WANTED

This is not another "Matrix" rip off. I wasn't sure if this was going to be another summer action film that just throws some special effects and no story or not. The trailers made this movie look like it could be fun and let me tell you something it is! The best thing about the trailers are that they don't give away any of the story and it's actully a pretty darn good one. This movie has action,humor,style and most of all a story that you don't see coming at all. It's quite refreshing to see some really great eye candy with an interesting plot. With a great opeining action sequence and a great finale on a train that is remarkable. Or is that really the finale? Just when you thought you're watching the final act they add another act that doesn't drag on, but is there to finish the story. Great pacing and really fun and cool action sequences that will entertain the hell out of you. Don't let Angelina Jolie being in this film scare you away. One of the best action films that I've seen in a long time. I'd go see this while it's still in the theaters.

GET SMART

I've only seen the show a few times as a kid, so that didn't go into my critique of this film. I wasn't too sure of why I was going to see this film, but it was the new release of the week and I was entertained enough. I'm not a huge fan of Steve Carrell, but he does some good work and I really enjoyed his comic timing in this film. Anne Hathaway is smoking hot and adds to the film surprisingly. The movie kinda gets lost between a total spy spoof or an action film and I really liked they way they decided to do this film. It was never too stupid and Maxwell Smart never just accidentally stumbles across to killing the bad guys. He is quite compentent to a certain level and I'm glad for the movies sake. The story and characters are paper thin, but come on it's a summer action/comedy movie? I thought this could've been terrible, but Carrell is very likeable and pulls of some great gags. Funnier than I thought it would be, but it's no laugh riot. Not a must see, but if you like Carrell I'd check it out on DVD.

WALL E

This film is very beautifully done and looks magnificent! It's Pixar at it's artistic best! That's saying a lot. I've always been a huge fan of Pixar films. They have great stories and they are for both kids and adults. The imagination never ends and they always pull it off with such grace.

Wall E is no different, except this is a new take for Pixar. The main characters don't talk and it's more of a love story? The funny thing is, Pixar actually pulls it off with little to no dialouge. The first half hour or so it', just getting to meet the new character and finding out the backstory with out much talking. The humor is there, but not like most Pixar films. It's quite odd, but also intriguing. When Wall E finally does interact with humans and the story hits mach speed that's when the artistic side goes and becomes more of the summer adventure most expect. Ironically this is the weakest part of the film, but it still works and the heart behind Wall E is pure Disney.

Not the most entertaining as a summer Pixar film or the best Pixar film to date, but a new and exciting version of what's to come from Pixar? I hope so. They just keep inventing new ways to tell old stories. I'd go see this film for sure. It's one of the best films of the year.

THE HAPPENING

M. Night Shymalan's latest has been getting ripped apart by critics. It's not a classic M. Night film, but it's his style and writing that still makes it interesting. The beginning of the movie starts off with a bang and is very chilling! He builds suspense with the best of them. He's right up there with Hitchcock, but then he kinda twirls out of control in the second half. He sets up a very good and scary premise, but he doesn't quite know how to finish it. His movies are all about the characters and their relationships with each other over the gore or the fake scare. His screenplays tend to be written with a little different language than most and for that it seems a little wierd, but thinking back on all of his films, they are all like that and it's just his style. There is no crazy flip twisted ending here either. The climax that he does give you is a little lacking in film terms, but there is an ending and a little monolague at the end that tries to give answers, but fails. This was a very promising start and a decent enough of a finish to recommend it to you. If you enjoy his films, than give this a shot and you'll proabably have a '''what" reaction to it when it's over. That's what his films do. He doesn't make films by the book or the normal formula and that is why I still think he's one of the best film makers out there today. No matter what any critics or A.D.D. audiences think. This film is an aquired taste and belongs in his catalog of films to date. Not his best but not his worst. A new take on a different kind of horror film.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK

Let me just say that I really enjoyed Ang Lee's version. The style, drama, and the little action it had. That being said, it lacked a good villian and a great climax. I would've loved to mix the two together, but hopefully they release Edward Norton's cut of "The Incredible Hulk" on dvd.

This new version acts like the other one doesn't even exist. The opening credits basically tell you what Ang Lee took hours to tell you, but in a montage way. This was an entertaining telling of the Hulk and it has enough character and drma to hold my attention without it being too stupid. Each scene is there to move you towards the next action scene. I just never really feel for Bruce Banner, but I did enjoy the Hulk smashing shit up. The ending is a cool fight scene, but with no substance or leaving me wanting more. It's no "Iron Man", but it entertains and that's half the battle. I'd definatley give this movie a try if you want to see a summer smashing.

THE EYE

Another Japenese thriller re-make. I've been dissappointed in all of them, except with "The Ring". Fortuneately this follows that pattern more than the other films from Japan. There were some creepy parts in this film that surprised me. They stick to the formula that worked for "The Ring" and that's also its downfall. Nothing new, but atleast they stuck with something that works. It's almost like watching the same movie, but with just a different gimmick. No video tape, but this time there is an eye transplant and Jessica Alba can see what her donor saw. Which is some supernatural events that lead her to find her donor and her whole back story. Sound familiar yet? She finds that she needs to finish something for her and that's where the movie turns from a super natural thriller to your straight ahead thriller. Then you know exactly what's going to happen and it does. Not as good as the Ring, but had some entertainment value. Better than any other Japenese import of late, but that's not really saying much.

SEMI-PRO

Will Ferrell is a hit or miss type of guy. I think he does better with somebody to play off of. He's great with little doses of himself. I hated Blades of Glory when he was really the only guy to focus on and it was too over the top. I expected the same from "Semi- Pro" and it surprised me a little. It wasn't terrible like it's predecesor, but it still lacked what an "old school" or "Talladega Nights" had. It's humor relied on vulgarity and that's really what made me laugh the most, but it shows the lack of skill involved in the film. No great laughs or thrills, only Will Ferrell and that's simply not enough. I'd say that this is a step in the right direction, but I hope his next movie is leaps and bounds better. I'd rent this, but it's not a classic "Will Ferrell" movie. I'm hoping his next venture in "Step Brothers"is.