Push

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 6, 2009

DVD Release Date: July 7, 2009

Plot 411: In a world where people have special powers, a government agency tries to exploit them into becoming the ultimate soldiers.

Review: This is a not-so-new take on the "mutant" world ala X-Men. However, they've now labeled each gift with new names that you've got to learn. It's really unnecessary and a bit confusing. The plot twists and turns and because you're trying to figure out the names (sniffers, shadows, pushers, movers, etc.), the plot becomes a bit convoluted. The movie stars Chris Evans as Nick, a mover or someone with telekinetisis, Dakota Fanning, a watcher or someone who can see the future and Djimon Hounsou and Camilla Belle, pushers who can make you do anything. In the end, it's just another sci-fi/action flick with people with powers. I guess the success of X-Men and Heroes is the reason for it. However, this movie doesn't live up to any of its predecessors.

Watch It: If you're a sci-fi fan for the different gifts each person.

Skip It: If you're a true sci-fi fan because it just takes the best of sci-fi and ruins it.

The Quiet

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 25, 2006

DVD Release Date: February 13, 2007

Plot 411: When her father dies, Dot moves in with her godparents and discovers that there's more going on under the surface of this suburban family.

Review: This is definitely a thriller chiller. Dot (Camilla Belle) is a deaf teen who moves in with her godparents when her father dies. Their teen daughter immediately ostracizes her. Nina (Elisha Cuthbert) is cheer popular and part of the in-crowd while Dot remains quiet and alone. At first look, this movie seems to be about the perfect suburban family and everyone's high school nightmare. But as you watch further, it's actually the family unit that is sick and twisted. The guts of this movie are really gut-wrenching. The things going on in the home before and during Dot's stay are horrific, but you still feel sympathy for each character. Secrets abound and you realize there are definitely behavioral quirks that have resulted from these secrets and the keeping of them. Even Dot is keeping a secret, and because she's deaf, everyone thinks they can confide in her. Everyone purges their desires and problems on her but she is unable to reciprocate. This movie gives you a peek at the horrors that can happen behind closed doors. Everyone has secrets and everyone is secretive. Double lives aren't only for government spies. They could be for your next door neighbor too.

Watch It: For a look at how far people will go to keep their secrets and the defense mechanisms they develop in order to blend in with the crowd.

Skip It: If you're expecting one of those cheer happy teen movies because while this one contains some of that, it really goes to deeper and darker places.

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