As has been demonstrated with other reviews, I have a high tolerance/liking of “chick flicks.”  However, there are some that I will not go see…..or go see willingly.

Spaldy was in town from LA and I got to spend New Year’s Eve with her.  So what did we do: go to the movies.  She wanted to see PS I Love You and I wanted to spend time with her, so I went to a movie that did not impress me from the trailers.

We settled for a Regal near her house.  I had gotten a free movie ticket using my rewards card at home when my mom and I went to Sweeney Todd, so I chose to use it to cover Spaldy’s ticket.   We went in, grabbed some comfy seats and settled back.  My first bad omen was the lack of good trailers at the beginning of the movie.

Then it started.

Let me sum up my view of the main character:  Take all of the thing I hate from the three women I loved the most (would have been 4, but Vikki’s flaws were not in this character) and make them the things that make up Hillary Swank’s character.  No redeeming qualities for her.  So this does not bode well for the movie.  Overall, a waste of casting and film materials.   I did love the mention of “vampire slayer” given the use of James Marsters in a supporting role, but that did not make up for the whole movie.  Even Spaldy had a lot of issues with it that I am sure she will cover in her whole review.  I was actually more amused that Spaldy had to wake me up in the movie — just like old times…

My advice: RUN, don’t walk, away from any screen about to show this movie.  Only Shrek the Third earned more votes from me as worst movie of 2007…

When this came out in 2005, I enjoyed going to the theater and watching it with my friend, Spaldy.  To this day, it is movie that most who know me are surprised is not in my DVD collection and probably will not be.

Huh?  If it is not in my collection, why am I reviewing it?

Because I saw it in a movie theater on Dec. 30…

During the last weekend of 2007, I was in Tampa for a conference for my Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.  With workshops completed, a group of us were taken to the Tampa Theatre, a beautiful, historic theater in downtown Tampa.  To say that I loved the look and feel of this venue is an understatement.  As much as I love AMC for its modern enhancements, the Tampa Theatre is now my hallmark for old theatres.  The interior takes you away to a time when going to the movies meant something; where sitting in the balcony was cool.   I regret the length of my legs prevented me from enjoying the front row of the balcony, but the second row wasn’t bad.

Narnia was that day’s feature in the month-long celebration of holiday classics.   While not a true holiday film other than featuring a lot of snow, it is still a good movie to take the family to.  Overal, the effects were good, the story entertaining, and the music pleasant.  I did have a problem with the youngest girl seeming to have one reaction to anything: smiling and laughter.

My advice: check it out on DVD or TV if you haven’t already; should serve as a good refresher for the sequel coming out in May.

This is a movie I wanted to see, but time was running out in Panama City and I thought I would just have to see it later.  Then my dad called and said “Let’s go see it”  It is rare for my dad to initiate movie-going, so my mom and I were already in the car, warming it up.  This time we headed to the new Carmike, which is an ok theater.  No stadium seating but decent screens.

The movie lived up to the previews.  It is based on a true story and true events.  In an interview my dad heard before the movie, Tom Hanks actually downplayed the character’s liveliness; if that is the case, I can not imagine what the real man is like.  The casting was good, story and pacing was good, and time flew by.  The movie also does well to point out how certain decisions made in the 80’s had an effect on what happened to us this decade.

My advice: Go out and see this movie.  Party affiliation should be left at the door, as they did with the subject matter.

As you know, my mom is the reason for my love of movies, so it should be no surprise that she and I went to one on Sunday.  Whenever I am around, she will have me go with her when my dad does not want to see something.  Case in Point: Sweeney Todd, a horror musical.

I am not a big fan of blood and gore, as Spaldy would attest to (and tease me about).  I do enjoy watching the efforts of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.  So off to the Regency we go.  The Regency is slightly run-down, but it holds many good memories for me: my first date with a girl while watching Ferris Beuller; my first experience with 3-D; and seeing Clash of the Titans first run.  So I cut it a lot of slack for being 26 years old.

Not surprisingly, the theater is fairly empty for the 4:30 show.  We settle down and I agree to help my mom know when to open her eyes after the gory parts are done.

The movie is visually well-done, as I have come to expect from Tim Burton.  Depp and Helena Bonham Carter turn in wonderful performances, with Alan Rickman doing well as usual.  That said, there was no “oomph” factor for me.  The story was ok, the blood expected as well as the singing.  While there was an ending, you are left wondering what was the purpose of telling this particular story.

Am I glad I saw it? Yes.

Will I see it again?  Probably not.

My advice: If you love the people involved and you like gory movies, then definitely see this.  Otherwise, save the money and catch it later.

Christmas 2007 had me traveling back to the budding metropolis of Panama City, FL, to spend time with the parents.  Naturally, as with all holidays or days ending in “Y”, we saw movies.

First up was National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

I saw the first one and enjoyed it for reasons I will discuss later.   My parents enjoyed the first one as well, so it was a no-brainer as a first selection for us to see.

We decided to go out to the beach to see it, which if you know my parents, is a miracle unto itself.  Thankfully they let me drive so I was able to get through most of the traffic easily.  The theater was called The Grand and not affiliated with any chain, which is odd in this day and age.  Decent enough concessions and stadium seating, so it was nice.

The movie picks up some time after the first one ended.  We see familiar faces from the first one as we are presented with a new puzzle:  Was the Gates family responsible for the assassination  of President Lincoln?  From this premise, we are taken on a world-wide trek ending at Mount Rushmore, much like North By Northwest.

Was the movie enjoyable?  Yes, as long as you took it at face value and did not try to set it in reality.  Most of the original cast returns, with some good additions.  Story is thin, but with Bruckheimer and Cage, you are looking for a roller-coaster, not  The Godfather.

One thing that kept nagging me was how much the movie stole from a reality show.  In 2005, after the first movie came out at Christmas 2004, NBC did a reality show called Treasure Hunters.  This show involved doing some of the same things that the new movie does, right down to the locations of Paris and Mount Rushmore and WHY they were at each.  You would think the movie could do better.

My advice: Catch it on the big screen if you want to have fun, but do not worry if you miss it.