Morning Glory (2010)

107 min, comedy, drama, romance

Director: Roger Michell
Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna
Stars: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton

Storyline:

When hard-working TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) is fired from a local news program, her career begins to look as bleak as her hapless love life. Stumbling into a job at "Daybreak" (the last-place national morning news show), Becky decides to revitalize the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Ford). Unfortunately, Pomeroy refuses to cover morning show staples like celebrity gossip, weather, fashion and crafts -- let alone work with his new co-host, Colleen Peck (Keaton), a former beauty queen and longtime morning show personality who is more than happy covering morning "news." As Mike and Colleen clash, first behind the scenes and then on the air, Becky's blossoming love affair with fellow producer, Adam Bennett (Wilson) begins to unravel -- and soon Becky is struggling to save her relationship, her reputation, her job and ultimately, the show itself.

Review:

It's fun! It's funny! It's the best comedy I've seen in a long time. I laughed more during the first 45 minutes of "Morning glory" than I did during the last 5, so called, comedy's I've seen. I don't know what I liked more: the easy story with many comical scenes, or the actors and their performances. I really liked Rachel McAdams, as the workaholic television show producer, and what's not to like about Hollywood legends such as Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Jeff Goldblum. So, if you are not sure what to watch tonight, this is a really good choice.

Rating: 8/10                                                           Buy on Amazon:  Morning Glory                    

Limitless (2011)

105 min, mystery, thriller

Director: Niel Burger
Writers: Leslie Dixon,  Alan Glynn
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro 

Storyline:

An action-thriller about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. As one man evolves into the perfect version of himself, forces more corrupt than he can imagine mark him for assassination. Out-of-work writer Eddie Morra's (Cooper) rejection by girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) confirms his belief that he has zero future. That all vanishes the day an old friend introduces Eddie to MDT, a designer pharmaceutical that makes him laser focused and more confident than any man alive. Now on an MDT-fueled odyssey, everything Eddie's read, heard or seen is instantly organized and available to him. As the former nobody rises to the top of the financial world, he draws the attention of business mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro), who sees this enhanced version of Eddie as the tool to make billions. But brutal side effects jeopardize his meteoric ascent. With a dwindling stash and hit men who will eliminate him to get the MDT...

Review:

After watching two really crappy movies I must say I really enjoyed this one. I haven't seen a thriller this good in quite a long time. The first thing about "Limitless" you must like is the original story. Imagine that you could take a pill and suddenly start using all of your brain. Becoming smarter and achieving everything you ever wanted from life. Of course,as any story, there are some loose ends, but by the end of the movie it all makes sense. Suspense, good performance by all the actors, camera tricks and visual effects makes this movie one you must see.


Rating: 7,5/10                        Buy on Amazon: Limitless (DVD), Limitless: A Novel

The Warrior's Way (2010)

100 min, action, fantasy, western

Director: Sngmoo Lee
Writer: Sngmoo Lee
Stars:  Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Dong-gun Jang

Storyline:

In the 19th century, a warrior named Yang (Jang Dong-gun) is ordered to kill the last member of an enemy clan--a baby. He refuses the mission and flees with the child to a dilapidated town in the American West. Despite his attempts, his enemies close in on him and he must fight to protect the child and his newfound comrades: Ron (Geoffrey Rush), the town drunk, and Lynne (Kate Bosworth), both of whom have a tragic past.

Review:

To be honest I don't know what to write about "The Warrior's Way". But since I have to write something here goes. This is not a good movie! Just to name some of my expectations and disappointment's: I expected ninja's and sword fighting which were few and far between, I expected cowboys and got a circus, I expected a good story and got no story...So basically this was a total waste of my time. By the way, don't be misled by the awesome trailer. The trailer is the only part of this movie worth watching.

Rating: 4,5/10                                                 Buy on Amazon:  The Warrior's Way

Age of the Dragons (2011)

91 min, action, fantasy, sci-fi

Director: Ryan Little
Writer: Anne K. Black, McKay Daines
Stars: Danny Glover, Vinnie Jones, Corey Sevier

Storyline:

Set in a mythical realm where Captain Ahab and crew hunt dragons for the vitriol that powers their world, Ishmael, a charismatic harpooner joins their quest. Ahab's adopted daughter Rachel, beautiful and tough, runs the hunting vessel. Ahab's obsession is to seek revenge on a great "White Dragon" that slaughtered his family when he was young and left his body scarred and mauled, drives the crew deeper into the heart of darkness. In the White Dragon's lair Ahab's secrets are revealed and Rachel must choose between following him on his dark quest or escaping to a new life with Ishmael.

Review:

Before you start watching this, assuming that you will watch it, you should know that this is an adaptation of Herman Melville's "Moby Dick". But instead of a white whale here we have a white dragon. This movie is nor god or bad. It's somewhere in between. Watchable. There are better dragon movies, such as "Dragonheart" or "Reign of fire", but if you a fan of dragon movies watch it. Maybe you'll like it. I know I won't watch it again.

Rating: 5/10                             

Reign of Assassins (2010)

117 min, action

Directors: Chao-Bin Su, John Woo
Writer: Chao-Bin Su
Stars:  Michelle Yeoh, Woo-sung Jung and Kelly Lin

Storyline:

Drizzle (Michelle Yeoh) has possessed the body of Bodhi, who is rumoured to have mystical martial arts power and she is determine to return the body back to its righteous place. However, a powerful team of assassins called ‘The Black Stone’ want sole possession of the body. Inevitably, Drizzle changes her appearance and names herself Zeng Jing. Through her journey, she falls in love with Jiang Ahsheng (Jung Woo-sung). When Zeng Jing/Drizzle discovers that Jiang is the son of the person whom she previously assassinated, things take a turn for the worse as a three way battle between Zeng, Jiang and “The Black Stone’ erupts.

Review:
If you liked "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "House of Flying Daggers", "Fist of Legend"...you are gonna love "Reign of Assassins". Set in ancient China this is a classical Chinese martial art movie that is at times a love story an at others a suspense movie with all the intrigue. Good story, costumes, acting, beautifully choreographed action scenes can all be seen here. This is a film I would recommend anyone to see...more than once. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Rating: 8/10                                                       Buy on Amazon: Reign Of Assassins  

The Next Three Days (2010)

122 min, crime, drama, romance

Director: Paul Haggis
Writers: Paul Haggis, Fred Cavaye
Stars:  Russel Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson

Storyline:

Lara Brennan is arrested for murdering her boss with whom she had an argument. It seems she was seen leaving the scene of the crime and her fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Her husband, John would spend the next few years trying to get her released, but there's no evidence that negates the evidence against her. And when the strain of being separated from her family, especially her son, gets to her, John decides to break her out. So he does a lot of research to find a way.

Review:

I'm not a big fan of Russel Crowe but I must say he is absolutely perfect in "The Next Three Days". His performance of a desperate man who is ready to do anything  (even kill) to save his wife and keep his family together is amazing. Watching the film you could fell the pain he is going through. Even I found the movie to be a bit slow at the beginning it still keeps you wondering which way will the story go and how will it all end. The most thrilling part of the film is the part when he frees his wife out of jail. The race against time, the problems they encounter, the brilliant solutions during they escape make's you wish it could last a bit longer. A really good movie you should watch.

Rating: 7/10                                            Buy DVD on Amazon:  The Next Three Days

Life as We Know It (2010)

114 min, comedy, drama

Director: Greg Berlanti
Writers: Ian Deitchman, Kristin Rusk Robinson
Stars: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas

Storyline:

Holly (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming caterer and Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, all they have is common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must set their differences aside. Judging career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find common ground while living under the same roof.

Review:
I started watching this movie expecting a comedy, but instead I got a worm story about two people who can't stand each other but after losing their best friends become a family. This film has it all: it has funny moments and really sad moments, romance and drama. As a romantic comedy it is predictable (off course Holly and Messer are gonna end up together) and as a drama it make's you think of a possibility this happening in real life. So, this is a good film with a lovely story and I'm glad I watched it.

Rating: 7/10                                               Buy DVD on Amazon:  Life as We Know It                                                                                                                              

True Grit (2010)

110 min, adventure, drama, western

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld

Storyline:

Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested

Review:

I was so bored during this film that I feel a sleep near the end. I don't care how authentic it was (the costumes, the buildings, the interiors and the dialogue), I didn't make it to the end. What I liked was the performances of Jeff Bridges and, especially, the young Hailee Steinfeld. But that wasn't enough to keep me awake till the end of the movie.

Rating: 4,5/10

Little Fockers (2010)

98 min, comedy

Director: Paul Weitz
Writer: John Hamburg, Larry Stuckey
Stars: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiler, Owen Wilson, Teri Polo

Storyline:

It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan-including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson)-descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch...or will the circle of trust be broken for good?

Review:

Despite what people say, about this not being funny and that it's bad movie I quite enjoyed it. All though De Niro is a character actor I love seeing him in comedy's. The scenes with him and Ben Stiller together are really funny to me. It's a shame that there isn't more of Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand. They were the funniest characters in the firs two movies and they should have had more than 10 minutes in "Little Fockers". And a few words about Jessica Alba. Sure she is pretty and good looking, but it is just not enough. This is, by far, her's worst  performance ever. Every time her scene started I couldn't wait for it to finish. Despite her's pleasing appearances. Recommendation? Don't expect a master peace, but it's worth watching.

Rating: 6/10

You Again (2010)

105 min, comedy, romance

Director: Andy Fickman
Writer: Moe Jelline
Stars:  Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver,Jamie Lee Curtis, Odette Yustman and Betty White

Storyline:

As a teenager Marni was the kind of girl no guy would go near and would be tormented by the mean girls, and no one was meaner to her than Joana the head cheerleader. Years later, she's a successful woman with a good job. When she goes home for her brother's wedding she discovers that her brother is marrying Joana. When they meet she wants Joana to apologize for the way she treated her but Joana feigns ignorance. When Marni tells her mother, Gail about her and Joana, Gail tells her to try and put it behind her. But when Gail learns that her aunt Mona is her old friend Ramona who was her friend in high school whom she had confrontation with years ago, Gail feels like Mona is trying to thumb her success in her nose. When Marni learns that Joana does remember her she sets to expose her to her brother.

Review:

There are people who watched this film and loved it. I am not among them. So my advice before watching it is: keep your expectations to a minimum. Sure, the female cast is perfect, but all of them were not as good as I'm used watching them. And the worst are Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis, who's talent's were wasted by the writers. On the other hand, Kristen Bell was perfect, as well as the legendary Betty White, who steels every scene she is in. So the bottom line is, although the story was OK, the cast was great, there were a couple of funny scenes this isn't the film I would recommend.

Rating: 5/10

Burlesque (2010)

119min, drama, musical, romance


 Director: Steve Antin
Writer: Steve Antin
Stars: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Cam Gigandet, Stanley Tucci

Storyline:

Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a coctail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day.
Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal…

Review:
To be honest I never liked musicals. And this movie hasn't changed that. In short: I liked the songs (fantastic performances of both Cher and C. Aguilera) and the dancing, but to me this is a 2 hour Christina Aguilera music video with a predictable story in the backround.

Rating: 6/10

 

Couples Retreat (2009)

113 min, comedy

Director: Peter Billingsley

Writer: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau

Stars:  Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davies, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kali Hawk and Jean Reno

Storyline:

Dave and Ronnie, Jason and Cynthia, and Joey and Lucy are close. The group used to include Shane and Jennifer, but they divorced and she's gone. Jason and Cynthia announce that their marriage is in trouble, and they beg their friends (and Shane's young girlfriend) to join them on a couples' retreat, at the package rate, on a tropical island. The others reluctantly agree, planning to play while Jason and Cynthia work on their marriage with an island psychologist. To everyone's surprise, the package is inflexible: each couple must participate in the couples' exercises.

Review:
I read a couple of reviews about "Couples retreat" and they all wrote bad about it. But I don't think that this is a bad movie. I don't know what did they expect. "Couples retreat" is all that it was supposed to be. An easy comedy with a great cast and not so bad story. A couple of laughs, a bit of romance, great scenery was all i wanted, and that's what i got. Nothing more, nothing less.

Rating: 6.5/10

How Do You Know (2010)

121 min, comedy, drama, romance


Director: James L. Brooks
Writer: James L. Brooks
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson   

Storyline:

After being cut from the USA softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau.  

Review: 

This was a total waste of my time. Such a great cast and what a crappy movie. There was no comedy, no romance, no drama. I barely made it to the end. If I had to rate it I wouldn't give it more than 4/10. Instead of watching this I will list you a couple of films from each actor that you could watch:

Reese Witherspoon:  Just Like Heaven,  Walk the Line...

Paul Rudd:  The 40 Year Old Virgin...

Owen Wilson:  You, Me and Dupree, Wedding Crashers, Meet the Fockers...

Jack Nicholson:  anything you can find... 

TRON: Legacy (2010)

125 min, action, adventure, sci-fi

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writers: Edward Kitsis (screenplay), Adam Horowitz(screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde


Storyline:
Sam Flynn (Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade -- a signal that could only come from his father-- he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Wilde), father and son embark on a life-or-death journey across a cyber universe -- a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.


Review:
If you ever wondered what it would be like if people could enter a digital world this is a film you must see. Visually it is just amazing: the way programs disintegrate when they're disposed of, the light cycle battles, airborne chases...is just a small example of the special effects you can see in ˝TRON: Legacy˝. All of that is enough to like this movie, despite the story. Which is not memorable and at some points slow and a bit boring. There is also one thing I really hated about ˝TRON˝. And that is that Jeff Bridges uses the word "man" at the end of every sentence, which is kinda annoying. Also him saying things like "Check this out," or "Radical, man," is not something a man living in a digital world would be saying. But when you start watching the movie you will simply ignore the story, the dialogs... and will enjoy in the digital world as you have never seen before.
 By the way watch "TRON"(1982) first!!

Season of the Witch (2011)

95 min, action,adventure, fantasy

Director: Dominic Sena
Writer: Bragi F. Schut

Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman and Claire Foy

 Storyline:

A 14th century Crusader returns to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. A beleaguered church, deeming sorcery the culprit of the plague, commands the two knights to transport an accused witch to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence. A priest, a grieving knight, a disgraced itinerant and a headstrong youth who can only dream of becoming a knight join a mission troubled by mythically hostile wilderness and fierce contention over the fate of the girl. When the embattled party arrives at the abbey, a horrific discovery jeopardises the knight's pledge to ensure the girl fair treatment, and pits them against an inexplicably powerful and destructive force.

My Thoughts:  

When I watched the trailer for ˝Season of the Witch˝ I thought: ˝This will be a great movie!˝ Then I watched it.  And it wasn't all that great. What I liked was Claire Foy as a witch, keeping us wondering is her character really a witch, acting of Nicolas Cage,which was better than in most of his recent films and the scenery of Austria, Hungary and Croatia, where the movie was filmed. Every else could have been better. I don't think that ˝Season of the Witch˝ is a bad movie, but it was a bit disappointing. 

Unstoppable (2010)

 98min, drama, action, thriller

Director: Tony Scott
Writer: Mark Bomback
Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

Storyline:
Unstoppable is a drama about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. Pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.

My Thoughts:

Definitely a film to watch! You do not want to miss this one! A thrilling true story that will keep you in suspense till the end of the film.

Gulliver's Travels (2010)

Director: Rob Letterman
Writers: Joe Stillman, Nicholas Stoller
Stars: Jack Black, Emily Blunt and Jason Segel

Storyline:

Travel writer Lemuel Gulliver takes an assignment in Bermuda, but ends up on the island of Liliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens.

 My Thought's:
Terrible!!! If you don't have to, do not watch it. I could't find one funny scene in this film. And it's suppose  to be a comedy.Better find some other film to watch, or find something else to spend 90 minutes on.