Best & Worst Movies of 2008

10 Favorite Movies of '08 (in no particular order)	10 Worst Movies of '08 (in no particular order)
The Dark Knight Iron Man The Incredible Hulk Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Kung Fu Panda The Forbidden Kingdom Mongol Let The Right One In Slumdog Millionaire Role Models	Disaster Movie Drillbit Taylor 88 Minutes You Don't Mess with the Zohan The Happening Meet Dave Fools Gold Paranoid Park Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay The Love Guru

REVIEW: Seven Pounds

STARRING: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 12/19/2008 DATE SCREENED: 12/17/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

Will Smith takes on a dramatic role in his 2nd release of 2008, Seven Pounds. The advertising campaign seems to have been carefully crafted to make it difficult to figure out exactly what the film is about. I guess you can get away with that when Will Smith is the star of the movie, but the cryptic nature of the advertising has annoyed me. Word of mouth will probably be very important to the success of this film, and I think people’s feelings will generally be mixed.

The opening scene of Seven Pounds shows a very emotional Ben Thomas (Will Smith) on the phone with 911. He’s reporting a suicide… his own. The story then backs up to show how things got to that point. Ben is an IRS agent who seems to be auditing only people with serious health problems. It turns out he’s not just visiting these people for the IRS, but also for himself. He has some kind of “gift” for these people that will change their lives, but he must figure out if they are worthy of receiving this gift. Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) is one such person, suffering from heart disease. She takes a liking to Ben once he informs her that her back taxes will be put on hold for the next six months due to her condition. Emily’s smile is irresistible, and Ben’s icy exterior slowly begins to melt. He is soon getting to know her on a more personal level, far beyond what is necessary to decide if she is worthy of his “gift”. Throughout the film there are flashbacks to Ben’s wife, who we can gather must have been killed in a car accident. Between visits with Emily, we also see Ben helping and "interviewing" other sick people. As his relationship with Emily grows stronger it makes it harder to see how Ben is going to become suicidal. All is revealed when the movie kicks into high gear for the conclusion.

The chemistry between Will Smith and Rosario Dawson is very good. Both are very good actors, who are a joy to watch on screen. Their relationship is very touching. The slow build up of their relationship does help to increase the dramatic tension at the end. The problem is that when Will and Rosario were not on screen together I was completely bored. Without knowing what was really going on, it didn’t take long for me to lose interest in a lot of what was happening on screen. Even the build up of Ben and Emily’s relationship started to seem too slow. After 90 minutes I thought I had been sitting for over 2 hours. The ending is well done and very emotional, but I think some people will have problems waiting to get to that ending. I found myself sitting in the theater wishing I had a fast forward button. I grew up in the same neighborhood as Will Smith, so I hope for the very best any time he puts out a movie. But in this case I can only recommend people wait for the DVD of Seven Pounds. The film did receive a good round of applause from the audience, so maye the reaction won't be as mixed as I think it will be.

REVIEW: Gran Torino

STARRING: Clint Eastwood, Ahney Her View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 12/19/2008 DATE SCREENED: 12/16/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

Clint Eastwood directs himself for the first time since 2004 in Gran Torino. The film is generating Oscar buzz for both Eastwood as Best Actor and the film as Best Picture. Eastwood has already won the Best Actor prize from the National Board of Review. Although I walked into the screening with no idea what Gran Torino was actually about, the Oscar buzz I had heard had me walking into the theater with high expectations. Eastwood’s two previous Best Picture awards have already set the bar high for any of his films.

Gran Torino is centered on Eastwood’s character, Walt Kowalski. We are introduced to Walt at his wife’s funeral. After the funeral, when everyone is gathered at Walt’s house, Walt’s character is quickly established. He’s the kind of angry old man that does not fit in with today’s politically correct society. He’s a racist Korean War veteran and retired auto worker, who doesn’t have much a relationship with his own sons and grandchildren. He always says what is on his mind, regardless of how it may hurt someone’s feelings.

A family of Hmong (Southeast Asian) immigrants moves in next door to Walt. It seems Walt’s neighborhood has gone through a drastic change the last few years. Almost all of the white people have moved out, while lower income Asians, blacks and Hispanics have moved in. The young people have formed street gangs based on race, but that doesn’t scare Walt. He calls everyone a racial slur without fear. The Hmong gang forces one of Walt’s neighbors, a teenaged boy named Thao, to try and steal Walt’s prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino. Walt catches him, almost shooting him in the process. When the gang returns to try and force Thao into another initiation, his sister Sue is there to help resist. Things start to get violent and Walt comes to the rescue with his rifle. Unfortunately, pulling out that rifle only launches a cycle of escalating violence. Walt takes a liking to both Sue and Thao, and is soon learning about Hmong culture. He seems to harbor guilt about the Asians he killed in Korea. In his mind he now has the opportunity to make up for it by protecting his neighbors from this street gang.

The great thing about Gran Torino is that it has so many layers to keep you interested throughout. You have action, you have comedy, and there is a moral to the story. Different themes are touched upon. You have the theme of solving problems with violence only creating more violence. There is the theme of a person realizing that other races aren’t that different. There is the theme of a soldier atoning for his war crimes. The meaning of life and death is even explored through Walt’s banter with a priest who checks up on Walt regularly. None of these themes are new, but the film puts it all together in a way that makes for a unique film. A lot of Walt’s racist commentary is played for laughs, and one particular scene in which Walt tries to toughen up Thao at a barber shop was probably the funniest scene I’ve seen in a movie all year. The film isn’t perfect, as some of the events are very contrived. And Walt’s constant stream of racial epitaphs does begin to wear a bit thin. Overall, Gran Torino is a very good movie that’s definitely worth a trip to the theater.

REVIEW: Yes Man

STARRING: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 12/19/2008 DATE SCREENED: 12/15/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

Jim Carrey goes back to his comedic roots with Yes Man. Carrey was last seen in a dramatic role in The Number 23, a critical and financial disappointment which only grossed $35 million in the U.S. Yes Man marks a swift return to the physical comedy he’s been know for since his days on In Living Color.

In Yes Man, Carrey plays Carl, a divorced loan officer who spends his days rejecting loan applications and his nights watching DVDs. His best friend Peter is constantly trying to get him to go out, but Carl always has some bogus excuse. “No” seems to be Carl’s favorite word. A chance meeting with an old friend introduces Carl to the concept of becoming a “Yes Man”. The friend invites him to the next seminar, promising it will change his life. Carl shows up at the seminar, led by Terrence (Terence Stamp). Carl is singled out as being a new member unsure about the idea of being a “Yes Man”. Terrence is able to convince Carl to honor a covenant of saying “Yes” to every opportunity, no matter what it is, and promises it will change his life. Upon leaving the seminar, Carl reluctantly says yes to a homeless guy asking for a ride. After dropping off the homeless man, Carl ends up stranded on the road, and meets Allison (Zooey Deschanel) at a gas station. Allison seems to be the cute spontaneous girl of his dreams, so Carl becomes committed to being a “Yes Man”. He says yes to things ranging from accepting an offer from persianwives.com, to bungee jumping off of a bridge, to planning his best friend’s wedding shower. Approving every small loan application unwittingly leads to a promotion at work and his relationship with Allison is making him forget about his ex-wife. This saying “yes” thing really works, for the most part. Eventually things begin to unravel and Carl learns important life lessons along the way.

I was never a big fan of Carrey’s work, and “Yes Man” reminded me of “Liar Liar”, in which Carrey is under a spell that prevents him from lying. When I'm watching a Carrey comedy I alternate between laughing and thinking that it's too stupid. This is the typical Carrey comedy. Carrey falls down, Carrey makes funny faces, Carrey runs around, Carrey makes silly jokes... change the scenery and then repeat. Some of it is amusing, but most is not. Then the movie ends with a typical romantic comedy ending. If you are a big fan of Carrey, you should enjoy yourself. If you aren’t, then you shouldn’t spend the time/money to see this in the theater. Wait for the DVD and you will at least get a few laughs while sitting on the couch.

REVIEW: Zach and Miri Make a Porno

STARRING: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 10/22/2008 DATE SCREENED: 10/31/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

The commercials for Zack and Miri Make a Porno leave you with the feeling that this is the latest Judd Apatow comedy. Instead, it’s the latest from writer/director Kevin Smith. Kevin Smith is a very likeable guy who showed a lot of promise in early films like Clerks and Dogma. His more recent films like Jersey Girl and ClerksII have been disappointing. It makes you wonder if he’d rather be an actor when you see him in films like Live Free or Die Hard. But Zack and Miri has been well received on the Film Festival circuit, so I hoped it would be a return to form.

The plot of Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) Make a Porno is very simple. They are roommates who have been platonic friends since grade school. When their electricity is cut off and they can’t pay the bills they come up with a novel idea. They want to produce an amateur porno and sell it. Miri is already a YouTube sensation, as teens had filmed her changing and posted a video of her in her “granny panties”. With the backing of a friend, who is willing to give up the money he was saving to buy a new big screen TV, Zach & Miri assemble an odd cast of characters to make this film. The assembled cast includes former porn star Traci Lords and current porn star Katie Morgan, along with Kevin Smith’s pal Jason Mewes. A funny thing happens when it’s time to start shooting. Zack and Miri really don’t want the other to have sex with anyone else. And when they have sex for the first time on camera, the emotions they had denied start to flow. What started out as a raunchy sex comedy quickly turns into the typical romantic comedy.

Zack and Miri has a few funny sequences and female nudity (not form E. Banks), but is a disappointment overall. Funny early scenes are forgotten as the movie drags on to its predictable conclusion. Zack and Miri’s 10 year high school reunion is a highlight, as Miri hits on her high school crush (Brandon Routh) who turns out to be attending with his gay lover, played hilariously by Justin Long. They originally attempt to make a film called “Star Whores”, a pornographic version of Star Wars. I have no idea how they got George Lucas to allow even the suggestion of a Star Wars porno, but they eventually go in a different direction and make the movie in the coffee shop where Zack works. Seth Rogan does his usual shtick as Zack, and Elizabeth Perkins is likeable enough as Miri. But the film is basically a romantic comedy. It does seem like an original idea to take the making a porno and turn it into something romantic, but I don’t think that’s what the audience of this film really wants to see. It’s certainly not what I wanted to see. There seems to be no reason as to why Miri would fall in love with an overweight slacker like Zack. An awful gross out gag thrown in out of nowhere towards the end is the movie’s low point. A good first half makes the film worth seeing, but wait for the DVD.

- Ade
Black Belt Theater

REVIEW: W.

STARRING: Josh Brolin, Richard Dreyfuss View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 10/17/2008 DATE SCREENED: 10/14/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

At this point many of us have probably wondered how George W. Bush went from being a ‘C’ student and an alcoholic to the President of the United States. A President who had an approval rating of approximately 90% in 2001, but now has one of 23%. Oliver Stone attempts to answer that question with the film “W.”. It’s surprising that this film is being released while Bush is still in office, as the final chapter of Bush’s Presidency is still being written. But unless he captures Osama Bin Laden on his last day in office, it’s safe to say that his Presidency will end being considered one of the worst.

“W.” covers George W. Bush’s (Josh Brolin) life from the time he pledged a fraternity in college until the Iraq war is basically extended indefinitely. He attended Yale and Harvard Business School, thanks to the influence of his father. Bush wandered from job to job after school, trying to find his niche. Along the way he weds Laura Bush (Elizabeth Banks). He eventually ends up as the owner of the Texas Rangers. When Bush Sr. (James Cromwell ) becomes President, he has high hopes that Jeb would be the son to follow in his legacy. But Bush Jr. eventually decides to quit drinking and get into the family business. He loses his first election, but that only serves as extra motivation. In his next election he becomes the Governor of Texas. While Governor, Bush believes that he receives a message from God to run for President. Once President, Bush’s approval rating reaches its peak after the terrorist attacks of 9-11, due to Bush’s strong response to go to war on terror. Bush’s assembled team of advisors includes Vice President Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss), Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove (Toby Jones), Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn), General Colin Powel (Jeffrey Wright), and Condeleezza Rice (Thandie Newton). The war on terror started out as an attempt to squash Al Qaeda and capture Osama Bin Laden. It quickly moved into an attack on Iraq. Bush himself always told his father that he should have taken out Saddam Hussein. He seems determined to do what his father would not, regardless of the opinion of the countries of the United Nations. Cheney wants to attack Iraq because they control so much of the world’s oil. Colin Powel is the lone voice of reason, preaching patience and saying that a preemptive strike on Iraq is not a good idea. Bush knows that the American public will not approve of going to war based on personal reasons or oil, so they must show that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The strike on Iraq is approved with the slightest bit of “proof”. Saddam is captured and the Bush Administration declares victory. But chaos continues to reign in Iraq, soldiers continue to die, there is no exit strategy, and Bush is eventually forced to admit that there are no WMDs. This is ultimately what will define Bush’s Presidential legacy.

“W.” is a very interesting portrait of George Bush. The father-son relationship is a big part of the film, as Bush is always trying to prove himself to his father. Bush feels that Jeb was always his father’s favorite son. Despite his rich upbringing, Bush is the kind of guy that a lot of America felt they would want to sit down and have a beer with. He never comes across as the rich Ivy League educated man that can not relate to the common person. His brother is the one who comes across that way, and although his brother did eventually become governor of Florida, he doesn’t have that charisma to win the Presidency. Bush’s personality, combined with Karl Rove shaping his views on the issues and debate strategies, are the main factors to his successful Presidential campaigns. Unlike his father, Bush makes his decisions based on gut feelings or “messages from God”, as opposed to thinking things through. As president, this makes it hard for him to sift through all the advice from his advisors and pick out the best course of action.

Josh Brolin IS George Bush in this movie. He does a brilliant acting job. Richard Dryfuss is also great as Dick Cheney. All the actors do good work except for Thandie Newton. She seems to be doing a caricature of Condelleza that is more appropriate for Saturday Night Live. Oliver Stone does his best to cut back and forth between the different periods of Bush’s life, but the movie does still drag in spots. I do think this movie should have been made next year, as opposed to this year. It ends without feeling like you’ve seen a complete story arc. With a movie like this, I do wonder how much of it is completely accurate. With Bush still President, who is leaking stories about what went on in the meetings with his advisers? But the film is an engaging enough portrait of the man to be worth a trip to the theater. I’ll end with a quote from comedian Chris Rock, “A black C student can't do sh__ with his life. A black C student can't be a manager at Burger King, meanwhile a white C student just happens to be the President of the United States.” No wonder this county is in such a dire situation…

REVIEW: The Duchess

STARRING: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 09/26/2008 DATE SCREENED: 09/10/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

The English “Period Piece” is one of my least favorite film genres. Dangerous Liaisons is the one such film that I really love. The Duchess is not only an English period piece set in the 18^th Century, but also stars one of my least favorite actresses, Keira Knightley. I realize that she was the 2^nd highest paid actress in 2007, and was nominated for an Oscar in Pride & Predjudice, but she has never impressed me. I’m sure there are plenty of guys looking forward to seeing her in her corset, but I’m not one of them. I entered the screening with very little hope of being entertained by The Duchess.

The Duchess is based on the true story of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Her marriage to the much older Duke (Ralph Fiennes) was arranged when she was 17, with Georgianna having no idea what was expected of her. Her “job” as Duchess is to produce a male heir, nothing more and nothing less. Instead, the Duchess has multiple miscarriages before producing two daughters. She also becomes famous in her own right as a beautiful fashion icon and gambler. Behind closed doors, The Duke was an abusive husband, who not only forced Gerogianna to take care of his daughter from a previous relationship, but also allow his mistress to live with them. And this mistress was Georgianna’s best friend. The Duke rationalized all this by saying that Georgianna was not doing her “job”. Georgianna eventually does have a son, but by this point she understands that the marriage is a marriage in name only. She must keep herself busy to keep from crying. She begins to assist a childhood friend named Earl Grey with his political career. Her popularity helps him immensely. This eventually evolves into a passionate affair. The two lovebirds plan to run off together, but the Duke will not have it. The Duchess would have no rights to her children, and making an enemy of the Duke would not be a good political move for Earl Grey. Behind the outgoing public persona, Gerogianna is a very troubled woman trying to make the best of a bad situation.

The Duchess started off slowly. I began to wonder if I was going to battle with my eyelids the entire night. But a surprising thing happened as the movie went along. I began to actually get into the story. The film has all the trappings of a period piece film, with lush sets, impressive costume design, backstabbing characters, and great acting performances. Ralph Fiennes adds just the right amount of menace to The Duke, and Keira Knightley impressed me for the first time, portraying all the different emotions of the Duchess as she grows from a naïve teenager into an adult. She might get some Oscar consideration for this performance as well. I found Geogianna’s life as The Duchess to be fascinating. The period piece is not for everyone, but those who enjoy them should enjoy this one. See it in the theater.

- Black Belt Theater

REVIEW: The Longshots

STARRING: Ice Cube, Keke Palmer View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/22/2008 DATE SCREENED: 08/18/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

If you had told me years ago that Limp Bizkit’s lead singer Fred Durst would make a movie starring my favorite “gansta rapper” Ice Cube, and it would be a family film about a 13 year old girl playing football, I would have thought you were crazy. But here we are in 2008, and Ice Cube has left his “gansta” persona behind, having already made a string of bad family films. His latest, The Longshots does have one thing Cube’s other family films did not have… Keke Palmer. This talented actress/singer made her big splash in Akeelah and the Bee. Playing the 13 year old girl who plays football, I had high hopes that she could elevate this film way above the low standards Ice Cube has set with films like Are We There Yet.

Set in the small town of Mindin Illinois, Longshots is based on a true story. Most of the men in town have been unemployed since the closing of a factory. Curtis (Ice Cube) is one such unemployed male, who used to be one of the middle school’s star players. He walks around in the same clothes every day, carrying a football and watching the middle school team practice in preparation for the upcoming season. His life begins to change when he is forced to watch his 13 year old niece Jasmine every day after school. Her mother has been forced to work later hours, and Curtis is the only family around to baby-sit. Jasmine’s father, Curtis’ brother, had abandoned the family 5 years ago. Jasmine is an unpopular bookworm. When she picks up a football and throws a perfect spiral to Curtis, he realizes that he may have a prodigy on his hands. Soon he is coaching her on how to be a quarterback. She is better than any of the guys on her school's team, and since it’s not technically against the rules, she becomes the team’s back-up quarterback. After a tough loss, she is promoted to the starting quarterback, where she excels and the team begins to win. Jasmine’s father even shows up in town after seeing a story about Jasmine on the news. When the head coach becomes ill, Ice Cube is hired as coach. With Jasmine at the helm, along with an assist from Curtis’ inspirational speeches, the team becomes the first Pop Warner football team to make it to the Super Bowl with a female quarterback.

The Longshots feels like it rushes to its conclusion, only pausing at all the clichéd plot points for movies in this genre. After just a few passing drills with Curtis, Jasmine is on the football team calling plays. When did she learn to run an offense, including running plays? A romance between Curtis and Jasmine's teacher is started but then abandoned. None of the other player’s characters are fleshed out. Jasmine’s mom is in and out of the movie just when her presence is absolutely necessary.

What we do get is the set-up of Jasmine and Curtis as outcasts. Jasmine and Curtis both have to win over the team with their talent and charm. Things quickly move to the “Big Game”, which does have about as much excitement as you can get from a Pop Warner game. They even throw in a moment with Jasmine and her father that will bring tears to some people’s eyes. The audience in the screening ate it all up, clapping and crying at all the right moments. KeKe Palmer is a great young actress and dose elevate this film past Cube’s other family fare, but just barely. This is nothing we haven't seen countless times before. Unless you have kids clamoring to see this movie, wait for the DVD.

REVIEW: Star Wars: Clone Wars

STARRING: Matt Lanter (voice), Ashley Eckstein (voice) View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/15/2008 DATE SCREENED: 08/11/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

I fell in love with movies as a 7 year old boy, sitting in Philadelphia's last “movie palace”, completely mesmerized by Star Wars. I've anxiously awaited every Star Wars movie made since. I felt sad after the release of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, thinking that I would never have another Star Wars film to look forward to. My excitement was somewhat rekindled when I read about the upcoming release of the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The very first battle of the clone wars was depicted in Attack of the Clones and the final battles of the clone wars in Revenge of the Sith. Some of the major events in between where shown in the original Star Wars: Clone Wars cartoon aired back in 2003. Although that cartoon was great, I did have some doubts about whether a new cartoon covering more of the Clone Wars would be worth a trip to the theater.

Clone Wars starts off with a WB logo (not 20th Century Fox) and a weak modified version of the Star Wars theme. We are quickly thrust right into a battle, with Obi-Wan, Anakin, and clone troopers defending themselves from an attack by a droid army. The animation is completely different than the original cartoon series. This is a digital 3-D, more realistic type of animation. Unlike the previous cartoon, the Jedi can not do feats that they could not do in the previous films.

During a break in the battle, Anakin is introduced to his new Padawan (student), a female named Ahsoka Tano. She is very talkative and impulsive, and quickly gets on Anakin’s bad side by calling him “Sky-guy”. A nice chemistry develops between them as they take out a shield generator, which leads to a victory in the battle. Yoda arrives, and Anakin and his Padawan are soon off on another mission. They must rescue Jabba the Hut’s son, who is still a baby. Obi-Wan is sent to negotiate with Jabba for permission to transport troops through the Hut's trade routes. It turns out that Jabba's son was kidnapped by Count Dooku’s apprentice Asajj Ventress. The Count visits Jabba to blame the Jedi for the kidnapping. The Jedi must get past both Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku in order to get Baby Jabba to his father and prove the Jedi had nothing to do with his kidnapping. Senator Amidala makes a brief appearance in helping to expose Count Dooku’s plot.

Clone Wars is clearly aimed at children, and not the adults who grew up on Star Wars. It’s much more lighthearted and silly than the three prequels. Anakin and his Padawan have a constant, but funny, banter between them. It’s fun to see Anakin get a taste of his own medicine, with a Padawan who doesn’t want to listen and lacks discipline & patience. She is a great addition to the Star Wars universe. The movie assumes you know all the other characters. If you are not already familiar with Star Wars, you will be completely lost. The droids are portrayed as being completely clueless, making silly comments and silly decisions that no droid would ever make. There is not much talking before the next action scene, so the film never slows. We get large scale space and ground battles, plus extended light saber duels between Anakin & Dooku, and Obi-Wan & Asajj Ventress. I enjoyed myself throughout, and I’m looking forward to the TV show scheduled to begin airing in October. The Clone Wars should be able to provide plenty of interesting storylines and characters to support a series. I do wish it had more of a serious tone, but I understand it’s a cartoon and they have to keep the children entertained. Clone Wars is worth a trip to the theater for the entire family.

REVIEW: Tropic Thunder

STARRING: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/15/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/21/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

Ben Stiller hasn’t made me laugh since Meet the Fockers in 2004. After the complete disaster of Heartbreak Kid, Stiller took matters into his own hands, writing and directing Tropic Thunder. With a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black, plus a story that seemed somewhat original based on the trailer, I had high hopes that Stiller’s steak of unfunny comedies would be over.

Tropic Thunder introduces us to the main characters by opening with fake trailers. We see trailers for the latest movies of action hero Tugg Speedman (Stiller), Kirk Lazarus (Downey Jr.), and funnyman Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), plus a commercial by rapper Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson). These four stars have teamed up for a big budget war flick. Kirk Lazarus is a playing a black character, in a form of black face. Being committed to method acting he is living as a black person 24/7. Things are not going well during filming. The movie is over budget and the actors are not giving their best performances. An out of control studio executive (Tom Cruise) is demanding results and threatening to fire the director. Acting upon the recommendation of the war veteran on whose book the movie is based (Nick Nolte) the director ships the stars out to a remote area of Vietnam, where they will get a taste of what it’s really like to be a soldier. Things go horribly wrong, and Speedman ends up captured by Vietnamese drug dealers who are familiar with his work. They contact the movie studio, and Les basically tells the kidnappers to go screw themselves. It seems that Les and Speedman’s agent (Matthew McConaughey) are willing to let him die in order to collect the insurance money to recoup the projected loses on the film. It’s up to the remaining actors to band together in order to save Speedman from this dangerous situation.

Tropic Thunder is a mixed bag. Tom Cruise steals the movie, as he is hilarious as the out of control studio executive. I certainly would have never expected this kind of funny, and profane, performance from Cruise. There are also funny moments as the actors wander the forrest trying to figure out if they are in a real dangerous situation or if it’s all an elaborate set-up. And the part in which the leader of the drug gang forces Speedman to re-enact his past role as a retarded kid had me laughing as well.

The main thing I did not like about Tropic Thunder is Downey Jr., as Kirk Lazarus, in black face. This is the year 2008, and the humor in black face is completely lost on me. The movie tries to soften the blow by having the rapper Alpa Chino say things to Kirk that black people will be thinking while watching the movie. Although that may be enough to make most people feel its ok to laugh at the character, it didn’t work for me. I also didn’t find Jack Black’s performance, in which he is either in withdrawal from his heroin addiction or trying to steal heroin, to be funny at all.

Overall, I’d have to say that the film is just OK, and only worth renting on DVD. Downey Jr is lucky he just did Iron Man, as performing in black face is usually not good for one's career these days. Stiller has managed to make a film that made me laugh at times, so the streak is technically over. But there is still plenty of room for improvement in his future comedies.

REVIEW: Swing Vote

STARRING: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/01/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/24/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

With this being an election year in which the American public must choose between two candidates that could not be more different, the timing is perfect for a movie like Swing Vote. In Swing Vote a Presidential election literally comes down one person’s vote, and the saying that every vote counts was never more true. That one vote is in the hands of a Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner), an apathetic slacker from Texaco, New Mexico. Bud drinks way too much and just recently lost his job. The vote actually belongs to his twelve year old daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll), who not only registered her dad to vote but was the one placing the vote that is in question due to a voter machine malfunction. Since twelve year olds technically can’t vote, Molly has to take a back seat while her dad takes credit.

When a local reporter, Kate Madison (Paula Patton), breaks the story that the election is being held up for Bud to recast his vote, the national media and both Presidential candidates descend on Taxaco and camp out outside of Bud’s door. Bud is set to cast his vote in ten days, and both candidates put plans into motion to win Bud’s vote. Bud doesn’t even care about the election, but is determined to enjoy his 15 minutes of fame. He meets with the candidates, has parties thrown in his honor, and grants interviews. Kate had previously done a story on Molly, so she has the inside track on the interviews. When Bud says that he is for the environment, the incumbent president changes his stance and becomes a protector of the environment. When Bud says he is pro-life, without even knowing what it means, the other candidate switches to a pro-life agenda. Much to Molly’s chagrin, Bud is making a mockery of the entire political process. Molly wants people to think her dad actually cares, so she answers his stacks of mail from all over the country and tells everyone that her dad takes his responsibility seriously. Molly convinces Bud to hold a debate between the two candidates before making his final decision. When Bud begins to read all of his mail that Molly had been answering it finally dawns on him that the election is actually important, and he is carrying a huge responsibility.

As long as you can get past the ridiculous series of events that leads to the election coming down to one vote, you can enjoy Swing Vote. The movie works as a comedy and a drama. Watching Bud deal with his overnight fame and watching the candidates hurry to film commercials based on Bud’s likes/dislikes provides many funny moments. The film also deals seriously with the relationship between Bud and his daughter Molly, and her absentee mother. The movie takes a completely serious turn at the end when Bud realizes his responsibility. The switch in tone is a abrupt, which made it seem somewhat out of character for Bud. But that might have been necessary for the film to make its final points. The film really isn’t about who he finally votes for as President, but the process this man who never voted goes through in order to realize that voting is important. The cast is really strong, with Madeline being the big find as Molly. When the film started I thought that they should have hired Dakota Fanning for the role, but it wasn’t long before Madeline completely won me over. Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper do a great job as two completely opposite candidates who wonder if kissing Bud’s butt is really the right thing to do. Paula Patton is beautiful as Kate and Stanley Tucci does good work as usual as the President’s aid. Swing Vote is worth a trip to the theater, and I hope everyone leaving the theater will understand that every vote will matter in the upcoming election.

REVIEW: The Rocker

STARRING: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 08/20/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/02/2008 The Verdict NOT GOOD - Wait for cable

The Rocker seems like it was written as a Will Ferrell vehicle, but instead we have Rainn Wilson in the title role of Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman, an adult who refuses to grow up. The basic idea is that you take an adult with some kind of immature, childlike obsession, put him in situations in which he can drive kids and adults crazy with his antics, and then hilarity will ensue. But things don’t always work out as well as the movie directors expect.

‘Fish’ was the drummer of a band called Vesuvius in the ‘80s. The group is offered their first major record deal with the caveat that they must replace the drummer. Vesuvius goes on to be one of the biggest rock ‘n roll bands of all time, while 20 years later Fishman is unemployed and living in his sister’s attic, harboring a deep hatred of Vesuvius. It turns out that Fishman’s overweight 17 year old nephew is the keyboardist in a band, and they are looking for a drummer. Fishman is asked to help out, and it’s not long before his ‘80s hairstyles and antics are back in business as the old guy in this teen pop-rock group called A.D.D. Thanks to a popular YouTube video featuring Fishman practicing in the nude, the group is signed to a record label and is soon out on their first tour. When Fish isn’t acting like a “rock star” he is attempting to romance the lead singer’s mother, played by Christina Applegate. This of course leads to tension, and Fish is kicked out of the group right before their biggest gig opening for the legendary Vesuvius. Will history repeat itself, or will the group discover that they need ‘Fish’?

I suspect that most of you can figure out the ending. Rainn Wilson does his best, but he’s just not as funny as Will Ferrell. For this movie to work, with it’s silly and predictable plot, the lead character has to carry it. Rainn is not able to carry this movie, but it’s not for a lack of trying. Watching him act like an ‘80s reject was just not funny. Christina Applegate is underutilized, as she is the best actor in the film. I can’t believe she is doing mother roles these days. The lead singer of A.D.D. is singer Teddy Geiger, who I understand is somewhat popular with kids. He’s not much of an actor though. This film is not worth a trip to the theater or video store. Wait for cable.

REVIEW: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

STARRING: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 07/11/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/08/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

The original Hellboy was only a minor success, and a mediocre film, raking in $99 million world wide on a $60 million budget. A sequel was not a certainty. Thanks to brisk DVD sales and the subsequent success of director Guillermo Del Toro’s Pans Labyrinth, the green light was given to Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Armed with an $82 million budget, he set out to correct the mistakes of the first film. The summer of 2008 will be known as the summer of the comic book movie, so the timing of the release is perfect. But can Hellboy II continue the streak of exciting comic book film adaptations?

Hellboy II opens with a scene of a young Hellboy being told the story of the mythical robotic Golden Army. The Golden Army was controlled by a race of mythical creatures for a war against humanity in ancient times. Eventually, a treaty was signed that gave the humans rights to the cities, with the creatures the rights to the forests. When Hellboy innocently asks his “father” if the story is real, he’s told that one day he will find out. We jump to the present day, where Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) is preparing to break the treaty by gaining the necessary pieces to the crown which controls the army. Humans have angered him with their utter disregard of life and the environment, and he’s had enough. He’s ready to start the war all over again. He kills his own father to claim a piece of the crown, but his twin sister Nuala flees with the final piece. Meanwhile, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is having problems in his relationship with his girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair). He’s a slob, and she’s getting tired of it. Hellboy’s superiors are growing tired of him, as the members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) are supposed to live in secret, but he’s going around posing for pictures that the government has to suppress. The humans have one piece of the crown, and the Prince interrupts an auction to claim it. This gets Hellboy and his team involved, fighting creatures at the auction house. In the process the entire team (Hellboy, amphibious mind reader Abe Sapien, and fire controlling Liz) ends up on the evening news, much to Hellboy’s delight. A new team leader is brought in named Johann Krause, who is some type of powerful spirit creature. The four of them end up finding the princess and bringing her back to their secret compound, where she hides the final piece of the crown. Abe quickly finds himself falling in love with the Nuada, but it’s not long before the Prince shows up to snatch her away. The BPRD must deliver the final piece of the crown to Prince Nuada in the secret underground chamber of the Golden Army. But Hellboy is not about to give that piece up without a fight.

I’ve never read a Hellboy comic, so I don’t know how well the story and characters match with the comic. What I do know is this is a much better film than the first one. This time the film is focused on Hellboy and his relationships with the other members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Hellboy becomes a character that we really care about and get behind in this film. He argues with his girlfriend Liz, fights with his bosses, and is the first in line when it comes time to face off with an enemy. He’s a guy in love, who also wants to be loved by the public. When it comes time to kick butt, he does so with an attitude and a sense of humor. I know that character development is not what most people go to a summer action movie to see. People want to see BIG action sequences. Hellboy has plenty of action as well. The team fights a variety of creatures, including a giant plant creature at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. The team must face off with the Golden Army, and Hellboy has not one, but two, fights with Prince Nuada.

Visually, the film looks like it cost much more than $82 million. You are taken into these underground worlds with creatures of all types, and none of it looks fake. Hellboy pulls you in with a good story, with humorous dialogue sprinkled throughout, and there is not too much talking before the next action sequence. The big mistake of the first film was in centering the story around the human character John Myers. He’s nowhere to be found this time. See this one in the theater. Although not at the level of Iron Man or Incredible Hulk, Hellboy has kept the streak of exciting comic book movies going. Let’s hope it continues with The Dark Knight.

REVIEW: Journey to the Center of the Earth

STARRING: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 07/11/2008 DATE SCREENED: 07/05/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

I’ve never read the book “A Journey to the Center of the Earth”, or seen any of the previous movies it spawned. As I watched the trailer for the latest incarnation of Journey to the Center of the Earth, and saw that it was an action film starring Brendan Fraser, with dinosaurs, AND filmed in 3-D, I was hooked. I looked forward to putting on my 3-D glasses and enjoying the ride.

Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, a science professor who is following in the footsteps of his brother, who disappeared searching for the theoretical “center of the earth”. While his brother’s son Sean (Josh Hutcherson) is staying for the week, Trevor notices certain geological shifts that are the exact signs that his brother saw which led him on his search. In honor of his brother, Trevor takes Sean on a field trip to find the passageway to the “center of the earth”.

Along the way Trevor realizes that they need the assistance of a mountain guide. They hire Hannah (Anita Briem), the daughter of another scientist who was also lost searching for the “center of the earth”. The three of them take off together, but things do not go according to plan. A sudden storm traps them in a cave, where they literally fall into the passageway that takes them to the “center of the earth”. The center of the earth is no theory. It’s real. It’s is an entire world of its own, containing plants, animals, and fish that have long been extinct topside. The wonder they experience in this find soon gives way to the reality that they will have to find a way to get back out or they will also be considered lost and die down there. They devise a plan to find a geyser to push them back to the top, but getting there does not turn out to be easy. They get separated along the way and must face the infamous T-Rex.

The center of the earth is rendered wonderfully in 3-D. It’s like you get to experience the sense of wonder with the characters. The glowing birds are flying around you similar to how they are flying around them. When flesh eating plants attack, you feel like the plant is attacking you. And when a drop of spit drips from the lips of the T-Rex, you instinctively start to cover your face. Once the movie gets to the center, it’s just one chase scene after another. The chase scenes aren’t exactly original, but the 3-D effects make the experience of watching them seem original. We’ve seen people get chased by a dinosaur before, but not quite like this. And we have certainly never seen people defend themselves from piranha type fish by hitting them with a stick straight into the audience. This movie is not about character development, or a believable storyline. This movie is an exciting, sometimes funny, thrill ride that the entire family can enjoy. See it in the theater, but don’t bother if you can’t get to a theater showing it in 3-D.

REVIEW: The Wackness

STARRING: Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 07/03/2008 (some cities) DATE SCREENED: 06/25/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

The Wackness is set against the backdrop of 1994 New York City. Rap music was dominating the airwaves, and Biggie Smalls was a new artist. Rudy Gullaiani has just begun his first term as Mayor, with a tough anti-crime stance that included crackdowns on relatively minor offenses such as graffiti, turnstile jumping, and aggressive "squeegeemen".

The story centers around a troubled teenager named Luke (Josh Peck), who has just graduated from high school. Luke is a quiet small time weed dealer, who loves rap music and brazenly sells weed from an ice cream cart in Central Park. He describes himself in the film as "most popular of the unpopular". One of his clients is the step father of a classmate, psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley). Dr. Squires trades therapy time for the weed. Eventually, Luke begins to open up about his inability to find a girlfriend and his troubles at home. His parents are constantly arguing and having money problems. Luke is feeling the pressure to be the breadwinner in the family, and is depressed that he has never had a girlfriend. Dr. Squires encourages Luke to go out more and find a woman, but what he doesn’t know is that Luke has a huge crush on his step daughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). It turns out that Dr. Squires is unhappy in his marriage, so he begins to spend time hanging out with Luke. In one of the film’s funnier moments, they end up in a bar, where Dr. Squires has a make-out session with a young pot-head played by Mary-Kate Olsen. Hanging out with Dr. Squires helps Luke make his move on Stephanie. Of course, the Dr. is not happy with this when he finds out. Luke and Dr. Squires do get past that issue and explore New York, selling weed together, and trying to help each other deal with their depression.

The Wackness is both a comedy and a drama. Seeing Ben Kingsley get high smoking on a bong is certainly funny. At the same time, it deals with issues of family, relationships, drug addiction and depression. I was completely drawn into the story. We get interesting relationships between all the characters. There is the romance between Luke & Stephanie, the strange friendship between Luke & Dr. Squires, and the bad marriage between Dr. Squires and his wife (Famke Janssen). It may sound corny that Luke & the Dr. can become friends and help each other while dealing weed, but it’s funny and actually seems to make sense in the context of the film. Josh Peck gives the best performance as Luke, but we get good performances from everyone involved, even Method Man as Luke’s drug supplier. This is a small independent movie that I hope will find an audience. See this in the theater, assuming you can find it.

REVIEW: Hancock

STARRING: Will Smith, Charlize Theron View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 07/02/2008 DATE SCREENED: 06/23/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

Will Smith kicks off the 4^th of July holiday with the release of Hancock, the kind of action packed summer blockbuster that he hasn’t done in a few years. With comic book superheroes dominating the box office, he is taking a risk by making an original superhero movie, without the built-in fan base and proven successful storylines of a comic book hero.

The film opens with Hancock laying on a sidewalk bench in a drunken stupor. He is awakened by a kid, who chastises him for not helping out with a police chase that is taking place on live TV. Hancock reluctantly flies off with his bottle of liquor to intervene. In the process of capturing the criminals, he leaves an unnecessary trail of damaged roads, cars and buildings. It turns out that many in the city of LA hate Hancock, as his style of crime fighting sometimes causes more harm than good. When Hancock saves Ray, a Public Relations executive played by Jason Bateman, from being run over by a train, probably killing the conductor of the train in the process, the crowd turns on him. Ray steps up to Hancock’s defense, thanks him for saving his life, and invites him to dinner. Ray’s son is Hancock’s biggest fan, but his wife Mary (Charlize Theron) is not happy that Hancock is around. Ray convinces Hancock that he can be a superhero that people love, with his guidance. Ray helps Hancock clean up his image by accepting jail time for the damages he has caused, and then coming out a jail without the drinking problem, with a new costume, and new friendlier attitude.

Things are going well for Hancock, until he discovers that he is not the only super powered being in LA. Actually, things are going well for us as movie goers until Hancock discovers that he is not the only super powered being in LA. Up until that point, I was watching a funny movie, with an interesting story and good special effects. Then the movie takes a convoluted turn with a ridiculous story of Hancock’s origin and his relation to the other super powered being. We do get to see them fight all over the city, so maybe I shouldn’t be too hard on the bad writing. Taken as a mindless summer action film it’s entertaining enough to keep people happy. The crowd at the screening cheered at the end and most people seemed to leave happy. Movies based on popular comic books already have great storylines that can be adapted to film. Hancock did not have that advantage, and it shows. My feelings are mixed, but it’s worth a trip to the theater. The summer of the superheroes will continue with Hellboy 2 and The Dark Knight.

REVIEW: The Incredible Hulk

STARRING: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 06/13/2008 DATE SCREENED: 06/09/2008 The Verdict GREAT - See it opening weekend

Marvel Studios set the bar extremely high with Iron Man. The film is a hit with fans and critics alike, and has made $538,741,611 worldwide as I write this review. The idea of Marvel Comics making the movies of their own comics, as opposed to selling the movie rights to another company, seemed to be a stroke of genius. Expectations suddenly skyrocketed for the upcoming 2nd release from Marvel Studios, The Incredible Hulk. Marvel had bought back the movie rights after the disappointing results of the Hulk that was directed by Ang Lee, and made $245 million worldwide. It wasn’t a bust, but still didn’t deliver the money that was expected, and fans all over cursed Ang Lee for the changes he made to the Hulk’s origin, and the art house style of the picture as a whole. I personally thought the action sequences were phenomenal and made up for the boring family drama in the movie. Marvel promised a more true to the comics and TV show adaptation, and after seeing Iron Man I had no doubt that was what I was going to get.

The Incredible Hulk starts off with flashbacks of the Hulk’s origin. We get just the basics of his origin, with the rest of the crap from the previous movie thrown out. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is experimenting on himself and accidentally exposed to high doses of green gamma radiation, right in front of the love of his life Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). This causes the transformation into the Incredible Hulk, which the military, led by Betty’s father General ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (William Hurt), unsuccessfully tries to capture. The film then picks up basically where the last film left off. Bruce is in hiding, in Brazil, learning martial arts and relaxation techniques that will supposedly prevent him from becoming the Hulk even in the most stressful situations. Bruce works at a bottling plant by day, while working to find a cure for his condition. He is assisted by an Internet friend known only by his handle as “Mr. Blue”. When a drop of Bruce’s Blood winds up accidentally making its way into a bottle of juice shipped to the U.S., General Ross is soon in Brazil with a military contingent, led by Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). The military soldiers have no idea what they are getting in to. Bruce transforms into Hulk, kicks some military butt, and is gone again. Bruce and Mr. Blue need data, so Bruce must go back to the U.S. and attempt to steal data from a military computer. He is reunited with Betty, who it turns out has a copy of the data he needs. Meanwhile, Blonsky is willing to risk his life being injected with experimental drugs to make himself into a Super Soldier, so that he can be the one to take down Hulk. The experiment works and Blonsky gets his 2nd chance at capturing the Hulk, but he is still not even close to the Hulk’s match. Bruce and Betty take the computer data to Mr. Blue, who turns out to be a scientist in NYC named Samuel Sterns. Sterns has been cloning the blood sample Bruce had once sent to him, and making various concoctions based on it. The military crashes the party once again, and Bruce is tranquilized and captured before he can turn into the Hulk. Blonsky desperately wants his Round 3 with Hulk, and forces Sterns to inject him with his concoctions based on Bruce’s Blood. This causes Blonsky to transform into a hulk like creature called Abomination, who then goes on a rampage through Harlem. General Ross is forced to release Bruce, so that the Hulk can engage in a final showdown with Abomination.

The Incredible Hulk is more than just a movie about the Hulk. It is brilliantly written to not just set up the Hulk sequels, but set up what I’ll call the Marvel Movie Universe. Upcoming Marvel movies include, Iron Man 2, Thor, Sub Mariner, Captain America, and The Avengers. Hulk includes references and characters that only the serious comic fans will realize are references to some of these upcoming movies. The obvious appearance by Robert Downy Jr. makes the tie-in to Iron Man obvious to everyone. It seems as if all the Marvel Studio owned heroes will eventually appear in the same Avengers movie in 2011. That would have been impossible if Marvel had continued to sell away the movie rights to their characters. For fans of the Hulk, there are characters that we know will later become villains in subsequent Hulk sequels.

For the average moviegoer, you don’t need to know anything about the comics. The movie still stands on its own as a great summer action film. The special effects are better this time around, and with the martial arts training Bruce learned in Brazil, the Hulk knows how to kick ass more so than the last time. The love story between Bruce and Betty seems to be just enough to keep the ladies happy and show that the Hulk is not just a mindless monster, without becoming boring. There are even a couple of cameos to make the fans of the TV show smile. I was on the edge of my seat as the Hulk and Abomination ran towards each other right in front of the Apollo Theater, and the fight did not disappoint. They beat each other down, up and down the street, smashing everything in their path. In the end, Bruce is forced to recognize that maybe he doesn’t want to be cured of becoming the Hulk, but learn how to control it.

I couldn’t be more excited about the movies in the pipeline for Marvel Studios. As a big comic fan in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Iron Man and Incredible Hulk are the kind of movies I’ve dreamed of. Although I love the Spiderman movies, Spiderman 3 totally botched the appearance of his #1 villain Venom. Although I enjoyed X-Men 3, they total botched the appearance of Phoenix. These are the kind of blatant and stupid mistakes that Marvel Studios will not make. The comic book storylines are proven, and following them as close as possible is always best. Movie studios always eventually think they can write better stories, or create a better villain, when they can’t. Incredible Hulk has a lot of competition at the box office, but I hope anyone reading this will rush out and see it opening weekend.

REVIEW: Kung Fu Panda

STARRING: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 06/06/2008 DATE SCREENED: 06/03/2008 The Verdict GOOD - See it in the theater

Dreamworks Animation has been facing an uphill climb in its attempts to prove it’s not a second rate animation studio in comparison to Pixar. While Pixar released another world-wide blockbuster in Ratatouille last year, Dreamworks released Bee Movie. Although profitable, Bee Movie was a disappointment critically and financially. For 2008, Pixar is releasing Wall-E, while Dreamworks gets the jump on them with the release of Kung Fu Panda. I have an extensive collection of kung fu films, as it’s my favorite film genre, so a movie about a kung fu fighting panda piqued my interest much more than Pixar’s film about a robot.

Kung Fu Panda is a family friendly film, set in a world where animals talk and live together in harmony. A panda named Po (Jack Black) spends his nights dreaming of being a kung fu master, while spending his days working in his father’s noodle shop. An average day is interrupted with the announcement that master Oogway, and old turtle, will select a kung fu master as the Dragon Warrior, the fighter destined to fulfill some ancient prophecy. Kung fu master Shifu(a small red panda voiced by Dustin Hoffman) assumes the Dragon Warrior will be one of his students, called The Furious Five. The Furious Five are composed of Tigress (a tiger voice by Angelina Jolie), Mantis (a praying mantis voiced by Seth Rogen), Crane (a bird voiced by David Cross), Viper (a snake voiced by Lucy Liu), and Monkey (a monkey voiced by Jackie Chan). Po crashes the ceremony at the last minute, and he is selected as the Dragon Warrior. Master Shifu argues that the panda was only there by accident, and Oogway responds that “there are no accidents”.

The rest of the film follows the standard kung fu movie patterns. A snow leopard named Tai Lung escapes from prison and is on his way to claim the Dragon Warrior title. It turns out that Tai Lung was Master Shifu’s prized student that he treated like a son before Tai Lung turned to evil. According to the prophecy, Po must be the one to defeat Tai Lung. Master Shifu must somehow train Po, who is well versed on the history of kung fu, but is a fat, lazy, silly panda. Po is excited to be learning among his kung fu heroes, but the odds are stacked against him. In a short time frame he must bond with the Furious Five, who want Po to go home so they can defeat Tai Lung, and somehow learn enough kung fu to fulfill the prophecy.

As someone who loves kung fu movies, I can tell that the makers of Kung Fu Panda share my love of the genre. The movie doesn’t make fun of the genre, but shows how timeless the themes of these movies are. The humor comes from Po’s difficulties in training and his interactions with his teacher and fellow students. When it comes time to fight, these animals really fight. The film contains some of the most inventive and exciting kung fu showdowns that you will ever see in an American film. Jack Black seemed perfect for the voice of Po. The voice work is actually good all around, although I don’t think Jackie Chan had more than a couple of lines. At approximately 90 minutes, the movie never has a dull moment. I was either laughing or enjoying the kung fu action. This is a movie that people of all ages can enjoy. At the screening, the kids and adults were laughing and everyone seemed to leave smiling. See this one in the theater.

REVIEW: You Don’t Mess With the Zohan

STARRING: Adam Sandler View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 06/06/2008 DATE SCREENED: 05/27/2008 The Verdict NOT GOOD - Wait for cable

Adam Sandler is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. He has produced, written and starred in multiple blockbusters. If he produces and stars in a movie, the studio can bank on an over $100 million domestic gross. But I just don’t get it…
As far as I’m concerned, Adam Sandler has only made one funny movie, Waterboy, and one good serious film, Reign Over Me. I do not see what people love about him to make them rush out to see crap like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry. His latest film, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, is more of the same silliness people have come to expect from a Sandler comedy.

Zohan (Sandler) is some kind of super anti-terrorist agent in Israel, screwing as many women as possible on his off days, and killing terrorist with ease when called upon. Zohan secretly dreams of coming to America to be a Paul Mitchell hair stylist. Zohan fakes his own death while fighting his arch nemesis The Phantom. He moves to NYC, where he quickly finds out that his old fashioned hair styles will not get him hired by Paul Mitchell. He is forced to take a job sweeping hair at a small salon in an Israeli/Palestinian neighborhood. He eventually gets a promotion to hair stylist, where he becomes popular with the older women by first styling their hair, and then taking them to the back room to earn his tip. His "unique" methods have old women lined up around the block waiting for an appointment. Zohan is soon recognized by a cab driver (Rob Schneider) who wants to become famous by taking out the great Zohan. Of course, the cab driver botches every assassination attempt. Eventually, the Phantom is called to America to finish off Zohan in a final showdown

The film is full of Israeli/Jewish jokes and stereotypes, many of which I just don’t understand. There is a running gag about Hummus that made no sense to me. I guess Jewish people eat a lot of hummus? The laughs were few and far between for me. Don't Mess With Zohan is funny when Zohan is styling hair and servicing his clients, but bored me otherwise. The story is completely predictable, with an overall moral that Israelis and Palestinians can live and work together in harmony. Do we really need an Adam Sandler comedy to tell us that? If you like Adam Sandler’s previous work, you will probably enjoy Zohan as well. The crowd at the screening seemed to enjoy it. He probably has another $100 million hit on his hands, but I’m glad I didn’t have to pay to see it. Wait for cable.

REVIEW: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

STARRING: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 05/22/2008 DATE SCREENED: 05/19/2008 The Verdict OK - Wait for the DVD

The three original Indiana Jones films have stood the test of time as three of the top ten movies I have seen in my lifetime. I watched Temple of Doom countless times as a kid, and never tire of it even now. Revisiting Indiana Jones as a 60+ year old man, 19 years after the last installment, did not sound like a good idea when I first read about it. But I arrived at the screening hoping that I would be proven wrong. I wasn’t the only one, as I arrived 90 minutes before the screening to see the line already wrapping around the block. I was one of the last people to make it into the theater, as over 100 angry people had to be turned away behind me.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull starts off with Indy (Harrison Ford) held captive, forced to help a Soviet psychic military leader find an old mummy that has been stored in the same warehouse we see at the end of the original Raiders of the Lost Ark. It seems that according to some legend, finding the Crystal Skulls will allow her to increase her psychic powers, and then allow the Soviets to perfect some kind of psychic warfare. This mummy will hold some clue to finding the Skull. It comes as no surprise when Indy escapes in typical Indiana Jones fashion. The movie was off to a good start, and then things really slow down. Indiana is back teaching, until he receives a visit from Mutt (Shia LaBeouf). Mutt has a letter that holds the clues to the Crystal Skull and off they both go on another archeological adventure, chased by the Soviets along the way. They both are captured upon finding the Skull, where they run into Marion (Karen Allen), Indiana’s love interest in the original Raiders. They bicker about their past relationship, but make a great team when it comes time to escape. The most exciting scene in the movie is when the escape through the forest, first on foot then by car, fighting Soviets and swarming killer ants along the way. Indiana returns the Skull to it’s "rightful" burial place, where the secrets of the Crystal Skull is revealed to both him and the Soviets.

Unfortunately, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is just a rehash of everything we have seen before from the Indiana Jones movies, or even the National Treasure movies. That familiarity is fine at the start, but gets tired through the course of the movie. I found myself bored whenever I wasn’t watching an action sequence. There are many action scenes, but only one great one. The movie seemed long at over 2 hours. Harrison Ford does his best to recreate that old magic, but it’s just not there. And Shia showed me nothing to give me hope that he can take over the franchise. The secret of the Crystal Skull, which is revealed at the end, struck me as completely ridiculous. This movie is sure to open huge, but the word of mouth won’t be as strong as Iron Man. It pains me to have to say that the film is just OK, not really worth a trip out to the theater.