated before he met his wife who became obsessed with him. When he didn’t return her love, she stalked him and would not leave him alone. In a flashback, you see that one night in the past, under the influence of alcohol, he drugged the woman and posed her with friends of his for scandalous pictures. She is killed and it’s revealed later that she comes back to haunt Shaw and his wife only to warn her of his past evil ways that she would have otherwise never known about.

Overall rating:

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