The Blind Side (2009) (PG-13)

The Blind Side (2009) (PG-13)
Directed by John Lee Hancock
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron

Daddy Says:

The Blind Side depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teen from a broken home, a ward of the state after being separated from his drug-addicted mother. He is taken in by the Touhys, a well-off white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, his presence in their lives leads them to some discoveries of their own.

Sandra Bullock does a phenomenal job as the mother with the heart of gold. She's a Christian woman, and, seeing someone in need, can't just look the other way. She won the Oscar for Best Actress for this role, and I'd say she earned it. One look at her face when Michael tells her he's never had a bed before tells you everything you need to know about her. I get mushy just thinking about this emotional scene.

The other actors also pull their own weight. My daughter asked when Tim McGraw was going to show up in the movie, without realizing she'd been watching him the entire time playing the role of husband in the family. Quinton Aaron is a natural playing Michael Oher. He's had a few roles before this one, but having never seen him before, I felt like I was watching his first performance. He steps into a role that could have easily been played over-dramatically, but he doesn't make any missteps.

The story, although true to the source material, feels a little too familiar. Not that I'm saying it should have been embellished, but it did seem like a bit of a soap opera at times. But don't let that stop you from watching this really great emotion-filled movie.

Rating for The Blind Side: ***3/4

Daughter Says:

The Blind Side, to me, was another football movie. Well that's what I thought it was going to be like when I first saw the previews for it. Don't get me wrong here, I love certain football movies. And believe me this is one of them. I think the Blind Side took a football story and made it about more than just football. It is about a boy and a family having an effect on each other and how their lives change around it.

It is a beautiful story that is a happy, sad tale. In the end, everyone wants to cry. I loved this movie and would watch it over and over again. The actors in this movie were great and really helped bring this story to life. I sometimes forgot who I was watching and really got into the story. I think Sandra Bullock earned that Academy Award.

My rating for The Blind Side is ****.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004) (R)

Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004) (R)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
Daddy Says:

Kill Bill Vol. 2 starts where Vol. 1 left off. The Bride (Uma Thurman), whose real name we do not yet know since it keeps getting bleeped out whenever it is said, has already killed off two members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and is looking to add the final three to her total in this film. Little does she know, the daughter she was pregnant with, when the squad tried to kill her at her wedding, survived and is living with her father, Bill (David Carradine). Will this cause her to rethink her revenge, to give up on her mission to Kill Bill?

This second part of the saga is more talky, less action-packed than Vol. 1 was. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Quentin Tarantino is a master of great dialogue and the script for Vol. 2 is excellent. But don't worry, action fans, there's still a couple of really great fight scenes for you to savor, including a great sword fight that takes place inside the close confines of a single-wide trailer home. And the conclusion to the fight, while making perfect logical sense, is one that will make you squirm.

Tarantino also does a great job of playing around with our preconceptions. For instance, about a third of the way into the film, the Bride is placed into a seemingly inescapable trap. But we know since she hasn't killed anyone yet, that she's bound to get out of it somehow. The way she escapes is shown to us in a flashback that looks like it was lifted straight out of a '70's kung-fu flick with dialogue that sounds dubbed in, and random zooms by the camera just to catch our attention. We watch as she learns the one skill she would need to escape just such a predicament as she is currently in, practicing it for months without knowing that one day it would save her life.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 delivers the goods for fans of the first film expecting a satisfying conclusion. If you didn't watch the first one, I wouldn't recommend starting here. And as for the Bride's name, you'll probably be disappointed when you learn that it's...

You didn't really think I was going to give it away, did you? But when you find out what it is later in the film, think about what was said right before the big fight scene in Vol. 1 with the Crazy 88; "Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids" takes on a whole other dimension.

Rating for Kill Bill Vol. 2: ****1/4

Daughter Says:

Kill Bill Vol. 2 is another great movie by Quentin Tarantino. He took the already great Vol 1. and made a great Vol 2. to go with it. Tarantino wants again puts in his many trade marks like the changing from color to black and white, gory scenes, and cheesy action parts.

There might have been a lot of talking but there was plenty of action to keep everyone satisfied. I really enjoyed every part of this movie. I even liked the cheesy 70 kung-fu fighting scenes, which in most movies I would hate.

This movie takes you on the struggle of The Bride's revenge and Tarantino really puts you in the moment. We learn so much about The Bride in this movie than the last one. It really helped me associate with The Bride's pain. I must say this is one really good movie. NOTICE: Don't watch this until you watch the first one! Trust me you will be majorly lost. Tarantino likes to play things out of order and well trust me on this one.

My rating for Kill Bill Vol 2. is one star. APRIL FOOLS! It's really ****1/2.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) (PG)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) (PG)
Directed by Wes Anderson
Voices: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray

Daddy Says:

"They just don't make 'em like they used to." I say that a lot these days, probably a sign that I'm getting older. Most of the time, "they" don't make things like they used to because they've improved upon their methods, but sometimes I just find myself wishing for simpler times. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a movie that transports me back to those simpler times, when things were done the old-fashioned way: by hand.

Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) is a sly, fast-talking thief (chicken thief mostly). Out to impress his wife (voiced by Meryl Streep), they get caught in a trap, which is when he learns that they're about to start a family. Mr. Fox makes a promise that if they get out alive, he will give up his thieving ways and go legit. But after several years, it's a promise he finds hard to live up to, as the call of the wild becomes too much to bear.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is an animated film, done using the old methods. For each frame, the miniatures of the characters are moved a fraction of an inch, then one frame of film is exposed and the process begins again. Since there are twenty-four of these frames for every second of time, you can see how this process can take a very long time to complete. I admire filmmakers with both the talent to create something from nothing, and the patience to see it through to the end.

But there's more to this movie than just great animation. The story is solid, the characters entertaining, and the voice work by the actors fits them perfectly. I enjoyed Fantastic Mr. Fox far more than I have most animated movies I've seen of late, and I recommend it to everyone looking for an entertaining experience, with or without kids.

Rating for Fantastic Mr. Fox: ****3/4

Daughter Says:

Fantastic Mr. Fox is an interesting movie. The animation was...well... interesting. I don't know if I liked this movie or if I just don't want to ever see it again. I was freaked out by the animation and I just didn't know what to do.

The foxes were terrifying to me. They ate their food like savage beasts and some of the scenes were just bizarre. I just couldn't get into this movie. The actors were fine in Fantastic Mr. Fox, but the animation was just wrong. I kept using the phrase, "This isn't normal!" Maybe I'm just a very sensitive person.

The story line on the other hand was fine. I followed that pretty well. The basic man vs. instinct story. A wild fox gone pet isn't normal and soon the wild fox wants to go wild once more. Maybe that's why the characters ate so strangely and the occasional just odd scene. I didn't really enjoy this movie. But it is defiantly a one of the kind movie.

My Rating for Fantastic Mr. Fox is **1/2.

The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) (R)

The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) (R)
Directed by Grant Heslov
Starring: George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey

Daughter Says:

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a movie about a secret agency that was all about peace, love, and goats. The agency started when a military officer decided to go on a hippy crusade after the war in Vietnam. After his little adventure he decided he wanted to train soldiers to use their minds instead of guns. He thought it would be a better and more affective way to fight the enemy.

But the real story begins with a reporter who was sent on a dead end story about one of the men in the agency. The interviewee told his story but Ewan McGregor didn't take him seriously. Soon that would all change. When he finds out that his wife, Rebecca Mader (also starred in Lost), has cheated on him with his boss. Now trying to win the girl back, he sets off on an adventure that will blow your mind away.

There were a lot of great parts to this movie. There were funny moments and serious moments. A kidnap scene, a drug scene, a hippy scene, and of course a few goat scenes (what would a movie about men who stare at goats be without a few goats themselves). I found The Men Who Stare at Goats funny and a bit out there. I really enjoyed it. I think Grant Heslov did a great job on this movie and I would watch it again any time.

Rating for The Men Who Stare at Goats is ****.

Daddy Says:

This is a very strange film. It starts off with a title card reading "More of this is true than you would believe", and gets stranger from there. The soldiers say they are being trained as "jedi warriors", with the ability to psychically project to anywhere in the world, to find whatever needs to be found, to even walk through walls. Yeah, I didn't buy that last part either.

The actors do a fine job with their parts. Jeff Bridges channels his inner "dude" once again in a very likable role. George Clooney plays... well, George Clooney. Charming, as always. Kevin Spacey does good in his role as spoiler to the group. And Ewan McGregor plays his "everyman" character, like he did in Moulin Rouge, just without the singing.

My biggest problem with the film is that it's just not memorable. It was fine entertainment while I was watching it, so if you're looking for a good night's rental, I don't think you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for a movie with something meaningful to say, or great scenes you'll remember a few days after you've seen it, than you might consider picking something else up instead.

Rating for The Men Who Stare at Goats: **3/4

Law Abiding Citizen (2009) (R)

Law Abiding Citizen (2009) (R)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Viola Davis, Bruce McGill

Daughter Says:

Law Abiding Citizen was about a man who wanted revenge for his wife and daughter's death after a break-in gone wrong. Clyde Shelton, played by Gerard Butler, isn't happy with his lawyer Nick Rice's decision on the case at hand. Soon Shelton takes matters into his own hands. He finds the murderer who killed his family and cuts the man up into a million pieces then kills him. Clyde gets caught on purpose so Nick Rice, played by Jamie Foxx, has to stop the guy from killing all the people involved in the case.

Even though Shelton is in jail, he keeps figuring out how to kill all of these people. I felt like this movie went from revenge to insane. The guy I thought we were supposed to be cheering for goes bad and the lawyer was bad then goes good, I don't know who I'm supposed to like and who I'm supposed to hate.

This movie was a bit predictable and dull, I guess. There were just so many things that could have been fixed or done better. Overall this movie was alright, but not one I want to see again so...

My rating for Law Abiding Citizen is **.

Daddy Says:

I really wanted to like this movie. It has two very likable actors in the lead roles: Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. I've liked them in other roles, and they seemed to be trying their best here, so I'm left to conclude that they were let down by other aspects of the film. And I think we can put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the screenwriter here.

To start with, we're not given a chance to get to know Shelton's family more than about a minute before the doorbell rings and the bad guy starts swinging his baseball bat. The home invasion is intense, but because we don't know who these people are, it's hard to care about what's happening to them. The best we can do is say "What would we do if this happened to us?". I think that's where the screenplay was going, but Clyde's character goes so far overboard (we're talking Saw territory here), that we no longer identify with him. And since we've never identified with his lawyer (Jamie Foxx is a very likable actor, but his character here is so one-dimensional there's nothing to care about), we're left with no one to root for.

I suppose there should be some interest in trying to figure out how Clyde is killing people from behind bars, but, trust me, when the answer comes, you'll be shaking your head with disbelief. I really wanted to like this movie. I just couldn't care enough about it to do so.

Rating for Law Abiding Citizen: *1/4

Inglourious Basterds (2009) (R)

Inglourious Basterds (2009) (R)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth

Daughter Says:

Inglourious Basterds is movie that is graphic, violent and puts a twist on WWII. Lt. Aldo Raine, played by Brad Pitt, is a southern man who is the leader of a group know as the Basterds. This very violent, angry group is full of half Jews that are out to kill some Nazis. Lt. Aldo Raine sends these men out with a goal of a hundred scalps each from Nazi soldiers.

On the other side, Hitler sends out Col. Hans Landa, played beautifully by Christoph Waltz, to bring down these Basterds. Col. Hans Landa is one of the best Nazi soliders that ever hunted Jews. He says that the reason he is so good at what he does is because he can think like a Jew instead of a solider. Christoph Waltz created a terrifying man that all Jews should fear. It was just amazing.

I think Quentin Tarantino created an amazing movie once again. And it screamed Tarantino all the way through. There were a few gruesome parts, but then again it wouldn't be a Tarantino movie without some nasty parts. The only real problem I had with this movie was Brad Pitt's accent and the fictional part. I must say he can't do a very good southern accent and I know about what really goes down in history and Tarantino changed the whole story line, but that doesn't stop me from loving Brad Pitt or this movie.

I highly recommend this movie if you love a Quentin Tarantino movie and are looking for a new fictional twist on WWII.

I rate Inglourious Basterds **** 1/2.

Daddy Says:

I think I've said before that I've seen all of Tarantino's films, and I've enjoyed them all. His latest effort is one of his best. It displays all of his trademarks, from bare feet, to graphic violence, to his simple absolute love of the English language and what can be accomplished with it; this last being an amazing accomplishment since about two-thirds of this movie is in a different language.

The acting is uniformly excellent. Christoph Waltz genuinely earned his Academy Award for his performance here. Landa is one of the most chilling villains in movie history. He is constantly polite to everyone, giving them no reason to show any fear of him, meaning that if they do fear him it is because of their own guilt about something, which is how he catches them in the act. He is even called upon by the script to speak four different languages fluently. This is a multi-layered performance that is absolutely breathtaking to watch. If you see the film for no other reason, his performance alone is worth watching.

As for the Basterds, they aren't actually the main story here, as much as the trailers might suggest. At least half of the film is about the Jewish girl Shoshanna, who escapes Landa's death squad in the beginning of the movie, and through happy accidents is able to plot some measure of revenge for the death of her family and for all Jewish people. She is the real hero of the movie, not the Basterds who can best be described as anti-heroes.

The Basterds are doing some very nasty things to the people they kill (and that they let live -- shudder), and the only reason that we think that what they're doing is okay is because they're doing these things to Nazis. After you've seen it, think back on some of their actions (such as when Pitt refuses someone medical care to someone for the moment, in order to torture them for information) and ask yourself if these actions would be acceptable against anyone other than history's biggest villains.

I really enjoyed this movie. If you don't like Quentin Tarantino films, I doubt this one will make you any more of a fan. But for his fans, this is a wonderful movie. Highly recommended.

Rating for Inglourious Basterds: ****1/2

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) (R)

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) (R)
Directed by Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Michelle Monaghan, Val Kilmer, Corbin Bernsen

Daddy Says:

Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is a small-time New York thief who robs department stores with his partner. After an alarm is tripped, they get split up and Harry stumbles into a casting office reading for a crime film. Harry, already stressed out from evading the police, and thinking his partner is already dead, breaks down during the audition. The casting director loves his "method acting" and casts him in the role. After flying to Los Angeles, Harry tries to reconnect with an old girlfriend named Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), and learn how to be a private investigator from the "technical advisor" for the film, a guy named Gay Perry (Val Kilmer). While out on surveillance with Perry, they see a car driven into a lake, a car which contains the dead body of the film producer's daughter (Corbin Bernsen).

If this all sounds deadly serious, a modern-day film noir, don't let my description fool you. This is a very funny action-comedy. Robert Downey Jr. displays an enormous amount of charm and wit, often stopping the movie to comment on his own narration as well as the absurdity of the proceedings. Val Kilmer also seems to be having a great time poking fun at his homosexual character. The script is well-written and the director allows us to see flashbacks when needed so that we don't get lost in the complicated story.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is almost a parody of the buddy-cop action movie genre. It never takes itself too seriously, and is almost an homage to the film noirs of decades past. I enjoyed it immensely.

Rating for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: ****1/4

Daughter Says:

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang had me laughing from the beginning. Even though Robert Downey Jr. plays a criminal, Harry Lockhart, that can't seem to get his head on straight, he is extremely smart and witty. Apart from getting his butt saved by a casting crew, Harry Lockhart, also becomes a detective by accident. This gets him into loads of trouble, which helps bring out more of the comedy

This movie is rated correctly in some cases. I didn't really care for some of the nudity. But the rest, including the cursing, wasn't a bad thing. The whole movie flowed very well and had hilarious moments that fit perfectly.

I would definitely recommend this movie for those people who are looking for a good laugh and love Robert Downey Jr.

I rate Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: ****1/2.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) (R)

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) (R)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Chiaki Kuriyama

Daddy Says:

When Kill Bill Vol. 1 came out it had been six years since director Quentin Tarantino had directed a feature length film. His previous one, 1997's Jackie Brown had failed to replicate the success he had seen with his first two hits Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. After such a lengthy hiatus, expectations for this new film were quite high. And luckily for us, the film ended up being quite good. So good, in fact, that rather than cut out too many good parts, he decided to split the film up into two "volumes".

Kill Bill Vol. 1 begins the story of The Bride (Uma Thurman), a top assassin, and part of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, headed by Bill (an off screen David Carradine). She got pregnant and wanted out. At her marriage to a man we don't get to meet, Bill and the rest of the squad put an end to that. She is beaten, and with a final shot to the head from Bill, left for dead.
Except she didn't die. And after spending four years in a coma, she wakes up with one thing on her mind: revenge.

Like the best of Tarantino's movies, this one steals from a great number of sources. Very little of his movies can be called original, but by taking a bit from here and a bit from there, he manages to conjure up something which can be called original. We certainly haven't seen most of this "kung-fu revenge film" material all in one place before. There is very little actual characterization to the parts played by the talented actors here. But what is here is a great deal of style. This is one of the most visually engaging movies I've seen in a long time.

Be warned though: this is also one of the most violent, bloody flicks out there. To keep the rating down to an "R", Tarantino turns the film black and white during an especially bloody fight scene. In this world, people don't just get cut by swords and fall over. No, here they spray geysers of blood.

Rating for Kill Bill Vol. 1: ****1/4

Daughter Says:

Kill Bill Vol. 1 lives up to its reputation as a Quentin Tarantino film. With its out of order storytelling and its gruesome violence, you are disgusted but amused by it. The moral of this story is simple: what gets put out there, comes back. And Uma Thurman creates that perfectly

This also doesn't just stay in color or go to black in white, but at one point in the movie it goes cartoon to explain one of the character's childhood. This cartoon was very well drawn with the help of many people and helped us prepare for the worst of the goriness.

This movie's blood was nasty beyond compare, but that doesn't stop me from liking this movie. It had great action scenes that really stood up to many Japanese kung-fu movies, even though it is American directed and produced.

I was very impressed, so my rating for this movie is ****1/2.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) (G)

The Princess and the Frog (2009) (G)
Directed by John Musker & Ron Clements
Voices by Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings

Daughter Says:

The Princess and the Frog is the newest princess in the Disney roster. Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose, is the first black princess in Disney history. And that is about the best part of this movie. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, we meet Tiana and her rich friend Charlotte, voiced by Jennifer Cody. They are listening to Tiana's mother read the girls the old fairy tale of the Princess and the Frog.

Tiana wouldn't kiss a frog for anything, but one day she has to face her worst fear. She has to kiss a frog to save the restaurant she's always wanted. The only problem is when she kisses the frog, it doesn't turn into a prince, she turns into a frog. Worst nightmare ever! I won't spoil the whole thing for you but they end up getting into a lot of trouble and they have to find a witch doctor to break the cures.

This movie had good music and an okay story line. The problem for me was the animation. I thought at the beginning the animation was very pretty and everything, but then they kept changing the animation to really badly drawn cartoons. And I hate watching things that change for no good reason. Some movies can pull that off but I don't think this movie was one of them.

The other part was I don't think the characters were very likable. The Prince was very stuck up and full of himself, and the Tiana had such major tunnel vision that she wasn't that fun to like.

All together this movie was okay and the music was GREAT, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I give this movie a rating of ***.

Daddy Says:

I actually liked this movie more than my daughter did. We see so many movies these days which are done on a computer, that it's refreshing to see a good old-fashioned hand-drawn animated movie again. I thought the animation was very well-done, and the switching to a different style (sort of an art-deco motif during a musical number where Tiana fantasizes about her future life) didn't bother me as much as it did other family members.

I thought the voices were well done, and the script didn't let the voice actors down. It gave us very likable characters to spend ninety minutes with. I do wish they hadn't gone the obvious route of tugging at our heart strings by killing off a major character in the last third of the film. Even though they made it seem like the character went on to a happy ending, I just don't think it was needed for what is, essentially, a children's movie.

The film was lively, didn't drag, and is a very good addition to the Disney pantheon of animated features. Anyone who has enjoyed their films, from Snow White to The Little Mermaid, is encouraged to seek this one out.

Rating for The Princess and the Frog: ****1/4

Planet 51 (2009) (PG)

Planet 51 (2009) (PG)
Directed by Jorge Blanco
Voices by Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Seann William Scott

Daughter Says:

Planet 51 is the reverse of every alien movie put out there. The director of this created a civilization made up of many aliens. One day a human astronaut named Captain Charles T. Baker, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, comes down and well... doesn't do anything. He sees the aliens and runs the other way.

So now stranded on a planet covered with aliens and lost without his spaceship he must look for help in an unusual place. He has to ask an alien called Lem, voiced by Justin Long, for his help. That's where my problem begins, because one second Baker's scared of aliens and now he's thinking they're strange and talking to them. That was a bit strange for me. Anyway, Lem tries to help the guy out and gets into tons of trouble, just like any alien movie.

This movie was an okay movie. It wasn't my favorite animated movie but it just seemed like something fun to watch with your little brother if he wants.

So I rate Planet 51: ***.

Daddy Says:

Perhaps I've been spoiled by Pixar, but I really expect an animated movie to be better these days. Having an all-star cast and some pretty pictures just isn't enough anymore. Think back on any of the Pixar movies and you'll remember all the characters, what they said, what they stood for, what their motivations were, etc. I watched this about a week ago, and honestly cannot recall much of it at all.

Being a long time wrestling fan, I'm a big fan of Dwayne Johnson. But here, he does next to nothing vocally to bring any emotion to his astronaut character. Of course, the actors are let down by having to work with a script which doesn't seem to have been well thought out beforehand. Just one more thing that Pixar does better than any other animation company, they work many, many months before animation ever starts, just to get the script perfect. That way they know that they have a solid foundation to build on. In Planet 51, I have no idea why any of the characters acts the way they do, other than because the script tells them to do so.

I was very disappointed by this film. I feel that it took what was an interesting premise and failed to follow it up. It's storyline is predictable, it's characters one-dimensional, and worst of all, it just isn't funny.

Rating for Planet 51: *1/2

Out of Sight (1998) (R)

Out of Sight (1998) (R)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle

Daddy Says:

Out of Sight is an excellent crime caper movie. George Clooney stars as a bank robber who gets caught when his getaway car stalls at the scene of the crime. His subsequent escape from prison doesn't go as planned when it is witnessed by Federal Marshall Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez). Clooney and partner Ving Rhames are forced to take her hostage in the trunk of their getaway car where she and Clooney bond. Yes, it's a romantic comedy disguised as a heist film.

This movie was much better than I expected it to be. After seeing Jennifer Lopez in what seems like dozens of bad romantic comedies, I really didn't think she could pull off a character that strong, smart and sexy, but she does admirably. The other actors around her also play their parts perfectly, including two surprise cameos by a couple of well-known actors.

The story is remarkably complex, but manages to keep the viewer from getting lost. A lot of that is due to the brilliant script by Elmore Leonard, adapted from his own novel. The character of Karen Sisco was even given a second life as a television series a few years back. I also give a lot of credit to director Steven Soderbergh. I've enjoyed many of his movies and can now add this one to the list.

Rating for Out of Sight: ****1/2

Daughter Says:

This movie has a surprise of its own, because when I look at the cover I see danger and adventure. Which this movie has, but its genre is a romantic comedy. It is one that will keep you interested all the way through.

Out of Sight gives you many witty personalities that always keep you laughing. George Clooney pulls off this amazing character named Jack Foley that can hold up a bank without ever using a gun. His partner in crime is a very smart ex-con that helps him out through some tight situations. And let's not forget Jennifer Lopez who pulls off a great Federal Marshall.

This movie had some great scenes to it. You could never tell when Jack Foley was going to get caught or run away once again. Out of Sight kept me interested all the way through. It is one of a kind to me, but I'm sure there will be other, better "Romeo and Juliet" movies out there.

Rating for Out of Sight is ****

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) (R)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) (R)
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall

Daddy Says:

I'll be the first to admit, I know next to nothing of what goes on on Broadway. Plays just aren't my thing, and musicals aren't my cup of tea. So going in to Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I'm not sure what I expected. My daughter wanted to see it, mostly I suspect due to it's leading actor, and I tried to keep my expectations low. But knowing it's a Tim Burton film, with his favorite leading actor, it's sometimes hard not to have higher expectations.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street takes place in London of old. Recently returned from being sent to prison on a false charge by a judge with eyes for Todd's beautiful wife, Sweeney (Johnny Depp) is back to settle some scores. The judge (played with great relish by Alan Rickman) has made himself guardian over Todd's daughter and has his evil eyes set on marrying her. Setting up his barbering business above a less than clean meat-pie shop, Sweeney and the shop owner Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) hit upon an ingenious plan. Todd will get his revenge, and Mrs. Lovett will use the "leftovers" in her new meat pies.

The film is chock full of great visual images, as well as many bloody throat slashings. The violence is pretty disgusting, but the overall look of the film was quite dramatic. The songs didn't move me as much as I would have liked. Other than the one where Sweeney Todd sings to his razors, calling them "his friends", the rest of the music just isn't that memorable. My apologies if this is your favorite musical, it just didn't move me. On the other hand, considering this is his first musical, Tim Burton directed this as if he'd been doing them his entire career. The acting was consistently excellent and the film was overall entertaining. If you're interested in seeing a Broadway musical, albeit a musical of a most unusual sort, I'd recommend checking this one out.

Rating for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: ****1/4

Daughter Says:

I was really looking forward to this movie because of who was in it. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are the main reasons for watching this great movie. I was also surprised to find that many people that I found intriguing in Harry Potter were also in this. I guess that really makes sense now that I think about it, because they were in London and those people have European accents. They also are amazing actors that can play creepy characters which I'm sure Tim Burton just LOVES.

I also loved that it is a Tim Burton film and I really like his work as a director and producer in all his films. The musical part is okay, I've never heard Johnny Depp sing before so that was also a first. He's not a bad singer either. The music was okay, some of the songs were catchy and others weren't that good. But I loved this musical anyway.

Johnny Depp also isn't a bad throat-slashing murderer either. He is amazing at acting like a creeper out to get his revenge. This movie has some major graphic scenes and I would give you warning. I had to cover my eyes a few times. And Tim Burton didn't lay back on the blood-spurting throats.

I give this movie a rating of ****1/2.

Ponyo (2009) (G)

Ponyo (2009) (G)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Voices: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey

Daddy Says:

My first experience with an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki was back in 2003 when his masterpiece Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. I'd never heard of him before, but the animation looked impressive from what I saw, so I decided to give something new a try. I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience and a high water mark that I use to measure animated features by to this day. I've since gotten around to watching most of his other movies, but in my opinion only Princess Mononoke approached the greatness he achieved with his Oscar winner. My expectations may have been a bit too high after seeing Spirited Away first, comparing it to the rest of his movies, but I've always hoped that someday he would equal or surpass that magical film. His latest effort, Ponyo, may not succeed on every count, but it does still manage to impress much more than most animated features these days.

Ponyo is the story of a little boy named Sosuke who finds an unusual little fish and decides to keep it as a pet, giving it the name "Ponyo." What he doesn't know is that the fish is actually the daughter of a powerful king of the sea (impressively voiced by Liam Neeson). The king retrieves his daughter, but Ponyo's brief encounter with a human has filled her with a yearning to become one herself.

The story is similar to The Little Mermaid, in such as a sea creature longs to be human, falls in love with one, but sacrifices something to achieve her dream. The animation in Ponyo is extremely good, as it is in all of Hayao Miyazaki's movies. Where I felt let down is in the fact that the movie is targeted squarely at those of the same age as the movie's protagonist: namely five-year-olds. Seeing as I'm nearly forty years older than that, I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as some of Miyazaki's other films. But don't let that stop you from seeing it. It may not be his best film, but it is a visually impressive, sweetly told fairy tale for all ages.

Rating for Ponyo: ****1/2

Daughter Says:

Ponyo is for the little kids who love to see magic. And I'm sure that to any of them it is a great movie, but it wasn't all that good in my opinion.

This movie went along the lines of the Little Mermaid, which I liked. But I just found it very hard to follow that a five year old could fall in love with a fish. It's kind of the same problem I have with Romeo and Juliet. They're just too young to experience love like that. Maybe I shouldn't dig too deep into the depths of the age problem.

There were many great things with this movie, like the art. All his drawings are amazing and they come to life spectacularly. Maybe just like Dad, I had a little too high of expectations. I love and will always love Hayao Miyazaki's films. Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, and Castle in the Sky are all really good movies. Yes some of them had their downfalls, but all of them were great. I will think the same for Ponyo, because Miyazaki put his soul into this movie, like he always does, and brought a new world to life. A world that's wonderful and mysterious.

I give Ponyo a rating of ***1/2

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) (PG)

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) (PG)
Directed by Spike Jonze
Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Forest Whitaker, Mark Ruffalo

Daddy Says:

Once upon a time there was a classic children's book called Where the Wild Things Are by author Maurice Sendak. It was much loved, and read by almost every child everywhere. Then along came a movie by the same name. Somehow, I don't think it will be called a classic over forty years from now.

The movie follows the story for the most part, but obviously had to expand a lot since the original story can be read in about ten minutes. Max Records stars as Max, a boy growing up with an older sister who is drifting away from him, and a divorced mother (Catherine Keener) trying to find love again. One night after a fight with his mother, Max runs away from home (here being the first difference from the story which has Max being sent to his room without supper). He finds a boat and sails off for an island where he meets huge, scary-looking beasts. Max sides with the apparent Outsider of the group (voiced by a very-good James Gandolfini), becomes their "king" and learns that dealing with emotional beings of all kinds and trying to keep everybody happy isn't as easy he thought.

I tried not to have high expectations for this film. When you're dealing with a Spike Jonze movie, you really have no idea where you're going next. I really enjoyed his brilliant Being John Malkovich and thought this movie might be just as good. It's not a terrible movie, but it just doesn't have the same feel as the classic book. In the book, Max imagines his room becoming a forest where he meets the wild things. In the movie, it's not made clear whether all of this is in Max's imagination or if we're supposed to believe there really is an island full of wild things. I don't think I'm spoiling things by saying that Max eventually returns to his home, where he is greeted by his Mom with a big hug and a plate of chocolate cake. As my 9-year-old son pointed out, that is not how we would react if he had just ran away from home.

Rating for Where the Wild Things Are: ***1/2

Daughter Says:

Where the Wild Things Are is a book that every child should if they haven't read it already. Even as a fifteen year old I love the book. The movie on the other hand, you don't really have to see. It was a good movie but the book is really good.

I thought the people in the monster costumes created a feeling that they were real monsters. I was very impressed by their skills as actors because I'm sure it is extremely hard to show emotion in a costume.

I was also impressed by Max Records because he was the main character and I would find it very daunting to a little boy. Plus he was working with costumes and sometimes acting alone. So I was very surprised at how well he did. I think he has a good future ahead of him.

This movie was good because it is one of the few movies that can make me cry. So good job movie makers.

I give this movie a rating of ****1/2.

The Incredibles (2004) (PG)

The Incredibles (2004) (PG)
Directed by Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee

Daddy Says:

I'll be the first to admit I didn't care for this movie when it first came out. It came out the year after Finding Nemo, a film which I thought was darn near cinematic perfection, so I think my expectations for The Incredibles might have been just a bit too high. But time has been good to it, and I've seen it twice since; it does grow on you.

The Incredibles is the story of a world where superheroes are accepted as a necessary force for peacekeeping. During the opening newsreel, we meet Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson), his wife Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and their friend Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). Everything's good; the world constantly needs saving so there's plenty of job security. But after an aborted suicide attempt winds up as a successful lawsuit, superheroes are no longer favored by the media and are forced to give up their day jobs to become people with "normal" lives. That is, until the world needs saving again from the new villain Syndrome (Jason Lee).

There is a lot more violence and action in this film than there was in previous Pixar movies. Not that that's a bad thing, but you might not be expecting it. It's also a very funny movie, having a lot of fun with both super hero cliches and even some spy movie cliches. There's the villain's secret remote island lair where he plots world domination surrounded by an army of identical jump-suited minions that could have been straight out of any number of early James Bond films. The Incredibles is a really, fun movie that almost manages to live up to its title.

Rating for The Incredibles: ****3/4

Daughter Says:

I really like Pixar movies, but the Incredibles was not one of those movies I want to watch over and over again. It had its moments for the most part and overall the movie was fine. It just wasn't my idea of the great action movie.

The animation was good. It really helped bring out the characters' personalities. It also was very colorful in the fact that all the super heroes had different colors so you could tell them apart. Plus you could tell who was an incredible.

The voices were good, but I found the story a bit dull. It just seemed like your average super hero story, but instead the heroes aren't wanted. The actors did a good job in giving the characters emotion, but I'm usually impressed by that kind of stuff. It's just so cool how people can make their words match a cartoon's mouth.

So overall I rate this movie a ***1/2.

The Hurt Locker (2009) (R)

The Hurt Locker (2009) (R)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Bryan Geraghty, Evangeline Lilly

Daddy Says:

Some jobs you pray you never have to do. Disarming a live bomb is probably at or near the top of the list. The Hurt Locker is an incredible portrait of the military's most unrecognized heroes. It follows a three-man squad who are assigned to sniff out and disarm IEDs in Iraq. A hard enough job to do under the best of circumstances, it's made even more difficult by the constant threat of sniper fire from the surrounding buildings, or even in the open desert. Jeremy Renner stars as William James. Called a "wildman" by a Colonel who sees him in action, he has disarmed over eight hundred explosives, but has developed an addiction to the adrenaline rush he gets while working. Anthony Mackie and Bryan Geraghty play his support team, who watch his back while he works, and try to get him to bail out when the situation gets too risky. Evangeline Lilly from TV's Lost has a brief role as James' ex-wife back home.

The Hurt Locker is incredibly riveting. Even at 131 minutes, it never feels like it's dragging. I was absorbed from the opening moments to the closing credits. It's well-acted by everyone (including cameos from David Morse, Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pierce). It's also very action-packed, more than you might think in a movie about a guy who knows which is the right wire to cut. Director Kathryn Bigelow does an amazing job at capturing what it must feel like for these soldiers having to deal with the constant, daily threat of instant death, while still trying to retain some emotional connection to each other and their loved ones back home.

If I hadn't already seen Pixar's Up, I would say this was the Best Picture of 2009. As it is, and since Up has very little chance of winning anything besides Best Animated Feature at this Sunday's Academy Awards, I know which film I'm going to be rooting for to win the big prize.

Rating for The Hurt Locker: ****3/4

Daughter Says:

The first thing I have to say is that this movie is probably the best war movie I've seen since Saving Private Ryan. Everybody gives praise to Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor, but I give two thumbs up for this awesome, adrenaline pumping movie.

It really brought out what war really is and it gave me a whole other perspective on war. It even showed me what the soldiers in Iraq are really having to go through almost every day.

This movie thoroughly impressed me but I found one flaw. I didn't quite understand the part with Evangeline Lilly, because it felt kind of pointless. I thought you could probably take that part out and you could learn more about James. He was reckless and a "wildman". It would have been nice to learn why this was so.

You shouldn't let this stop you from watching this amazing film.

I give this one a ****1/2.

Gimme an "F"!

It seems I may be being a bit harsh in my grading of films. I'll explain. To me, an "F" rating means that the film simply failed to do what it set out to do, not necessarily that it was a film without any redeeming qualities whatsoever. For instance, I gave the film "Everybody's Fine" an "F" because it had poor writing, but had some very fine actors who gave it their best shot but were ultimately let down by the weak script. Were I to give it a star rating, I would give it **1/4 stars for it's good qualities, not zero as some might think an "F" would indicate.

So in order to avoid confusion, Sammi and I are going to switch to rating films with the star rating system commonly used by other movie critics. Our scale will be zero to five stars, zero being a film without redeeming qualities, five being a masterpiece. My mentor, Roger Ebert, uses a four-star rating system (as well as his trademark thumbs), but I've always liked being able to say "now that was a five-star film!".

And in case you were curious what I would give to the films already posted, here are my star ratings for them.

Robots: ***
Everybody's Fine: **1/4
Hot Fuzz: ****1/2
Hero: ****3/4
Avatar: ****
District 9: ****1/2
Quantum of Solace: ***
It Might Get Loud: ****
The Hangover: ****
Casino Royale: ****3/4
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish: *1/4

I'll let Sammi decide if she wants to re-rate her movies or not.

Sammi's ratings:

Robots: ****
Everybody's Fine: ***
Hot Fuzz: ****1/2
Hero: *****
Avatar: ****
District 9: ****1/2
Quantum of Solace:***1/2
It Might Get Loud: ****1/2
The Hangover: ***
Casino Royale: *****
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish:*