Date Movie

Hopeless romantic Julia Jones, who has finally met the man of her dreams, the very British Grant Fonckyerdoder. But before they can have their "Big Fat Greek Wedding," they'll have to "Meet The Parents," hook-up with "The Wedding Planner," and contend with Grant's friend Andy--a spectacularly beautiful woman who wants to put an end to her "Best Friend's Wedding."

I think the goal of this movie was to see how many movies they could spoof. From Bridget Jones Diary, to When Harry met Sally, to Napoleon Dynamite, to Wedding Planner, to my Best Friend's Wedding, to... you get the idea. I don't think there is a romantic movie made in the past 10 years that wasn't spoofed in some way. Unfortunately, none are spoofed very well. It's the typical humor you'd expect from the Scary Movie crowd except (if this is possible) not even as well done as Scary Movie.

This movie pushes PG-13 to the limit. Sexual dialogue is raunchy and constant and not even redeemably funny. Some side nudity is shown.

In the vein of Not Another Teen Movie, this spoof is not well done at all and hoping to grab a quick buck off of the success of Scary Movie. Don't waste your time.

2.0 out of 5

Annapolis

It's known as one of the toughest institutions is America--a home for the best and brightest who are driven to serve their country and a training facility where only the strongest survive. It's a rarified world that, by necessity, makes or breaks tomorrow's heroes

I was hoping that James Franco could breathe new life into this tired movie formula but it just isn't so. James Franco has really picked up steam ever since the original Spiderman movie, starring in such great films as the Great Raid. However, this is not a good addition to his resume. Jordana Brewster helps make this movie watchable but hardly anything could compensate for the horrible acting of Tyrese Gibson as the commanding officer.

Typical PG-13 fare. Some language, a few sexual comments, a bit of violence and no nudity.

As implausable as Jarhead and not nearly as entertaining, it's no wonder that the Navy refused to help the movie producers with this movie. This is one you can skip.

2.8 out of 5

Glory Road

For Don Haskins, the dream was always about winning: winning with guts, heart and grit; winning with self-respect; and winning even when the odds were completely stacked against you. What Haskins didn't know in 1966--when he was just a small-town family man trying to make an indelible mark in his first job as a collegiate basketball coach--is that his underdog team's incredible victory would transcend sport and change not only his life and the lives of his players, but the country itself. Haskins and his scrappy Texas Western Miners were unwittingly about to revolutionize basketball and the American landscape. It was still a time of innocence in the United States, yet the country was on the verge of major social changes when Haskins decided to play an all-African-American opening lineup at the NCAA championships against the all-white juggernaut of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Haskins did it to win. But his bold decision would help break down barriers of segregation that affected every segment of society and set a new course for the future as his team did the one thing they could to prove themselves to a watching world: the played their hearts out.

I'll admit it. After seeing a movie or two that I really didn't like, I do go for the sure thing that I know I'll enjoy. Glory Road is that type of movie. Honestly, we've seen this movie before many many many times. From Mighty Ducks to Hoosiers to Miracle to Glory Road, you have seen this movie lots of times. The utterly predictable storyline that all these movies follow of a down and out team getting a new head coach, the new coach recruits talented yet undisciplined players, he shows them discipline and they keep winning and winning until something happens and they lose a game, the coach inspires them and they win the big game. It's a tried and true sports movie formula that is in all its glory in this movie. Josh Lucas had a very admirable performance as the coach of Texas Western and Jon Voight is great as always as the coach of Kentucky. A great family movie with a predictable formula.

A PG rating and the obvious slant toward families keep the language to a minimum. No sex or nudity in this movie and a bit of violence mostly in the form of people getting beat up. All examples of racism are displayed as very wrong and ignorant. Parents should be ready to explain why a black player was attacked by white men as young children may not understand.

A great family movie with a great message. As the latest example of feel-good sports movies, Glory Road merits a visit.

4.0 out of 5

Hostel

Two adventurous American college buddies, Paxton and Josh, backpack through Europe eager to make quintessentially hazy travel memories with new friend Oli, an Icelander they’ve met along the way. Paxton and Josh are eventually lured by a fellow traveler to what’s described as a nirvana for American backpackers--a particular hostel in an out-of-the-way Slovakian town stocked with Eastern European women as desperate as they are gorgeous. The two friends arrive and soon easily pair off with exotic beauties Natalya and Svetlana. In fact, too easily. Initially distracted by the good time they’re having, the two Americans quickly find themselves trapped in an increasingly sinister situation that they will discover is as wide and as deep as the darkest, sickest recess of human nature itself--if they survive.

To be honest, I had a hard time getting through this movie. The violence and gore in this movie is so graphic to reduce this movie's appeal to only a niche market. While the story is well layed out and terrifying, the images and sequences in this film will cause you to remember little else. Basically the first 1/3 of the movie fancies itself a porn movie and the last 2/3 of the movie fancies itself a snuff film.

Gratuituious violence, stomach-turning gore, graphic nudity, and explicit sexual situations makes one wonder if the MPAA actually sat through this movie as this movie is well deserving of a NC-17 rating.

As I've stated before, I don't rate based on the level of violence, gore, nudity or sex in a movie UNLESS it takes away from the movie. This is one of those movies. If your idea of a good time is watching Faces of Death videos when you aren't torturing neighborhood dogs, this is your type of movie. However, if you don't enjoy seeing the mutulation and torture of helpless victims displayed it graphic detail, stay far away from Hostel.

1.0 out of 5

Wolf Creek

Liz Hunter and Kristy Earl are twenty-something British backpackers in Broome, Western Australia, on a road trip with their Australian friend, Ben Mitchell. For them it's a time to cut loose, reconnect, and rediscover life, friendship, perhaps newfound love, and the countryside's astonishing visual beauty. However, a cross-country trip soon becomes a fight for their lives.

Wolf Creek is basically Wrong Turn set in Australia. It's a trite tale of twentysomething friends looking for "adventure" and finding crazy people out in the middle of nowhere. You've seen this story before, unfortunately I'm sure you'll see it again. I realize that Deliverance was a well-made movie that catered to some of our basic fears, however it is not necessary to continuously crank out poorly made "remakes".

As is typically for all movies like there there is plenty to justify the R-rating including, gratutitous violence and stomach-turning gore.

If you want to see a movie about people from civilization being attacked, captured, or killed by crazy hillbillies, rent Deliverence. Keep moving folks, nothing to see here.

1.5 out of 5

The World's Fastest Indian

In the late 1960s, after a lifetime of perfecting his classic Indian motorcycle, Burt sets off from the bottom of the world, Invercargill, New Zealand, to clock his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. With all odds against him, Burt puts his irrepressible kiwi spirit to the test, braving the new world on a shoestring budget. He makes fast friends of many he encounters along the way who find themselves swept up in his energy and singular determination. Burt's quest culminates in an unlikely conclusion and remains legendary within the motorcycle community to this day.

I thought they didn't make movies like this anymore. I figured that hollywood figured that no one values outstanding acting, edge of your seat excitement and an amazing story all in a film that would be appropriate for (though not fully appreciated by) a young child. Anthony Hopkins performs some of the best acting of his career as Burt Monro. He performs in one of the most amazing stories of a dream realized that I have ever seen. From his innocence at the craziness of Hollywood, to his cross-country journey to the Salt Flats to the people that helped give him a chance to live his dream, you can't help but get caught up in his emotion and his desire.

While this movie is rated PG-13, I don't know how it received that rating. While there are a couple of times that Burt spends the night with some ladyfriends, nothing inappropriate is shown, only hinted at. There may have been a bit of language but nothing noticeable.

It's so exciting to me to review a movie that I can recommend to all. As one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, The World's Fastest Indian is a great movie that anyone 9 to 99 can enjoy.


5 out of 5