REVIEW: Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

MOVIE
Alvin & The Chipmunks:

The Squeakquel

CAST
Zachary Levi, David Cross

RELEASE
December 23, 2009

RATING
PG

DIRECTOR
Betty Thomas

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 30 minutes

GRADE
B+

STARS
***








REVIEW:

Yes, everyone: the Chipmunks are back and better than ever. In the "Squeakquel" to the original box office smash, we find the Chipmunks having to go to school for the first time after an accident involving Dave. Also, Dave's nephew has to watch over the Chipmunks until Dave recovers. Meanwhile, Ian Hawk, the villain from the first film finds female Chipmunks that call themselves the Chipettes who can sing just as good as our heroes. Now, Ian uses the Chipettes to try to take revenge on the Chipmunks once and for all. All I can say about this movie is that it is what I call "cute." It is a harmlees, kid-friendly film filled with heart and laughs the kids will get a major kick out of. Some parents will enjoy this movie but not as much as their kids will. This isn't exactly the kind of film to see in theaters. This can really be considered to be a rental when this comes out on DVD and PPV. Either way, it'll be a fun treat for the whole family. I probably won't buy this film on DVD or Blu Ray, but I can assure you I will be waiting for the next Alvin & The Chipmunks film that I hope comes out really soon. So, if you have kids who desperately want to see this film, I strongly recommend this film. It'll be a special treat for the whole family for years to come.

PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

Marmaduke

The Spy Next Door

Percy Jackson & The Olympians:

The Lightning Thief

Alice In Wonderland

How To Train Your Dragon

Furry Vengeance

Despicable Me

REVIEW: Four Christmases

MOVIE
Four Christmases

CAST
Vince Vaughn,

Reese Witherspoon

RELEASE
November 26, 2008

RATING
PG-13

DIRECTOR

Seth Gordon

STUDIO
New Line Cinema

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 28 minutes

GRADE
A-

STARS
***1/4

REVIEW:

What do you know: even a Christmas film can be a raunchy comedy and still funny. Four Christmases is about a happy, unmarried couple who go on a vacation every Christmas instead of spending time with their families. Unfortunately for them, heavy fog occurs on the day of their flight and they can't go anywhere out of San Fransisco, CA. But that's not all: their families see them on the news at the airport and want the couple on Christmas. Four parents, four locations, holy cow!!! This film was surprisingly funnier than I expected it to be. Vince Vaughn & Reese Witherspoon make a great team together. I can compare these two to John Travolta & Kristie Alley in the Look Who's Talking series. I'm glad I didn't see this in theaters since you wouldn't have had to see it in theaters because it's not a movie theater experience, like Avatar or 2012. But still, it's a funny Christmas movie that people will for sure enjoy into the new decades to come. It's a great rental to watch when there's nothing to do during the Christmas season and I recommend you taking the chance of seeing this. But be warned, this is PG-13 because of the language and sexual humor that families might not find appropriate. So, leave this as a rental for kids 13-14+. You won't regret it.

REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes

MOVIE
Sherlock Holmes

CAST
Robert Downey Jr.,
Jude Law

RELEASE
December 25, 2009

RATING
PG-13

DIRECTOR
Guy Ritchie

STUDIO
Warner Bros. Pictures

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 14 minutes




GRADE
A







STARS
***1/2











REVIEW:




Robert Downey Jr. has once again outdone himself as the famous detective known as Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes tells the story of Mr. Holmes and his loyal partner Dr. Watson as they try to uncover the mystery of a man known for using black magic who has come back from the dead to try to wipe out the entire population of England. Now, Holmes, Watson, and Holmes' mysterious lover Irene Adler must stop the magic man before he succeeds with his evil plan. This film is very entertaining with action, comedy, romance, and suspence as we see Sherlock and Watson's mystery unfolding with the talents of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. I especially give kudos to director Guy Ritchie for taking on a hard challenge of bringing the detective onto the silver screen with the help of some of the biggest names in hollywood. He could've easily made a crappy movie with good actors and a terrible story, but luckily he was very smart to actually take his time. Anyway, this was a very smart and fun movie that I will surely want to see again. I really recommend anyone 13+ going to see this film since it is indeed a very violent film with a lot of fist and blood thrown in. So, don't miss out on one of the must see movies of the holiday season, behind Avatar of course. Anyway, just go and see Sherlock Holmes if your looking for a fun and good time at the movies.




PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:


Inception

Hot Tub Time Machine

Iron Man 2

Date Night

Cop Out

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Wolfman

Clash Of The Titans

REVIEW: Avatar: The IMAX 3D Experience

MOVIE
Avatar

CAST
Sam Worthington,

Zoë Saldaña

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
December 18, 2009

DIRECTOR
James Cameron

STUDIO

20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 41 minutes

GRADE
A+++

STARS
*******

REVIEW:

James Cameron retains his title as "king of the world" as he has made a movie that is better than Titanic, the best movie of 2009, and possibly THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!!! Avatar tells the riveting story of a paralyzed ex Marine who decides to take the position of his dead twin brother on the distant moon 4.4 light years away called Pandora. On the moon, he will become an Avatar, a genetically engineered version of the moon's natives known to the humans as the Na'Vi, who are very hard to make contact with. So the marine, now his mind in an Avatar body learns from the natives and follows there methods. But, as the marine gets closer to the Na'Vi, he gets farther from the humans. Now, the marine must decide which side he's on: The humans or the Na'Vi. This movie is a crazy and fun 3D adventure that certainlly tops Titanic by far. What was so revolutionary about Avatar were the special effects of the movie and the story.

The special effects were so revolutionary, that it looked as if humans were really on Pandora. Also, the special effects were a better kind of motion capture filming than the Robert Zemekis films made during this decade. (excluding Monster House; that was a pretty good film) The story was also very original as I've never seen or heard anything like this. The running length of Avatar may be very long in today's standards, (161 minutes) but the film never feels long until you get off your seat when the screen reads "Directed By James Cameron" since you're butt will be very, very, very, etc. numb. Other than that, Avatar is a genuine film that captures your imagination and changes the way you'll ever see films again. Some may even consider it perfect. I am one of those people. I'm not asking you to see Avatar, I'm saying it is a film experience you will never ever forget. Also, the IMAX screen really made you feel as if you went to Pandora with Sam Worthington & James Cameron. What I'm trying to say is, GO SEE AVATAR IN 3D OR IMAX 3D. You will thank me for telling you this now than in 2 years when this film probably won't be in theaters anymore, dudes.

PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

Percy Jackson & The Olympians:

The Lightning Thief (Not In IMAX)

Alice In Wonderland

Hubble 3D

How To Train Your Dragon

Shrek Forever After

REVIEW: Silent Movie

MOVIE
Silent Movie

CAST
Mel Brooks,

Marty Feldman,

Dom DeLUISE

RATING
PG

RELEASE
June 17, 1976

DIRECTOR
Mel Brooks

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 32 minutes

GRADE
A+



STARS
***3/4

REVIEW:

If you love classic Mel Brooks films like Blazing Saddles & Young Frankenstein, (No, Spaceballs is considered a cult favorite, not a classic) then Silent Movie follows up to all of Mel Brooks' original favorites. Silent Movie tells the "silent" story about a on and off director who must make a silent film to save a studio from another studio that wants to take over the 1st studio. This film is typical Mel Brooks comedy with his partners, the late Marty Feldman & Dom DeLUISE (R.I.P.) who were always funny with Brooks when they collaborated. It also continues being one of the golden parody movies, which in this case of course spoofs the silent film genre. With many jokes involving the genre being spoofed and all of the celebrity appearances from such actors & actresses like James Caan and Anne Bancroft, Silent Movie makes a great comedy for the older teens with no words at all. (Except for the word "NO!!") Anyway, if you love Mel Brooks or any kind of comedy form, then watch a Mel Brooks classic, Silent Movie.