Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams, a brilliant creator and story teller has done it again, from some long running awesome TV shows to some stunning feature films. Star Trek was everything it was cracked up to be. From beautiful visuals to a well crafted story. Have no fear all you Star Trek Geeks, it all ties in to the Star Trek Galaxy. The well picked cast was excellent and we hope they stick around for the next batch of films.
Really this film is a must see, for ANYONE. If you know nothing about Trek you will still have a great ride. If you want space battles, hand to hand combat, a story, it's all here. J.J. really pulled this one off.
I wont give any spoilers but what it comes down to is, just go see it.

-Matt

The Watchmen (2009)

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Imagine a 1980s where Nixon is still president, we won in Vietnam and we are closer than ever to nuclear annihilation. That's really the only interesting aspect of this graphic novel to film adaptation. There is not much of a movie here, so much as some stylized sets and costumes with a violently graphic fight sequence every 15-20 minutes.

The hype has been so big on this film, I figured that I needed to see it opening day. Apparently, it was a film that even one it's creators, Alan Moore didn't think could be made. Moore, I think was ignored of his admonishment. The original comics were written in the late 80s but I can see that there is a place for this material in our current time. What I also believe is that we have had enough reminders that America is its own worst enemy, but here we once again have a film guilting us up again.

The Watchmen are a second generation of vigilante heroes with great strength but not really any superpowers. That is except for Dr. Manhattan, who is a post-human with all sorts of powers, akin to one of the X-Men. The heroes had retired but then find themselves needed again after one of their own is killed. That is where the story could have gotten good, but instead, over two hours of the two hours and forty minutes of movie is filled with expository story. Some good performances were had by Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman. I'd have to say Billy Crudup was also a standout, but we mostly had just his voice since his character was a computer composited humanoid. Jackie Earle Haley gives another fine performace following his turn in Little Children. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, who also made "300." Lucky for us he cut down on his use of chroma key, which allowed for a much more realistic, albeit heightened, setting.

The Watchmen comic enthusiasts will likely love the movie. Those of us that have not will mostly be left empty. I can understand that once again we have a movie turning the superhero concept on it's head, but give me something more than a reminder that mankind is greedy, destructive and has brought doom and gloom upon ourselves. The film is bleak and hardly escapist fair. (Rated R, 161 minutes)

"W" (2008)

Oliver Stone's latest film takes a sympathetic look at our current president. We watch as George W. Bush makes his way from the college years floundering around different jobs until he decided to run for governor of Texas and then the President of the United States. There are no plot spoilers to give away because all of us have experienced the majority of this film, which is highlights (and lowlights) of the last 8 years.

The sub-story of this film is of a first-born son whose father never expected much from him and found constant disappointment with junior's endeavors. We also watch an alcoholic turned born again, find Jesus Christ. This religious faith then begins to guide all the decisions made in this man's life and likely gave him the strength he needed to make the leap from a governor to president.

While the movie starts out feeling like another SNL skit, you do begin to buy into whose these people really are. There are very convincing performances by Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell and Richard Dreyfus as Dick Chaney. Scott Glenn gave me chills as Rumsfeld and Thandie Newton made me giggle every time she opened her mouth as Condeleeza Rice.

This is a film by Oliver Stone, so you can't help but notice that it is not a candy-coated pro-Bush film, but it is not about bashing or destroying the man. It is a very honest depiction of the current "leader of the free world." More impressive is Stone making a PG-13 rated film. There is very little language and no nudity. (131 minutes)

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Here is a funny movie. A really funny movie that is almost too clever for it's own good. Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder tells the story of a cast of a Vietnam movie who get thrust into reality and don't really know it, at first. While it is another movie about a movie, it still refreshingly portrayed.

The cast made up of Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and terrific supporting cast keep the film moving a clip pace. There are some terrific surprise performances that also pop up in the film, but I'll leave something for you to discover when you watch the movie.

The film has some bad language and comedic gore (what do expect in a film about the Vietnam War being made in present times?) There is no sex or nudity, which is suprising. Most of all there is Ben Stiller who wrote, directed, produced and stars in the film. Stiller plays the "Ben Stiller Character that he plays in virtually every film (except Zoolander) but that certainly is not a bad thing.

The film is so good that I have seen it twice. It is not often that I will pay twice to see a film while on it's theatrical release. It go stomped in the box office when it opened on against the Olympics, but it seems to be regaining it's ground. So grab yourself a can of Booty Sweat Energy Drink and enjoy the film.

(Rated R, 107 Minutes)

Pineapple Express (2008)

While I will shamefully admit that I found Superbad to be pretty darn funny, the same cannot be said for Pineapple Express. The movie takes us along with Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) who buys some "premium marijuana" then witnesses a murder and then gets followed by those involved in the murder. Dale's dealer (James Franco) also gets sucked in for the ride. The funniest character in the film is played by Danny McBride, who is also hilarious in Tropic Thunder. McBride is a drug dealing middleman with a lot of bad luck on his side.

Even if you enjoy movies about getting high on marijuana, you might find it hard to enjoy this film. Heck, even if you are high at the time of watching the movie, I can't say that you'd like it much.

This is another film out of producer Judd Apatow's group of regulars. It was co-written by Seth Rogen way back before he was in 40 Year Old Virgin and only got green-lit after his success in that film and Knocked Up. This is one script that should have just been passed over.

(Rated R, 111 Minutes)

The Dark Knight (2008)

Wow! What? You have not seen it yet? What a treat! If you liked Batman Begins, then this sequel is gonna blow your freakin mind! Christian Bale did an outstanding job as he did in the last one, even though his batman voice is a bit obnoxious and hard to understand. But this film was carried by the presence of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Some may think the movie had a lot of graphic violence, but really they did a great job of leaving it up to your imagination. The severely dark overtones of this film make it quite the theatrical ride. As for the gore, when Two Face makes his appearance, he is pretty gnarly. The last superhero film hat had more than 2 bad guys in it was Spiderman 3, in which that film made me lose hope in any future spiderman films. It killed the franchise. But in this film we see Scare Crow, Joker and Two Face. They balanced the use and time of these villains so well! It was brilliant.
I really don't want to give too much away. The film was two and a half hours, and it was what a movie experience should be like! Go see it, you won't be disappointed!

Matt Worley

Hancock (2008)

Bouncing right back from I am Legend, Will Smith as Hancock leads this film off with a pretty big bang. I came into this film much like the Hulk, not expecting much. But I was pretty impressed with the story and concept. I saw the twist coming a mile away but I still enjoyed it. I though the on screen chemistry between all the leads was great. Will Smith flying around and being the deadbeat super hero was pretty entertaining. The use of language was a bit excessive, some family brought there little kids and we could hear them repeating what they heard on screen. Really parents, know what you are taking your kids to before you go. And for all you lazy slobs that treat the movie theater like your living room, putting your feet up on the seats and just making a mess, really, have some respect for the theater and those around you. Oh, more ranting, sorry. For those of you with bluetooth headsets, take them off and turn them off with you cell during a film, No one wants to be distracted by the flashing light on your communicator, and you no longer look important since it is California state law to use them.
Anyway, I found it enjoyable.

Matt Worley