Fight on for old SC! Our team fights on to Victory!

Miss – Starring Dax Shepard, Matthew Lillard, and Seth Green

Without a Paddle has it’s moments of being fun and fancy free, but, overall this movie is like using a restroom that has no toilet paper… it’s just no good, and you find yourself not knowing exactly where it went wrong but then you realize it was all wrong from the beginning. I really wanted this movie to be a comedy that reminds us of the good times (like The Sandlot), but it was more a comedy that can’t find it’s target audience. As for the cast of this film, I really enjoy all the actors and their performances. This means the real fault of the movie lies in the writing. Bottom line: Entertainment to this movie is like the sun on an overcast day, you know it is there but you can only see it at particular intervals during the day.

Best scene: The first encounter with Del Knox

Looking for a Hit movie featuring Seth Green and Matthew Lillard? Click Here.

Rated PG-13 for drug content, sexual material, language, crude humor and some violence.
Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Photo © Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

A tribute to actors / actress’ who are left handed

A-L

Dan Akroyd, Jason Alexander, Joan Allen, Tim Allen, Robert Blake, Marlon Brando, Pierce Brosnan, Matthew Broderick, Carol Burnette, George Burns, Sid Caesar, James Cameron, Keith Carradine, Jim Carrey, James Caviezel, Charlie Chaplin, Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali-G), James Cromwell, Tom Cruise, Dustin Diamond, Matt Dillon, Robert DeNiro, Fran Drescher, Richard Dreyfuss, David Duchovny, Eminem, W.C. Fields, Peter Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Victor Garber, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Terri Garr, Whoopi Goldberg, Cary Grant, Peter Graves, Mark Hamill, Goldie Hawn, Jimi Hendrix. Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog, Rock Hudson, Joshua Jackson, Angelia Jolie, Shirley Jones, Danny Kaye, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Jordan Knight, Lisa Kudrow, Michael Landon, Diane Lane, Hope Lange, Joey Lawrence, Cloris Leachman, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Hal Linden

M-Z

Andrew McCarthy, Steve McQueen, Bernie Mac, Shirley MacLaine, Elle Macpherson, Howie Mandel, Marcel Marceay, Harpo Marx, Mary Stuart Masterson, Penelope Ann Miller, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Julianne Moore, Rick Moranis, Kim Novak, Mary-Kate Olsen, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anthony Perkins, Luke Perry, Richard Pryor, Dennis Quaid, Robert Redford, Keanu Reeves, Denise Richards, Lisa Rinna, Julia Roberts, Rebecca Romijn, Mickey Rourke, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Jerry Seinfeld, Christian Slater, Amy Smart, Suzanne Somers, David Spade, Ringo Star, Sylvester Stallone, Hilary Swank, Kristy Swanson, Alan Thicke, Emma Thompson, Rip Torn, Hunter Tylo, Dick van Dyke, James Whitmore, Bruce Willis, Kimberly Williams, Oprah Winfrey, James Woods

Miss – Starring (who else) but Alien and Predator. Also starring some B-list actors who knew that America would pay money to see this movie in the theatres.

I really don’t know what to say about this movie… it was just as good as Vertical Limit, which is my favorite movie of all time. I enjoyed the fact that the rich man with asthma was also in the movie Scream 3. This movie was a project based on money. Here is the math for those of you who are new to the business. Producer equation: Alien + Predator + B-list actors = a lot of money for the studio and myself (minimal money to build and manage Alien and Predator, and B-list actors will work for less money than A-list actors). I guess in this day and age of Hollywood movies, money is always the motive. But what happened to actually producing a quality film with some shadow of good morals? The only lesson I learned in this movie is: if you see a large hole that has been drilled for miles but there is no sign of who drilled the hole, maybe you should investigate first before taking the plunge into the abyss. Bottom line: The Pre-Show countdown (or the Twenty) has never been so entertaining.

Best Scene: Opening Credits

Rated PG-13 for violence, language, horror images, slime and gore.
Action / Science Fiction / Horror
Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes

Photo © 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Hit – Starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and the handsome Chris Pine.

It is guaranteed that every child under thirteen years old will see this movie over the summer. In fact I took a camp of thirty kids between the ages of 6 and 8 to see this movie on opening day. Considering this movie is only one this summer to sport the G rating, every family is ready to take part in this delightful sequel. This movie is not as charming as the first, and it definitely lacks in the arena of set design (could the fictional Genovia look any more fake? Universal Studios backlot is the one to thank for this cookie cutter Genovia backyard), but, the movie does have strengths in it’s likeable actors and predictable, yet cute, plotline. Anne Hathaway is the next Julia Roberts (look out Hilary Duff, and Lindsay Lohan, there is another talented actress on the loose) or Meg Ryan – you heard it here first. She is simply charming and beautiful, we shall see great things from her. Aside from Anne, what’s not to love about Julie Andrews? The hills are alive with Julie Andrews, she is an icon of all things moral and family oriented. Rounding out the wonderful cast is newcomer to the big screen Chris Pine. He is a heartthrob that all young ladies will have a crush on by the end of the film. Bottom line: This movie does not compare to the original but it does provide good entertainment for the whole family.

Best Scene: Mattress surfing with the Queen of Genovia

Rated G
Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Photo © Walt Disney Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Shall We Dance? (PG-13) - Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez. *10/15

Surviving Christmas (PG-13) - Ben Affleck, Christina Applegate. *10/22

The Grudge ( R ) - Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr. *10/22

Ray (PG-13) - Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington. *10/29

Alexander ( R ) - Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer. *11/5

The Incredibles (PG) - Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee. *11/5

The Polar Express (G) - Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Ed Gale. *11/10

Finding Neverland (PG) - Johnny Depp, Dustin Hoffman, Kate Winslet. *11/12

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason ( R ) - Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth. *11/19

National Treasure (PG-13) - Nicolas Cage, Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight. *11/19

Christmas with the Kranks (PG) - Tim Allen, Jaime Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd. *11/24

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (PG-13) - Patrick Wilson. *12/3

Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) - George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt. *12/10

Spanglish (PG-13) - Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Sean Smith. *12/17

Meet the Fockers (PG-13) - Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo. *12/22

Miss (just eat them already!) - Starring Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis

Adapted from a true story about two SCUBA divers who are stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat leaves without them.

Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. How often does one get to fully spell out the SCUBA acronym? Not often. Anywho, this film was horribly horrible. Good riddance. I understand that this movie was done on a very small budget so I realize that the home video movie style was not done on purpose for style but rather for budget. This effect made the whole movie look cheeseball. I would have spent the extra money to make this film look as real as possible.

There is one part in the film that I find truly unnecessary and that is the nude shot of Blanchard Ryan. How this adds to the plot of the story or really anything is simple incomprehensible. Really, I believe the point of her nude scene was merely to indulge the director in being able to see a woman naked for an extended period of time. What a perv!

I will say that Blanchard Ryan is a good looking gal, and I think this movie displays that she can go on to do bigger budget films, but I felt that her character Susan, did not work well with Daniel Travis’ portrayal of Daniel. I did not feel there was any chemistry between these two actors, nor did I feel that their characters really loved each other.

Overall this movie lacked a lot of interest in terms of every shot being the same, and ultimately, everything being the same as the last scene. I was hoping the sharks would hurry up and eat them because I was tired of seeing such awful direction and interpretation. Bottom line: Not worth your time.

Best Scene: The end.

Rated R for language and some nudity.
Drama
Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes ( should have been a short film, it would have been received better)

Photo © Lions Gate Films. All Rights Reserved.

Hit (with strings attached) - Starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx. Directed by Michael Mann.

Collateral has all the right elements of an action thriller, but then something strange happens… This movie is like going to the top of the roller coaster. Your excitement levels rise and you feel that this movie is going in a really good direction. All the sudden you get to the top of the roller coaster and it turns into the Monorail. The whole time you are thinking, I thought I was on a roller coaster, what happened? I am trying to figure that out as well because I felt that Collateral really had some excellent potential. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Vincent is haunting up until the moment where he goes crazy in the club scene. Then the performance falls off the reality table and just becomes over the top. During this scene I really wanted him to say, (before kicking someone’s booty) “I learned this move in The Last Samurai.â€? Jamie Foxx also gives a great performance but I don’t feel that it is anything to write home about. When an actor goes out of his element (in this case comedy) to do something a little different (drama), Hollywood feels the need to say the actor was sooooo gooooood. But, honestly… HE IS AN ACTOR! IT IS HIS JOB TO BE ABLE TO DO ANY GENRE! Give me a break. Yes, his performance is good but let’s not get too excited about it. This is his job. I hope he can do more than just one area of his job. It’s like asking an elementary school teacher who always teaches science to now teach social studies, of course they should be able to know how to do this, that is what they are credentialed for… hello! His performance in this movie does not look like anything close to his performance in the upcoming movie Ray. But, back to the topic… From the trailers and previews I expected this movie to take place in NYC. I was thrown for a loop when the setting was actually L.A. Who rides in a cab in Los Angeles? Honestly? I mean, I know that there are Cabs in the city but wouldn’t it be more likely to hire a Cab in NYC? For Collateral, there is nothing more to say. I was entertained but then I was horribly let down. Bottom line: Wait for video or see this during a matinee.

Best Scene: When Vincent talks to Max’s (Foxx) boss over the radio about Max’s car accident.

Rated R for violence and language.
Action
Running Time: 2 hours

Photo © DreamWorks Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Hit (but wait for video) – Starring Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter, Kathy Bates, Ron Livingston, Julianne Nicholson

To spy or not to spy? That is the question that Little Black Book asks it’s audience. From start to finish of this movie we learn that the answer to the question becomes… to spy. Although we all know that this is wrong, the outcome of the movie proves that this is the correct choice. While I am not one to spy intentionally, I feel that this movie explored a new world of relationships – the hidden relationship. Little Black Book takes us on an adventure with Stacy (Brittany Murphy) who tries to work her way up the corporate ladder by spying on her boyfriend as part of research for an upcoming television show she is working on. The show idea becomes vetoed but Stacy (Murphy) continues to spy and becomes caught in her own lies and deception. This film is made interesting by the characters portrayed by Murphy, Holly Hunter, and Julianne Nicholson. Holly Hunter plays Barb, a co-worker of Murphy’s and in the beginning, a friend. Julianne Nicholson plays Joyce, an ex-girlfriend turned friend of Ron Livingston (current boyfriend of Stacy’s). Julianne Nicholson (not related to Jack) is an actress with a girl next door look that makes you want to be her friend. She makes this movie believable. Bottom line: While not my favorite movie of the summer, Little Black Book will be a good rental for a teenage slumber party.

Best Part: When Stacy destroys her boyfriends house phone.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content/humor and language.
Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes

Photo © Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

August 3, 2004

13 Going on 30 ( PG-13 ) - Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer
Hit or Miss: Hit

Hidalgo ( PG-13 ) - Viggo Mortensen

The Reckoning ( R ) - Paul Bettany, William Dafoe, Brian Cox

Tiptoes ( R ) - Patricia Arquette, Kate Beckinsale, Matthew McConaughey, Gary Oldman

August 10, 2004

Goodbye Lenin! ( R ) - Daniel Bruhl, Katherin Sass, Maria Simon

Johnson Family Vacation ( PG-13 ) - Cedric The Entertainer, Vanessa Williams

Kill Bill Vol. 2 ( R ) - Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Quentin Tarantino
Hit or Miss: Hit

The Prince and Me ( PG ) - Julia Stiles, Luke Mably
Hit or Miss: Miss

August 17, 2004

Connie and Carla ( PG-13 ) - Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, David Duchovny

Rolling Kansas ( R ) - Charlie Finn, Sam Huntington, Rip Torn

August 24, 2004

Dogville ( R ) - Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany

Ella Enchanted ( PG ) - Anne Hathaway, Carey Elwes, Minnie Driver, Hugh Dancy
Hit or Miss: Hit

Shaolin Soccer ( PG-13 ) - Stephen Chow, Wong Yut Fei, Lee Wai, Vicki Zhao

August 30, 2004

The Passion of the Christ ( R ) - James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Mel Gibson

Twisted ( R ) - Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia