ALIEN VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM

Much more entertaining than the first. Still not really that good of a movie. This takes place in a town and not just with a few explorers like the first. A much bloodier and more adult take on this series which does it more justice, but no character development or much substance to the plot. Just another way to get the Aliens and predator together again for a face off. No one wins again and it's just another way to exploit thier respective franchises. Still I vote for this one over the first one, based on it's R rating and just more fighthing. Neither one is a good movie, but this one makes the time go by faster at least.

IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE

This movie is as terrible as the name! It's a Uwe Boll film and that's all you need to know. He's known as the worst director still working. I've seen a couple of his films, all video game adaptations. All terrible, seriously you can't get much worse than his films. I never thought he was getting a fair shake, but he's by far the worst director I've ever seen. It's hard to explain without watching one of his films. Bad acting and story telling. His films just never seem to mesh and make much sense. Anyone who thinks Michael Bay or Mc G or bad directors haven't seen anything yet. They might not be the best character and story directors, but they are competent at what they do. I really don't think this Uwe Boll guy has a clue.

I'd say watch one of his films, so you can truly understand what I'm talking about. Theres a difference between being a so called "bad director" and simply not knowing what you're doing. Somebody tell me how he still makes movies and better yet somebody tell me why I'm still watching them?

THE BRAVE ONE

Jodie Foster is no Denzel. "Man on Fire" a far superior film, but this one tries to show the dramatic version of a near death fight and the affects it takes on one's body and mind. Jodie Foster does a good job playing the victim of an assault on her and her fiance. Terrance Howard plays the detective hot on the trail of the killings she leaves behind and they form a mutual bond, but the movie just never really got to me. I didn't really care if she got arrested or killed. I kept waiting to cheer for her, but it never happened. It's just your normal drama of a lady trying to over come her past. Worth a viewing, but don't go outta your way to see this one.

THE WATER HORSE:LEGEND OF THE DEEP

A Lock Ness monster story for kids? Let's just say my netflix list is sending my 2nd and 3rd tier films right now. It's actually a fun family film. Really nothing bad or special about this story. They don't really add anything that you haven't heard before. It's stright forward, but it holds your attention for a the running time and I'm satisfied with the end product. It's another story of a kid and his pet and the bond between them. It's no E.T., but it follows that formula and doesn't wreck it, but brings nothing new.

Watch it with if your bored or on t.v. sometime.

Grades for my movies are on the bottom of the review by "labels".

INDIANA JONES & THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

Let's just say I'm a huge fan of sequels and adding to beloved franchises. I mean you only have to look back as far as "Rambo" to see there can still be some great moments for old characters, even 15 to 20 years later. If anyone else, but Spielberg tried to make another Indy movie than it might have been a disaster, but he knows the character too well and let's just say he made a film that belongs in the Indiana Jones library. Could've it been better? Sure. It could've of been a hell of a lot worse though. I put it #3 of the 4. I appreciate what Temple of Doom was trying, but it was just not an Indy film. More of an action and less hidden treasure film, but still good in it's own way, just not the way it is with the other 3 films.

What I liked was that Harrison Ford was back and fell right into place as Dr. Jones without a beat. He didn't use his whip enough, but his wise cracks and character were back and in full effect. I liked the old school look of the film, but then they go and add too much CGI for no reason at all. The film was corny and not the most realistic, but that's how this franchise has always been, so it fitted right in. Entertaining and well made for the content.

What I didn't like was the story. Not really a fan of the crystal skulls and the mythology behind them. I didn't hate the story, but it took all this time for this story? I think they could've came up with this a long time ago. I was hoping the time and re writes and all the scripts meant they found a great artifact to go after? Shia Lebeouf was solid and didn'nt really add much, but he sure didn't hurt the film either. His swinging from the vines needs to be on the cutting room floor, but I understand that they wanted him to save the day, so they can hand him the keys in the coming episodes. It wasn't much of an hunt either. It came to easy for him to find this Akator city of gold? Didn't it seem like it was just a question a way and really no problem solving? Anyways I'm glad they brought him back and I am looking forward to another one, but with Indy in the leading role still. Not quite ready for him to take a supporting actor role in his own films.

I'd go see this film if you like the character. Good summer fun.

UNTRACEABLE

A stylistic thriller that starts off with some promise, but then runs into the same cliche' enings of most suspense murder movies. The movie starts off with a good setup and premise to a killer that's killing people while people watch online and the more who watch the faster the victims dies. Then it just jumps the shark! Too much story needs to be told to the viewer over them discovering it out on their own. It's not a who dunnit movie either. So the mystery isn't even there. It's just a mildy entertaining movie that had promise but loses it's luster in the 3rd act. Not a bad rental, but not a must.

SPEED RACER

Been there and done that before. It's a pretty lame story with an ending you can see a mile away. The stylistic Wachowski bros have a brought some eye candy that goes dull half-way through a 2 hour kid's movie. It has some laughs and some cool action segments, but a film this does not make. A good cast, but with nothing to go off of. Don't expect to hear too much from this film or franchise in the future. Without the style there is absolutely nothing there. I'd rent it if you wanted to see the eye candy for a while.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD

An Indie crime/drama that is very depressing, but still manages to entertain in a wierd way. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is great as usual and Ethan Hawke plays his brother. They decide to rob their parents jewelry store and all hell breaks loose. Anything that can go wrong, does go wrong. It's a dark and depressing story, but good performances and some nice style from different character views. Nothing new was brought to this film, but still done well and held my interest throughout the running time. Not for everyone, because it is character driven and not a lot of action or comedy. It's an intense story that is worth a shot.

IRON MAN

I knew this would be a fun and entertaining film from the start, but I didn't know that it would be a solid movie from start to finish too. I'm very impressed with what "Mikey"(jon favareau) did with the material. He's starting to show a good feel for character direction and story. This could've been just a special effects action film, but he used action to move the story and character forward. This is just a character Arc of Tony Stark(Downey Jr.). The story mirrors a lot of "Batman Begins". It just starts the character and then there is a villian and all and a finale that satisfies, but it's really just the beginning of something bigger and better. Way better than I thought it was going to be, but still no "Batman Begins"! The franchise is off to a good start as long as they have a story in mind for the character and they don't make it up as they go for more money. Go see this now!