SUNSHINE

I read decent reviews of this film, so I gave it a shot. Let's just say it's for more of the true sci-fi fan. It starts off as a normal save the earth's sun mission and towards the end it makes a full turn into sci-fi crazy stuff. That's where I lost my interest. I'm not really into the crazy artsy crap. It's not that way the whole time and just at the end, but it was enough for me to not really like this film. Slow and well done, but the pay off was too wierd and un rewarding. I might have to give this one anohter shot, but I don't know if I can. Not very entertaining for me. If you like some different styles of movies, then you might enjoy this one. Not terrible, just not my cup of tea.

3:10 TO YUMA

I don't normally like westerns, but I had to watch this one with such great actors in it. They do not dissappoint. It's a very well acted and action filled western. Russell Crowe's performance was great. He plays the villian, but a good villian. It's that type of movie. It's not the everyday good vs. evil shootout film. Both leads have great depth to their characters.

What starts as a normal transport of a captured outlaw to the city of Contention to catch the 3:10 train to the Yuma prison is much more than that. I highly recommend this film if you like westerns or if you are Christian Bale and Russel Crowe fan. I only watched for those reasons and I'm glad I did.

JUMPER

Could've been worse, but also could've been great. It's a fast paced action/sci-fi movie about a boy who was born with the ability to transport anywhere? That's the problem. Not enough story or information to fully get into the film. You just gotta go with the little info they do give you about his ability. No real story to tell. Just a cliche story about saving the girl once he's popped up on the grid.

There are some cool effects, but the transporting coolness wears off after a while. The action was satisfactory, but they could've made a really spectacular action film with this premise, but they chose to make the quick and easy version. They just barely got into what I think the real story is and then the movie ends. The film is based on a novel and I think the book would be great, because it would have the character development and the backstory that the film lacked. "Jumper" would've benefited from another 30 to 40 minutes of running time. Maybe they'll save that stuff for the sequel if this one makes enough money.

It's worth seeing for an hour and a half. It has some entertainment value, but that's about all. It's cool, just not really good.

SAW IV

The "Saw" franchise keeps getting weaker and weaker with each installment. This particular one has a bunch of transition shots from place to place. The story doesn't make sense and the ending is as open ended as the last 2 films. I can appreciate what they are trying to do, but I'm not even sure if they know at this point. I will say that they are watchable and they keep your attention, but that's just because you don't know what's really going on. They try to tell the story through flashbacks and you can never really get a grasp on how or why this is happening. It's entertaining enough to pass the time at a brisk hour and 29 minutes. On the surface it's decent, but that's about all this franchise has left.

If you like the series, then keep watching them, but this is a very average if not slightly below average film.

CLOVERFIELD

I hated the "Blair Witch Project". I was a little hesitant to watch this for that reason. But that's what I do. I watch movies and especially the films with hype around them. I was curious to see if it could live up to the marketing strategy. I'd say it barely pulled it off.

The film is a total first person perspective through their own video camera. I loved the concept of making a story by using previously fimed footage intercut between the happenings that are taking place during the destrucion. This could never happen in real life, so you just gotta go with that. It allowed the back story to be told without ever losing it's first person point of view. Which was important to the story. It gives the film a side story, than just a monster trashing New York. So I liked that. The only problem I had was that it does just end and nothing really gets accomplished. If that doesn't bother you at all then it's a really good film. I understand why they did it that way and that's why I'm passing it as a good film, but it kinda leaves an empty feeling at the end. They do give you a great shot to end the film on a high note. Not a classic, but I would go see this film for sure.

RAMBO

I just want to say "welcome back" Sly Stallone! You touched our hearts with "Rocky Balboa" and made a champion go out on top. And now you bring peace to Burma with the last installment of "Rambo".

This film is the first feel good film of 2008. Can you say "Oscars 2009"? I wasn't expecting much from this film based on it's early reviews, but it's obvious that those critics are pro genocide. This time around, Rambo is on a mission to save a christian group from colorado who traveled into Burma. They get themselves captured and then it's up to Rambo and a group of mercenaries to go into the village on a rescue mission. Along the way he finds his inner self, by ripping out their innerselves.

Seriously speaking though. This movie is no cinematic achievment, but it's a great high octane film if you can stand the blood and gore. It's not for everyone, but I was very surprised at how much it entertained me. There are a couple of moments that made me want to stand up and cheer, but I hate those people, so I didn't. I think he failed on his message that he wanted to send about the civil war in Burma, but stumbled across a great action film. I would say this is a for sure pick if you like Rambo films, but I wouldn't recommend it to the squirmish.

THE KINGDOM

I finally got to watch "The Kingdom" on Hd the other night and it was better than the trailers and reviews said. It was a little thrown together and jumped around a bit, but it was an intriguing and emotional story. There is a great and very tense chase scene that will keep you on the edge of your seat at the end. It's a chase and rescue scene. Very well done and I wasn't sure what was going to happen, so that was a pleasant surprise. Jamie Foxx does pretty good in it, but the story itself just feels rushed. The pace picks up at the end and all of a sudden the climax is there. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who likes more realistic action and not over the top slow-motion.