Because I Said So

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 2, 2007

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007

Plot 411: A helicopter mom creates an online dating profile for her daughter and screens the applicants to find the perfect match.

Review: Daphne (Diane Keaton) is a single mom who raised three girls - Maggie (Lauren Graham), Mae (Piper Perabo) and Milly (Mandy Moore). She is worried that her youngest daughter Milly isn't happy and will never get married. Thus, Daphne gives in to her overbearing nature (aka helicopter mothering) and takes matters into her own hands. I love Diane Keaton and this movie truly plays up her uncanny ability to be neurotic and insane. She is the stereotypical mom who just wants the best for her kids but ends up loving them too much. They become resentful and often feel guilty about it. Yet, in the end, they all love being family. Amazing how much cinema imitates life huh? While this movie is supposed to focus around Milly's search for love, I can't really say that Moore is one of my favorite young actresses. However, I really enjoyed the character of Daphne so much more. Also in this film are Gabriel Macht and Tom Everett Scott.

Watch It: At a movie night with the girls, then dish about all the horrible things your moms' have done.

Skip It: Because it's pretty brainless fun and will probably turn your noggin into mush.

Daybreakers

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 6, 2010 (United Kingdom) / January 8, 2010 (USA)

DVD Release Date: May 11, 2010

Plot 411: In a world of 95% vampires/5% humans, vampires must find a way to manufacture blood in order to survive.

Review: Ed (Ethan Hawke) is working to find a viable substitute for human blood to feed the entire world as the population of humans rapidly dwindles. He works for a man named Charles Bromley (Sam Neill), who runs a blood farming company, but is ethically torn. He struggles to keep his own humanity and views humans as a endangered species rather than a food supply. Luckily, there is a group of renegade humans who fight against the vampires in hopes of finding a cure to vampirism. Led by Audrey (Claudia Karvan) and Elvis (Willem Dafoe), the group also searches for wayward humans and tries to provide a safe haven for them. This is an interesting horror, sci-fi movie because it can also serve as an allegory for the present time. Just as we consume our natural resources, the vampires literally consume them by feeding on them. They live in a society that condones the wastefulness and single-mindedness of gluttony just as we seem to. It is only a matter of time before we face a similar fate if nothing is done to change our ways.

Watch It: For a moral gem within a genre film.

Skip It: If you're looking for good special effects. The CGI is pretty awful, but there's a ton of blood and guts.

Salt

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: July 23, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: CIA agent Evelyn Salt is accused of being a Russian spy involved in an assassination plot.

Review: Just as Russian expert Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) and her boss Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) head home for the day, they're called back to interrogate Russian ex-pat Vassily Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) who claims to have information about a plot to start a war between America and the world. As Salt interviews Orlov, he tells her a story about Russian children who are trained for the ultimate act of terrorism. These children were inserted into American society many years ago and await activation. One of those children was named Evelyn Salt. After this revelation, Salt must prove her innocence and allegiance to America. Despite a few plot holes and a plot that was predictable, this was an enjoyable action-packed thriller that I think many people will like. Jolie is in top physical form and doing a lot of activity - from hand-to-hand combat to riding atop moving vehicles. Despite being out of the game since 2008's Wanted, she's still got her girl power on. One thing I liked about this character is that she didn't use her sex appeal (by way of revealing or skin-tight clothes) to get the job done. She just kicked ass on her own. I found Schreiber to be just as creepy as always. For some reason, he just gives off that vibe to me. Even though I realize this is an action movie and erratic camera movement creates a sense of urgency, I found some of the shots distracting. It's hard to see the true beauty of some fights because the camera is shaking so much and so tight on the subjects. I long for the day when directors reintroduce the wide angle action sequences. C'mon directors! Take a page out of John Woo's action book. Also in this film is Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Watch It: For the wide array of action sequences that go nonstop.

Skip It: If you're susceptible to motion sickness.