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.

He's Just Not That Into You

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 6, 2009

DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009

Plot 411: A vignette of the lives of 20- and 30-somethings as they bumble through life and love.

Review: When this one came out in theaters, I wasn't really motivated to go watch it. However, it actually turned out better than I expected. First off, the ensemble cast allowed the movie to portray different personality types. Admittedly, they weren't vastly different from each other - all mostly middle to upper class professional types - but their take on love and where they were on their journey made it so everyone in the audience could relate to someone. Secondly, even at the end of the movie, when there's usually a distinct division between the good guy and bad guy, I still empathized with all the characters. I don't know whether that was a good one on the part of the cast and crew or if it says something horrible about me. Anyway, without giving too much away, the movie enlisted the use of the following character types: 1) a girl dying for her long-time boyfriend to pop the question; 2) a guy who truly doesn't believe in marriage; 3) a girl with the picture-perfect married life; 4) a married guy who is tempted by forbidden fruit; 5) a girl desperate for love in all the wrong places; 6) a guy who prefers to handle love with rubber gloves and a sterilized mask; 7) a girl who can't meet anyone the traditional way (ie. face to face); 8) a guy in love with a girl who is in love with another guy; and 9) a girl who's found "the one," except he's completely married. There might even be others but if you can't relate to at least one of these archetypes something is definitely wrong with you. What I assumed was a regular rom com actually turned into something quite like a documentary on dating. What I learned is that people are not inherently bad and don't really want to hurt others. They're just terribly, terribly confused that's all. Confusion leads to certain decisions, then actions that are either good or bad. These actions lead to other problems and the cycle continues. In the end, people are just trying to find a way to be happy. The cavalcade of stars in this movie include Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Connolly, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Aniston, and Jennifer Connolly.

Watch It: For a National Geographic look at today's dating scene.

Skip It: If you prefer to get out there and experience it yourself rather than play the Wii-version.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 12, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 7, 2009

Plot 411: An alien comes to Earth to save the planet, but can it be saved?

Review: Right off the bat I'm going to tell you that this movie's CGI sucked ass. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be like that or not, but it has seriously taken backward leaps and bounds rather than forward. So many of the scenes are obviously CGI, even when they don't necessarily have to be. The fact that you can tell what is real and what isn't is awfully irritating in this day and age. It's not like this is the '70s or '80s and we're trying to make an alien film, ya know? Keanu Reeves plays an alien who has come to the planet to save it. I think he is a perfect fit for this role as it doesn't call for much emotion or any sudden movements. The character is an alien, after all, and trying to get used to his human body. Obviously this robotic nature is perfect for Reeves. Jennifer Connelly plays a brilliant scientist who is drafted to help figure out what's going on. I've never seen the original version of this film, but I've got to say that hopefully it was a lot better than this.

Watch It: If you're part of the Keanu Reeves fan club or just like alien invasion flicks.

Skip It: Because your time is valuable.

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