The Lake House

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 16, 2006

DVD Release Date: September 26, 2006

Plot 411: Two lovers separated by time live in the same space, a glass house by the lake.

Review: Has anyone watched this movie recently? I don't think I've seen it since it first came out and remember being quite baffled by the space/time continuum with which this moving is working. Alex (Keanu Reeves) lives in 2004 and has moved to a run-down house on the lake. He falls in love with it and is determined to renovate it. Upon entering the home, he finds a letter from its previous tenant Kate (Sandra Bullock). Kate, however, lives in the year 2006. The two communicate via letters left in the mailbox and soon develop a long-distance (hardy har har) relationship of sorts. The theory behind this movie is really intriguing even though I'm not quite sure the timeline actually works out. I can't seem to wrap my mind around how two people living in separate times can work. Please, all you sci-fi lovers, explain this one to me. This is the first movie since Speed that stars both Reeves and Bullock. What's weird is that they're not in too many scenes together because they're living in different time periods. Why would they waste such a reunion on a script like this? This movie is full of sentimentality and the idea of destined romances. Some part of me is attracted to that idea (similar to Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers), but I'm not sure it works in this movie. I suppose if you just go with it, you'll be fine.

Watch It: For the love story and just let everything else disappear.

Skip It: If you need to find rhyme and reason behind everything.

Running Scared

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 24, 2006

DVD Release Date: June 6, 2006

Plot 411: A gun is stolen and a family's life is threatened.

Review: Joey (Paul Walker) runs with some rough guys. He's in charge of clean up when things go bad. While it's decent money, it's also dangerous. When a gun Joey's holding for insurance goes missing, he knows he's in big trouble. He needs to track the gun down and keep it from resurfacing because this gun has seen things. It's done things. And it's killed a cop. I gotta say that this is Walker's best performance ever. The intensely gritty role gives us a different look at this California surfer dude. It's tough to escape the type casting, especially if your first real role is in something like Meet The Deedles. I had high hopes for this guy to step into the role of the next big action/thriller star. Unfortunately, he's been a disappointment for the most part, but he's still hot. In this movie, he stretched his acting muscles and proved to be both believable and likeable despite toeing the line between good and bad. I also liked the pacing of this film because it always kept you interested. There never seemed to be a dull moment. Also in this movie are Chaz Palminteri, Vera Farmiga, Cameron Bright and Johnny Messner.

Watch It: For some good action sequences.

Skip It: If you're more into Guy Ritchie's style of storytelling.

The Replacements

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 11, 2000

DVD Release Date: November 28, 2000

Plot 411: An ex-football player is given a second chance when he is called in as a replacement during a pro football strike.

Review: My favorite quote from this movie: "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever." I like it. It's a good motto by which to live your life. Keanu Reeves plays Shane, a former college stand out who choked during an important game and didn't do well in his one season of pro ball. When the players of the Washington Sentinels strike over salary disputes, their coach (Gene Hackman) must find replacements for the final four games. Only three wins away from post-season, he puts together a mishmash of players, including a soccer player (Rhys Ifans), an inmate (Michael Jace), a cop (Jon Favreau), a sumo wrestler (Ace Yonamine), a deaf guy (David Denman) and a stockboy (Orlando Jones). While not necessarily deep, I still like the message behind a movie like this - that hard work and sacrifice triumphs in the end; that you've got to want it more than the next guy; that you've got to be thankful for the good things in life; and that you've got to believe in yourself. All of these themes are empowering and can be expounded upon and applied to all kinds of situations in life. As unlikely as the outcome of this movie is, I still found it inspiring. Watching this movie was almost like being there because you felt like you were one of these underdogs just trying to live a dream.

Watch It: For Reeves' amazingly bouncy hair. It's almost a character of its own.

Skip It: Because it really does ask you to suspend your disbelief for the entire time.

Necessary Roughness

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 27, 1991

DVD Release Date: January 30, 2001

Plot 411: A college is forced to rebuild its entire football team, including its coaches, after a scandal.

Review: This is a fun football movie starring Scott Bakula as Paul, an older-than-average college quarterback. He and his patchwork of teammates and coaches are replacements at their university and must try to uphold the school's winning tradition. However, the dean (Larry Miller) is doing his best to see that they fail so he can stop the sport. Paul convinces a grad student named Andre (Sinbad) to join the team as well and together they try to shape up the crew. This is another movie about underdogs, which most people will probably like. The football is okay. The acting is okay. The comedy is okay. All in all it's an average film with nothing exciting to mention. Also in this film are Kathy Ireland, Hector Elizondo, Robert Loggia, Jason Bateman and Rob Schneider.

Watch It: Because who doesn't like Sinbad?

Skip It: And you won't really miss much.

X-Games: The Movie

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 21, 2009

DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010

Plot 411: A documentary about X-Games 14 that focuses on rally cars, skateboarding, snowboarding and motorcross.

Review: This movie is probably unbelievable on a 3D screen, because even watching it at home was pretty spectacular. The massive tricks that these athletes are doing are jaw-dropping crazy. I would've liked more commentary from them and a bit more about their history. However, I suppose anyone watching this type of film is probably familiar with its players. These adventure sports athletes are indeed nuts. Some of the stunts they're pulling are simply insane! After watching this, you'll never equate a skater with a slacker as these guys are training to do the impossible. The movie is narrated by Emile Hirsch and focuses on Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael, Danny Way, Bob Burnquist, Kyle Loza and Jake Brown.

Watch It: If you're an extreme sports fanatic or you want to see just exactly how crazy some people can be.

Skip It: If you're looking for a true documentary. This one focuses more on the competition aspect than interviews with people.

Someone Like You

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: March 30, 2001

DVD Release Date: September 21, 2001

Plot 411: After being dumped, Jane devises a theory about men that becomes a nationwide phenomenon.

Review: When Jane (Ashley Judd) meets Ray (Greg Kinnear), she thinks she's met the perfect man, and things are perfect for a while. But when he dumps her, she becomes obsessed with finding the reason behind why men act the way they do. As she researches and develops a theory, she is forced to live with her chauvinistic co-worker Eddie (Hugh Jackman) or else face homelessness. This is one of my favorite Ashley Judd movies because she plays this neurotic character so perfectly. Jane's obviously high-strung and nuts, but she's also so lovable and very relatable. She's searching for something every girl has wondered at one time or another. She's dealing with her heartbreak in a scientific way in order to distance herself from the pain. Who has never done that themselves? Kinnear is cast perfectly as Ray - the incredibly good-looking guy that's too good to be true (and is). There's just something about him that calls out "cheater" and "liar," yet you're still drawn to him. Jackman being cast as the regular guy is the most ludicrous thing ever and can only be done in Hollywood. Even at this early stage in his career, you can tell he's got star potential. Also in this film are Marisa Tomei and Ellen Barkin.

Watch It: For one of the more fascinating theories on men ever put into film.

Skip It: Because at the end of the day, the movie is like all other rom coms and completely formulaic.

Killers

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 1, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A spy's desire to live a normal life is threatened when his work comes searching for him.

Review: Spencer (Ashton Kutcher) is a spy working for an unnamed entity. But when he meets Jen (Katherine Heigl), he gives it all up for a normal life. Things are going well, but Spencer's past soon comes back to haunt the couple. He must now find a way to live long enough to explain everything to Jen. I don't even know what this movie is going for, but whatever it is, it's a failure. It never gets anywhere close to romantic to appeal to the rom com crowd. The action is all shot close up with quick cuts and shakey cam so it doesn't really appeal to the action crowd. The comedy in the dialogue is poorly written so no one laughs out loud. The fault could also be due to the lack of chemistry between Kutcher and Heigl. I was hoping for something more along the lines of Mr. And Mrs. Smith, but this isn't it. Also in this film are Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara and Kevin Sussman, with a cameo by Usher Raymond.

Watch It: For another, more corporeal, reason to fall in love with Kutcher.

Skip It: If you're looking for any kind of entertanment. It just falls completely flat.

American Gigolo

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 8, 1980

DVD Release Date: May 23, 2000

Plot 411: A male prostitute is suspected of murdering one of his clients.

Review: Julian Kaye (Richard Gere) is a handsome and successful male prostitute who services elite clients in the L.A. area. His popularity and sexual prowess provide him with a luxurious lifestyle. At one of his jobs, he is asked to beat up and then have sex with a woman while her husband watches. Later, the woman is found dead and Julian becomes the prime suspect in the case led by Sunday (Hector Elizondo). Despite being with Michelle (Lauren Hutton), a client who is married to a political figure, he cannot provide himself with an alibi and she refuses to come forward. Doing so would damage her husband's career and bring unwanted publicity to them. For a 1980s film, I thought this was pretty progressive. I don't know if that's true or not. I found Julian to be a highly unlikeable character because he just seemed to be so arrogant. He walks around like he's a god among men, but maybe that's what happens when a guy's in such high demand? Even when he's framed, I didn't feel much sympathy for him and found myself wondering when the movie would end. Julian's gradual decline in the film reflects his descent in society and is an obvious physical indicator of the follies of gigolohood. Not so subtle huh?

Watch It: For the hype?

Skip It: Because I didn't really think it lived up to it.

Hotel Rwanda

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 4, 2005

DVD Release Date: December 22, 2004

Plot 411: A man fights to keep his family safe and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Review: Don Cheadle stars as Paul Rusesabagina in this movie based on the true story of one man's attempt to keep his family safe and save his fellow countrymen. When civil unrest breaks out into full-on war, Paul does all he can to save his family and friends from execution. Through bribes and other political corruption, he is barely able to keep everyone safe. As the danger becomes more imminent, Paul takes in orphans and other displaced people into the hotel while continuing the outward appearance of normalcy to dissuade any suspicions. This movie will tear at your heart and make your stomach twist into knots. It portrays violence, corruption, political upheaval and the human spirit. Before I saw this film, I only thought of Cheadle as the guy on the Ocean's Eleven movies. However, he completely owns this movie and this role. His performance here is such a departure from the bomb-loving Brit. Somehow, through his performance, you as an audience member walk away a changed person. It's as if you've actually lived through the turbulent times with him and have somehow managed to survive. It's amazing and you leave feeling grateful that these events did not happen to you. Also in this film are Nick Nolte, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, Fana Mokoena and Jean Reno.

Watch It: For a moving experience that'll challenge your views on life.

Skip It: Because it really is hard to stomach all the senseless violence.

Into The Wild

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 21, 2007

DVD Release Date: March 4, 2008

Plot 411: Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, a guy who gave up almost all of his possessions to finally be free.

Review: Holy crap, I cannot believe I haven't reviewed this movie yet! It is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Perhaps it's because it tugs at the hidden idealism within me? Perhaps it's because it calls to my hidden adventurer? I don't really know, but when I first saw this film I had to learn more about Christopher McCandless, the person upon which this movie is based. I watched the documentary, The Call Of The Wild, and set Google ablaze with all my searches. Emile Hirsch plays the starring role, and for me, this is his best effort to date (even though I like him in many other films). Chris was a college student who embarked on a journey of self-discovery, independence and freedom. Being disillusioned with the capitalist world he lived in, he donated half of the money his parents gave him for college and took off to see the world. He hitchhiked around the U.S. and took odd jobs here or there. His life alternated between solitude and society. His ultimate goal was to test himself in Alaska. The themes are pretty heavy in this movie, but I found them quite inspirational. On one hand, Chris is the ultimate dreamer who went after those dreams. He didn't let anything stand in his way. Leaving all your worldly possessions behind, overcoming society's pressure to live a certain way and creating situations where you can only depend on yourself are all pretty huge deals. The fact that this guy did it is pretty amazing. Of course, the rational part of your brain is shouting what an idiot Chris was. Also in this film are Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart and Zach Galifianakis.

Watch It: If, like me, you're not normally a risk taker or even an idealist. This will give you something to think about.

Skip It: If, perhaps, you're more of a realist as some of Chris' actions are definitely illogical and foolhardy.

Raising Helen

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 28, 2004

DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004

Plot 411: Helen is living the SATC high life and loving it until her sister and brother-in-lawe die and she must care for their kids.

Review: Kate Hudson is perfect in this role as Helen, a modeling agent who is living it up in NYC. She's single and carefree, knows the hippest clubs and always gets VIP treatment. Her world crashes around her though when she must take in her orphaned nieces (Hayden Panettiere and Abigail Breslin) and nephew (Spencer Breslin). Suddenly she finds herself going to school instead of parties and chasing boys away from her niece instead of fighting off the boys herself. Another kink in the plan is that her sister Jenny (Joan Cusack) is already the perfect mother. Why didn't their sister pick her instead of Helen to serve as the children's guardian? Hudson is in top form in this movie, even if it is sentimental and predictable, and seems most like her mother Goldie Hawn. She is sweet and likable, which fits Helen's character. I liked how they address a more serious issue (death of a loved one) in this rom com in addition to the common theme of growing up. Also in this movie is John Corbett, Helen Mirren, Felicity Huffman and Amber Valletta.

Watch It: And find hints of your own family.

Skip It: Because it definitely leans toward being a tear jerker.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 7, 2005

DVD Release Date: November 29, 2005

Plot 411: An unassuming married couple discover that they're spies for competing agencies.

Review: I know I should hate Angelina Jolie for causing the break up of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston with this movie, but somehow I just can't do it. Jolie plays Jane and Pitt plays her husband John. The couple live somewhere in suburbia, own a minivan and have a manicured lawn. However, despite appearances, Jane and John actually lead very exciting lives. They are both secret spies who work for secret agencies. They are so secret that they do not even know the other is a spy. Intriguing yes? The movie is filled with tons of action and humor. It's no wonder Pitt ran off with Jolie after making this film. Their chemistry is very apparent in this movie, which makes it all the more entertaining to watch. The lightning-quick action does not always occur with guns blazing. It's also present in their banter back and forth. Overall, a good time will be had by all. Also in this film are Vince Vaughn, Kerry Washington, Adam Brody and Michelle Monaghan.

Watch It: For the butt-kicking action sequences and witty humor.

Skip It: If you're on Team Jen. It'll only make you angry.

Pride And Glory

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 24, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 27, 2009

Plot 411: A family of cops are threatened when one of them turns dirty.

Review: This movie is about a family that is fully entrenched in the NYPD and are forced to question their loyalties when one of them crosses the line of the law. From a patriarch (Jon Voight) and his sons (Noah Emmerich and Ed Norton) to in-laws (Colin Farrell), the Tierney family has been involved and highly visible in the police force. Crime has decreased with them running the show because they've allowed their men to take matters into their own hands. But when does it become too much? When do the ends not justify the means? While I thought the subject matter was interesting - ideas of family, loyalty and code of honor - the execution was pretty bad. For a long time it's not clear who these people are in relation to the story and to each other. Which characters are brothers by blood and which are brothers through the force? I found myself getting frustrated and probably ended up missing important clues because I couldn't easily identify the people. This made the rest of the story become irrelevant. Also, a lot of the characters' motives were sketchy to say the least and were not reinforced at the end of the film. There was no real foundation for their behavior.

Watch It: If you like yourself a good cop thriller.

Skip It: Because it's one of those instances where less is definitely more and there was just too much going on in this movie.

Now And Then

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 20, 1995

DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999

Plot 411: Four small-town girls discover that the only people the can count on is each other.

Review: This is definitely the answering call to Stand By Me but for girls. It stars Christina Ricci and Rosie O'Donnell as Roberta, Thora Birch and Melanie Griffith as Teeny, Gaby Hoffman and Demi Moore as Samantha and Ashleigh Aston Moore and Rita Wilson as Crissy. The movie opens as the friends are reunited in present time when Crissy's pregnancy calls them back together. But, it takes place mostly during a summer in the 1970s, when the girls are about 12 years old. During this one great summer they learn all kinds of life lessons while discovering boys, uncovering town secrets, overcoming misconceptions and confronting mortality. They spend what is their last summer of childhood together before they become too old to continue to pretend life is perfect. They experience lives that are sometimes difficult and disappointing, thus taking that final step toward adulthood. It's a great coming-of-age story for girls that extols the power of friendship (plus, it has a rockin' soundtrack to boot), but it's definitely no Beaches.

Watch It: At your next slumber party with all your BFFs around and a tub of popcorn.

Skip It: Because it's a little saccharin even for my tastes.

Toy Story 3

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: June 18, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Andy is off to college and the toys are afraid they'll be tosssed into the trash or be left behind.

Review: I haven't watched the Toy Story series in a really long time, and I'm not even sure if I ever watched the second film. However, I had passes to the premiere of the third installment so I said, "what the heck?" The screening was in 3D, which was a nice surprise. The theater was also rolling out some new technology, having just renovated this particular auditorium with new speakers and a huge screen. The seats were all leatherish (I don't know if it was real leather or some kind of vinyl) and not cloth. In any case, I thought they should've made the seats wider if they were gonna totally redo the auditorium. It'd be like watching a movie at home on your couch if they had. Also, whatever they did to enhance the visual experience was awesome because the new 3D was pretty great. Anyway, the main premise of the film was that Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys were being boxed up as Andy prepared for college. Their worst fear, being dumped in the trash, happens when Andy's mom mistakes his garbage bag for real garbage. The toys manage to sneak away and head off toward a pre-school as donations. Thinking this is a better option than the dumpster, the toys soon want to reconsider that line of thinking. The movie was well-written and dealt with issues like growing up, growing old, love, friendship, the meaning of life and death. Pretty heavy stuff for an animated film for kids. It definitely works though. This is probably one of the best cartoon movies I've seen in a long time. I'd even say it was better than Up.

Watch It: For a wonderfully developed plot and the same characters you've grown to love as your own toys.

Skip It: If you maybe would like to watch the first two before seeing this movie. I think I'll probably go back and try to watch the them and compare.

The Breakfast Club

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 15, 1985

DVD Release Date: April 29, 1998

Plot 411: Stuck at Saturday detention, a group of diverse high schoolers peel away the cliquey stereotypes.

Review: Ah, a quintessential Brat Pack movie. I love this one because it uses a mainstream device (stereotypical characters) to prove a profound, though not quite unique, sentiment (that we are more than our appearance and preconceived notions). Five kids are forced to attend a Saturday detention and must spend the entire day with people from differing social spheres. There is the princess Claire (Molly Ringwald), the jock Andy (Emilio Estevez), the bad boy Bender (Judd Nelson), the nerd Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) and the outcast Allison (Ally Sheedy). As the day unfolds, they reveal aspects of themselves to each other and realize that they are not so different after all. The premise is quite simple, but somehow writer/director John Hughes is able to accurately capture the heart of teendom. It's amazing really. All the angst, social fears, attitude and hormones feel real and authentic. The language and even the thought process of the characters seem like they are straight from a teenager. I guess that was part of Hughes' gift.

Watch It: For a classic coming-of-age story that just works.

Skip It: For maybe a different Brat Pack flick - St. Elmo's Fire.

Munich

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 23, 2005

DVD Release Date: May 9, 2006

Plot 411: When Israeli athletes are slain at the 1972 Olympics, the Israeli government authorizes a secret group to eliminate those responsible for the massacre.

Review: Eric Bana plays Avner, a Mossad agent who was selected to lead an elite team of men to seek revenge for the killings in Munich. The men, who include a driver (Daniel Craig), a forger (Hans Zischler), an explosive expert (Mathieu Kassovitz) and a clean up man (Ciaran Hinds). One by one, targets are discovered through Avner's informant Louis (Mathieu Amalric). This movie is an intense revenge story based on true events that really gets you involved. At times, I found it hard to follow the plot. However, that's more my fault than anything else. I lack a full understanding of the events because a) I wasn't born yet and b) I'm just bad at historical stuff. The movie shows you how a battle can become sloppy due to highly explosive emotions. Fighting of any kind affects all players in significant manners that may not be fully realized during the experience and can only be recognized when it is too late. The psychological and emotional pressure the team felt is palpable and yet you understand their heated desires as well. Diplomacy would've been a welcome distraction I bet. I'm sure things didn't play out in real life as it did in the movie, but it's definitely gotta make you wonder about all the Black Ops happening in the world today. Do you really want to know about it?

Watch It: Because it's seriously really good.

Skip It: If you're one for historical accuracy. Steven Spielberg has apparently taken some liberties judging by the kinds of criticisms this movie has received.

Can't Hardly Wait

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 12, 1998

DVD Release Date: December 22, 1998

Plot 411: One high school graduation party stands between between them and the rest of their lives.

Review: This movie definitely feels like a throwback to the teen comedies of the 1980s, especially those starring anyone of Brat Pack fame. In this film of multiple characters and plotlines, Preston (Ethan Embry) has finally decided to man up to his four-year crush on Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt). The popular girl has just been dumped by jockstar Mike (Peter Facinelli), who can't wait to hook up with college girls. Nerdy William (Charlie Korsmo) plans to seek his revenge on Mike for all the bullying and embarrassment he has been responsible for throughout the years. Outsider Denise (Lauren Ambrose) likes her independence and thinks everyone else is just a lemming but is forced to accompany her best friend Preston in his quest for love. At the party, she meets up with wigger Kenny (Seth Green) and calls him out on his behavior. I enjoyed the interwoven plots despite the somewhat cheesy high school stereotypes that were used. However, I suppose you can't really get away with a movie like this without sticking to those predetermined characters. In that regard, this is a well-crafted movie.

Watch It: For a taste of the '90s as the movie really does not transcend its time period very well.

Skip It: Because since it is a product of its time, a lot of things are dated and no longer effective.

Surfwise

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 9, 2008

DVD Release Date: July 29, 2008

Plot 411: An interesting look at one family's alternative lifestyle - eat clean, live clean, surf clean.

Review: This documentary focused on the life and teachings of Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz and his family of 11. After becoming a successful medical doctor, Doc gave up his practice to travel the world with his family. His third wife Juliette became mother of eight boys and a girl. Together they lived financially poor but emotionally rich. The children were not properly educated in the public school system of any country. Instead, they learned life lessons on the road and were able to focus on the fundamentals of life. These teachings had a profound effect on everyone, and through the doc you'll see how it both positively and negatively affected the kids. Doc's teachings seem to weave together outrageous ideas and his non-conforming outlook puzzled many people, including his children. It's hard to tell whether he was a philosopher ahead of his times or simply a dictator with complete authority over his brood. If nothing else, this doc will give you a glimpse of another life and lifestyle and help you see another way of living.

Watch It: Because it's kinda weird in a cult-like way but also awe inspiring.

Skip It: If you're a conservative fundamentalist. This guy will seem like a radical.

Sex And The City 2

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 27, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: The gals are back and travel to the exotic Middle East.

Review: Don't believe what you hear - it's not as bad as all that. If you were a fan of the series and the first movie, this movie packs just as much punch. It features all the wonderful clothes, shoes and witty banter among friends that you can expect. You can spend a perfectly nice night out with the girls over dinner and a movie, well, with the girls. If I had to judge the first against the second film, I gotta say that I enjoyed the first one more. However, this could be because I cannot fully relate to the issues addressed in this new film. All the characters have moved on and left singledom behind, which brings new challenges in and of itself. In this movie, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Big (Chris Noth) have been married for three years, and Carrie feels like they've morphed into an old married couple. She's concerned that their spark has diminished. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is feeling unappreciated at work and tries even harder to make an impact while sacrificing more family time. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is overwhelmed with caring for her two children. She feels as if she's losing herself, and her anxiety only increases when Samantha (Kim Cattrall) points out how attractive her young nanny is. Samantha, despite heading into menopause, is still Samantha and you can count on two intimate moments with her.

Watch It: If you're a SATC freak, fashion aficionado or just want to escape from your boring life. That's what this movie is here for.

Skip It: If you're a die-hard fan because it doesn't bode well for a third movie. It kinda felt like they were already grasping for straws with this one.

The Karate Kid

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 11, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A kid from Detroit moves to Beijing and must adjust to a foreign culture and lifestyle.

Review: I think it's ridiculous that they keep the old movie title in this remake when the main character Dre (Jadan Smith) doesn't even learn karate. But whatever. When his mother (Taraji P. Henson) is transferred to Beijing for work, Dre must adjust to all things foreign. The language, culture and societal rules are all new to him. But, what crosses all barriers is bullying, which Dre experiences first hand. When some school bullies take him on six to one, Dre's building maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) agrees to train him. Much like the relationship between teacher and student, Dre and Mr. Han grow to respect each other deeply. Despite hating the name, the movie was actually pretty good for what it was trying to do. I think it effectively portrayed good values for the kids and is a nice way to spend a couple hours (The movie's pretty long!). I think there were some mess ups in the continuity of some scenes and parts were pretty cheesy, but overall it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.

Watch It: If you've got kids because it's one of those movies where I think both parent and child will enjoy.

Skip It: If you're a die-hard fan of the original. I don't think Chan does the "Mr. Miyagi" role any justice.

The Evil Dead

Rating: NC-17

Movie Release Date: October 15, 1981

DVD Release Date: March 5, 2002

Plot 411: Five kids go to a cabin in the woods and awaken the spirits of the dead.

Review: First off, I cannot believe this movie has an NC-17 rating! Compared to the violence of today, this movie is nothing. What makes this even more baffling is that most of the gore is humorous and over-the-top (unlike many of today's gross-out flicks). This movie stars Bruce Campbell as Ash, one of five friends heading out into the woods for a vacation. Scott (Richard DeManicor) has a family cabin where he plans to enjoy himself along with Linda (Betsy Baker), Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) and Shelly (Teresa Tilly). The group uncovers an old recording that serves to awaken evil spirits and one by one they become possessed. Despite almost being 30 years old at this point, I found that this movie surprisingly still held up as a low-budget horror movie. As it was written and directed by Sam Raimi, I suppose that shouldn't be too surprising. While the special effects are dated, I still have to admire the work put into the stop motion and all the other practical effects and gags. There was an incredible amount of blood in this movie, so much so that it becomes farcical. I suppose though that this was the intent.

Watch It: Because it's horrifically bad in a very good way.

Skip It: If you want all the fancy computer-generated special effects.

Leap Year

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 8, 2010

DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010

Plot 411: A woman travels to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day.

Review: Amy Adams stars as Anna, a Boston native who has been dating her boyfriend for four years. He (Adam Scott) is a successful cardiologist, who always seems to put his work ahead of her. However, when Anna gets her hopes up for a marriage proposal that never really happens, she's determined to take matters into her own hands. Following an Irish tradition of women proposing to men on February 29 on a Leap Year, Anna flies to Dublin with that in mind to meet her boyfriend at his medical conference. Unfortunately, a bit of bad weather forces her to detour and she finds herself on the road with Declan (Matthew Goode) as her guide. They fight like cats and dogs as they make their way from Dingle to Dublin in a mad dash that lasts two entire days. I love Amy Adams but thought she got off to a shaky start in this movie. She's pretty unlikable to be honest. But as the movie progresses, her girl-next-door sweetness shines through. I had a heck of a time trying to understand the Irish accent put on by Goode even when I had the subtitles going. It was partly because of his sarcastic mutterings and partly because of the Irish slangs he used. Still I liked his character because it was such a contrast from perky Anna. What stole the show though was Ireland itself. Wow, everything is so green there! It definitely makes you want to visit even the most rural villages.

Watch It: For another run-of-the-mill rom coms, but at least it's better than Letters To Juliet in terms of great scenery.

Skip It: Because it does feel like such a mass-produced movie when compared to stuff like Once.

The New Guy

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 10, 2002

DVD Release Date: August 13, 2002

Plot 411: A geeky guy reinvents himself with the help of some cons in the slammer.

Review: DJ Qualls plays Dizzy, a super geeky high school kid who has been tormented his entire life. During his senior year, some stuff happens and he gets arrested. In jail, he learns the secret to being cool with the help of Luther (Eddie Griffin). When he's released, Dizzy enrolls in a new school as "the new guy" and takes the place by storm. He even unites the geeks and jocks, something people never thought was possible. I haven't watched this movie in a while but remember enjoying it enough to keep watching. I wouldn't say it was a great movie, but it's chock full of stupid humor and nonsense. It exaggerates high school life as most Hollywood films do, which makes it both funny and ridiculous at the same time. This is one of those movies you gotta see with a big group of people and an unlimited supply of liquor.

Watch It: For the juvenile humor.

Skip It: Because it's not nearly as good as American Pie.

Once

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 23, 2007 (Ireland) / May 16, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: December 18, 2007

Plot 411: An Irish vacuum repairer and a Czech florist embark on a musical journey.

Review: This was a great example of an indie flick because it had a very intimate and real feeling about it. The guy (Glen Hansard) is a struggling musician playing for pennies on the sidewalk. He and his guitar sing about lost love and heartache. The girl (Marketa Irglova) hears him one day and is intrigued by his music. When the guy finds out she's a pianist, he convinces her to make music with him. Now that's not some newfangled jive that the kids are using these days. What I mean is that they literally make music together, and it's all performed on film. It's a modern-day musical and I definitely loved it. The guy and the girl (who are never named) spend the next few days getting to know each other and doing something they both love. The fact that the main characters are unnamed enhances the idea that they represent every man/woman.

Watch It: For the songs, which are really awesome. "Falling Slowly" won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Makes me wanna learn how to play it on the uke :)

Skip It: Because it doesn't have any bells and whistles. It's low budget.

Pathfinder

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 13, 2007

DVD Release Date: July 31, 2007

Plot 411: Viking by birth, native American by choice.

Review It: This movie reminded me of all those Conan The Barbarian-type movies of the 1980s. It stars Karl Urban (of Lord Of The Rings fame) as Ghost, a Viking child left behind in the new land when his people invade. He's saved and raised by the natives, but he is never really accepted because of his looks. When the Vikings return years later, he must decide with which side he will stand. On the positive side, this movie had quite a bit of action in the He-Man sorta way. It must've been a difficult shoot due to the weather conditions and being surrounded by nature. Other than that, I can't really give this any more praise, because somehow even the action sequences were somehow lacking. There was no substance to the movie, and as an audience member I didn't really care for Ghost's plight. The cinematography was pretty bland as well, with everything cast in grays and muted blues. The cameras were jarring at times and the low lights made it difficult to follow some scenes. Also in this film is Moon Bloodgood.

Watch It: If you're into the sword swinging and head rolling thing, but even this got boring after a while.

Skip It: Because I gotta tell you, everything about it was just pretty bad.

A Perfect Getaway

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 6, 2009 (Netherlands) / Auust 7, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: December 29, 2009

Plot 411: A couple honeymoons in Hawaii while killers are on the lose.

Review: I basically watched this movie just to see shots of the Islands. The scenery was really nice, so yay for Hawaii's film and tourism offices. This should've brought a lot of tourists even though the plot of this movie features crazy-ass killers. This movie stars Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich as Cliff and Cydney Anderson, newlyweds on their honeymoon in Hawaii. While on Kauai, they run into two other couples hiking the Kalalau Trail - Nick (Timothy Olyphant) and Gina (Kiele Sanchez) and Kale (Chris Hemsworth) and Cleo (Marley Shelton). They also find out that a couple on Oahu were murdered and grow suspicious of their new acquaintances as they venture further from civilization. This movie definitely makes you think twice about backpacking into the wild. The pace of the film was a little slow at first, but the action soon ramped up. I'm not sure if it was just me that was a llittle slow on the uptake or nott, but I was completely lost during a very crucial point in the film for a few minutes.

Watch It: For the twist in the plot and the gorgeous Hawaiian landscape.

Skip It: Because some parts of the plot are illogical.

Modify

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: 2005

DVD Release Date: August 28, 2007

Plot 411: Documentary about all kinds of body modifications.

Review: Dayum, this movie is definitely not for the faint of heart. Surprisingly though, I was more queasy watching the regular plastic surgery bits than the "radical" body modifications. This doc interviewed a ton of people within and outside of the body modification world. This included plastic surgeons (because boob jobs and face lifts are mods), bodybuilders (because ginormous arms, legs and chests are body mods), tattoo/piercing artists (because they're actually responsible for the mods) and industry innovators (the grandfathers of the movement). Overall, it was amazing to see what people do to their bodies and the lengths to which they take it. I found the mohawk implants pretty cool looking to be honest. Also, tattooing has come such a long way that it really is an artform now. For me, this doc was more about personal liberties and freedoms than about the extreme ways in which people demonstrated this. However, you gotta admit that subdermal implants on your arms, legs and head are pretty in-your-face ways to show this. Some people have taken it pretty far and have changed the way they look to imitate animals. There's a lizard guy and a tiger guy. Amazing to look at! There were also clips of people doing performance art (ie. hanging from hooks, sticking sharp objects through their faces and mouth, etc.), which slightly resembles the freak shows from yesteryear. I'm sure the performers get some sort of gratification by shocking people, but I also think there's a lot of them who do it for other reasons too, such as spiritual, mind-over-matter-type phenomenons. The lizard guy made a good point - that humanity exists on a sliding scale of normality. What one person does to modify themselves (like coloring their hair to cover up their greys, pumping iron or tattooing their entire body) is subjective and normalcy and/or extremes can only be determined by the individual. Why should one type of modification be more accepted than the others? I guess to quote lyrics from an En Vogue song, "Free your mind and the rest will follow."

Watch It: If you can handle surgery clips of breast augmentations, breast reductions, liposuction, tummy tucks, hair implants, genital piercing, tongue splitting (I have no clue what this is officially called), branding, scarring and subdermal implanting.

Skip It: If you've already fainting by this point.

Red Cliff / Chi bi

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: June 30, 2008 (South Korea) / November 25, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: July 29, 2009 (Finland)

Plot 411: Two leaders join forces to fight against the corrupt Prime Minister.

Review: For the record, I watched the American release of this film. I hope to watch the international version and compare the differences. This film was epic in scale and was set during the Han dynasty. A power-hungry, self-appointed prime minister named Cao Cao forces the emperor's hand to decree war against two other clan leaders. Cao Cao seemingly does so for the prestige it will bring him, but we later find out it is all for a woman (an homage to Helen of Troy?). The clan leaders, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, decide to join forces to defeat the corrupt Cao Cao despite their severe shortage in warriors. Their main military men are strategist Zhuge Liang and viceroy Zhou Yu. This film is rivals the artistic beauty and plot of 300. It is able to capture the beauty and ugliness of war, the selfless sacrifice of soldiers and the skills of quality leaders. The large set pieces are amazing! Even though you can tell CGI is being used, the Chinese somehow make it look artistic rather than hokey. Starring in this film are Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi and Chang Chen.

Watch It: For its realistic battle

Skip It: Because you might want to watch the international version instead. I hear it's four hours long!

I Hate Valentine's Day

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 11, 2009 (Brazil) / July 3, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: August 20, 2009 (Australia)

Plot 411: Genevieve thinks she has love and dating all figured out until one guy has her questioning her rules.

Review: Nia Vardalos and John Corbett runite in this rom com that unfortunately fails at pretty much everything. Vardalos plays Genevieve, a florist who is the picture of happiness. She lives her life with one simple rule: never getting into a relationship. Of course, she dates plenty and enjoys being romanced, but her maximum date limit is five. She also has strict rules about what happens at each stage. These rules help ensure the highest levels of enjoyment and least amount of pain for both parties. Corbett plays Greg, a new restaurant owner who has recently been dumped. He thinks Genevieve's rules are interesting and may be just the thing to help him get over his dating failures. I didn't think this movie came together particularly well, even though Vardalos and Corbett were great in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Somehow they were just awkward in this movie and often made weird facial expressions or sounds that weren't all that humorous. Even their supporting cast was weak.

Watch It: Because it's possibly a master class at how not to do a rom com.

Skip It: And re-watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding intead.