Miss (shoot me in the foot this movie sucks) - Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

The story of Bridget Jones picks up four weeks later from the end of the first film. Just when Bridget thought life was going to be easy, she finds herself becoming uncertain of her relationship with top human rights attorney Mark Darcy. To make matters worse, Daniel Clever returns and begins working alongside Bridget at her television show, “Sit Up Britain!” Whatever will Bridget do?

Second verse! Same as the first! A little bit louder and a whole lot worse!

Who cares what Bridget will do? Throw out that awful diary! The first movie had great flare but this movie falls flat on it’s bum. It took me a while to realize this movie sucked but the realization came when the movie started to become another version of “Brokedown Palace” with Claire Danes. In fact, a cameo by Claire Danes could have made me like the movie better, but, really nothing could save this sinking ship.

This movie provided no further character development (for any characters), no changes, and no interest. Bridget is still quirky but she is not as charming as the first movie where everything about her was fresh. Instead I found her to be horribly annoying and drab. Renee Zellweger doesn’t have a good enough “English Accent” to make me believe that she is actually English, but it was a nice try (loved you in “Chicago“). Colin Firth puts on the character of Mark Darcy like he is putting on his clothing in the morning, and is it just me, or is Hugh Grant even acting? I am not really sure about that one. Bottom Line: This movie deserves a new title: Bridget Jones: Edge of Boredom and total lack of originality in terms of sequel “originality.” God save the Queen if there is talks of a third Bridget Jones movie.

Best Scene: When Bridge goes skiing with Mark Darcy

Rated R for language and some sexual content
Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutes

Photo © Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Great job Trojans! Up next… Beat the Bruins!
Matt Leinart and the Trojans beat Notre Dame and stay on track for the Orange Bowl.

Miss – Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Akroyd

Luther Krank (Allen) and his wife decide to skip Christmas when their only daughter is away. Unfortunately for the Kranks, their daughter decides to make a last minute trip home. Now the Kranks must perform a Christmas miracle to get their house ready for the homecoming of their daughter and her new beau.

Ho! Ho! Horrible! I really wanted this movie to bring me some Christmas cheer, and I was very excited that John Grisham had written the novel, but the story played horribly on-screen. I expected comedy, but I received ‘abbreviated entertainment©.’ A feeling of disappointment spread throughout me as I realized this movie was more like “Prancer” than “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” (in terms of entertainment).

Tim Allen always plays the same types of “Christmas” characters, so you can always expect a laugh or something to happen. His performance is consistent… almost too consistent, but I still like him. Jamie Lee Curtis is great but they make her look very similar to Tim Allen’s television wife Jill Taylor (Patricia Richardson). Dan Akroyd provides some comical moments. Bottom Line: Skip “Christmas.”

Best Scene: Lunch at the hospital after Luther’s Botox injection.

Rated PG for brief language and suggestive content.
Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes.

Photo © Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Hit – Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell, Dustin Hoffman

A “Shakespeare in Love” for “Peter Pan.” This story chronicles the creation of J.M. Barrie’s story “Peter Pan.” The movie follows how Barrie (Depp) came up with Neverland and it’s surrounding characters by becoming a friend to four brothers whose father is deceased. Barrie becomes a father figure to these boys and write about the adventures they share that concern never wanting to grow up.

Magnificent in every way. This movie is like a good book that you cannot put down. The direction, acting, and cinematography are excellent with a beautiful score to match. Marc Foster has made this quasi- nonfiction biography a joy to watch.

Johnny Depp is always top notch, and again we see him in a faux serious role. His character faces tough situations: pressured to create a masterpiece after his last play has failed miserably, trying to keep his marriage alive while finding solace in a family without a father, and dealing with disease. Kate Winslet fits the role of the widow and mother of four boys. Her character finds joy and comfort in Barrie and is struggling to make ends meet. I find Kate to be a great supporting character to Depp and I am hoping for an Oscar nomination for her in this role. Depp also could be considered for his portrayal of Barrie. The young boys of the movie did a very good job of portraying the inspiration behind Barrie’s story. Bottom Line: If you liked Shakespeare In Love you will like Finding Neverland.

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language.
Drama
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes.

Photo © Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

Hit (in the eyes of your children)- Starring SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sheldon J. Plankton, Gary, Pirates, David Hasselhoff

SpongeBob SquarePants must save Bikini Bottom from the horrible Sheldon J. Plankton before he takes over the world! Now it is up to SpongBob, Patrick, and David Hasselhoff to find King Neptune’s crown before the sea creatures of Bikini Bottom are brainwashed by Plankton’s evil “Z” plan.

Fun for the majority of the family. This movie will keep adults mildly entertained, but your little ones will be counting down the days until the SpongeBob SquarePants sequel! I was disappointed that the movie producers decided to allow a PG rating. This makes me feel that the movie was in some ways targeted towards getting adults to take their children. Some of the material was a little crude, and should have been left out entirely. Since the television show is rated G, I feel that the movie should have also been rated G.

I do not regularly watch the SpongeBob SquarePants television show so I am in no position to compare the show to the movie. I went into this movie with no expectations of greatness or really of anything, I was just looking to see something that wouldn’t make me think too much. Bottom Line: A fun movie overall, but wait until the dvd release.

Best Scene: All scenes with David Hasselhoff- hilarious!

Rated PG for some mild crude humor.
Comedy / Animation
Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Photo © Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies. All Rights Reserved.

Hit – Starring Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel

Yes, this review is very late, but that’s only because with a movie like National Treasure it takes time to think on and ponder – to digest and understand. And also because I’m a slacker. Â

Anyway, on to the movie summary and subsequent commentary…Â

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) is a treasure hunter, searching for the greatest treasure of all time. Over the centuries this treasure has been fought over, stolen, moved, stolen back, forgotten, remembered and moved again. (Although it seems none of it was ever used). Eventually this treasure was brought to the American Colonies where it was, again, hidden. And only the founding fathers knew where it was. They left clues hidden in letters, documents, items and even money on how to find it. But when they died those clues were forgotten and so the greatest treasure of all time was lost once more and simply put off as myth, legend and nonsense.Â

But not for Benjamin Franklin Gates. He believes. He’s always believed. And he’s vowed to find the treasure. He hooks up with Ian Howe (Sean Bean a.k.a. Boromir from LOTR) and together they find a clue that points to another clue as to the whereabouts of the treasure. But the clue is on the back of the Declaration of Independence! Boromir says, “let’s steal the Declaration of Independence and get the treasure!â€? Nicholas Cage says, “No, I can’t do that! It’s the Declaration of Independence.â€? So Boromir says, “I’m gonna steal it and you can’t stop me!â€? He gives Nick the finger and tries to blow him up. Â

Nicholas Cage survives and tries desperately to make someone listen to him about Boromir stealing the Declaration. But no one believes him because who could possibly steal one of the most protected documents in America? So, to stop Boromir from stealing it, Nicholas Cage steals it! Â

Then there’s some chases, escapes, a hot chick, a comedic sidekick, and some pretty cool clues that lead Nicholas Cage and his buddies closer to finding the treasure. All the while Boromir and his bad friends are hot on their heels. But in the end the good guys trick Boromir and send him on a wild goose chase. Nick and the good guys find the treasure, which is worth about 100 bazillion dollars, catch the bad guys and send them to jail and give the greatest treasure of all time over to museums and fun places like that. Oh, and Nicholas Cage gets the girl and lots of money. The end. Â

I thoroughly enjoyed National Treasure. It is what my friends would classify as “a Mike movie.â€? What that means is that they hated it and I liked it. But they’re always wrong when it comes to things like this. Â

Granted, if you go in expecting a movie that that will tug at your heart strings and make you ponder the existence of life…well, you’re gonna be disappointed. But if you go in looking to have some fun, see some stuff blow up, ride along on some wild car chases, have a few good laughs and see some pretty neat clue deciphering, then you will enjoy yourself and come out of the theatre with a smile. Â

Nick Cage pulls off the ostracized and oft laughed at treasure hunter Ben Gates with ease. And the lovely Diane Kruger (Troy) is great as the tough chick with an adventurous spirit and a heart of gold. They’ve got some pretty good on screen chemistry which just adds to enjoyment of the movie. Â

All in all I give National Treasure two thumbs up!Â

Bests Scene: The car chase through the streets of D.C. with Diane Kruger hanging off the door of a van. Â

Rated PG
Action/Adventure
Running Time: 1 hour 31 minutes

Photo © Touchstone Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Unspoken is an upcoming independent feature film that is written, produced, and directed by a USC alumni. The film is expected to hit theatres this summer but you can take a sneak peek at the movie trailer by clicking here.

This movie has yet to be reviewed but I am hoping to catch a sneak preview at one of the pre-release screenings.

Image courtesy of Odyssey Motion Pictures

Happy Homecoming – Fight On SC!

Hit - Starring Tom Hanks

Is Santa Claus real? That is the question The Polar Express asks it’s audience. Every year on Christmas eve, children who have little faith in Santa Claus are taken to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Based on the timeless children’s book of the same name, The Polar Express takes these children on a wild ride to reclaim their belief in Santa Claus.

A animation classic for all ages. This movie is excellent. All your children will want for Christmas is a train ticket for The Polar Express. This movie offers adventure, childhood mystery, and a fantastic cast. There is something about Tom Hanks that is so likeable in all of his character work, I believe it has something to do with his signature laugh which is so bubbly and genuine. I much enjoy this aspect of him. He does a fine job as the film’s conductor, and he also provides many other character voices. The only thing that I would change about this film is going from animation to live action. While the computer generated animation was done well (excluding all of the characters awkward glassy eyes), I feel that the movie would be more exciting to see real people and real special effects in action. Bottom Line: Good holiday fun.

Best Scene: The ending when the parents are unable to hear a Christmas sound.

Rated G
Family/Animation
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Tom Hanks tries out the new wave of computer animation by wearing motion sensors.
Photo © Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

For more information on The Polar Express check out Kristen Reeves movie premiere footage at Movies O.C.

Every once in a while the planets find themselves in perfect alignment and television provides more then a sedative before sleep. While it is not a movie, I felt that tonight’s ER episode, “Time of Deathâ€? starring Ray Liotta deserves a comment. I have not seen ER for a couple of years, but for some reason I came across it tonight. Ray Liotta plays a man dying after a hard life. Liotta delivers a performance that rivaled anything that I have seen in recent times, both in television and in the theatres. His eyes just cut into me with their pain and depth. The overall cinematic style of the episode is far removed from anything I remember seeing on ER in the past and the entire episode followed Liotta’s character. We were taken with Liotta as he spends his final moments drifting into surreal memories of his life. His estranged son did not rush to his bedside, but in his minds eye those near him filled the role. If they are considering ending the ER series I elect this episode as the official series finale.