The Rundown

When Travis (Seann William Scott), the mouthy son of a criminal, disappears in the Amazon in search of a treasured artifact, his father sends in Beck (Dwayne Johnson), who becomes Travis's rival for the affections of Mariana (Rosario Dawson), a mysterious Brazilian woman. With his steely disposition, Beck is a man of few words -- but it takes him all the discipline he can muster to work with Travis to nab a tyrant who's after the same treasure.

I've watched this film several times.  Each time I like it more.  I love Christopher Walken in this one.  He is just too funny, but the violence is too much for the little ones.  The humor is great and I've got to say that I have not seen Johnson "The Rock" any better in anything else. Scott is great as well.  I just wish that someone would put The Rock in a super hero suit. Kimball ****

Netflix link to The Rundown

The Last Legion

With his empire crumbling and his parents dead, 12-year-old Roman Emperor Romulus (Thomas Sangster) is exiled to Capri with his mystical tutor (Ben Kingsley). While there, he discovers a magical sword once owned by Caesar that foreshadows his destiny. Assisted by general Aurelius (Colin Firth) and warrior Mira (Aishwarya Rai), they escape and set out to avenge the death of Romulus's family -- and to save Europe from the rule of the brutal Goths.


I wasn't sure about this movie, but wow, was I please.  This is a great story.  Good action, and generally clean.  I especially enjoyed the goodness of the heros and the very clear badness of the bad guys.  It's probably too much for the little ones. Kimball****

Netflix link to The Last Legion

Avatar

Disabled Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) travels to planet Pandora to become an avatar, ingratiate himself with the natives and help Americans mine lucrative unobtainium. But he finds himself in an interstellar conflict after falling for Na'vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). James Cameron writes and directs this Golden Globe-winning CGI odyssey that has broken box office records. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang co-star.

I was not ready for what I was about to experience. I admit, I expected this one to be pretty good. Ticket sales were going through the roof and the trailer was pretty good. As I stood at the ticket counter and forked up the dough for six adult tickets plus two more dollars for the 3-D glasses I thought to myself, “This better be worth it.” When the show was ending I couldn’t believe how fast time had gone by. I was 100% entertained for over two hours. I don’t know when that has ever happened before. Forget all the hype about it being a “Save the Earth” film, this was a wild ride that will be hard to beat. The story has been told many times over; bad white guy persecutes poor simple minority group, and is converted by beautiful woman. But, put the story is this setting, of a far away planet that literally comes alive in 3-D and it’s like it’s never been told before. The computer animation, the sets, the wonder of it all is just beyond words. I found myself wishing that I could go to Pandora, no, wait a minute, does it really exist? I don’t know, maybe it does. Anyway, I can hardly wait to buy my own copy of this movie. Kimball **********+

Netflix link to Avatar

Inkheart

Unbeknownst to his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie (Eliza Bennett), bookbinder Mo "Silvertongue" Folchart (Brendan Fraser) has a secret ability to bring characters to life by reading their stories out loud. But when the wicked Capricorn (Andy Serkis) comes after her father, Meggie must rescue him. Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren co-star in this enchanting fantasy based on the best-selling children's novel by Cornelia Funke.

I appreciate Brendan Fraser for the clean family film he seems to appear in. He’s funny, and fun, and watchable all at the same time. This is a fun story full of mystery, suspense and family love that is stronger than any evil power could ever hope to be. Good special effects and lots of action. It might be intense for very small children. Kimball ****

Netflix link to Inkheart

Star Trek

Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his trusted team on the starship USS Enterprise boldly go where no man has gone before in this installment of Gene Roddenberry's sci-fi franchise that follows the early days of the intergalactic adventurers. The crew includes Spock (Zachary Quinto), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Sulu (John Cho). Eric Bana co-stars, and Leonard Nimoy appears as an older version of Spock.

Everyone knows that I'm a Treky, but you don't have to be a Treky to love this show. JJ Abrams was brilliant in his directing of this "beginnings" story about the timeless characters of the Starship Enterprise. I can't begin to express how impressed I was with the acting, the action, the story and the development of the characters. I have to say that I really had my doubts about ressurecting James T. Kirk, but between Pine's acting and Abrams directing they really pulled it off. The only negatives in this film was the imorallity which was so unnecessary, and Leonard Nimoy's terrible acting, which was surprising. -->Kimball*****

Netflix link to Star Trek

Mission: Impossible III

Helmed by J.J. Abrams, the third entry in the explosive espionage series finds semiretired superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) forced back into action to save his protégé, Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell). To checkmate her investigation, badass arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) abducts Lindsey, sending Ethan and his crack field team to Berlin on a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Ethan's agency superiors may be double-dealing their operatives.

I'll tell you what, JJ Abrams is a director to follow. I had already seen this movie in the theater when it first came out, but I didn't make the connection to JJ Abrams. With MI3, Lost, and now the new Star Trek, this guy is looking great. My only real complaint about MI3 is the brief sensuality between Cruise and Monaghan. The action is non-stop, and the good guy is a good guy, and the bad guy is all the way bad. There is some language, but not to bad. Lots of dead people. My favorite scene in this movie is near the end when Lindsey is forced to (temorarily) kill her husband, Ethan (Cruise) and then revive him using her medical skills while fending off the bad guys with a weapon she knows nothing about. There love and trust for eachother is tested to the max. This show was a great ride. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to Mission: Impossible III

The Great Raid

Based on real-life events, The Great Raid brings to light a daring rescue mission launched by Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) that will put him and the battalion he leads in grave danger. His goal? To liberate the Americans and Filipinos who've been captured by the Japanese and thrown into brutal POW camps located in the city of Cabanatuan in the Philippines. Co-stars Joseph Fiennes and James Franco. The Blu-Ray version of this film is unrated.

I was attracted to this film because of it's historical content. I had learned years ago about general Douglas MacArthur who's famous words "I shall return" have stayed in my mind ever since. General MacArthur was assigned to fight the Japanese in the Philipines until President Roosevelt ordered him off the island. Roosevelt decided to focus the US millitary on the war in Europe and left some 72,000 troops, Allied and Phillipino to be taken captive after a brutal and extended standoff on the Baatan. MacArthur protested but left under orders vowing to return. Three years later a daring mission was devised by a young Westpoint grad in which 511 POW soldiers were rescued by 120 Army Ranger and a handful of Fillipino gorillas against a force of some 1300 Japanese. Pay attention to the stats at the end of the film. This is a graphically violent film not good for children. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to The Great Raid

Man on Fire

Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a former federal agent whose outlook on life is anything but sunny. While in Mexico City, he halfheartedly takes a job protecting the child (Dakota Fanning) of a couple whose lives have been threatened. The little girl begins to grow on Creasy, and the two form a bond that revives his trampled soul. But when she's kidnapped, Creasy's fury is unstoppable as he desperately tries to save her. Tony Scott directs.

What can I say...You've got Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, and Dakota Fanning. I love this show for several reasons. One, just because. Two, It's a great hero story involving the ultimate sacrifice for love, and it's a love developed unwillingly. But, who coldn't love Dakota? And, I think Christopher Walken is a great supporting actor every time. This film is graphically violent for which it get's its R rating. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to Man on Fire

I Spy

There's no love lost between undefeated middleweight fighter Kelly Robinson (Eddie Murphy) and CIA superstar Alex Scott (Owen Wilson) -- a mismatched pair who are teamed up by the government to track down a missing stealth bomber in this action-comedy. If they're to accomplish their dangerous mission, they'd better find a way to get along, first!

Ok, I watched this one....again, because my boys wanted it. I had forgotten how bad the language and the sexual in-your-endos were. I had my innocent daughter asking questions I didn't want to answer. It is very funny. Alex (Owen Wilson) is constantly self conscious about his rivals tools and gadgets and time with the beautiful fell'a agent, Rachel who fittingly turns out to be the bad gal. I love the scene where the two of them are in the sewer spilling their hearts out to each other. Alex (Owen Wilson) says basically, even though we are completely different in every way, "You're really just like me, and I'm you." I only give it three stars because of the language and....the other stuff. -->Kimball * * *

Netflix link to I Spy

The Lost Battalion

It began on October 2nd, 1918, when the men of the U.S. Army's 77th Division, 308th Battalion were surrounded by German troops in the Argonne Forest. Without food, water or reserve ammunition, cut off from supply and communication lines, they managed to hold off the enemy until they were finally rescued.

What an incredible story. I cringed, I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t look, I couldn’t move, I screamed. My heart was broken, my spirits lifted. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a moving story. The DVD has a documentary with it also that is a must see. The bravery and the sacrifice of these men turned the course of the war, but at great loss. The film is void of bad language or sex, but it is very violent, and very, if not too, bloody. The horrors of war are graphically displayed, and goodness and honor are championed in our hero, a New York lawyer-pacifist who commands a battalion of lower east side New Yorkers. -->Kimball * * * * *

Netflix link to The Lost Battalion

Horatio Hornblower

Acclaimed author C.S. Forester's epic seafaring adventure series (set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars) comes to video with gripping intensity, courtesy of the A&E Network. Ion Gruffudd cuts a handsome figure as the intrepid Capt. Hornblower and is ably assisted by co-stars Robert Lindsay, Jamie Bamber and Paul Copley. So, pull out your cutlass and get ready to "shiver your timbers"!

This is a great adventure. This film is really worth watching for several reasons. The historical background, the acting, the filming, the realism. A true hero is Capt. Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd). I really enjoyed this mini-series. ->Kimball * * * * *

Netflix link to Horatio Hornblower