Movie reviews by Kate

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Rating: PG  for rude humor and mild action

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Kids & Family

Running time: 1:35

Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig

Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Plot: In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me. Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. (Rotten Tomatoes)

Kate says – 3 1/2 stars “Despicable Me” is a wonderfully odd and delightfully entertaining movie. Finally we have a film that feels fresh, mostly because of it’s quirky, bright and bizarre  animation style  from first time French directors, Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud. The hero of this movie is actually the dastardly supervillan Gru, who lives in an absurd  little world, and derives joy out of blowing up kid’s balloons just so he can pop them. Of course by the end, Gru will be a changed villain because of the love of three cuter-than-cute little girls, and we get our feel good moral about everyone needing love, even a super villain who realizes being there for your kids is what’s most important (even more important than stealing the moon). The movie is chock full of fast paced slapstick comedy and has an attitude of cartoon zaniness. I love the fact that the directors didn’t try to make things logical or realistic and seemed to revel in letting the characters do ridiculous things just because in the cartoon world anything is possible. The biggest laughs come from Gru’s army of little yellow bouncy Minions who are absolute scene stealers. “Despicable Me” is an outlandish summer treat you won’t want to miss.”

Ebert says – 3 stars “Despicable Me” begins with the truth that villains are often more fascinating than heroes and creates a villain named Gru, who freeze-dries the people ahead of him in line at Starbucks and pops children’s balloons. To make a villain into the hero of an animated comedy is daring, but the filmmakers bring in three cute kids to restore good feelings. The film is funny, energetic, teeth-gnashingly venomous and animated with an eye to exploiting the 3-D process with such sure-fire techniques as a visit to an amusement park. The sad thing, I am forced to report, is that the 3-D process produces a picture more dim than it should be. “Despicable Me” is technically competent and nowhere near the visual disaster that is “The Last Airbender,” but take my word for it: Try to find it in 2-D.” (read full review)

Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinel) says – 3 stars “A conventional “Grinch grows a heart” tale rendered with an unconventional blast of anarchy, Despicable Me is a 3D cartoon comedy of whiplash-quick laughs, funny punch lines and a wickedly gimmicky appreciation for 3D…This is dizzy diverting fun, from it’s first Carell one-liner to the 3D gimmick gags stuffed into the closing credits.” (read full review)

Christy Lemire (Associated Press) – says 2 1/2 stars “Here, the look of the film is what makes it stand out amid the glut of summer cartoons. The characters are cute in their weirdness, down to Gru’s shaggy, growling dog. Even the trio of spunky orphans crucial to Gru’s latest diabolical plan – Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher) – are adorable in an unusual way. What’s mainly missing from this first animated 3-D offering from Universal is story. There’s just nothing to “Despicable Me,” and that becomes glaringly obvious when you compare it to this summer’s “Toy Story 3″ in particular and Pixar movies in general, where story is paramount.” (read full review)

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Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some sensuality

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Drama

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene

Director: David Slade

Plot: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself… As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? (Rotten Tomatoes)

Running time: 2:04

Kate says -3 stars “I’ll just be upfront at the beginning of this review and tell you that I am a fan of the Twilight series, and therefore, not an entirely (or even somewhat) objective reviewer of this film. That being said, I think that even if you aren’t a Twilight Saga fan, you may actually enjoy watching Eclipse. This movie is the first of the three in the series that doesn’t feel low budget. Spade has done a great job with the pacing of the film, alternating between scenes of the love triangle romance, and solid action scenes with much more believable fight scenes and CGI effects. The wolves look more realistic, the vampire gravity- defying skills more believable, and even the vampire sparkle has been toned down and improved. There’s even a bit of levity and humor as the writer, actors and director seem to be making a nod at the incredible life of it’s own the Twilight Saga series has taken on. The relationships of the three main characters, Edward(Pattinson), Jacob(Lautner) and Bella(Stewart) are the real story here, and the decision Bella faces in choosing between them. Lautner, as Jacob, has come into his own in this role and does a stand-out job portraying the emotions and conflicts of his character, as do Stewart and Pattinson, as well. This is not an award winning movie (except in MTV land – think Best Kiss Award, this time between Stewart and Lautner) ) however, this universal story of love certainly has taken hold of the world, and one could argue that, in itself, is a good thing. If you are a fan of the series, you’re sure to love this one.”

Ebert says – 2 stars “The movie contains violence and death, but not really very much. For most of its languorous running time, it listens to conversations between Bella and Edward, Bella and Jacob, Edward and Jacob, and Edward and Bella and Jacob. This would play better if any of them were clever conversationalists, but their ideas are limited to simplistic renderings of their desires.” (read full review)

Kirk Honeycutt (The Hollywood Reporter) says - “It took three films, but “The Twilight Saga” finally nails just the right tone in “Eclipse,” a film that neatly balances the teenage operatic passions from Stephenie Meyer‘s novels with the movies’ supernatural trappings. Where the first film leaned heavily on camp and the second faltered through caution and slickness, “Eclipse” moves confidently into the heart of the matter — a love triangle that causes a young woman to realize choices lead to consequences that cannot be reversed.” (read full review)

Eric Snider says – “B” “Eclipse” brings the “Twilight” series into the big leagues. It still isn’t great, and there still isn’t much crossover appeal, but it’s easily the best of the three films so far, with a well-constructed story, suitable climaxes, and — at last! — a main character who occasionally thinks for herself rather than being defined by her monster boyfriends. The men who are coerced into seeing “Eclipse” with their ladyfolk will surely enjoy this one more than the last two.” (read full review)

Elizabeth Weitzman says – 3 stars (of 5) “If you adore Meyer’s characters already, you’ll be thrilled to spend more time with them. If you don’t, well, you’d just end up sitting among a bunch of sighing teens (and their moms), wondering what the fuss is about. (Director) Slade – who imports some of the darkness from his last vamp thriller, “30 Days of Night” – knows just how to reach his audience, alternating suspense and romance in carefully precise degrees. It may not be the subtlest approach, but it is effective.  Most important, Bella and Edward are allowed a wider range of emotions than we’ve seen before; as a result, Stewart and Pattinson finally appear fully comfortable in their roles (though Lautner once again proves the standout, working hard to make Bella’s decision a difficult one). The truth is, almost everyone planning to see “Eclipse” will know how things end before the opening credits even appear. So Slade and his cast can be proud that they consistently keep us involved anyway.” (read full review)

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Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action violence throughout, and brief strong language.

Genre: Comedy/Action/Romance

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis

Director: James Mangold

Plot: A fugitive couple (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) wages a war between truth and trust while speeding across the globe in an attempt to avoid capture by a determined federal agent (Peter Sarsgaard). Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Olivier Martinez, Maggie Grace, and Marc Blucas co-star.

Running time: 1:44

Kate says – 3 stars ” Knight and Day gives us a good dose of breezy summer action movie fun. I’ll just tell you right up front, that the plot is ridiculous, but I’ll also tell you that it doesn’t really matter. The reason the whole movie works is that it seems everyone involved in the movie, including the actors and director, also realize the absurdity of it all, embrace that fact, and take us along for the ride…we’re all one big happy summer action romance movie loving family. Cruise reminds us why we loved him from way back in the day, before he went a little nutso. He plays a crazy Roy Miller with a deadpan tongue-in-cheek delivery and devil-may-care attitude, all topped of with a twinkle in his eye that will make you wonder if he really is crazy. Cruise and Diaz make a gorgeous, sparkly smiled couple with believable on-screen chemistry. This movie is fast-paced ridiculous fun, full of witty banter, beautiful locales, pretty people and the return of the charismatic star quality of Cruise.”

Ebert says – 3 stars “The wonder is that Cruise and Diaz are effective enough in their roles that they’re not overwhelmed by all the commotion surrounding them. They make the movie work because they cheerfully project that they know it’s utter nonsense and pitch in to enjoy the fun. The plot makes splendid use of a MacGuffin, the device which explains everything by explaining nothing. Roy Miller, the Cruise character, has something, and there are bad guys who want it. I could tell you what it is, but what difference does it make? That’s the whole point of a MacGuffin.” (read full review)

Kenneth Turan (LA Times) says – 4 (of 5 stars) “If you doubt Cruise’s skills in the star department, “Knight and Day” should make you a believer. It’s hardly a perfect film, not even close, but it is the most entertaining made-for-adults studio movie of the summer, and one of the reasons it works at all is the great skill and commitment Cruise brings to the starring role. “Knight and Day” is inevitably light on plausibility but, with Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis and Paul Dano joining Cruise, it is strong in the acting department. Cruise’s charming facility with Miller’s deadpan spy-side manner is this film’s secret weapon.” (read full review)

Lou Lumenick (NY Post) says – 1 1/2 stars “Knight and Day,” though, is one of those movies that requires you to accept that every single time a character is presented with a choice, he or she will make the worst and most inexplicable one. This would possibly be more forgivable if the stars were given actual characters to play, rather than being forced to coast on screen personas (he’s cocky, she’s ditzy) that seem increasingly dated for Cruise, who will turn 48 next month, and Diaz, who will be 38 the following month. It would also help if they were given some dialogue that was actually funny.” (read full review)

Kurt Loder (MTV) says -  “Anyone who’s ever been trapped on a plane flight from Hell — squashed by sprawling seatmates, battered by passing backpacks, besieged by squalling brats — will appreciate the elegant simplicity of Tom Cruise’s solution to similar problems: He kills everybody. Literally. But then they were trying to kill him. Even the pilots. Which is why they’re dead, too.”Knight and Day” isn’t the sort of rote action exercise that will leave you missing the money you paid to see it. Cruise and Diaz bring it a big-star charge, and there are some smart comic performances tucked in around the edges of the action.” (read full review)

Eric Snider (Snide Remarks) says – “B” “The thing about Tom Cruise is that even though he’s kind of a nutjob in real life, put him in a movie that plays to his strengths and he’ll dazzle you the way he did 20 years ago. “Knight and Day” is a reminder that he still has his movie-star appeal, and maybe even more so than we realized. For while his career has mostly focused on action-hero and dramatic roles, here he handles comedy and secret-agent stuff with equal agility. June’s character is quite a bit less well written, though performed cheerfully — and non-gratingly — by Diaz. June talks to herself an awful lot, usually for the audience’s benefit (a sign of lazy writing), and flits randomly from one state of mind to another. One minute she’s panicking over the panic-worthy circumstances surrounding her; the next she’s taking it all in stride, as if to the manner born. One minute she thinks Roy is awful for basically kidnapping her; the next minute — and I mean literally one minute later — she’s melting in his arms, poised for a make-out session. So it’s more comedy than action, which is fine, because the comedy is zesty and not overly quirky, and mostly pretty funny. More of this, Mr. Cruise! More of this.” (read full review)

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Movie reviews by Kate

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Rating: G

Genre: Children’s

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles

Director: Lee Unkrich

Plot: Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back. As their owner Andy prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare where untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice. So, it’s all for one and one for all as they join Barbie’s counterpart Ken, a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear to plan their great escape.  Walt Disney Studios

Running Time: 1:43

Kate says -4 stars “We’ve loved these toys for 15 years now, Woody, Buzz and the gang.  We know them. We know their personalities and quirks.  We are connected to them. We feel like they are our toys. We care about what will happen to them as Andy makes the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Toy Story 3 is funny, heart-felt, clever, imaginative and beautiful. From the opening “play scene”, to the “prison break” action which lasts almost the entire second half, to the emotional resolution, this movie delivers on all fronts to all ages. May I suggest telling yourself,”They’re only toys. They’re only toys…pieces of plastic…not real,”  in order to keep from bawling your eyes out over the touching final scene, and then you’ll still cry.”

Ebert says – 3 stars “This is a jolly, slapstick comedy, lacking the almost eerie humanity that infused the earlier “Toy Story” sagas, and happier with action and jokes than with characters and emotions. But hey, what can you expect from a movie named “Toy Story 3,” especially with the humans mostly offstage? I expect its target audience will love it, and at the box office, it may take right up where “How to Train Your Dragon” left off.” (read full review)

Movie reviews by Kate

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Rating: PG  for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language.

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson

Director: Harald Zwart

Plot: In Columbia Pictures’ The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could’ve been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in… In Columbia Pictures’ The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could’ve been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying – and the feeling is mutual – but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre’s feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts “the karate kid” on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life. –© Sony

Running time: 2:20

Kate says -   3 1/2 “Watch out Will Smith, because if this movie is any indicator of the future,  son Jaden is sure to follow in the big footsteps of his daddy. This kid is good. Really good. His athletic ability and agility in the martial arts department is amazing. He’s got some mad dancing skills. He’s just about the cutest thing you’ll ever lay your eyes on. That’s even him rapping the closing song in the credits with Justin Bieber. Oh yeah…and maybe I should mention that this kid can act. He’s a natural and the camera loves him. He seems completely at ease playing the fish out of water, precocious, hip, undersized character Dre.  The chemistry between Smith and Jackie Chan is easy and believable. The fight scenes for all, including a great one from Chan, will not disappoint. Here’s a minor, but annoying (to me) pet peeve. This movie is about Kung Fu, not Karate. Perhaps it should have been named “The Kung Fu Kid”. We would have still gotten the reference to “The Karate Kid”, it’s the same story after all. I say go see this movie. It’s great fun !”

Ebert says – 3 1/2 stars “Here is a lovely and well-made film that stands on its own feet… The Chinese locations add visual interest, there are scenes of splendor in mountains and on the Great Wall, and the characters are once again engaging. Jackie Chan is so famous that it can come as no surprise here when his Mr. Han, a reclusive janitor, reveals a hidden talent for the martial arts. But Chan has never been a strutting, macho fighter onscreen; his charm comes from a self-kidding quality. Here he does a good job of cooling down his usual cheerfulness and keeping his cards hidden. In the role of his young pupil, Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, has a natural screen presence. Dre Parker is calmer than the skittish kid played by Ralph Macchio, but so much smaller than his opponents that we can well believe his fear of a bully at school. And when that happens, we can forget obsessing about the 1984 film and enjoy this one. That was then, this is now.” (read full review)

Claudia Puig (USA Today) says – 3 stars “The Karate Kid is surprisingly sure-footed and deft in its new setting. The chemistry between Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan grounds the movie, imbuing it with sincerity and poignance. Smith is a charming and natural young actor. He’s consistently charismatic in the role of young Dre Parker…” (read full review)

Steve Persall (St. Petersburg Times) says – “A-” “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard an audience cheer as lustily when a movie ended as at a recent screening of The Karate Kid. That sort of thing shouldn’t influence a critic, or else some very stupid movies would earn rave reviews. This is different; I was cheering along with everyone else. Welcome to summertime’s The Blind Side, an irresistibly feel-good flick about an underdog having his day, buoyed by heartland values (even if it’s China’s heartland) and sport as a metaphor for life.  For once, the term “reimagining” isn’t an alibi for exploiting a familiar title; it’s an apt description of how director Harald Zwart tweaks the original’s strengths into something better.  First is giving the title role to scarily talented Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness), who doesn’t need his father around to carry a movie. Yet Will Smith is hereditarily in every move the child makes — the playfulness in his step and line deliveries, the instinctive likability and expressions that are eerily identical to dad. It isn’t stunt casting because the kid has chops.” (read full review)

Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinel) says – 2 stars “The training sequences are familiar yet rendered with verve with the occasional surprise. Henson manages a few chuckles as a nagging mom, and young Smith reveals a hint of his bloodlines (he is Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s kid) in some of the lighter moments – taking on an aged Chinese ping pong player – “You know I have no problem beating old people!”” (read full review)

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Rating: PG-13 for violent action, sexual material and language.

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara

Director: Robert Luketic

Plot: Trying to recover from a sudden break-up, Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl) believes she’ll never fall in love again. But when she reluctantly joins her parents on a trip to the French Riviera, Jen happens to meet the man of her dreams, the dashing, handsome Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher). Three years later, her seemingly impossible wish has come true: she and Spencer are newlyweds living the ideal suburban life – that is, until the morning after Spencer’s 30th birthday when bullets start flying. Literally.
It turns out Spencer never bothered to tell Jen he’s also an international super-spy, and now Jen’s perfect world has been turned upside down. Faced with the fact that her husband is a hit man, Jen is determined to discover what other secrets Spencer might be keeping – all the while trying to dodge bullets, keep up neighborly appearances, manage the in-laws…and work out some major trust issues. And you thought suburban life was easy. –© Lionsgate

Running time: 1:39

Kate says – 2 1/2 “I’ll start of by telling you that the critics hate this movie. They knew before they even saw it, that they wouldn’t like it. That’s what happens when you tell the critics they can’t watch your film before it opens to the public, they naturally assume the worst. Imagine that! A movie critic looking for the worst.  (I laugh at the notion…heehee) I’m sure Lionsgate was attempting to hold off the bad reviews until regular movie goers could proclaim from the rafters that they love this movie. Sadly, that’s not likely to happen. The most Killers can hope for is a grand proclamation of “It’s not that bad. I kind of liked it” So here’s what I have to say about Killers. It’s not the complete and awful disaster the critics would have you believe it is. I’ve seen a lot worse. Is it clever and witty and creative? Well…no and no and no. Does it have amazing and heart racing action scenes? Nope, again. Do we believe that the characters (Kutcher & Heigl) are madly in love. Not really. What this movie does have going for it is that it is charming…and pretty…and light-hearted summer fluff. And sometimes that just enough for some pleasant summer entertainment.”

Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinel) says – 1 1/2 stars “When your stars don’t have much chemistry — he plays a humorless version of his all-boy, all-bangs shtick, and she’s still playing the undersexed adult to man-child co-stars –the movie becomes fair game for supporting players to steal it. Tom Selleck, as her no-nonsense gun-nut dad, and Catherine O’Hara as the mother who copes with that marriage by hitting the bottle, almost do.“  (read full review)

Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) says – “D” “Because you liked Katherine Heigl in Knocked Up, and forgive her for The Ugly Truth. Because you think Ashton Kutcher is hawt. Because you’re a sucker for Catherine O’Hara doing one of her funny drinking characters, or Tom Selleck being ironically Sellecky in a mustache role. Because you’re in the mood to enjoy a crappy action rom-com in air-conditioned multiplex comfort on a hot early-summer’s night…By all means, go and enjoy Killers, which has been directed by Robert Luketic (who previously did his star no favors in The Ugly Truth). But don’t tell me I’m making too much out of nothing, because the steady drip-drip-drip of nothings like this are killing us all.” (read full review)

John P. McCarthy (Box Office Magazine) says 1 star (out of 5)  “The ugly if obvious truth about Killers is that two comely stars do not a movie make. After this bomb, Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher may qualify as two of the most attractive and prematurely washed-up screen actors Hollywood has ever produced. The fact that their physical beauty is woven into the dialogue without being successfully deployed for laughs or plausible sexual tension only adds to the lameness.” (read full review)

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Rating: PG-13  for intense sequences of violence and action

Genre: Action/Adventure

Staring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley

Director: Mike Newell

Plot: Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia. A rogue prince named Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) with a cast that includes Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, and a screenplay by Boaz Yakin and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Jordan Mechner, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” hits theaters Memorial Day weekend 2010. –© Walt Disney

Running time: 1:54

Kate says - 3 stars “If you go into this movie expecting a fast paced-swashbuckling-action-adventure-summer-popcorn-blockbuster-epic type movie, you won’t be in the least bit disappointed. If you go into Prince of Persia expecting Oscar worthy performances, a deep message and meaningful dialogue…well you will find the movie lacking. But if that’s what you were expecting, then you haven’t been paying attention to the previews and the hype. It’s a Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean ring a bell?) film based on a video game, after all, and it delivers exactly what you’d expect it to deliver. It’s a good old fashioned feeling action adventure, so just sit back and enjoy it for what it is. Let the summer begin!”

Ebert says -2 stars “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is a children’s story beefed up to appeal to young teens. It’s based on a video game, but don’t make me play it…The two leads are not inspired. Jake Gyllenhaal could make the cover of a muscle mag, but he plays Dastan as if harboring Spider-Man’s doubts and insecurities. I recall Gemma Arterton as resembling a gorgeous still photo in a cosmetics ad. If the two actors had found more energy and wit in their roles.” (read full review)

Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) says – 2 1/2 stars “Prince of Persia” combines the mythic bombast of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” outings with the peppy brainlessness of the “National Treasure” films. Working with a credible lower-class-British dialect, that great Persian actor Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the grown-up street urchin adopted by the king… It’s sort of fun, certainly more so than the “National Treasure” pictures, as well as less manic (a little less) than the recent “Mummy” films.” (read full review)

Betsy Sharkey (Los Angeles Times) says – 3 1/2 stars (of 5) “With apologies to Ben Franklin, the only things certain in life are death, taxes and that a Jerry Bruckheimer film will do its bombastic best to pummel, pound and, now, parkour you into submission. “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is all that — deaths by the thousands and the sort of spectacular spectacle possible with a rumored budget of $150 million and change…There’s just a frothiness to Gyllenhaal that he can’t seem to suppress — it even lurks behind Dastan’s sneer — and it never fails to take the edge off. Too bad. That leaves us with a prince in need, when what we really need is prince indeed.” (read full review)

Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) says – B “As sword-and-sandal fantasy movies based on videogames and starring a buffed-up Jake Gyllenhaal go, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time goes pretty well. To the credit of director Mike Newell (drawing on his Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire wrangling skills), a conclave of screenwriters who keep the dialogue on the sharp side, and the life’s-a-game instincts of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, all that Arabian Nights-like stuff unfolds at a brisk, well-paced clip.” (read full review)

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Shrek Forever After – movie reviews by Kate

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Rating: PG  for mild action, some rude humor and brief language.

Genre: Comedy/Kids

Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Jane Lynch, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas

Director: Mike Mitchell

Plot: After the success of the first three films in the Shrek series, a fourth entry appears with more adventures of Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Puss in Boots. But in addition to all the laughs the first three films have brought, SHREK FOREVER AFTER features a whole new element in the series: 3-D animation.

Running Time: 1:31

Kate says – 3 stars “Shrek Forever After” a.k.a. “It’s a Wonderful Life” green ogre style. I know some critics are being pretty harsh in their reviews of  the final installment in the Shrek series, but truthfully, I found it to be funny, fast paced, sweet at moments, and surprisingly entertaining throughout. It’s the perfect kid length (91 minutes) and has a “sometimes-this-being-a-parent-thing-is-not-all-it’s-cracked-up-to-be” theme that parents can relate to.  “Not that I speak from personal experience,” said the movie reviewer with seven kids …heehee. All in all, it’s a great way to spend a few hours with the kiddies at the movies.”

Rene Rodriguez (Miami Herald) says – 3 stars “Considerably toned down are the endless pop-culture references and in-jokes to other movies. There are no Ricky Martin musical numbers this time; there is no re-creation of the bullet-time camera work from The Matrix. For this last chapter, the filmmakers play things relatively straight, resulting in the best Shrek movie to date (or at least the first one I’ve enjoyed)…The story is constructed in a way that requires no previous knowledge of the series, and the movie manages to find fresh humor and sight gags in its storybook universe… The movie is big-hearted and peppered with juicy throwaway bits.” (read full review)

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Rating: PG for brief rude behavior, some language and incidental smoking.

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan, Gael Garcia Bernal

Plot: When a young American (Amanda Seyfried) travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated 1957, she inspires its author (Vanessa Redgrave) to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love, and sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they ever imagined. –© Summit

Director: Gary Winick

Running Time: 1:40

Ebert says – 3 stars “I know “Letters to Juliet” is a soppy melodrama, and I don’t mind in the least. I know the ending is preordained from the setup. I know the characters are broad and comforting stereotypes. In this case, I simply don’t care… All of this is wrapped up in unimaginably beautiful shots of the Italian countryside, the warmth of the friendship between Sophie and Claire, and visits to many of the men named Lorenzo Bartolini, which was the name of the boy Claire loved so long ago.” (read full review)

Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) says – B+ “How ridiculously romantic is Letters to Juliet? How excessively dolce is this cinematic wish-fulfillment fantasy composed as a sonnet (with a pop-song backbeat) to good wine, beautiful people, Italian vineyards, the enduring power of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and the enduring love between Vanessa Redgrave and Italian actor Franco Nero? Let me put it this way: It’s so shamelessly dreamy that not only does flaxen-haired Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, kissed by the camera), an aspiring writer with a mismatched fiancé, find true love on the sun-dappled back roads of Tuscany, but she also gets published in The New Yorker! On her first try!” (read full review)

Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinel) says – 2 stars “It’s a movie of blandly pretty “establishing shots,” Seyfried walking her lovely self across this piazza or that vineyard. Director Gary ÖWinick wrings a few laughs out of the search — “Lorenzos” both handsome and decrepit, or sadly, no longer with us. A bit of stunt-casting makes the search pay off, warmly. But the real courtship here, between the spoken-for Sophie and the doesn’t-believe-in-love Charlie, fizzles.” (read full review)

Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) says – 3 stars “The key to the film’s success is its lack of strain. As written by Jose Rivera and Tim Sullivan, this isn’t one of those pushy slapstick affairs; it’s more romantic than comic, and despite the corn there are no villains (not even the nattering fiance is demonized). Seyfried isn’t being tested here, exactly, any more than Diane Lane was challenged as an actress in “Under the Tuscan Sun.” But she delivers a solid and easy star performance. Some young performers lack a relatable quality; Seyfried has it, even with those old-school, big-screen peepers.” (read full review)

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Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content.

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Max Von Sydow, Cate Blanchett

Plot: Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe and acclaimed director Ridley Scott mark their fifth collaboration with this retelling of the classic Robin Hood legend. Crowe stars as the bow-wielding hero, while fellow Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett plays Maid Marian. This historical action film also stars William Hurt, Matthew Macfadyen, and Mark Strong

Director: Ridley Scott

Running time: 2:20

Kate says -2 1/2 stars “Robin Hood isn’t a terrible movie, it just isn’t a very good one. It’s nearly 2 1/2 hours of mind numbing, monotonous battle scenes full of dirty, bearded men that we end up realizing we don’t care a thing about. Interspersed between the action shots are scenes of uninspiring and unbelievable dialogue. Not a good combination. What this movie lacks is any sort of character development, not even of the main characters, and the supporting cast of characters are all basically interchangeable. The result -  no reason to care what happens…to any of them. On the plus side, there’s some beautiful cinematography when the hand to hand combat slows down enough for us to see it.”

Ebert says -2 stars “Little by little, title by title, innocence and joy is being drained out of the movies. What do you think of when you hear the name of Robin Hood? I think of Errol Flynn, Sean Connery and the Walt Disney character. I see Robin lurking in Sherwood Forest, in love with Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland or Audrey Hepburn), and roistering with Friar Tuck and the Merry Men. I see a dashing swashbuckler. That Robin Hood is nowhere to be found in Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood”…The photography is, however, remarkable, and Crowe and the others are filled with fierce energy.” (read full review)

Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) says – 3 stars “I liked it. It’s on a par with Scott’s “American Gangster”: No revelations, but a satisfying, large-scale genre movie, toned up by its cast. As history, it’s silly. As entertainment, it works.” (read full review)

Rene Rodriguez (Miami Herald) says – 1/2 star “Robin Hood is certainly a grand-looking picture. For a film that’s filled with CGI effects, there isn’t a single shot that looks artificial, and the production design is tremendous. But it’s a hollow, boring spectacle. Robin Hood achieves something you never would have thought possible: it makes you nostalgic for Kevin Costner and Bryan Adams.” (read full review)

Kirk Honeycutt (The Hollywood Reporter) says - 2 1/2 stars “The film’s hodgepodge approach suggests many rewrites to forge a new angle on Robin Hood plus a desire for the movie to play to many constituencies. Yet Scott has an eye — and it’s a very good one — for sieges of castles, charging horsemen, hand-to-hand combat, glistening swords arcing through the air and deadly arrows whistling toward helpless targets. Streitenfeld’s full-bore, multi-theme score beautifully enhances the visual splendors in John Mathieson’s graceful cinematography while the stunt work, CGI and visual effects are all first class.” (read full review)

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