Hit - Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall

Based on the hit Broadway musical which tells the infamous story of Benjamin Barker (Sweeney Todd), who sets up a barber shop down on Fleet Street in London which is the basis for a sinister revenge partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

A remake of a classic story that will be told over and over again, this movie did exactly what it wanted to do, that was to be true to the musical while still having a dramatic effect on the audience by playing with areas of art.

In the musical, it is not likely that you would see some of the fabulous scenes that you are able to see in the film itself(the musical number with Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett on the beach is a perfect example).

The art direction was very grim looking. Using drab colors and bold (yet subtle) lightning to create a mood was very effective for the audience. The hair/make-up and wardrobe department was very complimentary to the art direction. I loved the gritty look that they were able to create with Mrs. Lovett’s messy hair as well as Sweeney’s full bodied look.

The main problem with the story overall is the idea that there is no “hero.” Having no one to root for ultimately makes the film difficult to recommend to others. I enjoyed the movie (but I had to look away because of all the gore) but I felt it lacked in the idea of it being one of the best films of the year.

Bottom Line: A well represented re-creation of the musical, but full of grotesque gore.

Horror/Musical

Rated R for graphic bloody violence.

Running Time: 1 hour 56 minutes

Hit - Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney

High school junior Juno (Page), finds herself surprisingly pregnant. She decides to give the baby up for adoption but finds challenges in giving her child to the right people.

This movie was perfectly timed with the announcement of Jamie Lynn Spear’s pregnancy that it is uncanny. I found this movie to have a lot of charm for such a small film. Being a big fan of director Jason Reitman and the entire Reitman family has caused me to look forward to their upcoming projects.

The characters in this film are loveable (even the small cameo played by Rainn Wilson) and empathetic. I found the movie could have gone in various directions with having her parents being non-accepting of their daughters fate, but I am glad the story decided to stick with them being accepting of their daughter and her unborn child.

Although Juno makes a good decision to give up the baby to a loving home, I find that it was implied that she didn’t learn her lesson about being sexually active (”what does that mean?”- she asks). Therefore, I was slightly disappointed in the implications that she is going to continue with her promiscuous ways.

Bottom Line: Wait for video

Dramedy

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes

Hit - Starring Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) is seeking yet another national treasure, in hopes to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

So many sequels, so little time… While this movie was entertaining, I did not think it was anything special in terms of awards or general hubbub. What I can say is this, it falls into the category of a typical sequel. A typical sequel is not as interesting as the first movie, it follows the general format of the first film but adds a new twist to a familiar situation. Therefore, while I was entertained, I wasn’t particularly moved by the originality of this movie in terms of a sequel.

Bottom Line: Entertainment that will keep you satisfied if you liked the first film.

Action

Rated PG for some violence and action.

Running Time: 2 hours 4 minutes

Hit - Starring Will Smith

Military scientist, Robert Neville, attempts to reverse the effects of a terrible man-made virus. Since Robert is immune to the virus, he spends his days seeking other survivors (if there are any) and trying to survive. Although he may be the last human survivor in New York City, he is not alone. Infected and mutated human victims of the virus hide in the shadows by day (daylight will kill them), roam the streets at night, and all the while keep a close watch on Neville (hoping he will make a fatal mistake). Will he be able to find a cure in time, or will he quickly be out numbered?

This movie is easily one of the best films I have seen this year. It takes the audience through a whirlwind of emotions for this heroic character. Fear - this emotion is the most prevalent as this movie is scary business. Thanks to loud noises, you will find yourself jumping out of your seat because of a window closing shut. It is a little crazy in this sense. Sadness - realizing that the main character has lost a lot of loved ones, and continues to lose things close to him. Happiness - discovering that things aren’t always how they seem. Hope - that there will be a place that he will find others like him. Bravery - finding out that in order to succeed, we must sacrifice.

While the movie itself is excellent, and I have not seen a stellar individual performance since Tom Hanks in “Cast Away,” this movie had some areas that I think could have been improved upon. The antagonists in this film are very one-dimensional which makes it hard to empathize with them. We know that they are smart because they are able to trick Neville at one point, but they do not show that they are smart. If these characters were more like vampires, I think this movie would be more interesting. There was something very non-human about them when, they are still considered human.

Caution: There is a scene that is horribly disturbing, but for its content it is done tastefully (it could have been portrayed in a more graphic manner). This particular part of the film made me realize how good of an actor Will Smith is because of his ability to act as though this incident was really happening. None-the-less it is disturbing.

Bottom Line: Be apart of this legend while it is still in theatres.

Action / SciFi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes.

Hit - Starring Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and Dave

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are back! After finding their way into Dave Seville’s home (a music writer) they discover they have a knack for singing and dancing. Dave decides to take them to a record label and now they are taking the music industry by storm with their hit single, “The Chipmunks Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late).”

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore have been in show business for over 50 years, therefore, how can you resist these chipmunks. Having a live version of this film makes the movie even more enjoyable. Children will appreciate this holiday film which will make it into everyone’s stocking next Christmas.

Critical critique: This film had some serious lighting issues when the Chipmunks were performing inside clubs/venues. Also, there was no need to pay for middle wage actors as the voices of the chipmunks (Justin Long - aka Mac, and Jesse McCartney) since the voices were morphed enough to make them sound like the original. Why not just use voice actors for this? It could save you money in the long run. Just a thought.

Bottom Line: A great holiday film for the entire family!

Live Action/Animation

Rated PG for some mild rude humor.

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

In case you were wondering, Theodore is my favorite. I especially love the part where he says to Dave, “I had a nightmare, can I sleep with you?” Too cute!