219 reviews from frgodbeyjr

The Alphabet Killer
What a very entertaining movie. Well acted and a very creepy story. Tension, other world visions, and a movie that keeps your attention... all the elements of a good movie. A police detective searching for a serial child killer. She has visions that cause her to nearly lose her mind. All that work with her think she's crazy. Can she catch the killer before the body count mounts? Many twist keep you guessing who the killer is. Very much a movie that is well worth a watch! 4 stars. 1/7/09

Harsh Times
This could have been a great movie. Bale is a very fine actor and produced this film as well, however, it took way to long to develope. The plot is basically two young men who are not content with their lives and they want to live the "good" life. However, they both make choices that end up turning seriously bad. Are we to feel sorry for them? I didn't. I really think the movie could have been so much better if the Bale character's (A former Army Ranger who had terrible nightmares from war) emotional scars and somewhat "craziness" had been more explored. It was an interesting story and it did keep my interest, but I sat there watching the movie wanting to really like it. I liked it to a point. It was a well acted movie for the most part, but it moved too slow for my taste. 3 stars. 1/2/09

Ned Kelly
Since this movie was based on a real life character, it peaked my interest. Plus, it had Ledger and Bloom in it... two fine acters. Ned Kelly was an outlaw according to the police, but we can understand his actions to a point because of the corrupt police actions. Kelly was Irish and the English cops did all they could to drive the Kelly's out of Australia. Ned Kelly would not back down, but turned to crime. Rush and Watts do not have a lot of air time, which is too bad. However, the movie kept your interest and was very entertaining. It's not a movie that you sit and cheer for anyone. It's emotional at times and the ending is not a surprise. Having said that, it was a well made film that I think is worth a watch. 4 stars. 1/2/09

They Wait
I would agree that this story line has been done to death with the likes of The Ring and The Grudge, but I have to say that I found the movie to be very creepy and entertaining. There's no stop-action style ghost slithering around in this film, but the ghost are interesting nonetheless. Young boy has the ability to see the dead and one young girl is after his soul. His mom, who also has the ability (although she seems somewhat surprised that she has it. At her age, I would have though she would have had more experience with it), must find a way to save her son. Along the way she begins to learn the truth as to what happened to the girl. Not the most original story by any means, but it was very well made, good acting, and very entertaining. Well worth a watch in my book. 4 stars. 12/25/08

Incredible Hulk
I for one love The Hulk. Not the CGI crap that is an easy excuse to make the impossible happen, but the show with Bill Bixby. Those old enough to remember that show saw a Hulk with amazing strength and power. They used a bodybuilder to create the Hulk and it all looked "possible." CGI has its place in movies, but in a movie like this you might as well watch a cartoon. Personally, I hate a lot of CGI, I feel it cheapens a movie. This movie could have been so much better with a human Hulk. Of course, that's just my opinion. An "evil" general trying to capture Bruce Banner to use his DNA to produce an unbeatable army. Daughter of general is Banner's old girlfriend... conflict. Daughter trys to help Banner be "normal." Boring story line. Actors are quaility... Ed Norton is one of my favorites. Acting is not a problem in this movie, CGI is. It was just an average movie, with a lot of CGI screwing everything up and making it look cartoonish. 3 weak stars. 12/25/08

The Dark Knight
There are a lot of movies made from comic books, but most of them are not that great. Most of the Batman movies have not had those issues. This one is very good with great acting by all involved. Ledger is the creepiest Joker to date. What a talent! I love the darkness and sense of dread throughout this movie. Well written and very entertaining. What can be said about it that hasn't been said... I don't know, but this movie is well worth a watch. 4 solid stars. 12/23/08

Fred Claus
I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed with this movie. I really thought it would be much funnier than it was. It actually had a very serious story line at times. The subject matter is basically an older brother who cannot stand his goody two shoes younger brother (Santa Clause). Vince Vaughn is a funny guy and usually brings the house down with his comedic acting. I didn't feel he had his "A" game with him in this film. It was "cute" and endearing, but not many laugh out loud moments. Entertaining to a certain degree, but only worth about 2.5/3 weak stars. 12/23/08

Dead of Winter
I liked all the tension and creepiness to this movie. A young couple leave a New Years Eve Party after a "friend" slips LSD in their drinks. That's when the true horror begins. Is it hallucinations, or are their fears real??? Acceptable acting and interesting story make for an entertaining movie. All the way through the movie the tension between the couple builds because of the cold and the drugs. Neither knows why they are confused and so paranoid. Lost in the woods and trying to find shelter, the young couple try to stay alive. Several twist make this a good movie, not great, but worth a watch in my book. 3 stars. 12/20/08

Hancock
What a very entertaining movie. Will Smith is a fine actor with a wide range of credits to his talent. The movie was funny, sad, interesting, and with enough twist to keep you wanting more. Hancock is a "superhero" who believes he's the only one of his kind. A misunderstood soul who drinks to forget... although he has no memory of how he became this "hero", he continues to struggle with his abilities and how people tend to hate him instead of adore him. However, because he's drunk so often he tends to "save" people and things in ways that make him more troudle than he's worth. Until he meets up with a PR guy played by Jason Bateman. Bateman does a great job with this role and is very convincing. This movie is well worth a watch! 4 solid stars. 12/15/08

River Queen
Really worthy movie. I did have a little trouble understanding the accents at times. Thanks to RJP and Couchdog53 for their notes on this fine movie. The story line is very compelling. War between English/Irish troops and the Maori tribesmen of New Zealand in 1860. The landscape is BEAUTIFUL! The acting was very good as well. Young white girl falls in love with a young Maori male and has a baby from her encounter. The father dies not long after and the girl raises the child with her father and sister. The boy is kidnapped when he's still a young child and this begins a 6 or 7 year search by the young woman to find her son. Kiefer Sutherland and Stephen Rea do not carry the weight of the air time that Samantha Morton and Cliff Curtis do. As I said before, the acting was really good by all involved. Well worth a watch! 4 stars. 12/14/08

Masters of Horror: Peter Medak: The Washingtonians
I've been so disappointed in the MOH movies. This movie was so stupid, I'm embarrassed to say I watched it. A flesh eating George Washington... who really enjoys the taste of young virgin girls. Just plain dumb. The acting wasn't all that bad, but it was too campy for me. Wasn't the worst MOH, but it was close. Don't waste your time. 2 stars. 12/14/08

Jumper
I found this movie to be very entertaining. The set up for it was good and the story flowed well. I felt it was a little drawn out in a few places early on, but it kept my interest and turned out to be a very good movie. Jumpers have the ability to transport to any destination they want and all seems good for the Christensen charater until he meets up with the Samuel L. Jackson character (what's with the painted white looking hair???) Jackson is a leader of a cult that hunts Jumpers for the purpose of killing them. The movie has some interesting twist to it that heighten the curiousity of what Jumping is and the pros and cons of having this ability. The sites and scenes are really breathtaking at times. Not the greatest movie in the world, but for the genre, it is worth a watch! 3.5 stars. 12/05/08

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Having only seen the original and enjoying that one a lot... many years ago. I went into this one with an open mind. The story line was interesting with a Sci-Fi twist to it. The pace of the movie was fast with many well done action scenes. I'm a big Harrison Ford fan, however, he looked old and stiff in many of the action scenes. The acting was fine and all seened to enjoy working on this film. It was entertaining enough but it doesn't jump out at you and make you say "Wow." Indy Jones is on a search for an old friend who has found a crystal skull with other world implications. Set in the 50's during the height of the cold war with Russia, Jones must battle with KBG agents looking for the skull as well. It was an average movie, not bad, but not great either. It was worth about 3 weak stars. 12/2/08

Tropic Thunder
I do like Ben Stiller's quirky movies, and this one was no exception. To bring together so many top rated actors for this movie about making a movie was quite entertaining. Downey, Nolte, McConaughey, Cruise were so funny in this movie. The Cruise role was priceless... to see him really getting into his role was refreshing. Basically, Stiller is making a comedy version of Rambo with the added twist that it is like a "making" of a Rambo movie. However, is it just a movie or not? I found the movie to be very entertaining, and I liked the ability of all involved to have fun and make fun of themselves with their roles. Worth a watch in my book. 3 stars. 11/28/08

Spartan
Val Kilmer is not one of my favorite actor, although I have enjoyed many of his movies. This movie is very well made and directed. The plot is somewhat complicated due to the fact that there are many twist to keep up with and many characters move in and out of the movie. The main characters are interesting, but not fully developed to my liking. The plot centers around the president's daughter being kidnapped by dealers of sex slaves. Kilmer is assigned to find her and bring her back to her parents. The problem is, she's found dead from a boating accident... or is she??? The plot thickens as Kilmer tries to find the truth. Very entertaining movie and the pacing is quick and tense. Good story, although there are elements that don't make sense... can't say what, or else I will give too much information. IMO, well worth a watch! 4 stars. 11/23/08

Transsiberian
This was a very interesting movie with a lot of twist and turns to add to the enjoyment. However, it took half the movie to build up to what ended up being a very good movie. Harrelson and Kingley do good work and the rest of of the cast were interesting characters as well. The movie started off very gripping, but then slowed till about halfway through. Once the build up was done, the movie kicked in and was very good. The build up was just too long and somewhat boring. I understand the importance of character development, but that part of the movie lasted too long. Harrelson and the Emily Mortimer character are having marriage problems... Harrelson decides to take the Trans Siberian Railroad from China to Moscow to reconnect with his wife. They met up with a young couple who have many secerts and things become clouded for the Mortimer character. There are a several good twist to the story to highten the entertainment value. It was a good movie, but not for everyone. 3 stars. 11/21/08

Red
This is how a drama is supposed to be! Great character development, interesting (but sad) story line, and great acting. Brian Cox makes you feel every emotion he is going through after a group of teens kill his dog. The Cox character just wants justice, nothing more. However, the court system, police, and the parents of the teens do nothing. He takes matters into his own hands with some tragic outcomes. This movie is deep... much more than just a "revenge" type of movie. You fully understand why things happen the way they do because of great character development. All the actors do a great job of bringing this story to life. It is WELL WORTH A WATCH! 5 solid stars. 11/18/08

Stuck
This was a very twisted movie. In a way, I can understand why the Mena Suvari character does what she does. However, she goes to extremes to keep it all quiet. Stephen Rea's character has the worst day of his life and it doesn't get any better that night. He's hit by a car and gets stuck in the windshield. How he doesn't bleed to death, I don't know. The movie was interesting and entertaining as well. The ending was very well done and things work out how they should have IMO. Could be considered disturbing because she is basically torturing the guy in his hour of need. Thought it was worth a watch. 3 stars. 11/16/08

Iron Man
Having seen a few Ironman comic books as a kid, he wasn't my favorite superhero at all. To be honest, in comic book form, Spiderman was my favorite. However, I haven't been a fan of too many comic book movies... all the Blade movies are great in my opinion. Most are just too cheesy for my taste. While this movie is farfetched in many ways, the first five minutes pull you in and make you want to see this story. Downey is great as the ultarich "owner" of a weapons plant who is kidnapped by terrorist and somehow finds a way to make a prototype of the Ironman suit. This is how he escapes and changes his life. Many solid actors in this film and all seem to work together well to make a most entertaining movie. 4 stars. 11/13/08

The Nurse
This movie tries too hard to be an interesting thriller. Acting is low budget and the story is nothing new or special. More like a Lifetime movie than a hard-nosed edge of your seat thriller. A young nurse's father kills his wife, son, and then himself after seeing in the paper that he will probably go to jail for stealing from his company, (real good role model for his daughter). The daughter ends up taking "justice"... more like revenge, into her own hands. The movie was just not that interesting. I could have cared less if everyone in the movie died. The characters were weak and the whole story was a yawn... 2.5 stars. 11/06/08

Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead
Having seen the first one a while back, I couldn't even tell you what it was like... just can't remember, so it must not have stood out. I kind of feel the same way about this one. The acting was ok, there was an ample amount of tension, and there were several gory moments. However, it just didn't do it for me. It was an average thriller at best and the story was not outstanding by any stretch of the imagination. Four young adults driving to Vegas for a bachlor party take a short cut, car breaks down, find what they think is an old abandoned house, "borrow" the car, and all hell breaks loose from there. The gore scenes were pretty good and there was some tense moments, but over all the movie didn't stand out for me. It was just ok. 3 weak stars. 11/01/08

The Lazarus Project
This was an interesting movie. Not the most original by any means, but it was very entertaining. Walker does a good job with his role, although at times I felt the movie dragged more than it should have. It's one of those, things aren't always as they seem movies. Walker's character is sentenced to death for a robbery gone wrong. He awakes and is now the grounds keeper at a mental hospital. Things don't make any sense to him and he struggles to understand what has happened to him. Is it God's way of a second chance? Is there a supernatual meaning at all? A few twist make for and interesting story. Tina and I both liked it. Well worth a watch. 3.5 stars. 10/30/08

Thin Line Between Love & Hate
No where near as funny as Big Momma's House or even National Security, but a typical Martin Lawrence movie. Not as funny as it could have been, but my wife liked it. She's a big Lawrence fan and liked the movie. For me, seeing TC from Maginum PI was cool. Roger Mosley plays a club owner who Lawrence and Bobby Brown work for. Lawrence and Brown are "players" always looking to score with ladies. The Whitfield character catches Lawrence's eye and the trouble begins at that point! Had a few really funny moments, but over all, just an ok movie. 3 weak stars. 10/29/08

Street Kings
It was like watching an extended version of my favorite TV show The Shield. Reeves and Whitaker really do good work in their roles, as a group of "special" unit cops in LA. I have to say that Cedric the Entertainer's role was priceless. I loved the comic relief he brought to the screen. Basically, Whitaker is the captain of an elite group of cops who don't always follow the letter of the law to bring in the bad guys. Reeves character becomes more of a problem than he's worth and things go down hill for him quickly. A lot of good action and violence blend together with a pretty good storyline. It didn't really surprise me with the twist throughout, but it did entertain me. 4 solid stars for this well made action/thriller. 10/27/08

Saw V
We don't go to the theater to see a movie very often, but my wife and I love the Saw series. I was disappointed in Saw IV, but this one was better in my mind. Not as good as Saw and Saw II, but it did answer a lot of questions from the other four. Basically takes parts from all the Saw movies and shows why and how several of these people came to the "game." The in-screen flashbacks at times can be confusing and there are many of them. There were about four "torture" scenes and all were interesting, but not great. I did appreciate the flashbacks because it brought Tobin Bell to the screen often, even though he died in Saw IV. The acting was acceptable and the story was pretty good. It left the door wide open for Saw VI. All in all, it was worth a watch. 4 stars. 10/25/08

You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Not really a fan of silly comedies, but this one did have some laugh out loud moments. Not as good as Waterboy or Big Daddy, but it wasn't that bad. Story centers around Sandler's character. an anti-terrorist agent named Zohan who is the best at what he does. Having tired of all the hate, he fakes his death and comes to America to follow his dream of being a hair stylist. His past life follows him to America and he must find a way to keep his dream alive. Many cameo's from Kevin James, John MacEnroe, Mariah Carey, to Henry Winkler. Somewhat funny and mildly entertaining. If you're a fan of Adam Sandler, you will enjoy this movie. 3 stars. 10/25/08

The Happening
Having "Very Long Wait" for this movie in my "Q", a coworker of mine got this movie and The Strangers yesterday and we all watched both at my house last night. I have liked most of M. Night's movies, but this one left me with more questions than answers. I felt like Mark Walberg was not the best choice for his role. I like him very much, but it wasn't his best work. In Central Park in New York, people suddeningly begin killing themselves. The "virus" sweeps through the Northeast and forces thousands to flee the area. All along the way, Walberg and his group are just slightly ahead of the terror. It was an interesting concept, but didn't translate that well to the big screen. 2.5 stars. 10/23/08

The Strangers
This is one of the most tension filled movies I have ever seen. There are many elements of this movie that I really felt were key to it's success. First, I thought it was interesting that the couple had been "fighting" before they got to the home, for what the Speedman character thought would be a celebration. This part of the movie seemed slow, but you could honestly feel the tension begin to grow. The "strangers" are introduced at different times throughout the movie and come and go to add to the mental torture. Secondly, I love the fact that we never see the faces of the intruders. Wearing masks throughtout, their identity is as much a mystery as it is to why they are there. Liv Tyler does great work making us believe the fear and horror of the moment. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is well worth a watch! 4 stars. 10/23/08

Tortured
This movie was very interesting, well acted, and had a good story line to it. Nothing really new here, but it kept you in to it throughout. The only real drawback were the flashbacks. It seemed to make things a little confusing at times. There were several twist throughout, but more near the end which made for somewhat of a surprising ending. Undercover FBI agent who happens to be the son of the director of the FBI, begins working for a very dangerous "mob" boss. The torture scenes with Laurence Fishburne were not over the top at all, while intense, were not like Hostel. Entertaining. 3 stars. 10/18/08

The Lost Boys 2: The Tribe
This was a very weak story line. I felt it was completely uninteresting and I could care less about these characters. The first Lost Boys had such a flair about it, that made it the movie feel fresh and very interesting. This version seemed to be trying so hard to be "cool" with the soft spoken lead vampire. To me, all the actors walked through this movie just trying to get through it. Comic relief is one time, but Cory Feldman's character was laughable. Sorry folks, just didn't care for the movie at all. 2 stars. 10/13/08

Rest Stop: Don't Look Back
The original Rest Stop was just an average movie to begin with, so my expectations for this one was not that high. The movie had many flashbacks from the original that were more annoying than helpful. Also, the "ghost" in the movie seemed a little to real to actually be ghost. It tried to be a "smart" horror movie, but fell short. The acting was fine and the characters were somewhat interesting, but the overall story seemed forced. The movie centers around Jesse's (from the original) brother trying to find him and brings his girlfriend and his comic relief "best" friend to the search. The gore factor of this movie is way high... some really gross scenes to make any gore fan happy. The ending was a letdown and didn't seem to follow the "rules" of the rest of the movie. Overall, it wasn't a waste of time, it was just ok. 2.5 stars. 10/10/08

Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes
Not really a fan of this series. The only redeeming factor was Doug Bradley (Pinhead). Lance Henriksen was in and out of this movie briefly. The concept of this series is a good idea, but the "creature" is to CG cartoonish to be taken seriously. The story centers around the Doug Bradley character who is selling body parts of recently dead towns folk. Once the bodies are discovered four of the residents call on the old witch to bring forth Pumpkinhead. Pretty gory and the acting is not that bad at all. It's just not that interesting. 2.5 stars. 10/08/08

Copycat
This movie really had potential. However, the writing and directing were very poor. The story revolves around a newspaper writer whose mother was the first victim of a serial killer whose leaving clues in support of killers like the Night Stalker and Dahmer. Many flashbacks show the "work" these former serial killers and their kills. These were more confusing at first than helpful. There was some tension in the movie, but not enough to keep me interested. The movie fell way short in the entertainment category. Just not that good. 2.5 stars. 10/05/08

The Killing Floor
This movie is a sleeper in my book. Only one of my NF friends had even seen or Q'ed this movie. This is a really well made and well acted movie. It isn't the most original movie, but it had so many twist and more tension than I've seen in a while. Marc Blucas' character is an arrogant wealthy literary agent who moved into an expensive penthouse. That's when several strange things begin to happen that throw him into a whirl wind of fear and confusion. As I said before, the tension was unreal at times, to the extent that my wife, myself and the friends watching it with us all jumped. There are only a brief few moments that seemed to drag, but other than that, I found the movie to be very entertaining. 3.5 stars. 9/27/08

88 Minutes
Al Pacino did a very good job with this intense thriller that kept your interest from start to finish. Pacino is a famous forensic physchologist and a college professor. His testimony helped put away a serial killer who is now on death row awaiting execution. Pacino receives a call on his cell phone stating that he has 88 minutes to live. That's when everything begins to go in a whirlwind of tension and mystery. Many good twist make the story more interesting and information is giving at a steady pace to keep you involved in the movie. This was a very entertaining thriller. 4 stars. 9/21/08

King of California
A very well made and entertaining movie. Very Indie like and somewhat quirky but a good story line. Michael Douglas does a very good job as the slightly "crazy" father to the Evan Rachel Wood character. After a stay in a mental hospital, Douglas belives he knows where a buried treasure is hided from the 1600's. His search takes him to a Costco and brings him closer to his daughter. Interesting take on the father/daughter relationship. Good movie and worth a watch. 3.5 stars. 9/20/08

Cleaner
Samuel L. Jackson never cheats an audience when you see him on the screen. He does a very good job in this movie with the support of a very good cast. Jackson's character is a retired cop who now owns a business that cleans up crimes scenes... bloody crime scenes. After cleaning up one scene in a very expensive neighborhood, things don't seem to add up. He is forced to find out what really happened at the scene and that's where all his trouble begins. There are many twist to this movie, but the out come is not hid very well. Having said that, the ending is one intense scene! Very entertaining movie and well worth a watch! 4 stars 9/15/08

Hero Wanted
I enjoyed this movie and I felt like there was a lot of depth to it. The only drawback to the film is the flashbacks and forward filming of the movie. I thought Gooding did a good job being the revengeful wanna be hero. He gets a taste of saving a life and becomes an instant hero and wants to keep it going. He has suffered the horrific loss of his wife and unborn child and seems a lost soul in search of peace in his life. Norman Reedus and Ray Liotta do well with the minimal roles they are given. Goodings character sets up a "fake" bank robbery to "save" a bank teller he has a fascination with and all goes terribly wrong. The movie is very entertaining and is worth a watch. 3.5 stars. 9/11/08

Written in Blood
This movie had a straight to DVD feel, but I didn't think it really hurt this movie. I thought the movie was good and entertaining. Not very original, but it was interesting enough to keep my interest all the way through. The Coyote character is convicted of killing his wife and her lover. It didn't seem logical that he did the murders but he admits to it. His partner, the Weiss character, works to figure out exactly what happened and finds more than he bargains for. A movie to watch when it's raining outside and you have nothing else to do. Not great, but entertaining enough. 3 stars. 9/08/08

Stop-Loss
There is a political message in this film. Not so much anti-war as it is anti stop-loss program. Ryan Phillippe did an awesome job with this role bringing such emotion and heart too it. The rest of the cast did well also. The story centers around the Phillippe character and his desire to get on with his life after getting back from Iraq. He saw many of his friends killed and wounded in battle. The mental scars were very deep and he is glad to be getting out. However, the stop-loss rule was enacted on him to send him back for another tour. What follows is a very difficult course that takes him from Texas to Washington with many revelations along the way. Very strong movie that keeps you interested all the way through. Well worth a watch! 4 stars. 9/08/08

Felon
Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff are great in this movie that features so much tension, despair, and finally redemption. Sent to prison for manslaughter (Dorff), with his world turned upside down, he has to learn to survive in a world where he is a fish out of water. Kilmer on the other hand is a lifer who takes the Dorff character under his wing so to speak. This movie is rough in many places with the way in which Dorff's character is treated and the things that come his way which he has no control over. The movie is so well acted and directed. The story flows so well and keeps you wanting more all the way through. Character development is very well done on all of the main characters. It really pulls you in and is a very entertaining movie. WELL WORTH A WATCH! Thanks for the head up on this one Creeper! 4.5 stars 9/05/08

Restraint
Restraint is an interesting movie with a lot of potential. It falls a little short of being a very good movie because it doesn't live up to it's description. It has some very intense moments and is a very well made movie for such a low budget, but I expected more. The concept, two crimminals hide out in a home they don't realize is not abandoned. The home owner is not as he appears and has demons of his own. Twists and turns keep you interested, but the movie is slow in the middle. The alternate ending is much more interesting that then one shown. Not a bad rent and worth a watch if you go in with an open mind. 9/04/08

Wizard of Gore
Never saw the original from the 70's, but the remake was less than a stellar movie on it's own merit. Choppy and confusing, poorly edited and directed, and just not a very interesting movie. There are too many questions that are left to your imagination and those that are answered are not all that clear. Tried to be too clever, but never lived up to it's potential. The acting was very good and at times intense, but the movie never pulled me in. Concerns a magician (Crispin Glover) and a reporter (Kip Pardue) who is doing a story on the show. The "volunteers" from the audience are showing up dead a day after the show and dying from the same type "wounds" they recieced from the show. Poorly done movie and not worth the time. 2 stars 9/04/08

Dirty Harry
This is such an important film. For its day (1971), it was ground breaking. Good/bad cop who doesn't take kindly to rules and regulations that "help" the crimminals. In your face justice, but really a deeper meaning about our society. Violence met with violence... not a deterent, but a means to put an end to the crimminal element. Eastwood, like John Wayne is a icon of American cinema. Both actors were forces on film that made them appear larger than life. Dirty Harry is a movie that deserves attention because of what it did for film. It changed the way we view our hero/good guys. The one liners are classics and Eastwood's ability to say a lot without saying a lot is priceless. Facial expressions go a long way in making Eastwood a legend. Great movie! 4 stars. 9/02/08

They
This was on TV last night and I had to watch. This movie has an interesting story line and the acting is very good. Tension, some creepy moments, and mild violence make for a very entertaining movie. Basically, a story about "night terrors" that several children had, but with a twist. The ending could have been better, but the movie kept your interest thoughtout. 4 stars 9/01/08

Avenger
Sam Elliott really does a good job with this made for TV movie. Reminded me a little of the Punisher in theory only, but nevertheless, an entertaining thriller. Elliott plays a hired gun/lawyer who takes cases based on his idea of justice. A wealthy man's son has been missing for a year in Eastern Europe and Elliott takes the case. Along the way, a CIA type (Hutton) is told to keep Elliott from finishing his mission. Not a great movie, but very entertaining, well-paced, and a well directed storyline. 3.5 stars. 9/01/08

Grizzly Park
Didn't have high expectations for this film to begin with. However, I was hopeful that it would at least be entertaining. The movie had no direction whatsoever and the actors, while not awful, were not good either. 8 obnoxious teens are doing community service by helping clean up Grizzly Park. Along the way, each comes in contact with nature's "monsters" and blah, blah, blah. The death scenes were even boring. I know this is a "B" movie and I shouldn't be so hard on it, but it was a waste of time. 2 stars. 8/31/08

The Perfect Witness
This movie got my attention from the opening scenes and kept my interest throughout. Very interesting concept of a film maker capturing a serial killer in the act and then trying to blackmail him into doing a documentary on the serail killers life. Bad idea for the film maker. There was an ample amount of tension and some very violent scenes. The acting was very well done and made you more interested in each character. All in all this was a movie that was well orth a watch! 4 stars 8/31/08

Witless Protection
I like Larry's stand up very much. However, the 3 movies I've seen: this one, Delta Farce, and Health Inspector are all just average. This movie had some quality actors in it Peter Stormare, Yaphet Kotto, and Joe Mantegna and all do a great job. The one liners were funny and the flow of the movie was ok. It just wasn't laugh out loud funny like Larry's stand up can be. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either. 3 stars. 8/31/08

Prom Night
I thought this movie was full of tension and very little on gory factor. The acting was better than your typical teen slasher and that with tension made for a very entertaining movie. Jonathan Schaech portrayed a very convincing serial killer... much better in this role than in the movie Organism. Young high school girl sees her mom killed right before her eyes by a staking former school teacher who is obcessed with her. He is captured and later escapes to come after her on her porm night. Many die, and the chase is on to capture him before he can reach his intened victim. Entertaining and worth a watch in my book. 3.5 stars.

Steven Wright: When the Leaves Blow Away
Steven Wright has one of the most unusual styles out there. His one liners are funny and at times thought provoking... mostly you're wondering how in the heck did he think it up! If you're a fan you will really like the stand up segment of this DVD. However, the stand up is only 42 minutes and the rest is a black and white movie short about a Civil War soldier musing about life... way to boring for me. My rating would have been at least 4 stars for the stand up, but the movie short was a waste of time. 3 stars 8/24/08 IW

Severance
I have to admit, Im really starting to like English dark comedies. This movie was not laugh out loud funny, but there were moments that put a smile on your face. The comedy was subtle at times and in your face in others. There were only a very few times that it seemed silly to me. Over all, it was a very entertaining movie. A weapons company sends several coworkers off for a weekend team building retreat in Eastern Europe. The team ends up in the wrong lodge and thats when they must learn to work together to save their own lives. There is ample amount of gory from start to finish and an actual storyline that makes sense. Not as funny as the movie The Cottage, but well worth a watch! 3 stars. 8/23/08

The Jack Bull
John Cusack is awesome in this movie. It's a honest approach to a man's honor and his expecations of the law and justice. A period piece western with all the elements of a very good western. Quailty actors and though brief, John Goodman's work was priceless. Cusack plays a horse rancher taking his horses to market, but a rival land baron puts up a toll to force Cusack to pay to take his horses over tha land baron's property. Not having the money to pay, Cusack leaves behind two prize horses and comes back to find them near death. When he takes the legal route, he gets no justice and goes to extreme measures seeking justice. Not a feel good type of movie, but a realistic look at what a man will do when the law fails him. Well worth a watch! 4 stars. 8/22/08

Rails & Ties
Kevin Bacon is one of my favorite actors. He puts everything he has into his work. This movie is a very heavy drama with cancer, suicide, and death. A well acted and very well told story. The young boy is a great actor and brings such compassion to the movie. Kevin Bacon's character is involed in a train crash that takes the life of a young mom who decides to take her life and her son's by parking the car on a train track. Kevin Bacon was driving the train. The story is so involed and drains you emotionally. It is very sad, but there is hope. Pass the Kleenex. Well worth a watch. 4 stars. 8/21/08

Insanitarium
Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but it could have really been so much better. I know it is direct to video and I shouldn't expect too much, but it fell short of being really good. For most of the movie, it is right where it needed to be with only a few problems that seem to not make sense. However, the last 30 minutes are quite campy and verge on a "B" zombie type movie. The acting was very good and the idea was interesting... not original, but interesting. The ending was very weak and looked silly. The main character is trying to save his disturbed sister from what he believes to be a mad doctor. She's in a mental hospital, so he decides to get himself admited so he can save her. Along the way he meets some typical hospital patients and manages to get himself in more trouble. The concept had promise, but the writing was weak and relied on the same old thing. Not a total waste of time, but not worth a watch IMO. 2.5 stars. 8/20/08

Nosferatu: Original Version
I would imagine that in 1929 this film was scary and fascinating to many that saw it and were amazed at the marvel of movies. The story was well written and the camera as well as the actors told the story. The make up was hideous and laughable at the same time. However, I guess many love this film because it is a one of a kind original work. I found it to be a good movie, but not great. It was not scary and I couldn't get past the fake looking make up. I gave it 3 stars based on it's longevity and it's importance as a vampire classic... not because it was great. IW 8/20/08

Scarface
Al Pacino is such a quaility actor... one of America's finest. This was a rewatch with several friends last night. I enjoyed the quaility of this movie, but it was way too long. Slow at times, but the action and tension were so good. The acting, storyline, direction were very well done. It was a violent movie at times and very "dark" in it's attitude. Based on the fictional Cuban mobster Tony Montana who came to America from Cuba when Castro came to power. His rise and fall is a telling story of greed, excess, double-cross, and violence. Many compare it to The Godfather, but I don't really see it... only to the extent that it is a "mob" movie. Two different styles and storylines. Both are very good and Scarface is well worth a watch! 4.5 stars. 8/16/08

Without a Paddle
This is another rewatch last night with several friends. This movie is what I would consider "cute" and funny. Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard mesh so well together to bring a very entertaining movie to the big screen. The laughs are out loud funny and the story is well done. After the death of a friend, the three are rejoined to take a trip to search for D.B. Cooper. Along the way misfortune is what they find as well as an understanding of what is really important. Very entertaining and well worth a watch! 4.5 stars 8/16/08

The Tattooist
A very promising movie that falls short of delivering. A stolen ancient tattooist tool unleashes a revenge seeking spirit on any one the lead character tattoos after he steals it. The movie moves way too slow and the intense moments are brief, but interesting. The story has potential, but never lives up to what it should have been. The acting is good and the landscape is nice, but all in all just an average movie. 2.5 stars. 8/13/08

Storm Warning
This was a tense, twisted, sick, disturbing, and at times gory movie. The acting was very good for a bunch of "unknown" actors. The storyline is not all that original, but the movie is quite entertaining for a "horrorish" movie. There's a scene in the movie that brought back memories of my favorite horror character Pinhead... I felt sorry for the character of the husband because they made him out to be a wimp and he didn't seem to know what to do. There are some very gory moments that will make you flinch. I thought for a low budget movie it was very well done and kept my interest once it really got started (once they get to the "hillbilly's" house). 4 stars 8/11/08

Shutter
I thought this movie was very creepy with a fair amount of tension. Joshua Jackson is not a great actor, but did a good job with this role. The story is not that original, because you're thinking you've seen some of this before. However, I did like the movie and I did find it to be very entertaining. 3.5 stars 8/7/08

Outlaw
Sean Bean has been in some movies I've really liked and I wanted to see this one because of him. I thought this movie was somewhat of a British version of Death Wish. It seemed an unlikely group of vigilantes were brought together in this, at times, slow moving movie. It took a little while for this film to get into a pace that made it more interesting, but once it did, I felt it was very interesting and an entertaining movie. The camera work was shaky a lot of the movie, but not to the extent of Cloverfield, Blair Witch, etc... I liked the movie and thought it was an interesting look at what desperate men will do when they feel nothing or no one else can help. 3.5 stars. 8/03/08

The Cottage
I normally don't like dark comedies at all, but I found myself laughing out loud in this movie several times. British humor is a love it or hate it kind of thing and I have to say it was well done in this film. The acting was good and the gore was a plenty! Two brothers kidnap the stepdaughter (a hellcat of a girl!) of a strip club owner and hold her for ransom. Once at "The Cottage", everything that can go wrong... goes terribly wrong! This is a fun gorefest and I really don't consider it to be a "B" movie because the acting was too good for a "B" movie. Very entertaining and lots of fun. 3 stars. 8/01/08

The Mist
As far as Stephen King movies go, it's in the upper middle of the pack. The Shining has always been my favorite. I liked this movie even if a lot of the CGI elements were not realistic or believable... even for a horror movie. The acting was very well done. I like Thomas Jane (The Punisher) and I thought he played a very intense role. I didn't feel we were given enough information about why this was happening... was it the wrath of God??? Was it a military test gone wrong??? Don't really know, but it does show what happens to human beings when fear takes over their souls and what they are willing to believe. All in all it was a very entertaining movie and worth a watch. 3.5 stars. 8/01/08

Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
There are 3 segments to this series, each 55 minutes long. The first segment was the weakest as far as interesting information. Throughout the series they show the same scenes too often, but in the first one it happens way too often. To put 200 years in less than 3 hours of video is an undertaking, but the last two segments do a good job going from the roots of democracy, battles with Persia and Sparta, intellectual thought, and the fall of an empire. I found the series to be intersting and educational to boot. 3 stars and well worth a watch. 7/31/08

Lake Dead
I guess if you like to laugh during your campy, cheesy horror movies, then this is your type of movie. I like a little comic relief in my horror, but I HATE laughing out loud when a horror movie isn't intended to be funny. As Creeper told me last week, we keep looking for those little horror gems that we know are out there... this isn't one of them. The acting was laughable. The story was stupid and anything but original. I gave it 2 stars because it was mildly gory, and I mean mildly. I would say it is a cross between Wrong Turn meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the Geico cavemen thrown in for laughs. Be forewarned... 7/29/08

Hitman
I really liked this movie. The action was intense at times and there were some of the best fight scenes I'd ever seen. The movie tended to jump around to much and it wasn't realistic in many ways, but after all it was based on a video game. Olyphant's acting was wooden and it would have been better for him to talk less. However, it was highly entertaining with the tension and great action. Comic relief in a few scenes, but guns were a blazing throughout! For an action flim it really delivered a punch. Raised from a child to be a hitman, he would grow up to be the best. After his last hit, he becomes the target and that's when things really heat up. Very good movie and well worth a watch. 4 stars. 7/28/08

Lynrd Skynyrd: Freebird: The Movie / Tribute Tour
One of the greatest bands of my generation. In 1977 I was 18 years old and no song has ever sent chills down my spine the way Freebird did. 80% of this DVD is live concert footage, great stuff! Many interviews with original band members, family, and friends. Quality of a lot of the footage is not great, but then it's really about the music any way. I enjoyed this DVD very much. Well worth a watch! 4 stars. 7/25/08

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour
I had to write a review after reading many of the reviews of this DVD. I'm a 49 year old male who was 18 years old when the original Skynyrd went down. No other song captured my attention and sent chills down my back the way Freebird did. I loved that band. My wife and I have seen the "new" Skynyrd five times over the past 9 years at Meadowbrook in Gilford, NH. I am amazed how close Johnny Vant Zant sounds like his brother. The shows have been AWESOME. I have seen MANY interviews with Johnny Van Zant and he would NEVER do anything to hurt the legacy of his brilliant brother. Get over yourselves, The love of music is what drives these people! Do I fault them for making money off the Skynyrd name, HELL no. I saw the Vicious Cycle Tour and it kicked A$$. 7/25/08

Outpost
I thought this movie was much like The Bunker (2001), but with a more sci-fi, supernatural feel. Not really a horror movie, but enough tension and gore to be pretty close. Many scenes were just too dark, but over all the movie flowed very well. There was an ample amount of tension, which I like and the acting was very good for mostly unknown actors. The story centers around an underground bunker that was built by the Germans in the 40's to do un-natural tests on their own soldiers. A group of ex-military soldiers are hired to take a "scientist" to the bunker to uncover a secret. That's when the trouble begins. The story is interesting and entertaining as well. Creepy atmosphree, good storyline, and well acted make this a movie worth a watch. 3.5 stars 7/24/08

The Bank Job
This is truly a very well made action/thriller. There is an interesting mix of characters, who for the most part are developed very well. Most of the characters live or are involved in the seedier side of London. Low level hoodlums, corrupt cops, black activists, self-serving politicians, an adult film distributor, and safety deposit boxes full of more than just money. All is brought together to make an entertaining and very event filled movie. Back stabbing, deals and broken deals, several interesting twists and very good acting make this a movie that is well worth a watch! 4 Stars. 7/24/08

Asylum
This movie started out pretty good, but after a few minutes went down hill quickly. It had the feel of a poorly acted "B" movie. It wasn't a total waste of time up until the end. The CGI ending was so corny and lackluster that in all honesty, it ruined the movie for me. College students living in a "new" dorm (A former asylum). All the students have issues that the "ghost" mad doctor uses against them to kill them. Some of the gore was pretty interesting, but overall nothing new here at all. 2 stars. 7/22/08

Bone Dry
I'm a fan of Lance Henriksen, and I try not to let that effect my view of his movies. The guy's presence and voice are compelling. This is a revenge movie, but I felt we should have been given more information (other than a few brief flashbacks) so that we could decide who to sympathize with. Maybe that was their point, not really knowing why this tortute, and at times brutal, journey through the desert was happening in the first place. I would have to agree with my friend Nolemajic, there were some "added" characters to the mix that were not necessary. It did keep my interest throughout, and I found it to be entertaining. Worth a watch in my book. 3 stars. 7/21/08

Wrestling Gold: Vol. 3: We Like to Hurt People
I'm not one who hates the WWE for what it did to wrestling... I applaud them for bringing big money to a sport that is on the road nearly 365 days a year. I go back to the days of Johnny Weaver (Sleeper Hold), Rip Hawk & Swede Hanson (Pile driver), and Bobo Brazil (Coco Butt). Great stuff, my cousins and I would try all the moves in my grandparents basement on a carpeted concrete floor... I dont know how we lived through it. Many old school wrestlers on this DVD my favorite being Junkyard Dog. Its an interesting trip down memory lane for us old guys. 3 stars. 7/18/08

Gridiron Gang
Based on a true story, this movie was very entertaining. The Rock does a great job playing a hardnosed counselor at Camp Kilpatrick, a youth prison for violent offenders. Trying to get the different cultures, gangs, and crimminal elements to live in somewhat of a tolorant existance, The Rock character tries to create a prison football team to teach these guys discipline and teamwork. He mets with much resistance from the prisoners and his bosses. Very emotional at times and such a great example of what can happen when people actually give a crap about others. Well worth a watch! 4 stars. 7/18/08

Constantine
I like good supernatural horror/thrillers. Constantine was quite good with it's sarcastic lead character played well enough by Keanu Reeves. Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) is some what believable as a cop who is investigating the apparent suicide of her twin sister. The two characters are thrown together through a chance connection between the dead twin. Constantine is not a priest, but is able to exorcize demons and send them back to hell. He has some health issues and now the deamons are out for revenge. The story is interesting and the movie flows well with some pretty good special effects. All in all it was a very entertaining movie and well worth a watch! 4 stars 7/18/08

College Road Trip
There is a differecne between "clean fun" and a good movie. A movie doesn't have to have T&A, cursing, or adult themes to be. Example, The Song Of Music and just about all the early Disney classics. Those were GREAT family films with meaning, great acting (even the cartoon movies had better acting!), and solid storylines. I'm a fan of Martin Lawrence. My wife loves the guy and we've seen most of his movies. She thought this one was silly. I felt it was more like watching an episode of "I'm So Raven" with Martin Lawrence and Donny Osmond as guest stars. The movie wasn't that funny and the acting was laughable. Donny Osmond "acted" like he was on coke or something. This movie is for the Raven fans (10-13 year old girls) and nothing more. Not worth the time. 2 stars. 7/16/08

In Bruges
I wanted to REALLY like this movie, but I couldn't bring myself to give it 4 stars. I like both lead actors (Farrell and Gleeson) and I feel they did a great job in this film. The problem I had with it was that it moved rather slowly. There was a purpose for the pace; I understand that, but it could have flowed much better. The Farrell character accidently kills a young boy on his first hit for the Fiennes character and thus is sent to Bruges with his partner (The Gleeson character) to lay low for a few weeks. Between guilt and a very up front smart mouth, the Farrell character gets in all kinds of trouble. I liked the example of comparing them to "The Odd Couple" that my NF friend Joe Jones stated... so true. They seem to be oil and water. The writing of the story was quite good and the concept is deeper than just a dark comedy. If you watch all the behind the scenes features, you will get a better understanding of what the writer was trying to say with the struggles we face internally, spiritually, and emotionally. It is a very dark comedy and at times I laughed out loud just at the "crazy" remarks made by the Farrell character and a few others. It was a good movie and I feel it is a movie that is well worth a watch. 3 Stars 7/15/08

Organizm
I actually liked this movie better than The Ruins. While the two movies are different, I thought Organizm was much more believeable from a "Bio" tragedy point of view. It is a low budget movie, but it was entertaining and kept my interest. I've seen Johnathon Schaech in a few movies and have often wondered why he isn't really a star. The Tom Hank's movie "That Thing You Do" was the first one I remember him being in and thought he did a good job with the role they gave him. Maybe since he's married to Christina Applegate, he doesn't need the work??? His character has scars on his hands that his mom put there so he would never forget, then went and killed his "father", and then herself. Serious beginning to the movie and I really had high hopes. It just was a little weak in a few areas that didn't make the movie stand out. Special effects were ok, and over all acting was fine as well. The movie has some tension and some creepy moments to it that make it worth a watch for true Sci-Fi fans. 3 stars 7/12/08

The Ruins
This was an interesting movie. It was a little slow at times, but the acting was very good considering what was expected from them. I enjoy movies that have a fair amount of tension in them and there was an ample amount in this movie. Mildly gory, some being for "medical" reason. Jonathan Tucker plays a medical student along with 4 other friends travel deep into the forrest of Mexico to see an ancient Mayan temple. I like Tucker as an actor after seeing him in Hostage and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and his character takes "control" of this vacation gone terribly wrong. The movie kept my interest all the way through and although a little slow at times, it was entertaining. My only complaint was the actual reason for their terror once they are on top of the temple. It was a far-fetched concept and not at all believable. Having said that, it is still a movie that I feel is worth a watch. 7/10/08 3 stars.

The Undefeated
I read many of the latest reviews of this movie and had to laugh at the PC attitudes of those reviewers that found this movie somewhat objectable. All the crap that is thrown in our faces in the name of the first amendment and they are worried about stereotypes in this movie. John Wayne was not a great actor... John Wayne was a presence. He was an icon not because of his acting, but because of his ability to portray a strength in the face of danger. This movie is an example of his strength. Rock Hudson, Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr., and Merlin Olsen were great old school actors. This film was about two oppositie forces joining together for the common good. Nothing is more American than that. The movie had action, romance, humor, and strength of character. This John Wayne classic is well worth a watch! 7/08/08

Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
One of the most outspoken, original, controversial, irreverent, and just plain funny comedians of my lifetime. This IW movie has many family, friends, and celebrities giving their thoughts on this troubled ex-minister. I have always been a huge fan of Kinisons and I respected him for saying what he believed with a F you attitude. Not hateful, just full of anger and rage. This is a very well-done piece on the life of Sam Kinison. It is well worth a watch! 7/07/08

Vantage Point
I guess from all the reviews I read you either like this movie or you don't. Even a lot of the 3 star reviews were not that positive. I did find the repetitive nature of the movie somewhat annoying, but it was set up to tell the same story from many different points of view. Dennis Quaid and Forest Whitaker did really good work in this film. The car chase scene which lasted quite a long time was tension filled excitement. I really liked this movie and thought it was well written and acted. Enough twists to keep you guessing and a little information from each point of view to give you more insite on what's going on to entertain you. I found this movie to be well worth a watch! 7/06/08 4 stars.

Cloverfield
Not a big fan of "monster" movies, but this one was not too bad. There were elemnets that were interesting, but more that were annoying. The tension in this movie was very high and the pace was quick and flowed well. However, the camcorder shooting was very hard to follow many times throughout the film. I understand the reason behind using the camcorder, but it did make it hard to watch at times. The monster was seen only briefly except for one scene throught the movie. I felt we should have been given much more information as to where the monster came from and what the heck it was. I've had a string of movies lately that really had the opportunity to be great, but fell short of that... this is another one that missed the mark. 2.5 stars 7/05/08

The Signal
Not really sure what I really think about this movie. Not original, but interesting and well acted. To be honest, the behind the scenes special features were more interesting than the movie was. Gore factor was very high. The movie had 3 segments and was written and directed by 3 different directors which to me made for a movie that didn't flow well because of it. I'm not a fan of too many flashback scenes in a movie and this one was full of them. It was an entertaining movie and therefore it got 3 stars, but I can't say that liked it all that much. I guess I want to know why it all happened, but we are not told. The ending as well was questionable and left me unsatisfied and confused... it was another flashback... but was it real??? Who knows. Not a waste of time, but it could have really been a good movie. Interesting idea, just not well done. 2.5 stars 7/4/08

National Treasure: Book of Secrets
What a great thrill ride of a movie. While there are parts to this movie that are farfetched, it entertains from start to finish. Nicolas Cage has this type of role down to a tee and the chemistry between all cast members is a pleasure to watch. Very much like the first NT with the added incentive of clearing an ancestor's tarnished name, doing whatever it takes to find the treasure and bring the Gates family name it's honor. This history ride is so entertaining that you never even notice it's a little over two hours long. The door is open for a third one and I for one can hardly wait! This movie is WELL worth the watch!

Reeker
If you are a "B" movie horror fan, then you will like this movie. However, this is not an original storyline at all. To comapre it to the movie it is like would give away the ending completely. The acting was acceptable and the characters for the most part were interesting enough. It tried to be a "smart" dark comedy/horror film, but it fell short IMO. The gore was there and comic relief was laughable. It wasn't a complete waste of time, but it's an old story that has been told in different ways over and over again. Michael Ironsides is in this movie for about 15-20 minutes tops. Another annoying factor was it seemed like they just randomly threw these characters together bringing together a cast of characters that didn't gel together at all. Farfetched to say the least. Bumped it to 3 stars mainly because it did entertain me. really 2.5 stars at most. 7/01/08

Fool's Gold
There are quite a few negative reviews for this movie and I'm not sure what they were expecting after reading the details or seeing the trailer. The movie is entertaining IMO. It won't win any awards and it had a few silly moments. McConaughey, Hudson, and Sutherland did their usual work with the script they had (which wasn't that original, but not bad either). I did laugh out loud a couple of times. Make no mistake, it is a chick flick... I don't watch many, but I'm not against them either. Treasure hunters looking for the priceless find, good guys, bad guys, divorce, typical fair for a romantic comdey. It entertained me and therefore, 3 stars. 6/30/08

Flawless
Michael Caine did an outstanding job with his role. His character was such that we could sympathize with him. Demi Moore, who I have never really been a fan of, was right on in her portrayal of an Oxford grad, American woman in London in the 60's. She was in a man's world trying to break throw the glass ceiling in the largest diamond company in the world. Being passed over for promotion so many times, lead her to "help" the Caine character in this heist. The story was well written and directed. We are only given enough information throughout to keep our interest and not spoil the plot or ending. It was just a tad slow at times, but not to the point of being annoying. The ending was satisfying and complimented the direction of the movie. It's an intelligent movie and not a mindless romp of chase scenes or the like. Very entertaining and well worth a watch!

Shrooms
I had my doubts about this movie from reading the reviews, but a friend of mine said he liked it and I have to admit, it wasn't bad at all. I would have to agree that many scenes are too dark, but I believe they did that because of necessity. The atmosphere was dark and creepy. I didn't think the acting was all that bad either for unknown actors. Several young adults go on a trip to Ireland to experiment with mushrooms and the "trip" each one takes is deadly. There is plenty of tension, mildly gory, and the story is interesting enough to keep your attention. Is it real or just a drug induced trip gone bad??? The ending as Creeper said was not original, but I didn't expect it till late in the movie. All in all it was an entertaining movie that is worth a watch 6/25/08

Otis
Knowing that this was a dark comedy/horror movie, I really didn't think I would like it. I prefer horror movies to scare me and have a little comic relief to them. However, this movie was both funny (not really laugh out loud funny) and twisted! The torture scenes were a crazy combination of sick and funny at the same time because of the circumstances... and they were brutal! The acting was great. Daniel Stern as the "weak" father and Illeana Douglas as the determined mother were awesome. Kevin Pollak played Otis' older brother who verbally and physically abuses Otis. Otis is played by Bostin Christopher and brings a huge performance in his first lead role. Otis is a serial killer who has a fasination with 16 year old girls and wants to take them to his make believe prom. He calls all the girls "Kim". Ashley Johnson's character was a smart "cheerleader" who becomes Otis' latest victim and plays the role well. This movie surprised me... well worth a watch.

Funny Games
I saw the original and wasn't thrilled with it either. I gave this movie a try because of several reviews that were positive. I felt the movie moved so slowly. There were several moments where the camera was on a scene for 15 to 30 seconds with NOTHING happening. The movie dragged badly. The acting was fine and all characters were believable in their roles. I just didn't feel any kind of connection to any of the characters to really care what happened to them and you can blame that on character development. There were scenes that were silly, like the "rewind" scene... you will know what I mean when you see it. A couple of times the Michael Pitt character looked into the camera and talked to the audience... that did not fit the movie at all and made it hard for me to take any more of it seriously. There was tension and no real gore at all, which wouldn't have made a difference with me any way. 2 stars... being kind.

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Martin Lawrence is a one dimensional actor. However, what he does he does well. I found this movie to be quite entertaining with it's obviously adult humor. It's not at all an original script... Lawrence is a successful talk show host, but can't live down his self perceived failings as a child. Goes home to his parents 50th wedding anniversary to flaunt his "success" and learns a lesson about what is truly important. Good story and often funny. Reminded me of Johnson Family Vacation. On the DVD, watch the outtakes... very funny. Entertaining, but nothing special. 3 stars...

Rambo
Sylvester Stallone and the rest of the cast give us an amazing, yet graphic, journey into the horror that is a corrupt military regime. Politics aside, this movie was just what you expect from John Rambo... but it delivered so much more. From the fantastic music score throughout the movie, to the stunningly dark realism of war. This movie was graphic in every aspect. The scenes of death, torture, brutality, and assaults were dramtatic and chilling. The acting by all was credible and gave us the ability to love them or hate them. The story centers around the civil war in Burma and gives us a serious slap in the face to awaken our conscience to the tragedy that is taking place there. Missionaries need Rambo's help in getting into Burma to give medical and spiritual attention to a village near the border. Things don't bode well for them and Rambo comes to the rescue, along with a few mercenaries hired by the missionaries' church. I highly recommend watching all of the special features after viewing the movie. Most interesting and very entertaining. Rambo fans will love this movie no matter what, but I think Stallone has brought a new generation into the Rambo fold with this brilliant movie. Special effects, stunt work, quality script, music, acting... count 'em 5 stars. Well worth a watch!

The Bucket List
I'm so pleased that I have gotten to watch so many movies over the years from two of the best actors we have seen in our lifetime. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are the cream of the crop in American movies. This movie was special in so many ways. Yes there's an important message here, live life to the fullest, but it is so much more. Emotional, funny, sad, endearing, just plain great. Two men who had never met before both are thrown a deadly curve from life. Both are from two different paths in life, but are united by their illness'. Maybe, I'm a little sappy on this one. Nevertheless, every now and again you watch a movie that touches you in such a positive way that you can't help but look inward and say to youeself, "What gives me joy, and how much joy have I given to others". This movie is WELL WORTH A WATCH!

The Eye
I try my best not to compare remakes to the original. I hope to judge each movie on it's own merit. It's easy for this one, because I don't watch foreign movies very often at all. I find subtitles to be a distraction... forgive me for my lack of culture. The Eye was very entertaining. Jessica Abla did a very good job with this script. I liked her in the movie Awake as well. Being blind for many years, she gets an eye transplant and begins to have visions of creepy spirits who take people who have just died to the other world. The visions become more intense and seem to be point to a bigger tragedy. The atmosphere was very creepy and the tension was high. Acting was good and the story flowed very well. It kept your interest and the entertainment value was right where I like it. All in all, the movie is well worth a watch! 3.5 stars.

Crazy Eights
This movie could have been a great movie. It had many elements that I really enjoy... Great plot, good acting, tension, and a creepy atmosphere. However, the film falls flat. It takes to long to develop the story. The concept was interesting, childhood friends who reunite for a friends funeral and begin to remember chilling events from their past that connects each of them together. It was unrealistic to me that none of these people never remembered any of this before the funeral. From what we find out they were nearly 10 to 12 years of age. Things of this nature can be suppressed, but you would expect some kind of memory of it. There were several questions that I had that were never answered and the ending was quite lackluster. While the movie felt it was moving slowly, it was interesting enough that you didn't really notice it too much. I say that because after reading all the negative reviews, I was thinking as I was watching this movie that it was not that bad. Nevertheless, the movie did not deliver what I expect for closure in its ending. The writers tried too hard to make a "smart" horror film instead of leting the story tell itself. I really wanted to like this film, but I would have to say that it falls between 2 and 3 stars.

Captivity
With all the negative reviews on this movie, I really didn't want to watch it. I thought it was just another Hostal type of sex and torture that seems to be the rage in horror these days. My friend Elise saw this movie about a week ago and said it was full of tension, some gory moments, and not that bad of a movie. I have to agree. There was a fair amount of tension and the gore was pretty intense. The mind games were more interesting to me and could have been developed better. The twists were predictable but that didn't hurt the movie to badly in my mind. I don't know why all the bad reviews... I could have given it 4 stars except for the fact the ending was not realistic if you follow the whole storyline IMO. Overall I thought the movie was very entertaining and had some very intense moments. 3.5 stars from my wife. All in all it is worth a watch.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
I had written a review of this movie last week and it never showed up??? NF issue I guess. I will try again. I really like Tony Todd mainly for Candyman (the original one). I was looking forward to this one because of him even though I am not a fan of any Jekyll/Hyde movies... mainly because I don't think the idea/story translates to film very well at all. I wanted to "really like 4 stars" this movie, but I couldn't. The make-up for Hyde was cartoonish and when he was in public you would have expected "normal" people to act scared or appalled... neither happened. The story was boring and silly. I gave it 3 stars because several friends wathcing it with us liked it. 2.5 for me... average at best.

Shocker
This is a rewatch... since I hadn't seen this movie in some time, it happened to be on the Sci-Fi channel the other morning and my wife and I watched it. We laughed a lot. Wes Craven has had several movies I've really like... Nightmare on Elm St., The Serpent and the Rainbow, The People Under the Stairs, and Red Eye. However, this one was so silly that you couldn't help but laugh. Sometimes, I feel like many directors of horror get away with crap movies based on previous works. Even if this movie was remade today, special effects couldn't save a bad story. The acting was not very good and even putting this movie in the "B" list category would be generous. Basicaly, this was a boring, silly movie and not worth the 110 minutes of your time... longer if watched on network TV.

Hellraiser
It should be no surprise that Pinhead is my favorite horror character if you've seen my blog: (://tfav1630 frgodbeyjr. blogspot.com/) or my avatar, it is quite apparent. Clive Barker created the most original horror character ever. Pinhead's character is solely founded on dishing out pain and suffering... almost as an S&M experience. The movie itself has a good amount of tension which I love and the gore factor is up there with the oversized fish hooks ripping flesh apart. I've seen all 8 Hellraiser's and look forward to #9 coming out sometime this year. My ONLY complaint about the original Hellraiser is that Pinhead is not given enough screen time. I would love to see a Hellraiser where Pinhead is actually the lead character... as long as Doug Bradley plays him. The movie is centered around a small toy box that when opened, unleashes the evil cenobite Pinhead and his demons. The demons are very creepy and their appearence is associated with their vocation or their likes. The story is a completely fresh look in to the horror genre and does not disappoint. I rewatched it on Instant Watch (seen many, many times), and thought I should share this classic with the rest of my horror friends. The original Hellraiser is WELL WORTH A WATCH! PS: NF doesn't allow words over 25 characters, so my blog site had to be seperated... also does not allow the beginning characters of any URL.

Abominable
Overall, I'm being very generous giving this movie 3 stars. Creeper (unadulterated name dropping) sent out a note on this movie and I thought I would give it a shot. The tension in this movie was top notch, considering our LOUD surround sound system... all the more tense. I love tension in a movie and therefore, 3 stars. The Abominable character was comical instead of scary and the acting of the "comely" girls was poor. Lance Henriksen was in this movie for about 5 minutes... what a disappointment! The gore factor was pretty good as the Abominable monster had a very strong craving for human flesh. All in all, not the worst movie I've ever seen, but not to be taken too seriously either.

Chaos
Chaos is a very interesting movie with many good actors. We were watching it with several friends last night who all really liked it. I was sitting there throughout the movie thinking that the movie should be so much better. The writing of this movie was a little amateurish, as an example... the Captain in this movie said "It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure..." A cross between rocket scientist and brain surgeon. At first I thought it must be a mistake and then I thought the writer must have just been trying to be funny. It was a good movie, but it could have been so much better when you consider the talent in this film. There was a ton of action and several twist to make it interesting. A solid 3 stars and worth a watch.

The Deaths of Ian Stone
This was a very interesting story. It was a little confusing at first, but then questions were being answered to aid in our understanding and the character of Ian Stone. This was a unique story. Haven't really seen anything like it. Without giving too much away, Ian dies everyday and awakens at 5:03 to a new life and begins to remember old lives. That's when the trouble starts for him and the demons come to end his life AGAIN. Such a well written story that really kept my interest throughout. The acting was good and the characters were interesting enough that you wanted to know more. The CGI "demons" were not overly done to the extent that you would think of them as cartoonish... which I hate! Good amount of tension and not too gory at all. Very entertaining and well worth a watch!

Masters of Horror: Tobe Hooper: The Damned Thing
I've been disappointed in most of the Masters of Horror shows. Out of the many that I've seen, the only ones I really liked were Cigarette Burns, and On and Off a Mountain Road. The story was just plain dumb. Was there a message concerning the evils of oil or what? Either way, the story was not interesting and at times the show dragged. You would think it wouldn't be that difficult to make a crisp, well written story that last for a mere 60 minutes. When you finally see the "Damned Thing" it is CG cartoonish. Not a total waste of time, but I could have spent the time better by clipping my toe nails or something.

Untraceable
All in all a pretty entertaining movie. Reminded me of a computer geeks Saw. Torture scenes were interesting, but not too gory. The acting was solid and the story moved very well. Diane Lane has done better work and this character is not much different from her character in the Bourne movies. Story has some holes in it, but it is a pretty good movie... worth a watch.

Timber Falls
I would have to agree with a few of the other reviewers concerning this film... it started out pretty good. After a while I kept thinking it was so much like Wrong Turn, but not as good in my opinion. It wasn't a bad movie, it just wasn't that original to me. The capture/torture genre needs some work. The movie is entertaining enough and not a total waste of time, but you could do better. The acting was pretty good and the gore was right up there with the best of them. I guess I am so torn between 2 and 3 stars because the movie doesn't stand out and make you say "wow".

Dark Shadows: Collection 6
I've written several reviews on the Dark Shadows series and in each one I say that this DVD is the best so far. I will have to say that again. This DVD, Collection 6 Disc 1 was filled with exciting twists and turns making one very entertaining journey. I started with Collection 1 Disc 1 (the introduction of Barnabas Collins) and last night I watched all of Collection 6 Disc 1. They were stripping the floors at my work last night and I decided to take my DVD player to work and watch Dark Shadows. Disc 1 of this collection is set in the late 1700's and has Victoria Winters transported into the past and seeing history from a present day perspective. Collection 5 begain this journey for Victoria and we see how Barnabas became a vampire. Collection 6 will show how Barnabas was chained in his coffin for almost 200 years. This Disc 1 has Barnabas showing himself to several people and a few family members and confusion reigns as his father Joshua finds out that Barnabas is a creature of the night and has killed a few young women in Collinsport. This Disc was so entertaining and the story line so imaginative. I guess a person could pick up any Disc and enjoy the story, but I highly recommend starting with Collection 1 Disc 1 and taking a journey into the past with the best "soap opera" ever made. WELL WORTH A WATCH!

Reservation Road
Great acting and a gut wrenching story fuel this movie. The grief of the Phoenix character and the equally guilt ridden Ruffalo character make for a powerful story that makes you feel for both characters. The movie does drag a little at times, but it pulls you in and won't let you go. Decisions are made in an instant that change two families forever. Both lead actors are extremely impressive in this film. It will weigh on you, but it is very much worth a watch.

P.S. I Love You
I found the concept to this movie to be very interesting. My wife wanted to see this one and since she often watches movies I want, I felt it wouldn't kill me to see a "chick flick". Husband passes away and has set it up that letters come to his wife helping her through her grief and professing his love for her. The movie was a little slow at times and to me the character played by Lisa Kudrow seemed like a throw in or after thought character. Most to the supporting cast didn't seem like their hearts were in to it. Connick's character was a waste all the way around. Kathy Bates is a great actor and is stand up in this film as the mom. I know it sounds as if I didn't like the movie, not true. It was an interesting idea, but with such a strong cast I expected a lot more. 2.5 stars for being "cute".

Awake
Terrence Howard is a quality actor and the entire cast did a very good job with their roles. The movie at times was a little slow, but not to the extent that it hurt the film. The plot is very interesting. Heart transplant patient who is consciencely awake during the surgery. There are many twists that make the film flow well and keep your interest. Just a good entertaining film all the way around. A well told story and good acting make this a movie that is well worth a watch.

Sweeney Todd
The acting in this movie is topnotch. Story is a simple revenge movie with little tension or twist. A horror musical is too comical for me to really enjoy. Not too many serial killers break out in song as their slashing someones throat. Too campy for my taste.

Fingerprints
When I saw the trailer to this movie, I really thought it would be an interesting story. I must admit, I am a fan of Lou Diamond Phillips... I know most of his movies have been low budget, but I think he is a capable actor. I can't say that for most of the cast in Fingerprints. Many of the actors were just plain bad and the story was told in a manner that made me think, "Who cares." This is just another example of how poor many horror movies are these days... and it saddens me to see this in my favorite genre. The ending was stupid and seemed almost an after thought. Lou Diamond Phillips was only in this movie for about 15 minutes. You can do much better.

One Missed Call
I have a feeling many reviewers of this movie were expecting so much more out of it. I have to admit, so was I. The movie tried very hard to be a great supernatural thriller, but it fell short in several key areas. Positives first, Ed Burns is a good actor and for the most part all the actors did a good job. I love tension in a movie and there was plenty. A few scares to make you make you jump. Negatives... script was weak, story didn't have enough fill all the glaring holes. As I said before, Ed Burns is a good actor, but his character was uninteresting. Finally, the ending simply was a let down. Really a 2.5 stars movie. I wanted to like it, but it didn't deliver.

I Am Legend
I think Will Smith is a good actor and can play many roles quite well. I'm just not sure how big those 3 stars are that I gave this movie. I tend to agree with a few of the other reviews who only gave the movie 2 or 3 stars, such as Movie Bum. I enjoyed the movie for the most part, but give Smith's character more depth. I have never been a fan of overly done CGI effects and this movie goes hog wild with them. They don't look real, plain and simple. The story was just lacking in many ways, but Will Smith does what he does best and it is an interesting movie... even if I was pulling really hard for it to be a great movie.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I like John C. Reilly as an actor very much, but I have to say that this movie was far from being knee slappin' funny. There were some funny moments in the film, but not enough to make me give it 3 stars. To much like a Will Ferrell movie... who I think is so overrated and one of the weakest former members of SNL. Many of the innuendos throughout the film were funny, I just felt like the story was stupid and a waste of time.

We Are Marshall
I was 11 years old in 1970 living in St. Albans, WV only 45 minutes from Marshall University. I remember the cloud of dread that hung over the state when the news came out about the plane crash. I wanted to see this movie for some time, but in a way didn't because of the tragedy and saddness of a true story. I'm glad I watched it. While the movie is sad by nature, it is a story of will, strength, courage, and determination. Matt Fox and Matthew McConaughey were awesome in this film. It was obvious that all the actors took this story seriously. All I can really say is the movie will move you emotionally, not just to tears, but you will feel joy as well for the triumph of a University, town, and a state pulling together in the face of adversity. Great movie and WELL WORTH A WATCH!

Already Dead
I found this movie to be quite good. The storyline and acting were great. It moved well and the flashback clips helped in the understanding of the Ron Eldard's characters desire for revenge. Not the most original movie, but it does keep your interest with tension, action, and a moral decision that can change everyone's life. Good movie, and well worth a watch.

No Country for Old Men
I've been wanting to see this movie for some time. Tommy Lee Jones is one of my favorite actors and the Oscar hype surrounding this movie was high. As I watched the movie, I kept thinking "I really want to like this movie". The acting was great. Everyone gave a very strong performance. The problem I had with this movie was that it dragged and seemed choppy. I liked it, but was very disappointed with the overall flow of the movie. Either direction or editing or both were lacking. The ending was about as anticlimatic as any I've seen. The saving grace was the story itself and the acting. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones were great. Woody Harrelson didn't bring anything to this movie. Overall, I give it a weak 3 stars.

P2
This movie was one of the most intense movies I've seen is some time. The story is simple as far as a loner type security guard who is obsessed with the lives of those who work in the building he works in. Particularly, the Rachel Nichols character who he claims to "love". Tenson is high and there is a fair amount of gore. The movie started a little slow for the first 15 minutes or so and then all hell breaks loose. The movie keeps your interest through out and is well worth a watch!

Love Lies Bleeding
I found this movie to be a pleasant surprise. The plot is not original, but the story and the acting was so well done that the movie can stand on it's own. The tension through out the movie rivials any thriller I've seen. Christian Slater with his sarcastic wit makes for an interesting bad cop. The movie was well written and directed and pulls together to make a film that is well worth a watch!

Borderland
I really wouldn't consider this to be a "horror" movie. However, it is a very good, tense, bloody, interesting, and at times a little scary thriller. The first of the 8 Films to Die for that I have seen so far. The movie was much like Hostel, without all the T&A and I didn't feel it was as gory either. Having said that, I liked Borderland much better because the storyline was better and the actors were much better than in Hostel. Rider Strong (Boy Meets World, Cabin Fever) plays a character much like he always does and was quite good in this role. Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) plays a good villian, but he didn't have a lot of screen time in this film. Based on true events, good acting, well written, story moves well, and holds your interest, all of these make this movie well worth a watch.

Carver
If you've seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wrong Turn or any of the other backwoods serial killer movies... then you've seen the better movies. As far as gore goes, this movie is right up there with the goriest. One scene will make you turn away if you're a guy. Just think of huge pliers and a testicle. I kid you not, that was one painful scene. The acting was really not that bad, it was the weak plot and storyline that makes this movie a run of the mill horror film. If you like gory movies, this one fits the bill. However, if you like a well made horror movie this one falls just a little short. Gore along I could have given it 3 stars, but as a whole, just 2.

The French Connection
I'm a really big Gene Hackmman fan. I've seen at least 25 of his movies and have 2 in my Q. The thing about Gene Hackman is his presence. He brings something to the screen that you can't quite put your finger on, but it works. His mannerisms, his walk, even his talk is acting at it's best. I had never seen The French Connection even though I was 12 years old in 1971. This movie had a lot of the feel of the great 70's action shows. The car chases and the foot pursuit after the failed attempt on the life of the Hackman character, Popeye Doyle, was well done adding tensions and action to an already well acted movie. Roy Scheider does a good job in his supporting role. The story is basically about Popeye Doyle trying to do the right thing in catching what he believes to be a crooked restaurant owner who he suspects of drug trafficking. The action is top notch and the acting is very good. This movie is well worth a watch!

Gone Baby Gone
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. The plot is simple... a small child is abducted from her home while her coke head mom is at a bar getting high. The plot is simple, but the twist and turns in this movie are woven in and out to blend together one great movie. Ben affleck does a monster job in directing this movie. The cast makes every bit of this movie believable. Casey Affleck brings a smart and sometimes sarcastic Boston attitude to the film. Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman are on their game in their supporting roles. The movie is gripping and holds your interest throughout. The ending is somewhat hard to take but the moral conflict the Affleck character has at the end and the decision he makes works well in this movie because he is consistant throughout. This movie has the same feel as Mystic River in the tension, drama, and great acting. You will love this movie. It is WELL WORTH A WATCH!

30 Days of Night
I would have to say that this is a very good Vampire movie. If you truly enjoy the vampire genre, you will like this movie. Started a little slow, but picked up the pace shortly there after. Josh Hartnett is a fine young actor who brings a lot of heart and intensity to the film. Simple premise, survive 30 days of night with blood sucking vampires running amuck through the town. Plenty of gory and good special effects makeup for the vampires. Tension and a fairly good storyline make this a very entertaining movie. I can't quite put my finger on it, but maybe because it dragged in a few spots I didn't give it a 5 star rating. As far as good ol' vampire movies go, it is keeper... well worth a watch

The Heartbreak Kid
Ben Stiller has this type of character down pat. The movie is vulgar, outrageous, and downright hilarious at times. Jerry Stiller is great in this film playing a role not unlike his King of Queens role and Seinfeld role. Ben Stiller's character has never been married and basicaly feels the need to take the jump after meeting the Monaghan character. That's when things get really funny... after the wedding and on their honeymoon. Stiller "realizes" his mistake in getting married and things snowball from there. The movie will entertain you and there are some laugh out loud moments. All in all, well worth a watch.

The Invasion
Do I watch a movie to be educated by Hollywood and get wrapped up in it's politcal messages whether blatantly in my face or slyly woven throughout the film??? Hell no! I watch a movie to be entertained, plain and simple. All these reviewers so wrapped up in this movie being a "ripoff" of Body Snatchers cracks me up. You act like there are so many original movies out there. Give me a break! For what this movie is, it is a very entertaining and at times exciting movie. The movie starts with a space shuttle crash and the debris is scattered over a 200 mile radius. The ship has a parasite on it that begins to affect all who come in contact with it. It takes over the person's body and makes them "tranquil". As it spreads, there is no more war, crime, or violence. Kidman's character tries to find out what is happening to make everyone a "calm" zombie. The movie moves quickly and has some tension throughout. Judge the movie on it's own merits and you will find it a very entertaining film. Well worth a watch.

Dark Shadows: Collection 5
I must admit, I thought the last DVD was the best so far (Volume 4 Disk 4). I was wrong! This one has been the best by far. Over the past year I started with Volume 1 Disk 1 and now I've finished Volume 5 disk 1... can you say obsessed!!! 60 hours of the best, most well written, entertaining "Horror" soap opera ever on TV. Yes, I'm a fan, but I truly love the way this show is written. The acting is great and at times a little over the top... but all in all, it is awesome. This disk has Victoria Winters transported back in time to 1795 before Barnabas is a vampire. It gives some very needed background leading up to how Barnabas becomes a vampire. You have witchcraft, betrayal, deception, and great storylines. It would be difficult to just watch this DVD without seeing the first several volumes because you need the background to follow the story, but going back to volume 4 will be enough to get you to volume 5. I totally recommend starting with volume 1 disk 1 and riding the wave of excitement. Dark Shadows is a classic in the true sense of the word. The entire series is well worth a watch!

Heist
Gene Hackman is one of my favorite actors. No matter the movie, he seems to bring everything he has to it. This isn't a "great" movie, but it is a very entertaining movie. Hackman and DeVito both play their roles of deception and double-cross to a tee. The movie reminds me a lot of The Score with DeNiro and Ed Norton (really a better movie all the way around). The rest of the cast does a good job of weaving in and out of the scenes and playing good supporting roles. The movie's focus is on Hackman and one last job he must do for DeVito before he can retire off into the sunset. Not your most original movie, but few are. I promise that you will enjoy this movie and be entertained with the many twists and turns throughout this film. Hackman is an American treasure! Well worth a watch.

The Brave One
First and foremost, Jodie Foster is a great actor. While I'm really not a fan, I've seen many of her movies, Silence of the Lambs, Flight Plan, and Taxi Driver. This movie is and isn't your typical revenge movie. What makes it so much better is the inner story line between Terrence Howard and Foster. Both great actors. The movie is gripping and holds your attention all the way through. I kept wondering all the way through the movie... how can this movie end well??? The movie begins with Foster deeply in love and looking forward to her wedding. A tragic walk through the park at night ends her dreams forever. It is much like "Death Wish" but yet, there are more internal issues that mix into the story to give it a more complex look. You will become emotionaly hooked on the Foster character. She does a great job of making her character believeable. The ending is somewhat of a surprise, but yet it's not. Great tension, and topnotch acting. Over all the movie is well worth a watch!