Hit – Starring William L. Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Paul Guilfoyle, directed by Quentin Tarantino

The CSI team needs to save one of their own when they discover that Nick (Eads) has been abducted and buried alive.

A two-hour season finale that has the audience holding its breath: this double episode ending plays more like a movie than it does a television drama. Tarantino is no stranger to making a story come to life; he takes the absolute worst fears of the audience and creates an overall uncomfortable dramatic situation that ultimately escalates to the point of panic. Being a person who is claustrophobic, the season finale of CSI made me jump out of my skin. When Uma Thurman is buried alive in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 I thought I was going to have a heart attack. How could I let Tarantino put me through such emotional angst for the second time? Furthermore, if I am so uncomfortable, then why are my eyes glued to the television? Aye! Every emotion that Tarantino was looking to evoke in his audience was executed through my television viewing behavior and internal comfort zone. Bravo Q.

I truly enjoyed watching this season finale and I believe it is one of the best I have seen in the five seasons of CSI. Coming in a close second is the season four finale titled “Bloodlines,” which dabbles in the idea of a person who is a chimera. Crazy.

I can’t wait until season six.

CSI is on CBS, Thursdays from 9:00-10:00

Hit (the best out of I, II, and III) – Starring Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, directed by George Lucas

The 30 year Star Wars saga finally comes to a close with the telling of Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader.

The questions are finally answered allowing us to let go of the back stories we imagined and succumb to the dominate imaginitive forces of George Lucas.

Out of the three recent Star Wars films, I would have to say this one is the best because everything has been leading up to this moment of darkness. Unfortunately, in terms of comparison to all six films, I prefer Empire Strikes Back. The information aquired in The Empire Strikes Back is really what brings us full circle to Episode III.

In comparison to the older films, this film does not really come close. Speaking in terms of CGI I felt that eventhough we have the technology that doesn’t mean that we have to overkill every scene with it’s effects.

Performance factor: According to Geoff: C-3PO and R2-D2 weren’t the only robots in this film, one need not look no further than the performances of Christensen, and Portman to find equally mechanical but infinitely less interesting droids.
After giving the film a considerable amount of thought I have come to the conclusion that George Lucas shot this film during the first rehersal shooting 1/1.

According to Miss Movies: I feel that Hayden Christensen has a very convincing scowel. Unfortunately Christensen, Portman, and Jackson all delivered what I would consider to be called “abbreviated performances(TM).” But, in other works (Christensen- Life As A House, Portman – Closer, and Jackson- pretty much anything but this film) these actors are spectacular. So what went wrong? In this particular case I would have to blame the director for accepting these abbreviations and not providing a script that contains character depth. The quick transition from Jedi to the Dark Side came too quickly and unconvincingly for the audience that it proves anti-climatic.
Looking at great performances of Star Wars, I find Ewan McGregor to provide a solid performance which makes me wonder if he would have been better suited as the main character. Obviously Hollywood’s facination with youth takes the lead over exceptional acting. Exceptional acting was also seen from Ian McDiamrd, the evil emperor of the galaxy who converts Anakin to the dark side. The great thing about McDiamrd is his first film in the Star Wars empire was Return of the Jedi. Another great performance and veteran of the Star Wars films was given by Frank Oz who voices Yoda. Yoda has some comical moments and great fight scenes. Only one question for Yoda: Why does Yoda need a cane? I have a feeling this is a worker’s comphensation scam.

Another area of this movie that I truly enjoyed was the intricate fight scenes of Hayden Christensen, Yoda, and Ewan McGregor. Each fight scene was greatly peformed and executed.

Bottom Line: After 30 years, this movie has brought the Empire to a close with a nice finish.

Science Fiction

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images.

Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes.

E3-6 Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is lured to the dark side
in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith.
Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All rights reserved. Nice Scowl.

Miss Movies is in Hawaii on vacation and sadly the movie theatres here only play Star Wars at two showings per day. The first and second showing of Star Wars conflicts with the CSI finale directed by Q. Therefore, I will have to wait until tomorrow to experience the concluding chapter of the Star Wars empire.

As the summer movie season begins, I am looking forward to many new movies. The one thing I am not looking forward to is the hole that will burn in my pocket. And wouldn’t you know that once again Regal Entertainment United Artist Theatres have increased their prices on Friday’s – Sundays. What ever am I going to do? I digress.

Miss – Starring Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki, Brian Van Holt, Jon Abraham, Robert Richard

A group of friends on their way to a college football game find themselves caught in a deadly detour.

I should have known better. The signs were all there: a special on MTV, the soundstage burning to the ground, Paris Hilton, yada, yada, yada. Unfortunately I am a sucker for horror films and found myself caught in this deadly detour of a movie. This movie is mainly scary in terms of the ouch factor- people get their fingers cut off, their achillies tendon sliced, and their lips super glued together; which makes me feel horribly uncomfortable rather than scared.

Overall redeeming qualities: Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray really carry this film. And let’s not forget Jared Padalecki who also provides a performance of note.

Unfortunately for Cuthbert, Murray, and Padalecki, the script is too weak and plays like a kiddie version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn. Bottom Line: If you want to see a movie with a similar theme rent The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Best Scene: P. Hilton’s death scene and Elisha’s hiding-in-the-church scene.

Horror

Rated R for horror violence, some sexual content and language.

Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes – too long!

Hit – Starring Mos Def, Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, John Malkovich, Alan Rickman

Based on the popular novel by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says: Don’t Panic. Arthur Dent (Freeman) was a simple man with a simple life until he made friends with Ford Perfect (Def), who, unbeknownst to Dent, is an alien. On the day that Earth is to be destroyed (to make way for a hyperspace motorway) Ford Perfect takes Dent with him on a hitchhiking journey through the galaxy. Through their journey the encounter many adventures that are simply out of this world. Throw in a Galaxy President with a few screws loose, a depressed robot, and the meaning of life; this movie takes you on a voyage of a lifetime.

This movie is an intergalactic delight. Watching this movie made me feel like I was in elementary school seeing The NeverEnding Story for the first time. This movie provides great laughs and stunning special effects that make you believe you are truly along for a ride through the galaxy. Not only does this movie provide a plot line that is easy to follow, but also the whole family will love it!
Make sure to stick around through the end credits to see a little extra of the interactive guide presentation.

Bottom Line: Take the kids on an exploration of the Galaxy.

Best Scene: Being slapped in the face for having a thought.

Science Fiction

Rated PG for thematic elements, action and mild language.

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes.