Tuesday, October 27, 2009
This Is It
Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson bring to you the most spectacular concert that never happened. These rehearsal recordings are the final performance footages of the King of Pop and they are incredibly revealing of an amazing musical genius honing his craft. Jackson is a perfectionist who is working with the best of the best and raises them up to his level. Everything is top notch, the music, the choreography, the video creations, and the pyrotechnics. Relive the Jackson Five and Thriller. Witness the master remastering his old songs and stunning us with some new ones. He is mesmerizing. If you can’t get enough of Michael, be sure to stay to the very end of the credits to soak up every bit. This film will excite you and leave you craving for more, but there is also a touch of sorrow because he is no more. This is a fitting tribute to a unique talent.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "heal the world" stars out of 4.
Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson bring to you the most spectacular concert that never happened. These rehearsal recordings are the final performance footages of the King of Pop and they are incredibly revealing of an amazing musical genius honing his craft. Jackson is a perfectionist who is working with the best of the best and raises them up to his level. Everything is top notch, the music, the choreography, the video creations, and the pyrotechnics. Relive the Jackson Five and Thriller. Witness the master remastering his old songs and stunning us with some new ones. He is mesmerizing. If you can’t get enough of Michael, be sure to stay to the very end of the credits to soak up every bit. This film will excite you and leave you craving for more, but there is also a touch of sorrow because he is no more. This is a fitting tribute to a unique talent.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "heal the world" stars out of 4.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Once again DisneyToons is trotting out another straight to DVD movie, a sequel to last year’s "Tinker Bell". The release date is October 27, 2009.
Fall is coming to Pixie Hollow and Tinker Bell has been given a great honor and responsibility. However, when disaster strikes, Tink must go on an adventurous journey to solve her problems. This cute and charming story is about friendship, dealing with anger, and forgiveness. If you liked the first, you’ll love this one. It is a terrific film for the little ones and the kids at heart. It has positive messages to help mold and reinforce young minds. This sweet film looks and sounds great. It will be magical for your kids.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "blue moon harvest" stars out of 4.
Once again DisneyToons is trotting out another straight to DVD movie, a sequel to last year’s "Tinker Bell". The release date is October 27, 2009.
Fall is coming to Pixie Hollow and Tinker Bell has been given a great honor and responsibility. However, when disaster strikes, Tink must go on an adventurous journey to solve her problems. This cute and charming story is about friendship, dealing with anger, and forgiveness. If you liked the first, you’ll love this one. It is a terrific film for the little ones and the kids at heart. It has positive messages to help mold and reinforce young minds. This sweet film looks and sounds great. It will be magical for your kids.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "blue moon harvest" stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Fourth Kind
Is it hypnotic hallucinations or actual alien abductions in this re-dramatization of real audio and video footage in Nome, Alaska? Side by side comparisons of the real and fake stuff is supposed to make this movie more terrifying, but it was a real yawner for Alien. It has just two moments that may make the audience jump out of their seats and scream, unless you had already fallen asleep. If you speak Sumerian, maybe you can help me make sense of it. Of course, all of the best parts of the real film footage are always distorted and unwatchable. The low budget "Paranormal Activity" is a much better movie if you are in the mood for this genre.
Alien gives it 1 ½ "half-baked Alaskan disaster" stars out of 4.
Is it hypnotic hallucinations or actual alien abductions in this re-dramatization of real audio and video footage in Nome, Alaska? Side by side comparisons of the real and fake stuff is supposed to make this movie more terrifying, but it was a real yawner for Alien. It has just two moments that may make the audience jump out of their seats and scream, unless you had already fallen asleep. If you speak Sumerian, maybe you can help me make sense of it. Of course, all of the best parts of the real film footage are always distorted and unwatchable. The low budget "Paranormal Activity" is a much better movie if you are in the mood for this genre.
Alien gives it 1 ½ "half-baked Alaskan disaster" stars out of 4.
Good Hair
Chris Rock plays Michael Moore as he explains what black women and men already know. From beauty parlors, barber shops, a big hair styling contest, celebrity interviews, vintage film footages, and all the way around the world, this documentary shows what people will do to have good hair. This movie is very enlightening and highly entertaining. Not only is Chris Rock hilarious as always, but he is an excellent interviewer too; as he is able to obtain some choice remarks from his subjects.
Alien gives it 3 "creamy crack and tumbling tumbleweave" stars out of 4.
Chris Rock plays Michael Moore as he explains what black women and men already know. From beauty parlors, barber shops, a big hair styling contest, celebrity interviews, vintage film footages, and all the way around the world, this documentary shows what people will do to have good hair. This movie is very enlightening and highly entertaining. Not only is Chris Rock hilarious as always, but he is an excellent interviewer too; as he is able to obtain some choice remarks from his subjects.
Alien gives it 3 "creamy crack and tumbling tumbleweave" stars out of 4.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
It’s a super freaky and creepy carnival sideshow complete with a wolf man, a snake boy, a bearded lady, and more. The lives of 2 teens are changed forever after they visit a most usual and bazaar circus show. The movie is very dark and mysterious, a little funny, and visual simulating. Not much is explained as Vampires square off against Vampanese. The audience will get their fill of cool action and strange creatures, but by the end, the film doesn’t seem to go anywhere except hinting to a sequel. Alien felt like he had feasted on eye candy and ended up with empty calories.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "freaked out and creeped out" stars out of 4.
It’s a super freaky and creepy carnival sideshow complete with a wolf man, a snake boy, a bearded lady, and more. The lives of 2 teens are changed forever after they visit a most usual and bazaar circus show. The movie is very dark and mysterious, a little funny, and visual simulating. Not much is explained as Vampires square off against Vampanese. The audience will get their fill of cool action and strange creatures, but by the end, the film doesn’t seem to go anywhere except hinting to a sequel. Alien felt like he had feasted on eye candy and ended up with empty calories.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "freaked out and creeped out" stars out of 4.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Astro Boy
It’s "Pinocchio" meets "I, Robot" meets "Gladiator" meets "Ironman" in this latest computer animation of a popular Japanese franchise. A brilliant scientist in Metro City creates a robot in the image of his son. This young robot then embarks on a journey to fulfill its destiny. This is a great action packed movie for the kids and it has some adult humor tucked into the scenes if you pay attention. The animation is first rate and it’s a lot of fun to watch. The film is a classic good against evil story.
Alien gives it 3 "blue core energy" stars out of 4.
It’s "Pinocchio" meets "I, Robot" meets "Gladiator" meets "Ironman" in this latest computer animation of a popular Japanese franchise. A brilliant scientist in Metro City creates a robot in the image of his son. This young robot then embarks on a journey to fulfill its destiny. This is a great action packed movie for the kids and it has some adult humor tucked into the scenes if you pay attention. The animation is first rate and it’s a lot of fun to watch. The film is a classic good against evil story.
Alien gives it 3 "blue core energy" stars out of 4.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Paranormal Activity
This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.
For 21 nights in San Diego, it’s reality TV meets "Ghostbusters" meets "The Blair Witch Project". A boyfriend begins to film everyday life to possibly explain his girlfriend’s hauntings. This is a cleverly constructed low budget movie made to look like an amateur documentary. For believers, it will be creepy and scary. For non-believers, it may be a yawner.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "things that go bump in the night" stars out of 4.
This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.
For 21 nights in San Diego, it’s reality TV meets "Ghostbusters" meets "The Blair Witch Project". A boyfriend begins to film everyday life to possibly explain his girlfriend’s hauntings. This is a cleverly constructed low budget movie made to look like an amateur documentary. For believers, it will be creepy and scary. For non-believers, it may be a yawner.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "things that go bump in the night" stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Stepfather
It’s "Obsessed" meets "Disturbia" as a slick con man with a short fuse and control issues seduces families lacking a father figure, these marriages have deadly results. This remake of a 1987 film pretty much plays out as you would expect. Suspicion and tension slowly builds as the body count grows. This one is not awful, but it is not great either. Laughably, the teen girlfriend character spends most of her screen time in bikinis or panties.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "daddy dearest" stars out of 4.
It’s "Obsessed" meets "Disturbia" as a slick con man with a short fuse and control issues seduces families lacking a father figure, these marriages have deadly results. This remake of a 1987 film pretty much plays out as you would expect. Suspicion and tension slowly builds as the body count grows. This one is not awful, but it is not great either. Laughably, the teen girlfriend character spends most of her screen time in bikinis or panties.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "daddy dearest" stars out of 4.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A Serious Man
In the Coen brothers’ latest film, their sense of humor is ethnically Jewish. It is about a physics professor who is dealing with tenure, divorce, a dead beat brother, and his son’s bar mitzvah. The film accurately recreates 1967 suburbia complete with the Jefferson Airplane on the radio and F Troop on the TV. Alien wonders if some of the jokes were too ethnically and culturally based for mass appeal.
Alien gives it 2 "lost in translation" stars out of 4.
In the Coen brothers’ latest film, their sense of humor is ethnically Jewish. It is about a physics professor who is dealing with tenure, divorce, a dead beat brother, and his son’s bar mitzvah. The film accurately recreates 1967 suburbia complete with the Jefferson Airplane on the radio and F Troop on the TV. Alien wonders if some of the jokes were too ethnically and culturally based for mass appeal.
Alien gives it 2 "lost in translation" stars out of 4.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are
A classic 1963 children’s book is brought to life in a wondrous film about a moody 9 year old boy’s emotions and imagination. Max is just a kid being a kid, but he gets himself into trouble and runs away from home to his make believe world as he tries to sort out his problems in the real world. If you never built a fort, liked to destroy things, ran wild in the woods, and had dirt clod wars, you might not get this emotional film about kids’ feelings. It is about play and fun, anger and remorse, friendship and loneliness. And it’s all marvelously captured a little boy and some giant Muppets. This beautiful and original film dares adults to embrace their inner child and relive their youth. Alien is not sure how kids will react to this one. Today’s TV and video game generation may get bored with this simple story line that requires an imagination.
Alien gives it 3 "imagine that" stars out of 4.
A classic 1963 children’s book is brought to life in a wondrous film about a moody 9 year old boy’s emotions and imagination. Max is just a kid being a kid, but he gets himself into trouble and runs away from home to his make believe world as he tries to sort out his problems in the real world. If you never built a fort, liked to destroy things, ran wild in the woods, and had dirt clod wars, you might not get this emotional film about kids’ feelings. It is about play and fun, anger and remorse, friendship and loneliness. And it’s all marvelously captured a little boy and some giant Muppets. This beautiful and original film dares adults to embrace their inner child and relive their youth. Alien is not sure how kids will react to this one. Today’s TV and video game generation may get bored with this simple story line that requires an imagination.
Alien gives it 3 "imagine that" stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
The Boys Are Back
Inspired by a true story, an Australian family attempts to deal with a tragic loss. Great acting and a compelling story highlight this wonderful film. The dad (Clive Owen) with his questionable parental philosophy, his adorable innocent son, his resentful teenage son, and others try to move on after the death of his wife. This father/son relationship movie is dramatically realistic with a sad undertone throughout.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "just say yes" stars out of 4.
Inspired by a true story, an Australian family attempts to deal with a tragic loss. Great acting and a compelling story highlight this wonderful film. The dad (Clive Owen) with his questionable parental philosophy, his adorable innocent son, his resentful teenage son, and others try to move on after the death of his wife. This father/son relationship movie is dramatically realistic with a sad undertone throughout.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "just say yes" stars out of 4.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Law Abiding Citizen
Blind justice and an overly ambitious prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) cause a tinker/thinker (Gerard Butler) to lose more than the loves of his life. Driven to become criminally insane, Butler masterminds the executions of all that he holds blame while managing to stay steps ahead of everyone. This classic case of you-know-who-did-it-but-how-did-he-do-it is far fetched and somewhat predictable, but the bigger the fabrication, the bigger the intrigue. However, Alien didn’t connect with any of the characters so I didn’t care if they lived or died. This film may appeal to a twisted sense of justice.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "Copperfield" stars out of 4.
Blind justice and an overly ambitious prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) cause a tinker/thinker (Gerard Butler) to lose more than the loves of his life. Driven to become criminally insane, Butler masterminds the executions of all that he holds blame while managing to stay steps ahead of everyone. This classic case of you-know-who-did-it-but-how-did-he-do-it is far fetched and somewhat predictable, but the bigger the fabrication, the bigger the intrigue. However, Alien didn’t connect with any of the characters so I didn’t care if they lived or died. This film may appeal to a twisted sense of justice.
Alien gives it 2 ½ "Copperfield" stars out of 4.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Inglourious Basterds
This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.
It’s the "Dirty Dozen" with a very dark sense of humor in Quentin Tarentino’s version of World War II. In typical Tarentino style, you get lots of smart dialogue with explosions of extreme violence. Brad Pitt leads a band or Jewish guerillas bent on killing Nazis. The film has got a great German villain that you will love to hate. Suspense and tension fill the scenes as good guys and bad guys face off.
Alien gives it 3 "Aldo the Apache and the Bear Jew" stars out of 4.
This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.
It’s the "Dirty Dozen" with a very dark sense of humor in Quentin Tarentino’s version of World War II. In typical Tarentino style, you get lots of smart dialogue with explosions of extreme violence. Brad Pitt leads a band or Jewish guerillas bent on killing Nazis. The film has got a great German villain that you will love to hate. Suspense and tension fill the scenes as good guys and bad guys face off.
Alien gives it 3 "Aldo the Apache and the Bear Jew" stars out of 4.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Whip It
Welcome to Texas Roller Derby. In the small town of Bodeen, Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is a waitress at the Oink Joint, "Home of the Squealer", by day and speedy roller derby girl, Babe Ruthless, by night. Bliss is a social misfit being pressured by her mom to be a beauty pageant contestant when she discovers her real passion. Page is just adorable and lights up the screen. It is a sweet story about struggling with life’s problems and going for your dreams. The entire cast is terrific. The characters feel real. Marcia Gay Harden is great as the old fashion mom. You’ll love the derby girls with their creative names and attitude. Jimmy Fallon adds funny color commentary as his announces these thrill games. Director Drew Barrymore does an excellent job of bringing it all together into a movie that is just so much fun to watch. It is got action, humor, and emotional ups and downs. Lace up yours skates and put on your helmet and pads for some teenage angst and girl power excitement.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "be your own hero" stars out of 4.
Welcome to Texas Roller Derby. In the small town of Bodeen, Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is a waitress at the Oink Joint, "Home of the Squealer", by day and speedy roller derby girl, Babe Ruthless, by night. Bliss is a social misfit being pressured by her mom to be a beauty pageant contestant when she discovers her real passion. Page is just adorable and lights up the screen. It is a sweet story about struggling with life’s problems and going for your dreams. The entire cast is terrific. The characters feel real. Marcia Gay Harden is great as the old fashion mom. You’ll love the derby girls with their creative names and attitude. Jimmy Fallon adds funny color commentary as his announces these thrill games. Director Drew Barrymore does an excellent job of bringing it all together into a movie that is just so much fun to watch. It is got action, humor, and emotional ups and downs. Lace up yours skates and put on your helmet and pads for some teenage angst and girl power excitement.
Alien gives it 3 ½ "be your own hero" stars out of 4.
