The Ledge

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 25 May 2011
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Staring:  Charlie Hunnam, Terrence Howard, Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler
Rating? R
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.6 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 14% Audience: 48%
MY RATING: 7 of 10

MY REVIEW:
This was a movie that was recommended to me and I gave it a shot.  It was actually pretty good. Decent.

So, the premise is that Gavin, played by Charlie Hunnam has an affair with a neighbors wife Shana, played by Liv Tyler. Shana is married to Joe, played by Patrick Wilson. Joe is a Christian and Gavin is an atheist. This plays a significant part in the movie. Basically, Joe finds out and forces Gavin on a ledge of a building and gives him an hour to choose between the one he loves or himself. Without faith or an afterlife to effect the decision, the movie draws on this christianity versus atheism.

I am an atheist so this film took on a fairly normal conversation that I have on a consistent basis. What makes you do good things?

The movie is good and will keep you guessing until the very end.
SaveSave

Bridesmaids

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 13 May 2011
Running Time: 125 Minutes
Staring:  Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Rating? R
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.8 of 10
MY RATING: 3 ot 10

STORYLINE
Competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend, threatens to upend the line of an out of work pastry chef.

MY REVIEW:
I wanted this movie to be funny. I really did. I love Kristen Wiig and I so wanted to like this movie, but it left me disappointed and a little over the senseless over the top disgusting jokes. This was the supposed female equivalent to the Hangover. No thanks!

There were some genuine funny moments but the story line seemed one-dimensional and over-done. I didn't connect with any of the characters. So, basically, I was not amused most of the time.

Thor

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 6 May 2011
Running Time: 115 Minutes
Staring:  Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.0 of 10
MY RATING: 7

MY REVIEW:
I actually enjoyed this version of the classic Thor mythology. I mean, some of the ideas of Norse mythology are present and I really had to set aside what I've read to let this story really play out.

Standard superhero movie. Standard end with the standard fight sequence in epic battle. Romantic cliches abound. It's fun and a pretty decent movie.
SaveSave

Source Code

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 1 April 2011
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Staring:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farminga.
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.5 of 10
MY RATING: 5

STORYLINE
A soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. A mission he has only 8 minutes to complete.

MY REVIEW:
It was a stretch for me from the beginning. It wasn't that horrible. It had some strengths and just as many weaknesses. The ending was the WORST part for me. It's like the writers threw a bunch of plots up in the air and let then  fall onto a sheet of paper and that's what they went with. Good but not great.

Insidious

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 1 April 2011
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Staring:  Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.8 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 66% Audience: 62%
MY RATING: 6

MY REVIEW:
It was PG-13, so I knew it wouldn't be "that kind of scary movie." That being said, it was actually scary. There are some really good intense scenes that absolutely had be jumping in my seat. The red-faced dude specifically was absolutely unnerving! Although its not just a series of scenes that make you jump, they are scattered enough and the story is there to keep you interested.

I think the plot and the story are fairly well done. It felt new in a way that I don't think that I have really seen before. It's truly frightening to not know whats exactly waiting for you in the dark.

Limitless

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 18 March 2011
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Staring:  Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert DeNiro
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.4 of 10
MY RATING: 8

MY REVIEW:
Let me preface this review with my undying love for Bradley Cooper. I all fairness, I think it got two extra points just for having him in this movie!

I think he did amazing in this movie. He was a strong lead and really held up to carrying this movie!

Cooper plays an aspiring writer who has some silly writers block. {As a writer, I can defintely understand  that feeling 100%!} His former bro-in-law gives him this new drug that helps him function better. Yes, so it is not exactly logic all of the time and some of it really just doesn't make any sense. But the trippy camera shots and the entertaining nature of the idea.  Soft 8.

Red Riding Hood

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 11 March 2011
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Staring:  Amanda Seyfried, Lukas Haas, Gary Oldman,
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 5.4 of 10
MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE
Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure.

MY REVIEW:
I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I didn't expect to like it and what do you know, I actually did!

I liked the twists that this movie took from the original story. Werewolf instead of an actual wolf. Very clever!

Sets, camera work, costuming, music.. all of it worked in a way that could have brought the whole things crumbling down. I actually got lost in the story, it actually drew me in.

The only costuming issue that I had with this movie was the length of the Red Riding Hood that seemed to change from long to short, to medium and back to long again. Not a smart move.

Well worth checking out this movie!

The Adjustment Bureau

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 4 March 2011
Running Time: 106 Minutes
Staring:  Matt Damon, Emily Blunt,  etc
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.1 of 10
MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE
The affair between a politician and a ballerina is effected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.

MY REVIEW:
I actually enjoyed the fun and farcical romp about the ideal of love in a uncontrollable world. I rather liked the idea of the Bureau that watches over the humans on the planet to guide their lives. As an atheist, this still doesn't make sense, but at least there were no angels in white!

In the middle of all of this is David Norris {Matt Damon} who encounters a kind of slip. Helping him along the way is a girl he meets by accident, twice. Elise. {Emily Blunt} What was confusing were the supposed rules that get explained a few times, but still just don't make sense to me. The Bureau, which may I point out are ONLY MEN seem to have unlimited powers.

It did take a little extra for me to suspend disbelief and go with the flow.  This movie does make you think about the idea of possibilities for your own life. Great on-screen chemistry with Damon and Blunt.

Sanctum

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 4 Feb 2011
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Staring:  Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Ioan Gruffudd, Richard Roxburgh
Rating? R
SPOILERS? No

REVIEWS
IMDB: 5.9 of 10
MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE
An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world.

MY REVIEW:
You know, I wasn't thinking this would be a great movie, I expected a mediocre film with pretty sets. I was surprised. Yeah, the acting was not the best, but the sets were out of this world!

My MOST favorite part of the movie is the lead, Frank, played by Australian actor Richard Roxburgh, and his repetition of one of my favorite poems in the whole world. Kuala Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge....

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to the sunless sea.

It was likely chosen because of the whole caverns phrase.. but it was perfect and I enjoyed hearing it on screen. {Insert happy face}

I really enjoy the story and the perilous feeling that this movie gave. If you get a chance to see it in 3D, all the better.

The Green Hornet

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 14 Jan 2011
Running Time: 119 Minutes
Staring:  Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, etc.
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 5.9 of 10
MY RATING: 4

MY REVIEW:
It's not a horrible movie. It's campy and a little over the top. It's entertaining. It did a great job of paying homage to the old TV Show.

This movie is mediocre at best, but it did bring back a feeling from the old show. It was visually interesting and I loved the character development. Solid 4.