Tropic Thunder

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 13, 2008

DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008

Plot 411: An action comedy satire about a group of actors filming a Vietnam war movie that quicklly leaves the location and becomes reality.

Review: This is a hilarious movie that comments on the entire Hollywood scene. There is the money grubbing producer, the highly acclaimed, award-winning actor, the old action star, the newbie, the drugged-out comedian and the zealous agent. The movie portrays each role to the nth degree and clearly shows us the ridiculousness that surrounds celebrity and the movie business. This is definitely a fun film to watch despite what some critics claim are offensive portrayals and remarks. The movie was also shot on Kauai, so support a film that helped bring revenue to the Islands. In the film, a movie production crew is shooting a Vietnam War film based on the memoirs of John "Four Leaf" Tayback (Nick Nolte). When the cast isn't able to get along during the shoot, Tayback and director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) decide to drop them off in the wilderness where cameras are rigged to shoot guerilla style. Action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Australian actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.), comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and some others are airlifted to the middle of the jungle. This area is controlled by a heroin-producing gang, but they believe it's all part of the movie. Even when their director is blown up, they continue along as if it's all part of the script. The film unwinds from there and it's a laugh a minute. The movie is irreverent and crass at times, which makes it even better. Don't take it too seriously and you'll have a great time.

Watch It: For an unbelievable cameo. Hopefully you don't know what I'm talking about because it'll make your first viewing so much better.

Skip It: If you're overly sensitive to digs on race, mental illness and other politically correct topics.

The Day After Tomorrow

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 17, 2004 (Mexico) / May 28, 2004 (USA)

DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004

Plot 411: Environmental changes around the world cause great devastation and millions of fatalities.

Review: When scientist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) presents his findings on global warming, his words are not taken seriously by anyone except his colleagues, a Scottish professor and a NASA meteorologist (Tamlyn Tomita). They build a model that forecasts global devastation is imminent. At the same time, weird weather phenomenon is already happening and it is causing great confusion around the world. Jack and his group relay their findings to authorities and he and his colleagues set off for New York to find his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal). Sam and his classmates are in NYC for a school trip and must find a place to take cover when a massive tidal wave crashes down on the city. They join many other people in the library as the temperature outside drops dramatically and ice and snow replace the sudden ocean swell. Can the group stay alive long enough for Jack to come to the rescue? I'm not sure why people are so fascinated with end-of-the-world movies. yet every couple of years there's a new one that portrays worldwide destruction, and with the advances in technology, the depictions become more and more real. This movie is typical of this genre and contains lots of CGI, action and drama. It leaves you gripping the armrest of your chair with each and every close call. What is really awesome is the power of nature and how it is demonstrated in this film. Many of the tallest buildings are dwarfed by the tidal wave. Entire buildings and structures are buried beneath the snow. Even the Statue of Liberty doesn't have a chance against Mother Nature. The movie is exciting and dramatic, but I don't know how real the science behind the plot actually is.

Watch It: For gigantic CGI effects that still hold up.

Skip It: Because why would you want to witness the end of the world? That's just so disheartening.

Coach Carter

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 13, 2005

DVD Release Date: June 21, 2005

Plot 411: When a new basketball coach comes to town, he emphasizes both academics and athletics and changes the way his players view their future.

Review: Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) returns to his high school alma mater and takes over the position of basketball coach. When he arrives, his players are undisciplined and barely attend classes. Some players have drama going on in their lives, such as teen pregnancy, that may jeopardize their future despite their abilities. He quickly establishes new rules that the boys must follow in order to remain on the team. Some boys like Timo Cruz (Rick Gonzalez) decide to leave the team and fall deeper into violence, gangs and drug dealing. When Carter discovers some of the boys aren't holding up their end of the deal, he cancels practices and forfeits games so that his players can study. This riles up the community, which believes that sports are the only way their kids will ever get out of poverty. Tension builds between Carter, the school, parents and the community as his atypical approach makes media headlines. This movie was produced by MTV Films and succeeds in its efforts to market toward a younger demographic in the same way it did with Save The Last Dance. It showcased a lot of young, new talent like Rob Brown, Robert Ri'chard, Channing Tatum and Ashanti. Of the bunch, Tatum has really seen his career skyrocket. The movie comes across as gritty, but somehow I don't find it very believable. It's very polished and seems like it's trying too hard to be ghetto. The cinematography is a lot different than movies such as City Of God, which I think captures the poverty and desperation of the people a lot more realistically.

Watch It: For the Hawaii connections - Denise Dowse plays the school principal and Rob Fukuzaki makes a cameo as a reporter.

Skip It: If you're looking for a realistic portrayal of the human experience. This depiction is dusted with Hollywood and MTV's glamor.

Two Weeks Notice

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 20, 2002

DVD Release Date: April 29, 2003

Plot 411: When Lucy becomes a corporate lawyer to save her beloved community center she discovers a whole new world of superficiality in George.

Review: Environmental lawyer Lucy (Sandra Bullock) is hired by rich real estate developr George (Hugh Grant) with the understanding that if she works has his chief counsel he will stop the destruction of Coney Island Community Center. She quickly finds out that George is hopelessly unable to make decisions on his own. She becomes not only his lawyer but his personal assistant in every matter in his life. Thoroughly fed up with his behavior, she puts in her resignation notice and agrees to train her replacement. This comes in the form of a inexperienced but beautiful June (Alicia Witt). During this time, both Lucy and George realize just how much they really enjoy each others company. But with the development of the community center back on, will they be able to reconcile with each other? The movie is a breezy comedy in which Bullock and Grant have great chemistry. She plays the girl-next-door character and he plays the zaney Brit. In general, this is a movie made at probably the height of both of their careers during a time when everything they touched turned into gold. That should be enough of a description to know what it's about and how things'll end.

Watch It: For great, but very predictable, comedic beats.

Skip It: Because it's just another conventional romantic comedy.

Save The Last Dance

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 12, 2001

DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

Plot 411: When her mother dies, Sarah moves to Chicago's inner city to live with her astranged dad

Review: After failing her ballet audition for Juilliard, Sarah (Julia Stiles) discovers the reason her mother was late was because she died in a car accident. After this blow, Sarah decides to give up dancing and must move to Chicago to live with her father. She enrolls in a predominantly black high school in a gritty area of town. Despite being a fish out of water, she is soon befriended by Chenille (Kerry Washington). Sarah also meets a wise-cracking boy named Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), who turns out to be Chenille's brother. When Sarah goes to a club called Stepps, she encounters hip hop for the first time and realizes that there is more to dance than her classical education has taught her. She also encounters Derek's ex-girlfriend Nikki (Bianca Lawson) and the drama begins. Nikki is trying to win Derek back and sees Sarah as a threat. However, as Derek teaches Sarah hip hop dancing, they grow closer and fall in love. When Derek and is friend Malakai (Fredro Starr) are targets of a drive-by shooting, Malakai wants to take revenge. Derek is torn between helping his friend and looking toward his future. When this movie came out, I was thoroughly entralled by it like most teens. It had a good love story, great music and dancing, action and drama. It felt as though the underdog would prevail despite all obstacles. Now that I'm older, I can see it for what it is. It's a fairly average movie of this type and kind of predictable. I think it did a good job at appealing to its demographic when it was released but don't think it is anything special. The idea that opposites attract is definitely not new and have already been captured on film in Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, Dirty Dancing or Step Up.

Watch It: For a notable performance by Julia Stiles, who was just breaking out at that time.

Skip It: In favor of West Side Story, which contains much of the same plot points.

Let The Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 24, 2008

DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009

Plot 411: Oskar, a lonely boy who is bullied at school, meets falls in love with an intriguing girl who moves in next door.

Review: I kept hearing about this movie in a podcast I listen to and came to the point where I just needed to know what the hype was all about. I watched it without reading the synopsis and have to tell you that it's an amazing film. Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old Swedish boy who is being bullied at school. He comes from a single-parent home and doesn't really have any friends. When new neighbors move in, he becomes intrigued with an odd girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson). Oskar and Eli become friends, often meeting at the jungle gym in their courtyard. When Oskar confides in Eli about the bully situation, she advises him to fight back. She gives him confidence and he gives her a companion. After Eli's arrival into town several suspicious deaths occur, and Oskar soon learns that she isn't your ordinary girl. Without giving too much of the plot away, this movie is truly unique in its approach to first love, coming of age and the horror genre. Cinematically, many of the scenes are beautiful because of the falling snow and white landscape. This is a dramtic contrast to many of the dark scenes. The movie addresses common themes like isolation, a broken family and trouble at school, but it does so from a fresh perspective. Hedebrant and Leandersson are really talented young actors who portray a lot of emotion on film. You empathize with both characters and experience the same rollercoaster ride that Oskar goes through. You feel each of his emotions - loneliness, happiness, curiosity, horror, fear, disgust and love. Despite being of the horror genre, I would consider this a coming-of-age love story between the two main characters. Like most love stories, there are many obstacles preventing them from happiness, but these hurdles are truly different from the norm. From the horror perspective, there is a good mix of practical and CG effects that somehow come across as very natural. The sound design is really interesting and different from what you'd normally expect.

Watch It: For a touching tale of love set within a horror film. It's really, really good.

Skip It: If you're looking for a true Hollywood slasher-type film. This one's a lot more intelligent.

Nothing Like The Holidays

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 12, 2008

DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009

Plot 411: A Puerto Rican family spends the holidays together and emotions run high for all of them.

Review: Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) returns home to Chicago after serving in Iraq as a Marine. It's obvious he is experiencing a little PTSD, and we learn later that this is partly because one of the men in his unit died. His father (Alfred Molina) owns a bodega, which he expects Jesse to run one day, and his mother (Elizabeth Pena) is at home cooking a holiday meal. Also arriving for the festivities is his sister Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), his brother Mauricio (John Leguizamo) and sister-in-law Sarah (Debra Messing). In everyone's eyes, Roxanna is a Hollywood starlet who living in California and works in show biz. In reality, she is a struggling actress like many others. Mauricio and Sarah are both career driven and succeeding in their perspective jobs. To the dismay of his mother, Mauricio has not produced a grandchild and this is a source of many disagreements between him and his wife. At the holiday dinner, their mother announces that she plans to divorce their father because she suspects he has been unfaithful. When he doesn't deny the charges, this causes an uproar that threatens to tear the family apart. I didn't know a thing about this movie and had assumed it'd be a romantic comedy. Boy, was I wrong. This was, instead, a family drama with some serious themes. However, many of them just failed to strike a chord with the audience. The characters weren't really unique and drew no sympathy from me. I didn't feel compelled by any of their stories. A lot of the scenes felt stilted and the characters didn't seem to relate well to one another. The movie tried its best to be the Latin version of This Christmas but I think it failed miserably.

Watch It: If, perhaps, you're interested in seeing just how old Debra Messing seems to have become.

Skip It: If you're looking for a good holiday movie about family. Instead, pick up This Christmas.

Priceless / Hors de prix

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 13, 2003 (France) / March 28, 2008 (USA)

DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008

Plot 411: A con woman mistakes a hotel worker as a rich guy and he becomes her next con.

Review: Audrey Tautou plays Irene, a woman whose one desire in life is to marry into money. To this end, she cons rich, old men into buying her clothes and gems and taking her to nice places. She meets Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a hotel jack-of-all-trades, and mistakens him for another hotel guest. After many drinks, they head up to a luxurious suite and spend the night. By this time, Jean is completely infatuated with Irene. She, on the other hand, brushes him off without a parting glance. After a similar experience a year later, they are caught in bed by the hotel staff and Jean's ruse is unveiled. Irene storms out believing she has wasted her precious time on a man with no money. Jean tries his best to apologize and she really makes it worth her while. When Jean is left with an exorbitant hotel bill, he must resort to a con himself to pay it off. Tautou looks stunning in this film, especially dressed in expensive clothes and jewelry. She's like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn with her petite stature and delicate features. She is also exceptional as Irene and able to convey a sweetness despite her appetite for the superficial. There are points in the film when she is utterly cruel to Jean and you wonder whether or not she has a beating heart within her. Yet you still have empathy for her character because you know she's just trying to survive. Elmaleh is hilarious as this fish-out-of-water character. He's just a normal guy who has been swept up into the upper echelon of society and can barely tread water to keep afloat. The movie is definitely funny, but it is carried out in a subtle way that we rarely see in American films.

Watch It: To witness just how far a guy will go to impress a girl. It would be obsurdly pathetic if he didn't love her so much.

Skip It: If you'd like to read less subtitles and catch a similarly themed American movie starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sigourney Weaver called Heartbreakers. However, of the two, I prefer Priceless.

Nightmare Detective / Akumu Tantei

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: January 13, 2007 (Japan) / July 6, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: June 22, 2007

Plot 411: People kill themselves with the help of man who enters their dreams.

Review: I still don't get these foreign horror films, especially Asian ones, but I think this one was pretty interesting nonetheless. hitomi plays a detective named Keiki Kirishima, who has just transferred from investigating white-collar crimes to fieldwork. Her first case involves the death of a female victim. Her colleagues Ishida (Ren Osugi) and Wakamiya (Masanobo Ando) quickly deem it a suicide but Kirishima isn't sure. When another case arises, she believes there's a killer on the loose when she discovers the last call by both victims is to the same number. After some investigation, she thinks someone is hypnotizing the victims and ordering them to kill themselves. She contacts a known psychic named Kagenuma (Ryuhei Matsuda) to ask for help but he refuses. But when Kirishima puts herself at risk, Kagenuma must decide whether or not he will help her. Like most Asian horror films, this one is really difficult to follow. The line between dreams and reality is non-existent sometimes, and this contributes to much of the confusion. Also, the method through which themes are communicated is slightly more abstract in Japanese horror than it would be in an American-made movie. I wonder if this says something about the intelligence of each moviegoing audience or if it's just a cultural thing? In any case, this is tough to follow but the premise is really intriguing. It might take a second viewing to really get to the bottom of this one. I found it really weird that the title character is barely in the film and we must follow a real detective around instead. I suppose that's okay, but I would've liked to learn more about Kagenuma and his abilities. The scenes in which people are killed are amazingly bloody and gruesome, but this makes them great. Adding to the horror is the fact that you never really see what's killing them except for brief glimpses. Is it human? Is it a spirit? Is it the devil? Quick camera movements and good sound design add to the suspense to create a specific mood that has you on the edge of your seat. This movie reminded me about Freddy Krueger from Nightmare On Elm Street in a crapload of ways.

Watch It: If you're a fan of J-pop singer hitomi or of foreign horror films.

Skip It: If you prefer slasher films to be solely about blood spillage and devoid of any real thought.

Halloween

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 31, 2007

DVD Release Date: December 18, 2007

Plot 411: A reinvention of a classic horror film about a psychotic boy who kills indiscriminately.

Review: As a boy, Michael (Daeg Faerch) already shows disturbing signs of mental distress. This, in addition to the tough times he has at home and school, seems to unleash his violent nature. After being convicted for killing three people, he is sent to a mental hospital for analysis by psychologist Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell). Michael becomes obsessed with the masks he makes while in the hospital and after a while refuses to talk. This continues for 15 years until Loomis closes Michael's case and moves on. On Halloween night, Michael (Tyler Mane) escapes during a facility transfer and kills all the guards and staff. He heads home to find his baby sister who was left behind. This movie does not let slasher movie fans down as it contains quite a lot of kills that are like whoa. The blood and guts are realistic so hat's off to the special effects team involved in this film. In true slasher fashion, the acting is so-so but who cares? It fills in the gaps between kill scenes and that's all we really care about. I think Daeg Faerch does an excellent job conveying the wide range of emotions in young Michael. This sets up the entire film and is the audience's base upon which Michael's identity is built. Also, be forewarned that there are a bevy of topless chicks in this film and teenage promiscuity is high. But, of course, you probably already know that from the first Halloween movie.

Watch It: For a gruesome remake of the Michael Myers franchise by Rob Zombie.

Skip It: If you're a die-hard fan of the John Carpenter original.

Planet 51

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 20, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: An astronaut lands on an alien world but finds that he is like an alien.

Review: This was a cute animated film starring Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) as Chuck, the captain of a space shuttle, and Justin Long as Lem, the alien teen who discovers him. When Chuck's shuttle lands on a planet, he confidently bounds outside and stakes the American flag into the land to claim it. Little does he know, the land is already claimed by a group of little green beings who live in an idyllic world similar to Earth's 1950s. The green men quickly form a manhunt to capture him because they think he is trying to invade their world and turn them into zombies. The rest of the movie is about Lem's attempt to reunite Chuck with his ship and the obstacles that prevent this occurrence. The movie was mostly light-hearted fun and was filled with many movie and song references throughout. The highlight of the film was the 1950s music. The world of the little green people was a highly stylized version fo the 1950s with hippie protesters and secret government experiments. There was even a hidden base similar to all the Area 51 conspiracies. The movie was humorous and had a quick pace throughout. It didn't spend too much time setting up plot points, which I suppose is very good in a children's film. There were moments of cleverness, but it's mostly just adequate and nothing special. Seann William Scott was very unrecognizable as Skiff, Lem's best friend. Jessica Biel was almost nonexistent as Neera, Lem's crush. Her presence was barely felt and could probably have been eliminated altogether.

Watch It: For your kids beg you to go see this.

Skip It: If you don't have any kids. This isn't a must-see like Wall-E.

Into Temptation

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 26, 2009

DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009

Plot 411: A priest tries to save a woman who confesses that she will kill herself on her birthday.

Review: This was a pretty good movie, despite it being kinda slow going. I feel as though something more could've been done with the plot, but I suppose then I'd be making a completely different movie. Jeremy Sisto is Father John, a Catholic priest who takes the confession of a woman (Kristen Chenoweth) who plans to kill herself. Her story is one that is very compelling and heartwrenching, and it creates a desperate need within John. At first I thought it was a sexual need and that he would struggle with his vows. This would've been a good plot. However, as the movie progressed, it was more about his need to save people, which actually falls in line with his calling. This wasn't so exciting. Another theory could be that this search creates a diversion from his ordinarily boring life as a priest. It reminds him of his pre-priest life and demonstrates quite vividly the need people have for guidance and faith. John also reunites with his high school sweetheart who informs him that she is getting a divorce from her husband. This subplot was really unnecessary. John's search for his mystery woman brings him into some seedy areas that raise a red flag of concern by his archbishop. However, nothing really becomes of this because his priest friend (Brian Baumgartner) lies for him. Now that I'm doing this write up, I think I'm going to revise my original statement about this being a pretty good movie. Too many things just don't add up for it to be pretty good. I'll go with interesting but forgettable.

Watch It: If you're Catholic and perhaps might enjoy a reminder about all the rules and regs that go along with it.

Skip It: If you're really looking for a movie that'll keep you awake.

Iron Will

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: March 15, 1994

DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Plot 411: A boy enters a dangerous dog sled race to save his family from financial ruin.

Review: I loved this movie as a child because of the themes of honor, courage, sacrifice and friendship. I also loved that it had so many dogs. Hey, I was a kid. What can I say? Mackenzie Astin stars as Will Stoneman, a teen who watches his father fall through thin ice and die in a freak accident. Ridden with guilt, Will blames his father's favorite dog Gus. He also takes on the responsibility of providing for his mother and decides to enter a cross-country dog sled race for the prize money. Afraid he is too young, the race officials deny him access. However, when journalist Henry Kingsley (Kevin Spacey) intervenes the officials let it slide. Getting into the race is only the first of many battles Will faces in the cold wilderness. Through his experience and Henry's writing, Will becomes a star and people cheer for him when he passes through their town. But out in the woods on the snow and ice, all Will has for comfort is his dogs. The starkness of the snowy landscape, which can be beautiful in some films, is menacing and life threatening in this one. Frostbite and dying of the cold are real possibilities in the wilderness. This movie is about Will's inner strength and, in turn, the triumph of the human spirit. It's inspirational and at times can be quite emotional.

Watch It: If you liked White Fang or man's best friend or man vs. the wild-type movies.

Skip It: If you prefer a more light-hearted, snow and ice dog movie in which case you should try Snow Dogs.

I Capture The Castle

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 2, 2003 (UK) / July 11, 2003

DVD Release Date: December 23, 2003

Plot 411: A once-brilliant British writer and his family fall into poverty and his eldest daughter plots to marry the rich American who owns their property.

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie in all its post-Jane Austen glory. The plot is pretty similar to most of Austen's work - a family in poverty, daughters of marrying age and eligible beaus. However, the setting to this film was the '30s. Bill Nighy is brilliant as always. His character is a writer who hasn't written a word in 12 years. He struggles with inspiration despite all the love and support of his family. When two American men arrive to claim their inheritance, which includes the land on which the family lives, Topaz (Tara Fitzgerald) decides it's time to help her stepdaughters find a husband in order to save the family from ruins. The eldest daugther (Rose Byrne) quickly assumes the role of most eligibe bachelorette and sets her sights on Simon (Henry Thomas). Younger sister Cassandra (Romola Garai) is the intellectual of the group, who keeps a diary and is the narrator of the film. Marc Blucas plays younger brother Neil. The plot twists and turns and loops around as romantic hurdles develop. It's a coming-of-age romance set in a landscape that is reminiscent of the 1800s despite being clearly set in the 1900s. I loved the starkness of the familhy's castle home and the open spaces of the surrounding woods. I wished there was a bit more conflict in the plot, which would've created a steeper story arc. Still, I liked the overall storyline and eventual resolution.

Watch It: For a Pride And Prejudice-like coming-of-age romantic drama that doesn't quite live up to Austen's genius.

Skip It: If you're seeking a dynamic plot and lots of upheaval.

Miami Vice

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 28, 2006

DVD Release Date: December 5, 2006

Plot 411: The movie version of the 1980s TV show.

Review: I loved watching this TV show as a kid. The clothes were bright as hell but that added to the charm. Colin Farrell is Sonny Crockett and Jamie Foxx is Ricardo Tubbs in this remake of the '80s TV show. Overall, I'm not really impressed with them in these roles. Somehow they can't live up to Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas. The plot focuses on a Columbian drug cartel that the FBI is trying to infiltrate. The FBI signs Crockett and Tubbs onto their team and the partners pose as drug dealers in order to get intel on the group. Crockett becomes attached to the kingpin's advisor (Gong Li) and they have an affair. Because of this, Tubbs is worried that they're getting in to deep. His fears are confirmed when one of their own is kidnapped and strapped with explosives. Crockett and Tubbs must rescue her and confront the cartel before the drugs hit the streets. I liked the cinematography of this film. The cool, steely colors created a somber mood that completely contrasted with the vivacious nature of Miami. It separated the seedy underworld from the rich and famous people. Farrell's accent is horrible. His acting isn't much better. Foxx's acting is on par with his performance in Stealth and no where near his ability in Ray.

Watch It: If you're looking for big explosions and gunfights.

Skip It: If you're looking for a quality remake.

Drag Me To Hell

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 29, 2009

DVD Release Date: October 13, 2009

Plot 411: When Christine rejects the extension of an old woman's home loan, she finds herself cursed and damned to hell.

Review: This was probably one of the best horror flicks I've seen in a long time. It had enough supernatural horror and B-movie gore to satisfy my needs. However, I just want to disclose that I watched the director's cut or unrated version . . . whatever it's called on the DVD that is not the theatrical version. This might've made a difference. I'm not sure. Alison Lohman is Christine, a bank loan officer who is fighting for the position of assistant branch manager. To show her boss that she's got the skills to pay the bills, she rejects an old woman's (Lorna Raver) request for an extension. The woman, Sylvia Ganush, causes a scene in the bank and is forcefully escorted outside. After work, Mrs. Ganush confronts Christine and a huge girl-on-girl battle ensues. The outcome is that the Mrs. Ganush curses Christine and within three days she will be dragged to hell by the devil. Christine's professor boyfriend, played by Justin Long, is a total disbeliever and relies on logic to explain the world. Christine seeks the help of a psychic to rid her of the curse but it seems the curse is stronger than he is. There were scenes in this film that I thought were perfect horror moments. But, within the same breath, there were also other scenes that were too over-the-top to be taken seriously. What made this movie good was the gore factor. Some of the things that the main character experiences are just completely gross. It makes you cringe in your seat. Also, Mrs. Ganush is really creepy. Don't mess with little old ladies! Long's part is pretty non-existent. He plays Christine's doting boyfriend.

Watch It: If you're a fan of director/writer Sam Raimi's other works.

Skip It: If you're looking for a straight horror film. This movie has a lot of tongue-in-cheek moments.

Cool Runnings

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: October 1, 1993

DVD Release Date: August 24, 1999

Plot 411: A story loosely based on the true story of the Jamaican bobsled team of 1988.

Review: This is the inspirational tale about the Jamaican bobsled team whose sportsmanship and courage gained them a bit of respect where there previously had only been derision. John Candy plays Irv Blitzer, a former Olympic gold medalist from America. After becoming involved in an Olympic scandal, he goes to Jamaica to retire. He becomes a bookie and wallows in his self-pity. However, when 100 meter sprinter Derice (Leon) is disqualified from the summer Olympics, he and some other friends (Malik Yoba, Doug E. Doug and Rawle D. Lewis) try to pursuade Irv to teach them to bobsled in time for the winter Olympics. Faced with many obstacles, like the lack of snow and inadequate equipment, the team strives to qualify for the Olympics no matter what the cost. Cool Runnings is one of those movies I still remember from my childhood. It had a great impact on me because of its inspirational message - follow your dreams. The heart shown by the team and their concerted effort to succeed is something to which everyone can aspire.

Watch It: If you're facing a new challenge and feel as though the whole world is against you. This'll give you the boost you need to strive toward your goals.

Skip It: If you're sick and tired of Disney's family sports movies like The Mighty Ducks.

The Princess Bride

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 25, 1987

DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001

Plot 411: When a boy is sick, his grandfather visits him and tells him a fairy tale that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Review: Even after all these years, this movie still holds up really well. There are so many great things about this movie: the way it twists your classic fairy tale; the humorous one-liners; the memorable characters; sword fights and pirates; good guys vs. bad guys; Andre the Giant and the pacing of the story. When a young boy (Fred Savage) is ill and resting in bed, his grandfather (Peter Falk) comes to visit. He brings along a book that has helped pass the time for many a sick child in the past. The story is about a girl named Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn pre-Penn), who is being forced to marry Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). The evil Humperdinck has kidnapped her true love Wesley (Cary Elwes) and is torturing him in the pit of despair. The movie is about their separation and reunion. The movie is never tiresome and never predictable. Sometimes good is bad and bad is good. Mandy Patinkin does a good job portraying Inigo Montoya, a vengeful Spaniard in search of his father's killer. Andre the Giant is classic as Fezzik.

Watch It: If only for the funny one-liners and Billy Crystal as Miracle Max.

Skip It: If your version of a fairy tale involves singing and dancing. In that case, Enchanted is your best bet.

The Wackness

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 3, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 6, 2009

Plot 411: A drug dealer and his client become friends despite their age, taste in music and lifestyle.

Review: First off, this movie has the best soundtrack ever. If you grew up in the '90s, this will flash you back to your diaper days. Music from A Tribe Called Quest, Notorious B.I.G., R. Kelly and more are featured in this movie. It's "dope!" Ok, getting on with the review . . . Luke (Josh Peck), a small-time drug dealer and recent high school graduate, is on the outskirts of popularity. He's the dude who supplies the drugs. That's it. No matter how much he wants to be liked and to have friends, he is unable to connect with the hip kids. Instead, he connects with one of his clients, Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley). Squires is a shrink who trades couch time for dime bags. The guy's got his own bag of issues but seems to be a decent shrink for others. As time goes on, Luke and Squires develop a friendship - both professional and personal - that helps them through rough times. Luke's parents are facing eviction and Squires and his wife Kristen (Famke Jannsen) are drifting apart. Luke has also never gotten laid before, and this is at the top of his priority list. Yet, despite Squires' encouragement to up his game, Luke is hung up on Squires' stepdaughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). As one of the popular kids, she is definitely out of his reach. But, during the summer before college, the two hook up. Luke's reasons are romantic and even though he lives in NYC, pushes drugs and listens to rap, he is sweetly innocent and naive. Under all that stereotype, he is still a kid from a decent part of town no matter how hard he tries to go all thug life. Steph's, on the other hand, is just a bored little rich girl. This is a period piece (if you can call 15 years ago a period) that is littered with drugs, sex and dark humor. It feels utterly real - from the dialogue to the music to the clothes. One of my favorite quotes is: "I got mad love for you shorty. That's on the real. I like . . . I wanna like listen to Boyz II Men when I'm . . . when I'm with you." That is true love - '90s style. LMAO!

Watch It: For a trip down memory lane and a movie with a decent plot.

Skip It: For the excessively high drug content.

The Rocketeer

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 21, 1991

DVD Release Date: August 17, 1999

Plot 411: A jet pack designed by Howard Hughes falls into the hands of a stunt pilot and turns him into a superhero.

Review: I don't think this movie had much critical acclaim, but I remember being very entertained by it when I was a kid. Bill Campbell is Cliff, a struggling pilot who discovers a hidden jet pack in his bi-plane. The pack was originally stolen from Howard Hughes by a gangster. When Cliff uses the pack to save a friend from a faulty plane, he becomes a hero and a target. A Nazi spy named Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton) is trying to get his hands on the techology to aid the war efforts. (Why is Dalton always pegged as the bad guy?) In a plot that unravels into predictability, the jet pack is lost and stolen, a damsel (played by Jennifer Connelly) is in distress and Cliff saves the day. All in all, it's a feel-good movie.

Watch It: For a fun period piece that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Skip It: If there's something better on TV.

The Believer

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 17, 2002

DVD Release Date: April 22, 2003

Plot 411: A young man struggles with who he is (Jewish) and what he believes (Neo-Nazi).

Review: The Believer is an intriguing movie that is loosely based on a true story about a young Jewish man who was a white supremacist. Ryan Gosling stars as Danny Balint, a guy who is living a contradiction. He was raised an orthodox Jew, but he believes Judaism is a disease and that all Jews should be killed. He carries this contradiction with him everywhere, and it enrages him. He hates everything Jewish, but at the same time is incredibly knowledgeable about the topic. Balint soon becomes a leader within a group of skinheads and is recruited by a fascist group to promote the cause of white supremacy. He fights with his own identity as he pushes the neo-Nazi agenda but is, at the same time, awestruck by Torah and other holy items inside a synagogue. Billy Zane and Theresa Russell play Curtis and Lina, the founders of a fascist group trying to establish itself as a legitimate organization in New York. The movie is dynamic, edgy and will push the comfort level of anyone who watches it. Gosling's performance is powerful, very real and a true demonstration of his ability as an actor. Screw The Notebook (although, I have to admit I loved him in that movie too), this is a masterful piece of acting that showcases his talent.

Watch It: If you think of yourself as politically aware and open minded. This will get you thinking.

Skip It: If you're an orthodox Jew who may get offended by some of the portrayals of Judaism.

Grandma's Boy

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 6, 2006

DVD Release Date: May 9, 2006

Plot 411: When a video game tester is kicked out of his apartment, he takes refuge with his grandmother and her two senior friends.

Review: This movie is retarded. While there are a couple funny scenes, overall it was dumb. To sum it up quite nicely, it's a stoner flick aspiring to be funny and aspiring is all it ever achieves. Alex (Allen Covert) is a 35-year-old video game tester who gets evicted when his roommate blows their rent on hookers. He tries to bunk with a couple of people (his drug dealer and his co-worker) but finally settles in at his grandmother's (Doris Roberts) pad. If the situation isn't enough of a blow to his manhood, Granny already has two other roomies, Bea (Shirley Knight) and Grace (Shirley Jones). Still, Alex settles in with the old gals and makes house. Despite all indications to the contrary, Alex isn't a complete slacker and is secretly developing his own video game. When a groovy gal named Samantha (Linda Cardellini) comes to the office, he and J.P. (Joel David Moore), a video game developer, vie for her attention.

Watch It: If you're already half baked.,

Skip It: And save some brain cells.

White Fang

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 18, 1991

DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Plot 411: Jack London's classic tale about the bond between a boy and his dog in the Yukon.

Review: I was not even a tween, let alone a teen, when I saw this film, but afterward I had a huge crush on Ethan Hawke. Lesson learned? A guy who loves dogs (or in this case a wolf dog) is a keeper. Hawke plays Jack Conroy, a gold prospector trying to fulfill his dad's last wish. The audience follows him to Alaska where he learns to pan for gold with his father's cohorts Alex Larson (Klaus Maria Brandauer) and Skunker (Seymour Cassel). The pitfalls of goldmining and the harsh environment of the Klondike are hellacious and awe-inspiring at the same time. Conroy's path crosses with that of a mistreated wolf dog named White Fang. He rescues the animal and their faithful bond begins. I'm a sucker for movies in which animals play a big role. I'm hard pressed to think of one that I didn't like. Because of this, I must acknowledge my positive bias for this movie despite a lot of plot hiccups and the fact that it strays a bit from Jack London's original plot. The Alaskan landscape is captured beautifully in all its harshness. How do they get the animals to act and react the way they do? Amazing! This movie is both snuggly cute and tear-jerkingly sad at times. Make sure you've got a box of tissues handy.

Watch It: For the breath-taking shots of scenery blankted in white snow.

Skip It: If you're a tradionalist and like London's plot just the way it is.

Invincible

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 25, 2006

DVD Release Date: December 19, 2006

Plot 411: A regular Joe gets his shot at playing for he Philadelphia Eagles when a new coaches holds open try outs.

Review: Mark Wahlberg plays Vince Papale, a Philly bartender whose life isn't turning out very well. He recently lost a teaching job and his wife has asked for a divorce. But, with the support of his friends, he reluctantly tries out for the Philadelphia Eagles football squad in 1976. Beyond all belief, he makes the team at age 30 and becomes the oldest guy to do so without playing college ball. The movie is based on a true story and focuses on Papale's struggles and triumphs and his invincible spirit. One of the best scenes is when Papale and his friends are playing football in the street with all of their car lights on. The look and feel of the film really is a throwback to the '70s. It sort of has that nostalgic air about it. Wahlberg always does well in these athletic, manly men-type roles and does not disappoint in this movie. Elizabeth Banks plays his love interest and Greg Kinnear plays his coach, Dick Vermeil. This movie sucks you in because everyone loves an underdog. You've gotta cheer for a fan whose dream to play for his favorite team actually comes true. However, nothing in life comes easy and Papale's experience in the NFL cannot be described as easy. His fight to prove himself and his determination not to give in or give up is an inspiration.

Watch It: For a good underdog movie and a decent sports film.

Skip It: If you're looking for a great sports film.

Hocus Pocus

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 16, 1993

DVD Release Date: June 4, 2002

Plot 411: Three witches are reawakened on Halloween and seek to absorb the lifeforces of children to remain immortal.

Review: I remember this movie being a lot of fun, but I honestly haven't seen it in a long time so I don't know if it holds up. The basic premise is that three witch sisters, Winnie (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy), were sucking the lifeforces out of children in the 1600s and were killed for this during the Salem Witch Trials. They cast two last spells though - 1) one to bring them back to life if a virgin ever lit a black-flamed candle in their home and 2) to make a meddlesome boy named Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) live for eternity as a cat. Three hundred years later Max (Omri Katz) lights a candle and unleashes the witches. They have one day to absorb the lifeforce of Max's little sister Dani (Thora Birch). The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse game between Max and friends and the witch sisters. Who wouldn't love a little bit a magic, some singing and the love between brothers and sisters? This was a really great family fantasy/adventure movie and funny as hell too. I gotta say that I watch NCIS rather frequently but didn't realize that Timothy McGee was in Hocus Pocus till I looked it up. Wow, look how far he's come. Even Sarah Jessica Parker was a surprise. I'd forgotten about her too.

Watch It: And root for the witches because other than wanting to suck out your soul, they're not that bad.

Skip It: If you've got young children. Most of this movie isn't too scary, but there is a zombie character that has his mouth sewn shut that's kind of freaky.

Were The World Mine

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: November 21, 2008

DVD Release Date: June 9, 2009

Plot 411: A gay teen creates a love potion that allows his town to live a day in his shoes.

Review: I don't even know where to start with this one. In general terms, this is a musical, a romance, a coming-of-age flick, a gay and lesbian flick, a comment on society and a homage to Shakespeare all in one. How can this be, you ask? Well, for one, this is definitely an unconventional movie in every aspect. Timothy (Tanner Cohen) is a gay teen who attends an all-boys school. He is bullied and picked on by the other kids. When his lit teacher puts on A Midsummer Night's Dream for the senior play, all the boys must try out. Timothy is selected for the role of Puck, and while he is memorizing his lines, he discovers a hidden love potion within the text. He creates this potion and accidently splashes it on his friend Max's (Ricky Goldman) face. Max immediately falls in love with Timothy, despite being heterosexual. Timothy capitalizes on this power and eventually douses his fellow cast members with the potion. For the first time, he is able to embrace his homosexuality because everyone else is like him. Ok, I think that's enough about the plot. What made this movie completely intriguing was its depth - once you saw beyond all the theater hijinks. I gotta admit, at first I thought this was a completely cheesy movie that happened to have some singing in it. I thought the acting was horrible and the plot ridiculous. It was as if the worst off-Broadway show about A Midsummer Night's Dream was captured on film or like the most inane wannabe artist cooked this movie up for his theater group. I was also disturbed by the stereotypical portrayals of homosexual boys/men. I mean, must every gay guy wear skinny jeans? Do they all have to like techno pop? However, after a while it started to grow on me. The movie is complex, mysterious, artistic and bold. Some scenes looked like they were straight out of live theater. Others looked like they were hand-picked out of late '90s music videos. All were cinematic and magical. The best part of the movie was the play within a play - or movie, in this case. The depiction of an alternate version of Shakespeare's play was great. The costumes and makeup were extraordinarily detailed. Even as I got sucked in by the movie, I was still aware that the acting is pretty iffy. But I could appreciate the movie for what it was trying to do. It was like going to an underground theater group to watch a whacked out performance that is trying to say ten different things at once while being unfathomably deep.

Watch It: With an open mind - and I'm not talking about the gay/lesbian scenes. The entire thing is just pretty out there.

Skip It: If theater going is not your thing. Watching this movie is like going to one of those plays that are more spoken word and performance art than classical acting.

Castle In The Sky / Tenku no shiro Rapyuta

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 2, 1986 (Japan) / April 1, 1989 (USA)

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003

Plot 411: With pirates and the military after her, Sheeta joins forces with Pazu and they uncover her true heritage.

Review: Wow, this was a complex yet highly entertaining cartoon that I thoroughly enjoyed. Once again, Hayao Miyazaki incorporates environmental themes into his work. But his style is so fluid that his messages do not come off preachy or overbearing. The animation is beautifully done with so many details. It made me nostalgic for this style of cartoons that were so popular when I was a kid. The characters were bold and developed well, with many identifiable characteristics to set themselves apart from each other. Of course, it's originally Japanese but was dubbed in English afterward. It's up to you which version you watch. I think the Japanese audio with English subtitles is probably the best way to go. However, this time I watched it in English all the way through. As Sheeta (Anna Pacquin), escapes from her military captors and a group of invading pirates, she falls from her flying machine toward Earth. However, because she is wearing an heirloom crystal, she floats to the ground like a feather. Pazu (James Van Der Beek) finds her and cares for her until she awakens. Tranquility does not last long as both the military and pirates soon find Sheeta. Pazu helps her escape and together the try to uncover the mystery behind the crystal and a mythical floating island called Laputa. The pirates are just after the crystal for its material value. The military wants it for a more sinister reason. Pazu and Sheeta must evade capture and be cautious of who to trust. The crystal's power is immense and can be used for destruction if it falls into the wrong hands.

Watch It: If you enjoy the old school, hand-drawn animation and a clever plot that keeps bumping along without making you bored.

Skip It: If you prefer the recent slew of 3D-ish cartoon movies.

Born In East L.A.

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 21, 1987

DVD Release Date: April 7, 1998

Plot 411: A Mexican American gets mistaken as an illegal immigrant, is deported to Mexico and must find his way home.

Review: Cheech Marin is Rudy, a guy who was born in east L.A. but who is mistaken as an illegal immigrant. When he is deported to Tijuana, he does everything he can to get back across the border. No one believes he's American so he's often locked up in jail or mistaken as a Mexican. Also in ths film is Daniel Stern, who plays Jimmy. Jimmy is an American hustler who is running a number of businesses - legal and illegal - in Mexico and becomes Rudy's friend/manager/boss. Stern is perfect as the arrogant American and is oftentimes ignorant and racist. His voice reminded me of his character in Rookie Of The Year, but other than that this is a completely different side of him. This was a funny look at immigration and prejudice. It touched upon them with humor and not much seriousness but was still able to play on the general themes. It also highlighted the idea that Mexican Americans have lost touched with their ancestry as Rudy is unable to speak much Spanish and is unfamiliar with many Spanish foods. I enjoyed this movie for what it was - a trip across the border.

Watch It: For the special surprise of Jason Scott Lee in a minor role.

Skip It: If you're looking for some Cheech and Chong action. This ain't it.

The Last Word

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 20, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009

Plot 411: A freelance suicide note writer falls in love with his client's sister.

Review: Evan (Wes Bentley) is a struggling writer who falls into and capitalizes upon writing other people's suicide notes. Strangely enough, he is really good at what he does. He creates a whole system to facilitate this process and even markets his talents on a website. While attending one of his client's funerals (to get writing tips out of the sermon), he interacts with his client's sister. Being quite introverted and awkward, Evan is intrigued with Charlotte (Winona Ryder). They soon develop a relationship, but Evan continues to hide his real job. Evan is also learning new things from his client Abel (Ray Romano), a symphony conductor who has let an early failure ruin his life. The movie is not quite a drama, not quite a black comedy and not quite a romantic comedy. It's a mix of the three. I think the concept of a suicide note writer is pretty fascinating, but the movie could've done so much more with it had it been done in a lighter tone. Overall, this was a dark comedy that had more drama than laughs. Bentley was perfect for this role. He's almost as creepy as he was in P2 but still has a bit of awkwardness that makes him endearing.

Watch It: For an interesting but underdeveloped plot.

Skip It: And write your own script with the basic plotline instead. How cool would that be?

Angels In The Outfield

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 15, 1994

DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Plot 411: Two foster kids who love baseball cause a sensation when one of them begins seeing angels.

Review: A young Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Roger, a boy who wishes on a star for the California Angels to win a penant, because this is when his deadbeat dad told him they'll become a family again. When Roger begins to see real angels like Al (Christopher Lloyd) helping the team, he informs their coach George Knox (Danny Glover). Whenever Roger sees an angel, he tells Knox. Against his better judgment, Knox does what Roger says and the team begins to win games. Can they win enough games to reunite father and son? You never know . . . because angels are always watching. This is a good family dramedy from the '90s that deals with some serious issues like the fostercare system and faith. Gordon-Levitt does a good job at playing the down-but-never-out Roger, who, despite life's circumstances, still believes in goodness. With a child-like innocence, he creates a fervor in the entire Angels team. Soon the team, who is down in the dumps, begins to have faith in each other and develops a will to succeed. Led by Mel, an ailing pitcher (Tony Danza), the team is soon better than ever. The film includes some now-famous actors like Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey. Why don't they make movies like this these days?

Watch It: For a throwback to times when good old fashion family sports movies were all the rage in Hollywood.

Skip It: If The Sandlot, Rookie Of The Year and all the other baseball films of the '90s seem to be playing the same song.

Zombieland

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 2, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: When the world is taken over by zombies, there are certain rules you develop to keep yourself alive. However, sometimes those rules are made to be broken and you cross your fingers hoping to survive it all.

Review: In this hilarious horror comedy, mad cow disease has turned humans into zombies and the population is dwindling away as people get killed and eaten. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is making his way home from college to see if his parents are still alive. He is a loner who has developed a list of rules that keeps him relatively safe from zombies. On the way home he meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a guy who is seeking the world's last Twinkie because he believes you have to enjoy the little things. The two join up because in every horror film there's safety in numbers. Along the way, they meet two sisters Witchita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who are headed to California to reclaim a piece of their childhood. The girls are crafty and swipe Tallahassee's ride. This links their futures together and lots of zombie killings ensue. I laughed my butt off at the ridiculousness of this film and all the blood and gore. It's just a good old fashioned slasher film with a decent dose of humor. I found Harrelson to be both a sympathetic character and a deranged lunatic. He played both very well. Stone was just as enjoyable as she was in The House Bunny. I guess she has some sort of charisma going on. Breslin seems to be taking a step away from kid flicks and into the tween/teen arena. Eisenberg continues to be a lovable dork, for which he seems to have a knack.

Watch It: With a bunch of your guy friends and a cooler full of cold ones.

Skip It: If you're disgusted by excessive blood splatter and dangling entrails give you the willies.