The Air I Breathe

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 13, 2007 (Greece) / January 25, 2008 (USA)

DVD Release Date: May 20, 2008

Plot 411: A vignette of four interwoven lives based on the principles of happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love.

Review: This movie is a drama that tells the story of four people by interlocking their fates. The first part is about a stockbroker (Forest Whitaker) who doesn't take any risks. When he finally bets on the horses, he loses a ton of money and the bookie (Andy Garcia) has only given him two weeks before he collects. Playing the collection agent is Brendan Fraser, whose character can see the future through visions. However, because of his gift he feels numb to the world. He is neither able to change the future nor avoid it. When his gift fails him for the first time, he meets a singer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) whom the bookie now owns. Deciding for the first time to attempt to make a difference, he tries to help her escape from the bookie. Another character (Kevin Bacon) is a doctor who throws caution to the wind in order to save the woman he loves (Julie Delpy). I enjoyed this movie because it questioned our ideas of happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. it poked holes in the stereotypes of each emotion and allowed us to see them from a different perspective. Is happiness merely being rich? Or is it being free to feel alive? Is pleasure all about the physical aspects of a relationship? Or maybe it's being surprised by what you thought was mundane. Is sorrow death? Or is it the knowledge that what you've finally found is gone? Does love mean that you live happily ever after? Or does it mean that you're happy to stand on the sidelines to watch others be happy? Also in this movie are Emile Hirsch and Kelly Hu.

Watch It: For the different truths that are revealed and ponder how they may relate to your own life.

Skip It: Because its multiple layers may not be what you're looking for in what appears to be a crime drama.

Slither

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 31, 2006

DVD Release Date: October 24, 2006

Plot 411: A town becomes overrun with alien slugs that are slowly killing off the human race.

Review: Seriously, if you can't already tell from the Plot 411 that this is a B horror movie . . . well, God help you. It's definitely not as bad as it sounds though, if you're into the B horror movie genre. Lots of gross-out scenes coupled with sarcastic, dry humor make this movie a fun, popcorn-popping time. The movie stars Nathan Fillion as the town sheriff. With Fillion leading the cast, you should pretty much know what to expect. The man only plays one character despite being in several movies and on tv. Yet, he's much more likeable, in my opinion, than Keanu Reeves, Nicholas Cage or Brendan Fraser combined. When a man is infected by the alien slugs, he slowly mutates into a creature who controls all other human-come-zombie people. There's a lot of blood, puss and gore, but that's what you expect out of these horror comedies. With the town crawling with zombies, Fillion and the small group of humans must fight to survive the zombie alien attack.

Watch It: If you're a product of the 1970s/1980s horror flicks because this will be like a blast from the past.

Skip It: If you require thoughtful post-movie conversation, even from a horror film.

Inkheart

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: December 11, 2008 (Germany) / January 23, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: June 23, 2009

Plot 411: When Mo reads, the pages of the book come to life and swaps places with something from the living. He must find a way to defeat the evil that he's evoked before it's too late.

Review: Honestly, Brendan Fraser isn't getting any better in his old age. Is it just me or does he seem to be fading away? His movies get worse and worse. In Inkheart, he plays a man who has the gift of storytelling. When he reads, the characters from the books come to life. Unfortunately, something from the real world must go into the book to take its place. This is how he lost his wife and he has searched for nine years to read her out of the book. What he doesn't know is that the bad guy he read to life wants him to read out an army of bad guys (but of course, what else would a bad guy want?). This movie has magic, adventure, a dog and even blossomings of first love, yet it is still unable to get with the program. This is definitely no Harry Potter.

Watch It: If you're into the magic and mystics.

Skip It: If you don't want to endure another bad Fraser flick.

Trailer:

Journey To The Center Of The Earth

Rated: PG

Movie Release Date: July 11, 2008

DVD Release Date: October 28, 2008

Plot 411: A professor, his nephew and a hiking guide discover that Jules Verne's novel isn't fiction at all.

Review: This movie is much like all of Brendan Fraser's other movies. He is the perpetual bumbling, goofy, slightly awkward guy who somehow still manages to get the girl. It's like he's making "Encino Man" over and over but just using Hollywood's movie magic to change the plot, wardrobe and setting. I have to admit that I regret not having 3D glasses to wear during viewing. It might have made some of the effects a lot better. Overall, they were just ok.

Watch It: If you can stomach one more of Fraser's idiodic characters or have 3D glasses. If you're into altered realities (drug-induced or not), you also might enjoy this one.

Skip It: If you're thinking of watching any other film made in any other time. Go with whatever it is. It's gotta be better than this.

Trailer: