Friday, January 28, 2005
Hide and Seek
Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning are father and daughter in this scare tale. After a tragic event, Dakota exhibits strange behavior which puzzles De Niro and then, people around them start dying. This one was too easy to solve for Alien and may have spoiled it for me. It was too predictable and not that suspenseful. There were only a few cheap thrills.
Alien gives it 2 "mere child's play" stars out of 4.
Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning are father and daughter in this scare tale. After a tragic event, Dakota exhibits strange behavior which puzzles De Niro and then, people around them start dying. This one was too easy to solve for Alien and may have spoiled it for me. It was too predictable and not that suspenseful. There were only a few cheap thrills.
Alien gives it 2 "mere child's play" stars out of 4.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Aliens of the Deep
Film maker James Cameron has found a new hobby in science and exploration. He has expensive toys like deep sea underwater subs and 3D IMAX cameras. He hangs out with scientists who babble in geek speak. These scientists yearn to study oceans on other planets, but they are too far away. In the meantime, they are developing their tools and skills in the depths of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They are uncovering amazing creatures and life forms based on hydrothermal energy instead of solar energy. Cameron takes you to a whole new world without even leaving this one. The only thing better than an IMAX film is a 3D IMAX film.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "super nova" stars out of 4.
Film maker James Cameron has found a new hobby in science and exploration. He has expensive toys like deep sea underwater subs and 3D IMAX cameras. He hangs out with scientists who babble in geek speak. These scientists yearn to study oceans on other planets, but they are too far away. In the meantime, they are developing their tools and skills in the depths of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They are uncovering amazing creatures and life forms based on hydrothermal energy instead of solar energy. Cameron takes you to a whole new world without even leaving this one. The only thing better than an IMAX film is a 3D IMAX film.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "super nova" stars out of 4.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood has produced a real heavyweight champion in "Million Dollar Baby". It is a powerful and emotional film about 3 people at a run down gym called the Hit Pit. Eastwood plays Frankie, the wise old trainer, Morgan Freeman is "Scrap Iron", the washed up fighter, and Hilary Swank stars as Maggie, the trailer trash girl who wants to be a fighter. All three give Oscar worthy performances. This is not so much a boxing movie as it is more about the people involved in boxing. But fight fans won't be disappointed either. Frankie's most important boxing lesson is to always protect yourself, but Alien let down his guard and was blindsided by a knockdown punch. Eastwood has created another stunning masterpiece.
Alien gives it 4 "knockout" stars out of 4.
Clint Eastwood has produced a real heavyweight champion in "Million Dollar Baby". It is a powerful and emotional film about 3 people at a run down gym called the Hit Pit. Eastwood plays Frankie, the wise old trainer, Morgan Freeman is "Scrap Iron", the washed up fighter, and Hilary Swank stars as Maggie, the trailer trash girl who wants to be a fighter. All three give Oscar worthy performances. This is not so much a boxing movie as it is more about the people involved in boxing. But fight fans won't be disappointed either. Frankie's most important boxing lesson is to always protect yourself, but Alien let down his guard and was blindsided by a knockdown punch. Eastwood has created another stunning masterpiece.
Alien gives it 4 "knockout" stars out of 4.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Coach Carter
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
"Coach Carter" is to high school basketball and Richmond, California as "Friday Night Lights" is to high school football and Odessa, Texas. Both films are based on true stories about a coach and his influence on a team of boys who rise to the occasion. This one got national attention. Samuel L. Jackson gives a powerful performance as the coach who puts academics above athletics. Although some scenes are cheesy and predictable, the message here is positive and inspirational.
Alien gives it 3 "hoop" stars out of 4.
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
"Coach Carter" is to high school basketball and Richmond, California as "Friday Night Lights" is to high school football and Odessa, Texas. Both films are based on true stories about a coach and his influence on a team of boys who rise to the occasion. This one got national attention. Samuel L. Jackson gives a powerful performance as the coach who puts academics above athletics. Although some scenes are cheesy and predictable, the message here is positive and inspirational.
Alien gives it 3 "hoop" stars out of 4.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
The Aviator
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
Martin Scorsese has constructed a masterpiece detailing the amazing story of Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted to fly the fastest planes, make big movies, and be the richest man in the world. Leonardo DiCaprio is convincing as Howard Hughes as you watch his failures and successes. Cate Blancett's portrayal of Katherine Hepburn is uncanny. She nails the part with the recreation of Hepburn's voice, her cadence, and especially her attitude.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "daring, eccentric billionaire" stars out of 4.
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
Martin Scorsese has constructed a masterpiece detailing the amazing story of Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted to fly the fastest planes, make big movies, and be the richest man in the world. Leonardo DiCaprio is convincing as Howard Hughes as you watch his failures and successes. Cate Blancett's portrayal of Katherine Hepburn is uncanny. She nails the part with the recreation of Hepburn's voice, her cadence, and especially her attitude.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "daring, eccentric billionaire" stars out of 4.
Meet the Fockers
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
If you liked "Meet the Parents", you'll love "Meet the Fockers". Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand are perfect additions as Ben Stiller's Jewish, liberal parents contrasting against his WASPy, conservative in-laws, Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner. This movie is hilarious. Even the pets, the RV, and the signing baby get their share of laughs.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "circle of trust" stars out of 4.
This is not a sneak preview review. This movie has already released.
If you liked "Meet the Parents", you'll love "Meet the Fockers". Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand are perfect additions as Ben Stiller's Jewish, liberal parents contrasting against his WASPy, conservative in-laws, Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner. This movie is hilarious. Even the pets, the RV, and the signing baby get their share of laughs.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "circle of trust" stars out of 4.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Elektra
Jennifer Garner returns to the big screen as Marvel Comic hero, Elektra, caught in a battle between good and evil to obtain the treasure. But didn't she die in that DareDevil movie a couple of years ago?
Learn how Elektra was resurrected to become a hired assassin. She is a loner and has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). She tangles with some interesting villains with names like Stone, Tatoo, and Typhoid.
Alien gives it 2 ½ throwing stars out of 4.
Jennifer Garner returns to the big screen as Marvel Comic hero, Elektra, caught in a battle between good and evil to obtain the treasure. But didn't she die in that DareDevil movie a couple of years ago?
Learn how Elektra was resurrected to become a hired assassin. She is a loner and has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). She tangles with some interesting villains with names like Stone, Tatoo, and Typhoid.
Alien gives it 2 ½ throwing stars out of 4.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Hotel Rwanda
Do you remember the tragic events that happened in the African country of Rwanda during 1994?
Don Cheadle gives an amazing performance as a soft-spoken, gentle hotel manager who uses his intelligence and shrewd business sense to save more than a thousand refugees from mass genocide when a revolution breaks out in his country. This moving, true story about desperate people trying to survive is intense, powerful, and emotionally draining, but is also inspirational. The film grips the audience right from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. This may not seem to be the kind of movie you'd want to go see, but you will be glad that you did.
Alien gives it 4 "star hotel" stars out of 4.
Do you remember the tragic events that happened in the African country of Rwanda during 1994?
Don Cheadle gives an amazing performance as a soft-spoken, gentle hotel manager who uses his intelligence and shrewd business sense to save more than a thousand refugees from mass genocide when a revolution breaks out in his country. This moving, true story about desperate people trying to survive is intense, powerful, and emotionally draining, but is also inspirational. The film grips the audience right from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. This may not seem to be the kind of movie you'd want to go see, but you will be glad that you did.
Alien gives it 4 "star hotel" stars out of 4.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
White Noise
In "White Noise", Michael Keaton believes people from the other side are trying to communicate with him through EVP, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. It sounds intriguing, but this movie is more confusing and harder to understand than the unclear messages that the obsessed Keaton is trying to decipher. While Keaton's clues lead him to the right place and people, the movie leads the audience nowhere. For a ghost story, this is not very scary.
Alien gives it 1 ½ "irritating static" stars out of 4.
In "White Noise", Michael Keaton believes people from the other side are trying to communicate with him through EVP, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. It sounds intriguing, but this movie is more confusing and harder to understand than the unclear messages that the obsessed Keaton is trying to decipher. While Keaton's clues lead him to the right place and people, the movie leads the audience nowhere. For a ghost story, this is not very scary.
Alien gives it 1 ½ "irritating static" stars out of 4.
