The Last Airbender

1 1/2 out of 5 Stars




The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan's new film, is based off the popular TV show and follows the first season or book. The avatar is the only one who can control the four elements and bring peace to the nations but he's been missing for a hundred years and the fire nation has waged war. Then Katara and Sokko find Aang, the last airbender and avatar. The only problem is that Aang doesn't know how to control the elements yet so they head out to find teachers all while being chased down by the fire nation.

I have to admit. I really did enjoy this film. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily make the film that good. The TV show was a gem. Something unexpected in the realm of kid's animation. Unfortunately Shyamalan didn't translate it very well to the screen. All the characters are there and cast surprisingly well. The general plot is in tact. And it also is a visual feast. And for these things it can be enjoyable but possibly more so if they would have left out the 3D. In that realm almost every film this year has been frustratingly thrown into this madness.

So unfortunately when I think harder about the film after my initial reaction there really is little to the film that makes it good. Much like the Golden Compass the film does not do justice to the source material. The plot may exist in the film but by the end if you've never seen the series you may be trying to fully piece it together. The characters jump from one space to another without any real connection. The major events are still in tact but transitions are missing. Appa and Momo still make appearances but once they do just seem to disappear. And the biggest dilemma of all is that humor seems almost void and turns this film into a fantasy drama. It's an entertaining feast for the eyes but falls far short of what it could have been. So basically, here is another big budget popcorn flick. This is the first time I personally have ever been disappointed in M. Night. I even liked The Happening. So I may have enjoyed this but the reality is that this film just really needed help.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

2 out of 5 Stars




First there was Twilight. Then there was New Moon. Now welcome back to the teenage melodrama with Eclipse. This time around, Bella faces her inner turmoil as she wrestles with the reality that she loves Edward and Jacob. At the same time Victoria is still after her for Edward killing her mate and an army of newborn vampires is created that could wipe everyone out if they aren't taken care of or the infamous Volturi step in.

Truly, Eclipse is the best in the series so far. Sadly, that says very little. Twilight was alright. New Moon was terrible. Eclipse is still pretty bad. These stories are basically the closest thing you could get to a big budget soap opera. And where they went wrong has (at least I believe) nothing to do with the filmmakers. The score was quite excellent. The cinematography absolutely wonderful and I think the best of the three. The acting even improved (though not by a lot). And there was even more action (but only slightly). The different take on the story helped a bit and I think the director must have worked a little on less awkward characters but that doesn't save them from their ridiculous scenarios and dialogue.

Eclipse further exemplifies that Stephanie Meyers books just make horrendous films, especially when realizing how faithful they are to the source material. The books might be enjoyable, at least possibly the first time around, but the reality is that some books should never be movies. This series is a good example. Although Eclipse is the closest they have come to bringing a good film to the screen in this franchise, if they stay true to the books closely there is no possible way to succeed after this. In fact, if so the next film will most definitely be worse. Basically, there is not much of any redemption for this series when it comes to quality. And when it comes to "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" I realize I start to side with "Team Bella's Father." And that's just because he adds a desperately needed small dose of humor to this laughable film.

Twilight made vampires "cool." Well, vampires were never meant to be cool. For good reason. And then it gave young girls a false reality. To say that this series is like teenie bopper softcore porn doesn't seem to far off the map it seems. Especially if you start comparing it to the idea of romance novels. Now in the midst of it's shortcomings it at least turns on the grounds of modern cinema and advocates abstinence. Unfortunately that can't save this sad storytelling from being so laughable. This is a generational film series and one that has a very influential impact on society but one that falls far short of such series of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. At least those series have some quality. Here, we just have young girls ogling muscular guys with their shirts off.

Killers

3 out of 5 Stars



Katherine Heigl is Jen, a recent bachlerotte who takes a trip with her parents to Nice, France. Ashton Kutcher is Spencer, a spy working for the CIA. Spencer meets Jen. Jen and Spencer fall in love. Then they get married and Spencer gives up his former life. There is only one problem, now a bounty has been put out on Spencer's head so everyone he knows is trying to kill him.

The plot of this film feels a bit contrived and teeter totters between action conspiracy and comedy and balances just enough to find a place to withstand falling. Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl are two actors who are in the realm of people you sometimes like on screen but many people don't. But in this film they seem to pull it off in a quirky way. I think their roles work more in a world of suspended belief than reality but at the same time have a kind of real world charm that pushes you towards wanting to root for them.

But really it's the entertainment factor if anything that saves the film. The comedy is actually funny at times and the action is entertaining. There is also a good moral tale beneath about taking responsibility for your actions, second chances, and the opportunity to change into a different person from your past. The supporting cast also rounds out this film and of course Tom Selleck has an awesome mustache. In the end, Killers isn't much for plot, but it's still fun and entertaining. Though it's still hard to buy Ashton Kutcher as a spy.

Grown Ups

2 out of 5 Stars




Grown Ups follows five childhood friends who won a basketball championship under a coach of theirs. This coach was a close figure in their life. Now they have all grown up to be successful or not so much but the coach dies and his funeral all brings them back together along with their families. Soon they are all staying at an old lake house from their childhood where many boyish antics occur.

This film is one of those comedies that is not only ridiculous but incredibly stupid. For the majority the humor is immature, gross, or just plain wrong. On occasion the humor takes a direction that causes to film to actually be funny, but rarely. A large ensemble cast is set up with noticeable names; Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider. However the talents of some of these actors are wasted. It's a story about learning to grow up that doesn't quite get to anything good and seems to skimp around the point a bit too much. It basically feels like a reminiscent film and trying to remember what it was like to be twelve except at the age of forty.

However, Grown Ups is a good morality tale relevant to the current dilemma faced with the new generation of kids growing up in a technological world. During the film most of the kids are spoiled, stuck up brats. They soon learn that there is more to life than video games, cell phones, and all else that relies on technology and discover the great things that older generations grew up on. And it does have an important message that we all need to take responsibility when we get older, not just live in the past. But even so, that doesn't save this sort of chuckle comedy from its drastic fall into immaturity.

Toy Story 3

4 out of 5 Stars



Pixar returns with its next feature in the third installment of the Toy Story series, the only to date sequels of any Pixar film. This time Andy is all grown up and is about to head off to college. He must therefore decide what to do with all his old toys and when he puts them in a trash bag to go in the attic they accidentally get thrown out. The toys then escape into a donation box and wind up at Sunnyside Daycare. They soon discover that a big bear named Lotso is running the joint but not for the better. Soon it's up to Woody to help save the day and help the toys escape and return to Andy.

Pixar really does have an amazing streak for films. To this day they still have not made a terrible film. People can argue against cars all they want, I still think it was well done. But Toy Story definitely has a special place and the third installment not only once again has the humor that kids can enjoy, but also the occasional adult humor and on top of that there are a large number of toys that adults will remember from their younger years. Toy Story 3 is, like most Pixar films, a film that will pull your heart strings. You'll feel for those toys. I know I did. And it's not so much because you like toys. Rather, it's because these particular toys embody so much of what the human heart longs for and the good inside people strives for. They look out for each other and they don't leave their fellow toy behind. And even when Woody is confronted with the evil Lotso and getting back at him, he still does the right thing. Andy's toys are ones of justice and honor. And it is in these toys that human truth is conveyed.

And of course once again, the wonderful voice talents of the previous two films have returned. There is no doubt in my mind that Pixar has one of the greatest ways of making films; crafting great stories before they even begin. Toy Story 3 is just another gem to add to the wonderful collection of Pixar. And of course that short, Night and Day, was pretty darn clever as well.

The Karate Kid

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Dre Parker and his mom have just moved to China. Dre doesn't fit in but he meets a nice girl. Unfortunately he also meets the school bullies who know kung fu and train at a merciless school. Then Dre meets Mr. Han, the maintenance man, who knows kung fu and soon decides to train him. Dre's training prepares him to take part in the official kung fu competition. So basically, the same plot as the original Karate Kid only with kung fu and the kid moves to another country.

When it comes to remakes, this film really is quite faithful. But more accurately it really is a retelling, as I have heard is what the filmmakers said it was. I also understand that the filmmakers have great respect for the original and in this case the new lives up to the old. And if you ask me it exceeds the old. The characters have more depth here. There are more dynamics between the teacher and the student and their lives are always distinctly separate. Kung Fu also looks better on screen than karate and of all the film stars Jackie Chan really is one of the best to portray a kung fu master on screen. This is perhaps one of his best performances.

One of the best parts about this film is that it shows the training that Jaden Smith went through. This kind of authenticity adds to the film immensely and even though it is almost 2 1/2 hours long, it doesn't feel quite that long. The plot may be simple, but it's the same as the previously done and beloved Karate Kid. Only this time the fight scenes are more intense, the master is able to hold his own and truly proves it, and you'll want to cheer for the student at the tournament even more. And even though it's more intense, The Karate Kid teaches important lessons of peace versus violence in the midst of martial arts.

Knight and Day

3 out of 5 Stars



In Knight and Day, June Havens soon finds her life entangled in that of Roy Miller, a secret agent. Despite his attempts to keep her off the plane he's on, higher authorities find a way to get her on and before she knows it she can't escape Roy, leading a series of misadventures.

Knight and Day is a simple movie with a pretty simple plot and one dimensional characters. But at the same time there is lots of action, plenty of witty one liners, and surprising performances by Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. And the filmmakers of course also try to keep you guessing as to the truth. But the reality is that the film just isn't that unpredictable. And I'm pretty sure that it's not supposed to be either. It's a basic summer popcorn flick. You've got action, you've got humor, and really not much else. But the cast makes this movie surprisingly fun. It seemed hard at first to see Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz fitting together in the same movie, but once all the excitement is over it really does seem to work. Although this film is nothing special, it is fun.

Jonah Hex

2 out of 5 Stars




Jonah Hex is yet another of many comic book/graphic novel films to fill the screen this year. Josh Brolin and Megan Fox star in this action western comic story about Jonah Hex, a civil war soldier turned bounty hunter after a man named Turnbull kills his family and brands him alive. From his near death experience Jonah is able to communicate with the dead by bringing them back to life. Soon it turns out that Turnbull faked his own death and Jonah Hex is hired by the government to stop him before he uses a powerful weapon that was never fully completed. And somewhere in the middle of it all Jonah Hex finds time to spend with his love interest, the prostitute, Lilah.

This film is flawed really from beginning to end. The characters are one dimensional, the plot highly cliche, and there is just not enough to any of the story. This has to be one of the shortest comic book movies I have ever seen, running at less than an hour and a half, and it feels like there needed to be more depth which could have been found in a longer movie. When events occur they happen quickly and then end. When supporting characters enter they quickly disappear and we might see them again in a short scene or two. Anyone other than the antagonist, protagonist, and love interest seem to have really any meaning. And of course there is the irritation that ever time Megan Fox shows up on screen her face looks like it was airbrushed on screen.

On the pro side, Jonah Hex has potential to be an interesting character. The action is also fun at times and the gadgets entertaining, though overall it is all quite over the top. It's the kind of movie that if you turn off your mind you could enjoy it. It is the completely mindless action popcorn flick. Sometimes they're fun. In the case of Jonah Hex, it's sort of fun. But even the short action sequences can't save this film but everything else it's lacking. Even The Losers, a previous film this year based off a DC comic, was much more fun. And of course this film is also a western. A completely and ridiculously over the top action western.

Splice

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Clive and Elsa are scientists skilled in the field of genetic splicing. Recently they have created genetically cloned creatures for their experiments at their company. Now Elsa decides that they should take a step forward and try to clone with human DNA, something that Clive is completely against. But somehow Elsa convinces Clive to let her do it and every time that Clive tries to end the process, Elsa finds a way to keep it going, way past term like she originally promised, ultimately resulting in Dren, a quickly growing cross human and animal cloned hybrid.

Splice is not necessarily an easy movie to watch and in my opinion by no means a film just for pure entertainment. It is dark and sometimes disturbing, exploring areas that very, very few films dare go. But I think that it is a well put together film that explores a important forbidden realm that no one seems willing to talk about; human cloning. And it explores this realm in a way that does not condone it in any way. The film is unnerving but with its cast, splendid soundtrack, and creative direction from Vincenzo Natali, Splice soars as a cautionary tale. Yes, there were some moments that could have been toned down a notch, but in the end the films intensity helps reiterate the undertone of the issues with cloning.

This is a film that traversed boundaries, asked daring questions, and tackled a tough subject. It laid out in the open the high moral ambiguity of these ideas and how it skews all lines of right and wrong. This isn't a film for everyone to see and its not a film you should see just for entertainment. There are plenty of films for that. But every once in a while a film comes along like this with an important message that needs to be heard. These are movies that you don't always want to watch more than once. But in this case I enjoy most of the film and respect the whole for what it is. And though it is dark and disturbing, it is also intriguing.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Prince of Persia is based upon the best selling Sands of Time game released in 2003 that follows a young prince who is tricked into releasing the sands by the treacherous Vizier and then is aided by a princess to undo what he has done. In the film, Prince Dastan is taken in by the king at an early age from the streets. Years later he and his two brothers are tricked into invading the holy city of Alumut where Dastan finds the dagger of time. He is then framed with his father's murder and winds up on the run along with the beautiful princess of Alumut who is the guardian of the dagger. The prince of the princess then set out on a quest to restore what is right.

The game Sands of Time is in my opinion one of the greatest games ever created. The story is good, the characters are easily likable, and the game play is terribly addicting and new for its time. The film is a splendid adaptation of the game. If one has never played the game what they must understand is that the movie is a fun ride with lots of action and adventure. The villain isn't meant to be completely ambiguous in a plot twist and the story isn't meant to be unpredictable but rather creative and fun. So the reality is that the film may have a simple story but it is one very fun ride.

This is perhaps also one of the best video game film adaptations ever made. The story is similar to that of the game with the army invading another kingdom and the prince going on a quest to set things right. The major characters are still there with the same wit and charm that the game offered and they incorporated minor elements from some of the later games as well. Personally I never thought that Jake Gyllenhaal could have pulled it off based off some of her earlier roles but he did a pretty good job and Gemma Arterton proved better than she did in Clash of the Titans. The action is fun but the stunts are absolutely wonderful and may just make you want to run up walls and over buildings yourself.

Get Him To the Greek

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Jonah Hill and Russel Brand reprise their roles as characters from the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall in this raunchy comedy in the same vain as The Hangover. In Get Him To the Greek Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is given the task by his boss to go and retrieve famous rock star Aldous Snow (Russel Brand) and bring him to the Greek theater for an anniversary concert. The only problem is that Aldous is intent on staying where he or making side trips for drugs and sex.

This film is from the same director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The problem is that the source material is not so solid. There was so many underlying messages and substance material in Forgetting Sarah Marshall that the raunchiness wasn't so horrid. Unfortunately this time around there is very little substance and a whole lot more sex jokes. In fact, that's what most of the movie is. Sex and drug jokes. It's wrong but it's funny. Just like the hangover. That doesn't make this a great film. It's an all right film. It seems that about half the movie is funny and other is just frustrating or incredibly wrong. But if there is one great thing to be said about the film it's that by the end it points out how a life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll could very well leave one alone and empty inside.

There are a few new twists with the characters, including more ridiculous Aldous Snow songs, including one about fuzzy walls which is pretty entertaining. But the reality we probably didn't need an entire movie about this character. It's just not quite good enough.

Shrek Forever After

2 out of 5 Stars



Just when we thought that Dreamworks had run out of fairy tale ideas they return to, well ... show us that they really don't. In this latest and final installment of the Shrek series, Shrek lives his happily ever after life only to find it too frustrating and mundane, desiring to live the old ogre life he used to at the beginning of the first film. Therefore, he decides to sign a contract with Rumplestiltskin to have that. But there's a catch ... he has to give a day in return but Shrek doesn't care what day. Now Shrek finds himself in a world where everyone is scared of him but all his friends don't know him.

Part of what made the first couple films so enjoyable was their charm and mix of somewhat adult humor with themes and storylines that kids could understand. Sure, the films were a little bit more crude than one would usually expect for a family movie, but they were still pretty good. The humor was good and they were really quite creative. This film really is nothing like the first two. It's more like the third film but with a creative energy puttering out.

Shrek Forever After has not only a plot that no kid could ever understand, but the charm and humor that used to exist is virtually lacking. It's still better than earlier family films of the year such as Diary of A Wimpy Kid, but the enjoyment factor of the earlier installments isn't quite there. Even three had a pretty heavy adult storyline but I still enjoyed it. At the same time it can be said that the animation by Dreamworks is wonderful. On the big screen you can tell the detail that the animators put into the film with spots and lines on characters and surroundings. Everything is amazingly detailed. Unfortunately that doesn't save the film lack of creativity. When all that the Shrek makers can come up with is Rumplestiltskin, the Piped Piper, and multiplying ogres, then the carriage has turned back into a pumpkin before the movie started. It's the films like this that are leaving Dreamworks behind in the animation game with Pixar.

Letters To Juliet

3 out of 5 Stars



Letters to Juliet follows lead character Sophie on the typical romantic comedy quest to find true love. At the beginning of the film she is engaged to a young man who is thoroughly engaged in his work starting a new restaurant, so much so that he ignores Sophie more than he should. They take a pre-honeymoon vacation to Italy where Sophie spends much of the time on her own. While exploring Verona, she stumbles upon what is said to be the wall beneath the balcony of Shakespeare's Juliet. Here women write letters to Juliet asking for advice and Sophie soon discovers there are women who write back and Sophie joins them. She discovers an old letter in the wall and writes a thoughtful letter back and meets and elderly woman named Claire and her grandson and sets out on a trip with them to try and find Claire's old love, Lorenzo.

Letters to Juliet is a typical romantic comedy in almost all ways from the set up to the end. This means that there is plenty of romance, the ending is predictable, and unsuprising events keep characters from being together for most of the film. But all the same the film is still enjoyable. Amanda Seyfried gives a spark to her performance that was lacking in her previous romance role of the year, Dear John. The characters are fun and there are plenty of comic moments to make this film more than a eye roller.

Something I very much respect about this film is the target audience. It is one of the only films I know of (at least for a romantic comedy) that targets both a very young and a very old audience at the same time. And it does a good job of succeeding at the same time. Romantic comedies have never been known for their quality in the direction of award status, but rather as quality in their specific genre. It is a chick flick and a pretty good one at that. And within the story there is also breathtaking shots of the countryside of Italy.

When you see it, don't expect too much. It's a typical romantic comedy after all. But it's still enjoyable, as long as you let yourself get immersed in the story.