Unless you’ve been in solitary confinement in Azkaban for the past few months, you know that we are mere hours away from the release of  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

At my house we are counting down the minutes until the magical moment.

(It’s no secret that I have some Harry Potter fanatics in my family. You can check out the party we had a few summers ago to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince here.)

Anyway, we found a fabulous craft to keep ourselves occupied, and to help us while away the hours until the big event at 12:01 on Thursday night. (Unless of course you’re lucky enough to be me this week. I get to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at 8:00 on Thursday, thanks to a friend who has rented out two theaters for a corporate showing.)

So without further ado…

How to Make Harry Potter Wands

Supplies:

Construction paper
Elmer’s glue
Chop sticks or small dowels cut to the size of a chop stick
Glue gun and glue sticks (You’ll need about 3 glue sticks per wand.)
Craft paint
Marbles or small stones
Scissors

Directions:

Step 1 - Spread a generous amount of Elmer's glue on a piece of construction paper, paying special attention to the edges.

Step 2 - Place chop stick at corner of paper and begin to roll paper securely around stick.

Continue rolling paper around chop stick, wrapping tightly.

Make sure to have plenty of glue at the end corner. Let dry completely before continuing on to Step 3.

Step 3 - Cut off both ends of rolled up construction paper roll, to desired size.

Step 4 - Put hot glue into both ends of roll, making sure to fill up each end until the glue is even with the end of the roll.

Step 5 - Place marble or stone at one end of wand, using a large amount of hot glue. Once attatched, add more glue around where the marble meets the paper.

Step 6 - Put generous amount of glue on the handle end of the wand, being careful to keep hot glue from dripping onto your hand. As it begins to set a bit, add another layer of glue if you'd like a thicker handle.

Step 7 - Use glue gun tip to shape the handle, making grooves, lines or squiggles, whatever you think fits your own personal wand style. During this shaping step, DO NOT add more hot glue, merely use the tip to shape while glue is still pliable.

Step 8 - Once glue is set and cooled on the handle, add hot glue to wand end of paper roll. Be creative. There is no right or wrong way to design your wand. On this one, I simply made a thin vine around the wand end.

Step 9 - Once all hot glue has set and cooled, paint a base coat of black on the entire wand. Let dry completely.

Step 10 - Now it's time to paint your wand using craft paint. Let dry completely before moving on to next step.

We like to use metalic paints for a more magical looking wand. Gold, silver, copper, brown and bronze work well as the overall color. Brighter shades are good for the accent color.

Step 11 - Now comes the black-wash step, which makes your wand look antiqued. Simply mix a few drops of black paint with a small amount of water. Mixture should be thin. Test it out by putting the wet brush at the inside top of the cup. The mixture should run easily down the cup, but still leave some black color as it goes.

Step 12 - Standing wand on end, quickly apply a generous amount of black-wash over entire wand. It's okay if it runs down the wand.

Step 13 - Using a dry paper towel, lightly wipe off the excess black-wash, leaving black in the nooks and crannies. Let dry completely.

And viola…your own magical Harry Potter wand. (FYI…they are surprisingly sturdy because of the chop stick  and the hot glue and paint. Definitely sturdy enough for plenty of spell casting.)

Here are some other wands we’ve made, in case your creativity needs a jump start.

~Kate

Enjoy your Coffee Break…and your Harry Potter wands!

Here’s the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Related articles

• Harry Potter Stars As Children: Look Back At Years of Magic (huffingtonpost.com)
• Harry Potter World Cup: Snape Vs. Ron For The Win! (moviesblog.mtv.com)
• ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Camp Out At Lincoln Center For U.S. Premiere (newyork.cbslocal.com)

Reel reviews for real people.

Plot: Academy Award winner George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller. As an assassin, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian countryside. He relishes being away from death for a spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious contact, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack and Clara’s time together evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.–© Focus

Rating: R for violence, sexual content and nudity

Genre: Action/Adventure, drama

Starring: George Clooney, Paolo Bonacelli, Thekla Reuten, Violante Placido

Director: Anton Corbijn

Runing time: 1:45

Kate says – 3 1/2 stars “This is definitely one of those times where it’s good for the average movie-goer to know a little bit about what to expect from a film BEFORE heading into the theater. The previews would have you believe The American is an action/suspense/thriller. I’ll just tell you right now that there is very little action in this movie…plenty of suspense, plenty of thrill, just no action. The story line is as simple as it can get. Clooney plays a bad guy who is tired of being a bad guy so he wants to get out of the bad guy business, but other bad guys keep trying to kill him so he goes away and hides out. But then he falls for a beautiful prostitute with a heart of gold, and well I won’t tell you the ending, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out well before the credits roll. This is one time the story is actually not the highlight of the movie. The film’s strength lies in it’s unbelievably beautiful cinematography. Every shot looks like a beautifully lit and framed photograph.  It’s not only the breathtaking shots of Sweden and Italy, but also the more mundane business of Clooney assembling a made to order gun, that are equally stunning to the eye.  I see the film as more of a character study than an action flick. Clooney gives a subdued and captivating performance as Jack, with a subtle flicker of a facial expression, or the set of his shoulders, often being the only clue to the inner workings of his character. Perhaps, the most noticeable departure from the typical suspense film formula, is the quietness and stillness of the movie. A good portion of the 1:45 running time is spent in complete silence, without even a note of a background score. It’s so quiet you’ll feel conspicuous even chewing your popcorn. It’s unnerving and uncomfortable, but only serves to add to the slow sustained tension that builds throughout the film. The American is about the least American feeling movie I’ve seen in quite some time. This is European filmmaking all the way. You will either love this one, or think it’s an utter waste of your money and time, but at least you can now make an educated guess as to which side of the border you’ll be sitting on.”

Ebert says – 4 stars - “The director is a Dutchman named Anton Corbijn… Here he paints an idyllic Italian countryside as lyrical as his dialogue is taciturn. There is not a wrong shot. Every performance is tightly controlled. Clooney is in complete command of his effect The entire drama of this film rests on two words, “Mr. Butterfly.” We must be vigilant to realize that once, and only once, they are spoken by the wrong person. They cause the entire film and all of its relationships to rotate. I felt exaltation at this detail. It is so rare to see a film this carefully crafted, this patiently assembled like a weapon, that when the word comes it strikes like a clap of thunder. A lesser film would have underscored it with a shock chord, punctuated it with a sudden zoom, or cut to a shocked close up. “The American” is too cool to do that. Too Zen, if you will.” (read full review)

Claudia Puig (USA Today) says – 3 stars “The film has a contemplative allure, unfolding at a deliberate pace. There is no pressure to inject the requisite jolts and chases of American thrillers. There is only one chase scene, no explosions and a limited exchange of gunfire, considering that Jack is a weapons expert. Clooney plays the enigmatic title character with mature confidence. In a climactic scene, he communicates volumes with his eyes and tense facial expression. The film, with its vague, rambling plot, works best as a study of a loner seeking to escape his past. Despite its rugged individualism, The American feels distinctly and lyrically European.” (read full review)

Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) says – 2 1/2 stars “The new George Clooney film “The American” is pretty. It’s also pretty dour, even with all the luscious Italian Abruzzo mountain scenery, used here as a backdrop to the tale of an old school, one-at-a-time weapons manufacturer trying to get out of the business he’s in, by way of One Last Score…Audiences who have been heavily Bourned and Salted by their thrillers lately might find “The American” a mite … ruminative for their tastes. The movie is a paradox. It’s ostentatiously restrained.” (read full review)

Owen Gleiberman (Entertainment Weekly) says – “C” “In the opening sequence of The American, George Clooney is in the middle of a hookup in snowy Sweden when he bumps off the two men who’ve been hired to kill him and shoots the woman he was sleeping with in the back. (She’s innocent, but he can leave no witnesses.) That’s a promising moment… But The American, directed by Anton Corbijn (Control), turns out to be a draggy, rather morose art thriller. The American ends the summer not with a bang but an existential whimper.” (read full review)

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Plot: Everything is totally sweet. Scott Pilgrim’s life is so awesome. He’s 23 years old, in a rock band, “between jobs,” and dating a cute high school girl. Everything’s fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, roller blading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. But the path to Ms. Flowers isn’t covered in rose petals. Ramona’s seven evil exes stand between Scott and true happiness. Can Scott defeat all seven of the bad guys and get the girl without turning his precious little life upside-down, before the game is over? (IMDb)

Rating: PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references

Genre: Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans

Director: Edgar Wright

Running time: 1:53

Kate says – 3 1/2 stars ” Does my rating shock you as much as it does me?  By all rights, I should not be a fan of this movie…I’m too old, I’m female, I don’t love video games, last time I checked I don’t have ADD, I’m not a computer geek, and I’m not a fan of the graphic novel genre.  And yet I have to say this is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining movie experiences I’ve had in a long time. It’s wild, fast-paced, in your face, bright,  fresh, funny, creative and ridiculous! It’s full of comic-book style word bubbles and video game logic (which is to say there is no logic).  Either you’ll “get it” and love this movie, or you’ll think this it’s one of the worst movies of the year. The sheer cleverness and inventiveness of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World served as a nice, albeit surprising reminder of why I love movies.”

Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinel) says – 3 1/2 stars ” Of all the sweet-wimpy-guy-chases-the-hot-girl  Michael Cera movies, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is the Michael Cera-iest. Of all the gonzo-goofy comic book adaptations that embrace video gaming  sensibilities, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the gonzo-goofiest…Scott Pilgrim is so much fun, so dazzling in its style and manic energy, that it amounts to a definitive statement.” (read full review)

Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) says – 3 1/2 stars “Scott Pilgrim is a breathless rush of a movie that jumps off the screen, spins your head around and then stealthily works its way into your heart. Don’t worry too much about hugging and learning and stuff. Just revel in those clutter-free last moments when two people finally get enough of a grip on who they are to make an honest, human connection. It’s a game-changer.” (read full review)

Owen Gleiberman (Entertainment Weekly) says – “B+” “The movie, with its charming visual tropes (phones that literally go ”Ring,” a wheel of fortune that offers Scott two possible responses, one of which he takes), is a romantic comedy that moves at the speed of texting…I dug the freshness of Scott Pilgrim, but I wish that it had a little less kick-a**. Still, it’s a true original.” (read full review)

Claudia Puig (USA Today) says – 3 stars “Scott Pilgrim, a lovelorn musician, is an appealing fusion of nerdy, cheeky and vulnerable. So, who better to play him than Michael Cera? Cera has made a career playing doe-eyed, high-voiced, wisecracking characters. He seems to be dodging the inevitability of age and maturation. Cera’s unwavering youth works well for the title character in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, an inventive and whimsical action-comedy/love story. The film fuses an indie/punk rock sensibility with comic-book violence and video game energy, mixed with quirky humor and sassy pop culture references.” (read full review)

Eric Snider (Film.com) says – “B+” “If a movie that looked and sounded like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World had come out 40 years ago, people would have burned the director at the stake for witchcraft. Even by 2010 standards, the way it’s written, performed, shot, and edited is supremely unusual, an exuberant mixture of comic books, video games, and hipster romance by way of John Hughes. It uses an impressive number of unconventional filmmaking devices, most of which have been done before, but probably not all in the same movie. I bet 10 years from now this will be the norm. For now, it’s almost revolutionary.” (read full review)

Other movie reviews by Kate

Movie reviews by Kate

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

Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard

Director: Christopher Nolan

Running time: 2:28

Plot: In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a single idea within one’s mind can be the most dangerous weapon or… In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a single idea within one’s mind can be the most dangerous weapon or the most valuable asset. (Rotten Tomatoes)

Kate says  – 4 stars “Put your thinking caps on for this one, because you’re going to need them.  Here’s my advice on watching Inception…just go with it. Pay attention. Try to keep up but don’t expect to understand what’s going on, and know that you’re in good company  because no one else knows what’s going on either. Inception is startlingly clever, imaginative, fascinating and intense.  Finally an action film that actually makes us pay attention to more than the blur of motion. The words of movie reviewers can’t possibly do this movie justice, you’re gonna have to see this one to believe it.”

Ebert says – 4 stars “It’s said that Christopher Nolan spent ten years writing his screenplay for “Inception.” That must have involved prodigious concentration, like playing blindfold chess while walking a tight-wire. The film’s hero tests a young architect by challenging her to create a maze, and Nolan tests us with his own dazzling maze. We have to trust him that he can lead us through, because much of the time we’re lost and disoriented. “Inception” does a difficult thing. It is wholly original, cut from new cloth, and yet structured with action movie basics…Here is a movie immune to spoilers: If you knew how it ended, that would tell you nothing unless you knew how it got there. And telling you how it got there would produce bafflement. The movie is all about process, about fighting our way through enveloping sheets of reality and dream, reality within dreams, dreams without reality. It’s a breathtaking juggling act…” (read full review)

Claudia Puig (USA Today) says – 3 1/2 stars “With Inception, writer/director Christopher Nolan not only cements his status as Hollywood’s most innovative filmmaker, he has created a daring genre: the surrealist heist thriller. Or, maybe he has developed the dream invasion action epic. No matter what you call it, the story is the most complex of any summer movie. Hollywood films generally regard audiences as below average in intelligence. Nolan, the creator of such films as Memento, Insomnia and The Dark Knight, regards his viewers as possibly smarter than they are —or at least as capable of rising to his inventive level. That’s a tall order. But it’s refreshing to find a director who makes us stretch, even occasionally struggle, to keep up.” (read full review)

Rene Rodriguez (Miami Herald) says – 3 1/2 stars “Inception is filled with grand, astonishing sights (in a dream, Page folds Paris onto itself as if she were folding a sheet of paper) and small, ingenious bits (DiCaprio gets stuck in a narrow alley while running away from bad guys, and the claustrophobia is nerve-racking). Nolan pays as much attention to small details as to big ones. The movie is as carefully constructed as a Faberge egg. The last half hour, a dream within a dream within a dream, is a breathtaking marvel of editing and pacing, cutting back and forth among three realms, the events in one impacting the others. The effect tickles your mind, then blows it right out of your skull.” (read full review)

Rex Reed (New York Observer) says – 1 star “Inception is the kind of pretentious perplexity in which one or two reels could be mischievously transposed, or even projected backward, and nobody would know the difference. It’s pretty much what we’ve come to expect from summer movies in general and Christopher Nolan movies in particular, but I keep wondering: Can he do anything of more lasting value? He’s got vision, but creating jigsaw puzzles nobody can figure out and using actors as puppets who say idiotic things, dwarfed by sets like sliding Tinker Toys, doesn’t seem like much of an accomplishment to me.” (read full review)

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: 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)

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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)

Reel reviews for real people

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)

Other movie reviews by Kate

Reel reviews for real people

Rating: PG-13  for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero “Iron Man,” reuniting director Jon Favreau and… Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero “Iron Man,” reuniting director Jon Favreau and Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. In “Iron Man 2,” the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr. , Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson

Director: Jon Favreau

Running time: 2:04

Kate says – 3 stars “The big blockbuster sequel we’ve been waiting for is finally here. And you’ll be happy to know that  it’s actually very good. Better than the previews make it look. We get more of the irresistible Robert Downey  as the witty, unpredictable, and arrogant Tony Shark. We also get a great over the top hardened villain in Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko, a.k.a. Whiplash. Add in a  sexy Scarlett Johansson kicking some butt as Black Widow. There’s also plenty of big loud CGI action and  fighting bang for your buck. (I felt like the fight scenes were a tad too long and  were my least favorite part of the movie, but the others screening Iron Man 2 with me didn’t seem to mind a bit.) The dialogue is sharp and full of the smart, clever, snarky one-liners that sets this movie apart from the typical action/super hero flick. There’s a little something for everyone. I think you’re gonna like this one.”

Ebert says – 3 stars “Iron Man 2″ is a polished, high-ozone sequel, not as good as the original but building once again on a quirky performance by Robert Downey Jr. The superhero genre doesn’t necessarily require good acting, but when it’s there (as in “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight”), that takes it up a level…You want a sequel, you got a sequel. “Iron Man 2,” directed like the first one by Jon Favreau, gets the job done. Since both movies have essentially the same story arc, there aren’t a lot of surprises, however, which started me to wondering how the guys survive inside those suits. Sure, the suits are armored, but their bodies aren’t. How many dizzying falls and brutal blows and sneaky explosions can you survive without breaking every bone in your body? Just asking’. At the end of a long day, those suits should be filled with bloody pulp.” (read full review)

Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) says – 2 1/2 stars “The first “Iron Man” celebrated Downey Jr.’s Stark as a sardonic, charismatic winner while questioning, for a while, anyway, the means by which Stark’s family made its billions. The new film is far more in love with its hardware…What saves it is Favreau’s work with the cast. He’s still no great shakes as a shaper of action sequences, but at least he and Theroux realize there’s more to a zillion-dollar franchise item than setting up the next destruction showcase. It helps that nearly every performer on screen has a verifiable, useful sense of humor. Downey Jr. and Rourke never quite emerge as epic contenders in a death match, but they’re terrific faces to watch in any circumstance.” (read full review)

Pete Hammond (Box Office Magazine) says – 3 1/2 stars (of 5) “As he was the first time around, Downey Jr. is the man! Taking on the mantle of a comic book hero after age 40 is unusual but Downey makes it palatable. Gwyneth Paltrow returns nicely as the ever-faithful Pepper, who is now running the company and trying to keep Tony out of trouble. Cheadle ably replaces Terrence Howard as Rhodey and gets his own “Iron Man” moment, while Slattery has a key flashback cameo as the elder Stark. As one of the new villains, Johansson oozes sex appeal and shows she has a natural flair for martial arts. Meanwhile the tattooed and imposing Rourke is a hoot with thick Russian accent and a penchant for pet birds. Best of all is Rockwell who plays the low-rent rival of Stark to the hilt, particularly in the opening Senate hearing where he tries to unsuccessfully squash his arrogant competitor. Fans of the first will not be bored. This Iron Man may not be the Godfather II of comic book movie sequels critics hope for but it is a complete blast anyway.” (read full review)

Kirk Honeycutt (The Hollywood Reporter) says – 2 stars “Well, that didn’t take long. Everything fun and terrific about “Iron Man,” a mere two years ago, has vanished with its sequel. In its place, “Iron Man 2″ has substituted noise, confusion, multiple villains, irrelevant stunts and misguided story lines. A film series that started out with critical and commercial success will have to settle for only the latter with this sequel; Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Tony Stark/Iron Man will assure that.” (read full review)

Other reviews by Kate