4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 12, 2007 (UK) / June 15, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: October 2, 2007

Plot 411: A non-human being scouts Earth for Galactus, a planet-consuming entity hungry to swallow up life.

Review: The Fantastic Four have become celebrities and while some are basking in all that this means (Johnny, played by Chris Evans), others find it hinders their lives (Susan, played by Jessica Alba). When a super-human being enters Earth’s atmosphere, the government is eager to discover what it is. Reed (Ioan Gruffudd) is called upon by the government, but he refuses because he and Susan’s wedding plans have already been postponed numerous times. However, secretly, Reed does invent a machine and the foursome must capture and confront the Silver Surfer. Michael Chiklis and Kerry Washington return to their roles as Ben and Alicia. Um, yeah. I didn’t really like this movie at all. I felt like there was so much more going on with the Silver Surfer character that was not shown on film. Because I’m not familiar with the comic, I can only guess at what other subplots surround him. But this movie felt quite shallow in terms of the Surfer’s character and his link to Galactus. As for the Fantastic Four team, again I felt they lacked character. They all seemed a bit one note.

Watch It: If you're looking for some comedy and fun action sequences.

Skip It: If you're a fanboy because the lack of character development will probably rub you the wrong way.

The Perfect Score

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 30, 2004

DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004

Plot 411: A diverse group of kids band together to beat the SATs and achieve their dreams.

Review: An ensemble cast of young actors star in this teen comedy about a random group of high school kids who try to steal the answers to the SATs before the exam. It all begins with two friends, Kyle (Chris Evans) and Matty (Bryan Greenberg), who really need to get great scores to get into their colleges of choice. A plan to steal the SATs hatches and they confront Francesca (Scarlett Johansson), whose father owns the building that houses the SATs. Next the plan is divulged to one of the top-ranking students in school (Erika Christensen) and overheard by the resident stoner (Leonardo Nam). Rounding out the motley crew is the school's basketball superstar (Darius Miles). This movie was definitely not a career builder but one of those things you do because you're trying to be somebody at some point in the future. Evans did manage to make a name for himself afterwards, however, he also starred in Push so I suppose he's still got a ways to go. This movie just didn't do it for me. It seemed to be inspired by hints of The Breakfast Club, yet it couldn't even get its act together. It was like TBC's ugly step-sister for the computer generation.

Watch It: If you're a fan of Evans. Johansson is also not bad. She's cast as one of those emo kids again, which is weird considering how she's all glammed up these days.

Skip It: Completely.

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.

Sunshine

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 27, 2007

DVD Release Date: January 8, 2008

Plot 411: Because the sun is dying and the Earth and mankind will freeze to death, a group of scientists and astronauts are sent into space to jump-start the sun.

Review: Now let me just start by saying that I'm not too fond of the sci-fi genre in general. But this movie was pretty interesting as well as a little difficult to follow. I understood the basic concepts - that these people have a bomb that they need to deploy so the sun can get started. However, throughout the movie, it was hard to follow some of the things they were doing. I'm not sure if it's a matter of mentally not following (as in they need to explain more through dialogue) or visually not following (as in I just don't know what I'm looking at because a) I'm not into sci-fi and b) I'm not technical or scientific at all). In any case, after watching the special features I was able to get beyond just the action of the film and understand the movie a bit more deeply. The movie dealth with human interaction and emotion. The crew knew this was a mission that may not go well and that death was a definite possiblity. This film showed us how people were able to (or not) deal with this and their close proximity of each other. That in itself was the interesting part. I should also note that there were some pretty established actors in this film; not huge movie stars but recognizable actors - Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne and Chris Evans.

Watch It: If sci-fi and psychological thrillers are your thing or if you are into space because there are really beautiful shots of the sun and the light as it filters through the shuttle.

Skip It: If you're a die-hard sci-fi fan as I don't think there's enough of the good stuff to hold your attention. Space is just a setting. The real drama is going on inside the characters' heads and their interaction with one another.

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