Public Enemies
Rated: R
Running Time: 2Â hours 23 minutes
3 stars out of 4
This movie literally draws you in right away. There are no opening credits or scene setters. John Dillinger's adventures begin immediately. I found myself sucked into the story, but in the end I realized there was probably a lot more story to tell. It may seem hard to believe considering the movie is 2 and a half hours long.
Johnny Depp does a wonderful job of playing a bank robber who thinks he's invincible and Chritsian Bale is quite convincing as Melvin Purvis, the man who won't rest until Dillinger is behind bars. However, even with all the bank robberies and chases I still felt like I only saw a small portion of Dillinger's life. A perfect example of this was the love story between Dillinger and Billie Frechette (played by Marion Cotillard). Their love story was reduced to just a few encounters which made it seem unrealistic that he would put his life on the line to get back to her.
This is still worth seeing, but if you're going just to see the scenes shot in Wisconsin you'll be disappointed. You'll be able to recognize our Capitol, but that's about it.
Click here for showtimes at Star Cinema.
The Uninvited
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
3 out of 4 stars
I expected this to be another typical horror movie with some freaky special effects. That's not the case at all!
When I was watching the movie I was wondering why David Strathairn and Elizabeth Banks would be in a simple horror movie? The reason? This is not a simple horror movie. This movie is a lot more like The Sixth Sense.
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Without giving too much away, this is the story of a girl who returns home after spending time in a mental institution. She is sent there after her already sick mother dies in an accidental house fire. This movie had me completely fooled all the way until the end.
You can see this movie at
Taken
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
3 stars out of 4
Liam Neeson takes us through a kick-butt hour and half adventure as he attempts to save his daughter who has been kidnapped in Europe. When I first saw the previews I thought this movie had the potential to be quite annoying. I thought Neeson's character would keep almost finding his daughter. It's just the opposite. As soon as he's on the case, I enjoyed watching him do everything in his power to track her down.
There's lots of kills in this movie, but somehow it's still not that violent. If you're a fan of movies like The Bourne Identity or even the television show 24, you'll love this movie.
See this movie at
Here are The Movie Guys with their take on Taken:
Last Chance Harvey
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
3 stars out of 4
Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson give two great performances in this picture about two people who haven't had much luck in love. Hoffman plays Harvey Shine and American who is in London because his daughter is getting married there. Hoffman does a fanastic job of playing a divorced guy who's had a lot more downs then ups recently in his life.
Emma Thompson plays Kate Walker who is just an average English woman who can't seem to get it right when it comes to finding a man. I found myself feeling sad for both characters for different reasons. Hoffman has to watch his ex-wife's new and better life without him and Thompson has to accept she's not going to get much more out of her life then a few good friends and a very worried mother. Watching the two of them trying to create a romance is very sweet.
This is a quick movie and doesn't tie itself up at the end in a neat little bow, which I think makes it even better.
You can see this movie at
Bolt
Rated: PG
Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
2.75 stars out of 4
Always a sucker for cartoons and talking dogs, I liked this movie a lot. Bolt is the story of a dog who works in telelvision, but doesn't know it. He thinks he has superpowers and is really saving his "owner" each and every day.
Bolt accidentally escapes from the television set and is out in the real world trying to save his owner. John Travolta is the voice of Bolt and Miley Cyrus plays the roll of his master. If you ever watch Larry David's show "Curb Your Enthusiam" you'll recoginze the voice of the cat Bolt meets out in the real world. She's played by the wife of Larry David's agent in the HBO television show. Sussie Essman does a great job, but would sound even better if she was allowed to swear. Of course, she doesn't because this is a movie for kids.
There are not a lot of pop culture references or jokes for adults, but this is a breezy piece of animation good for the little ones.
Brought to you by Star Cinema
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1hour 43 minutes
2.5 stars out of 4
It's got all the bells and whistles of sci-fi movies these days. There are some cool special effects and some loop holes in the story. This is a remake of a classic from the 1950's, which I have never seen but I think the message is the same. Humans should take better care of the earth.
Keanu Reeves plays an alien who comes to planet earth to take care of business. Jennifer Connelly is a scientist who makes a connection with Reeves and does her best to save us all. I wasn't bored in this movie, but I wasn't blown away either. I really didn't feel like I was on the edge of my seat wondering if we were all doomed. Maybe it's because I'm so used to special effects or maybe because the movie wasn't that special.
There's plenty to see during the holidays, but if you want some good special effects which are made even better on the IMAX go check this one out.
Brought to you by Star Cinema
Seven Pounds
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes
3.75 stars out of 4
Maybe I was just feel extra emotional the day I saw this movie, but I loved it. I'm not embarassed (okay maybe a little) to say I cried my eyes out during this film.
There's been a lot of talk or non-talk about this movie. All the people who are associated with it aren't telling much about the story line saying it will ruin the movie. I agree. However, I figured out the mystery in this movie about half way through it, but still loved it. This is not like "The Sixth Sense" or "The Usual Suspects" where you don't figure it out until the very last scene. It's okay if you figure out what's going on. In fact, once I did that's what made me even more weepy.
Will Smith and Rosario Dawson do an incredible job of showing us a different kind of love story.
Brought to you by Star Cinema
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Seven Pounds
