Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # 1/2 (2.5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # 1/2 (3.5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:

(Michele) -- I admit, I loved the books, and I have seen all the movies so far. The movie was exactly what I expected: it's a romance story! You people who think it's a vampire story are sadly mistaken. Get over it! Try NOT to compare it to vampire stories...it's a different type of story; it's a ROMANCE! I enjoyed it! - 3.5 buckets.

(Merlin) I know it's not cool to like the Twilight series, and there are quite a few issues with it - but I did enjoy reading the books (for the most part) and like the movies, since they're pretty faithful to the books. This particular movie was more of the same... teenage angst with some supernatural twist. - 2.5 buckets.

War

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:

(Merlin) Two action greats with great presense in the same movie? cool... Jason Statham & Jet Li? Awesome! This movie was a great movie with intense action, cool characters, incredible plot twists, and great acting. Gimme more like this one!

Stardust

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) A very interesting concept fantasy world-meets-reality piece. Really great characters played to the hilt by topnotch actors really make this movie shine. ( *chuckle*) Especially good performances by Michelle Pfeiffer as the Witch Lamia, Peter O'Toole as the dying king, and OMG the funniest and most counter-typecast role ever for Robert DiNero.

Grand Canyon (IMAX)

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Very cool visuals of the Grand Canyon, from flying through to riding the rapids. Plot was a bit odd, without really going anywhere.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) This Bourne delves into the origins of Jason Bourne and has some slick commentary on today's paranoia society. More incredible action with interesting plot twists.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) We saw both the regular version and the IMAX experience of this movie... Can you say Awesome? I thought this, the latest in the Harry Potter series, was the best so far. Incredible effects, great acting (nods to Imelda Staunton and Helena Bonham Carter especially as Dolores Umbridge and Beatrix Lestrange respectively), and a much darker feel to this movie really make it stand out. I have to comment on the incredible casting in these movies... they've nailed it over and over. I can't think of a person miscast, or someone better in a part. Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Hagrid, the list goes on and on.

Live Free or Die Hard

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) This movie was a blast to watch. More Brucey goodness. Great one-liners and over-the-top action that we've come to expect from these movies. Really interesting plotline, with our favorite smouldering anger actor from Deadwood - Timothy Oliphant as the bad guy.

1408

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) You can really tell this is based on a Stephen King short story. There are several moments that obviously come right from the story as they have that King-esque feel. (Once described as touching a corpse through a sheet) Very intense, with moods from intense sadness, to total creep-out.

Oceans 13

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) The third installment of this series is really just more of the same. Some interesting twists and sub-plots. If you liked the other two, you'll enjoy this one. Nothing really spectacular.

Shrek the Third

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) More Shrek fun. Awesome animation, some pretty neat plotlines and incredible voice acting make the third installment another joy to watch.

Lucky You

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Cute romance-in-Vegas, redeemed gambler story. Drew and Eric have some good chemistry and it was overall a pretty good drama.

Spiderman 3

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) In this season of sequels, this movie stands out. With probably the best plotline from the comic introducing Venom and the alien symbiote, this movie explores Spidey's darker side and temptation. I had never been a big fan of Sandman, but they do such a great job with him in this that you can't help but to think how cool an (almost-anti-)villan he is. Overall a great continuation of a great series.

Next

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) This Nicolas Cage action/thriller came out pretty well. An interesting concept and some amazing effects combine with some cool plot twists to create an entertaining movie. Time well spent, and would make a great TV series.

Fracture

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Intense thinking thriller with great performances by Anthony Hopkins & Ryan Gosling.

Shooter

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Fun assassination thriller with some interesting plot twists. Mark Wahlberg plays the "down-home-oh-gosh-ma'am" sniper with a heart against Danny Glover's shadow government conspirator. The whole thing works suprisingly well, with the requisite ass-kicking of the baddies.

300

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) AMAZING visuals in an ultracool retelling of the battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece. Based on a Frank Miller graphic novel. Not a perfect historical recreation, but an incredibly entertaining film that pulls you in and doesn't let go.

Breach

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) An intense drama based on real events, this movie's excellence is based on Oscar-worthy performances by Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe. Chris Cooper excells as the Cold War Soldier gone bad, and Ryan does a great job of portraying the stress and angst of "betraying" the idolized-yet-undeniably-bad pivotal figure of Robert Hannsen.

Children of Men

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) An incredibly intriguing concept movie with great acting. Clive Owen is incredible, as is Julianna Moore. Michael Caine plays a delightfully different role for him as a total hippy dude, and pulls it off with pinache. Well worth watching.

Blood Diamond

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Very intense drama set in the chaotic backdrop of Africa and the trade in illegal "blood diamonds" to finance terror and genocide. Amazing performance by Djimon Hounsou. Be prepared for heart-rending drama.

Eragon

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Pretty good adaptation of a great book. Entire plotlines left out due to time constraints, but overall a good beginning, hopefully more to come.

Casino Royale

Overall Rating: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) The newest Bond flick could have been great... but isn't. Setting it at the "beginning" of Bond's career when he first gets double-o status, but yet in modern times really makes the film fall on it's face as far as I'm concerned. Also missing the classic bond themes of awesome gadgets (sadly lacking) and amazing cars (a Ford Probe for heaven's sake??) really disappoint. There ARE some really cool fight/action scenes and I do like Daniel Craig as Bond and there's some great interplay with him and Eva Green, but overall a definite disappointment.

Happy Feet

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) An animated movie with singing and dancing penguins.. How could you go wrong?
Cute movie and fun to watch. Robin Williams steals the screen with both of the characters he voices.

The Prestige

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) VERY cool drama/suspense based on a rivalry between two magicians in the late 1800's. Excellent preformances by the cast, and a mind-boggling twist at the end make this a great flick.

Open Season

Overall Rating: # # + (2 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # + (2 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) I was pleasantly suprised by how much I laughed at this animated buddy-tale. Some truly hilarious moments (Elliott's attempt at a lullaby comes to mind) make this a fun watch.

The Departed

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Classic mobster/undercover cop drama. Great performances make this movie intense and belivable. Jack does it again as the Mob boss.

School for Scoundrels

Overall Rating: # # + (2 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # + (2 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) This comedy has it's moments, with a funny concept, but nothing spectacular.

The Illusionist

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) A very interesting love story with a heist-like twist. Set in turn of the century (early 1900's) in Vienna and dealing with stage magic, classism, and power it's a very involving film.

Crank

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) This movie was a blast to watch. Interesting concept, great action, really funny scenes... It has it all. Another action/comedy hit on target by Jason Stitham, who's becoming one of my favorites. Bizarre cinematography really pulls you into the whole experience of Chav's drugged-out world. a LOT of fun packed into an hour and 23 minutes.

The Wicker Man

Overall Rating: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments: Disclaimer - neither of us has seen the original British film from the 70's.
(Merlin) An odd movie. Production values and casting were excellent, with some interesting performances, especially Molly Parker (of Deadwood fame) though her appearances were brief. An interesting concept for a horror movie. The biggest problem I had with this movie was the anti-paganism feel... not just the "Pagans are bad...mmmmkay?" sort of feeling, but one of ... "look, this society has women the dominant gender... isn't that BIZARRE?" and "Isn't it strange that people would choose to live isolated from the modern world and live simply with nature?". I guess my Neopagan leanings just were slightly offended by how bizzare they portrayed everything about these people.

Lady in the Water

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) After the disappointment of The Village M. Night Shaymalan is back! I really enjoyed this movie: the concept, mythology, and how it invades the "modern" world is quirky and really interesting. Wonderful acting and just an overall unique plot make this a pleasure to watch, and a message of hope in today's bleak atmosphere.
(Michele)

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) This movie was great fun. More (mis)adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow et all. Another wonderfully flamboyant performance by Depp, as well as incredibly cool and sometimes horrifying effects. Some pretty scary/almost gory scenes for a "kids' movie". Bill Nighy (as Davey Jones) is fast becoming one of my absolute favorites with his wonderfully quirky portrayals and his incredible voice (he was also "Viktor" in the Underworld movies). His performace as Davey Jones is inspired. Wonderfully evil, (especially with the cthulhu-like looks they gave him) yet also his moments of heartache/suffering are especially poignant.

(Michele)

Superman Returns

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) I have to say I was pleasantly suprised by this film. I wasn't quite sure what to expect... continuation of the older movies, completely ignore the old movies, go in a completely different direction, etc. They did a great job of having the flavor and feel of the older movies, but with the awesome effects of today. Interesting plotline, picking up after Superman has been mysteriously gone for 5 years. Kevin Spacey does a great job as Lex, really reminicent of the incredible performance of Gene Hackman. An appearance by James Marsden (who played Cyclops in the X-Men movies) as Lois' new husband was a bit jarring at first (A Marvel character in a DC movie?? *lol*) but his preformance is great and an interesting plot twist being the "competition" for Superman. Not an enviable position to be in.

(Michele)

X-Men: The Last Stand

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) More yummy X-Men goodness! I thought Kelsey Grammar made an excellent Beast as well as Ben Foster (remember him from the Punisher?) as Angel. Great exploration of the "mutant cure" idea. They also went pretty dark in this one, further letting loose of Wolverine and death/mayhem in general. I really would have liked more with some of the other characters.. Colossus especially, and some of the "Phoenix Saga" plotline didn't develop or seem to go anywhere, with what seemed like a lot of loose ends. Overall an excellent movie, hopefully they'll keep serving up great comic-based films like these.

(Michele)

The DaVinci Code

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments: [Disclaimer: We have not read the book (yet) so we don't have that to compare it to.]
(Merlin) I thought this was an interesting thriller with some cool twists and turns. The religious aspect and the fact that the main character was a professor thrilled the geek in me. Excellently acted and well-cast. Some of the twists were pretty obvious, but overall a very engaging and well-done movie.

(Michele)

Poseidon

Overall Rating: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # (2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) You can wait for video for this one. A remake of a classic that is allright, but doesn't have the epic struggle feel of the original. It does keep you on the edge of your seat and the characters are sympathetic, it just didn't impress me which a remake has to.

(Michele)

Mission: Impossible III

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) An all right movie, but I was disappointed. I felt the story had no continuity with the other two movies and went in a weird direction that didn't really work for me. I felt the whole idea of Ethan Hunt having a desk job training newbies just seemed ridiculous. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Ethan and his wife, especially compared to the love interest in the second film. The movie also skirted the edge of cheesy-ness (Much like Alias, which isn't surprising considering the director is JJ Abrams... don't get me wrong, I love Alias, but it does have some cheezyness.) I did LOVE the baddie in this one... He just was so totally and unrepentantly Evil with a capital E. Overall, a good-bordering-excellent movie if taken alone, and good-bordering-so-so if compared to the other two.

(Michele)

The Sentinel

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)
Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent perfomances from pretty much the whole cast really make this movie as good as it was. The plot was a bit predictable, with a definite 24 feel to it... overall a good movie, just not a "wow"-er.

(Michele)

Lucky Number Slevin

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) A great cast makes this mob-rivalry-assassin-involved-case-of-mistaken-identity movie a pleasure to watch. Lucy Liu is fun as the quirky neighbor/love interest and Josh Hartnett does a great job being the poor sap that all this is happening to. Morgan Freeman (The Boss), Ben Kingsley (The Rabbi) and Bruce Willis (The assassin "Mr Goodkat") all pack their usual acting punches, pushing this movie to the next level. The plot is interesting and quirky with a few really great twists.

(Michele)

Inside Man

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Interesting heist movie with cool twists. All three main characters (Denzel's smart-tough-antipolitical cop, Jodi's tough-political hitwoman/spin artist, and Clive's brilliant thief) are wonderfuly played. Interesting sub-plots and backstories.

(Michele)

V for Vendetta

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Holy crap! What can I say... This movie is amazing. The plot was intriguing, challenging, thought-provoking, & intense. Casting was perfect. The acting (including the amazing voice acting by a masked Hugo Weaving) was incredible. The visuals were wonderfuly moody and stylistic including a really cool effect in a final knife-fight.

(Michele)

16 Blocks

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Another excellent performance by Bruce Willis. It's almost painful how well he plays a run-down drunk of a cop. Mos Def does well as Eddie the witness Frank (Bruce Willis) is protecting (although I found his voice quite annoying, but kind of an interesting quirk of the character). The plot is gripping, with some unexpected twists where you are led to one conclusion and it turns out to be something completely different. Cinamatography and sound are well done, emphasizing with the mood and feel of the movie. Overall an excellent movie.

(Michele) Wow, first time that Bruce looked absolutely horrible! Pasty white, falling over; he captured the long lost alcoholic with scarey clarity. A really good movie. Mos Def's character is one you come to respect, and empathize with. An awesome movie.

Hoodwinked

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade:# # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Cute and funny retelling of Little Red Riding Hood story. Interesting animation (especially good on the Wolf) and well-done voice acting (again, The Wolf stands out as wonderfuly done by Patrick Warburton of The TICK and Emperor's New Groove fame). Great twists with each character having fun twists from the original story. Twitchy the squirell is hilarious, with great buddy chemistry with The Wolf. (They could have their own movie and I'd go see it!) Overall a fun bit of fluff.

(Michele) As always, I like new twists on old stories. Definately not a "Shrek", but very funny. A fun movie for all the family.

Underworld: Evolution

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2+ Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Great continuation of the Underworld story. The story of the origins of the immortals is expanded and cool use of flashbacks get the thumbs-up from me. Marcus is awesome! Very well cast and acted, with amazing effects. Some unexpected plot twists that keep you guessing. One minor thing that people may want to be aware of is that they seem to have gone for the gore factor a bit more in this one. Where I felt they walked the line with Victor's decapitation in the first one, they do similar things 4-5 times in this flick.

(Michele) I loved how it starts out. Giving a history of the vamps and Lycans is very cool. More of the same, with more violence, and more gore. A bit much gore for me. Maybe they were trying to expand their market of movie goers? The head vamp and lycin were creepy! Very very cool.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) The cinematography, costuming, sound, music, and general atmosphere of this movie are excellent! I found it to be a bit slow, pretty depressing story, which should be expected, I suppose. Overall, I liked seeing it, but I doubt I'm gonna rush to rent it, if at all.

(Michele) Beautifully designed movie. Very moving. Very sad. I was intrigued for more of the same. I love history, especially ones that I have not been exposed to. I may buy to have, to check out the costumes...but only at a good price.

Fun with Dick and Jane

Overall Rating: # # # (3+ Buckets o' Popcorn)
Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Fun throw-away comedy movie. Bit of a "heist-movie" flavor with some good laughs.

(Michele) I loved this movie. It was fun. It was: see bad things do happen, this is how you can overcome it. My kind of overcoming. lol. Although seeing Téa makes me want to do situps to look as good as her!

KING KONG (2005)

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Michele's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) SUPER effects. The CG effects in this movie are amazing! Excellent retelling of the classic tale. Jack Black's performance is awe-inspiring as the sleazy movie producer. Incredible feeling of being in the time. The only stumbling block I felt was Naomi Watts' interaction with Kong... seemed a bit off. Perhaps the challenge of working with a non-existant costar made her over-act it.

(Michele) Very cool movie. I loved the old style of it, but with new CGI. I cried. Even though, I know the story. I think Naomi was trying to portray that she understood Kong, that she really cared for him. Perhaps the director felt that needed to be said; not just some dumb blond that a great ape has an infatuation with. It's not about the looks, it's about the feeling.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Overall Rating: # # # # (4+ Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Wow. Excellent vision of the classic book. Amazing effects, excellent acting. Tilda Swinton (who also played Gabriel in Constantine) is AWESOME as the White Witch, and Liam Neeson's voice is perfect for Aslan. I would say this movie's not for young kids, due to realistic violence and some intense imagry.

(Michele) I loved this movie. It wasn't long enough though. I think that it needs more. I want more! This is a movie for all ages, but, I wouldn't let young children see it in the theater; it's best to talk it over when bad things happen. :) Very intense! Really cool fantasy.

Ice Harvest

Overall Rating: # # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Interesting dark comedy/heist flick. Wonderfully cast and acted. Billy Bob Thornton's portrayal of a menacing thug couterpart to Cusack's quick-witted mob laywer are both excellent. Cool contrasts of seedy underworld and the christmas season make this a fun movie to watch.

(Michele) this is sad...I need to read more on this..I know I saw it. Sorry, Will. I'll get back to you.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent continuation of the Harry Potter series. Concentrated more on the action parts of the story, which took away a little from it. I hadn't read the book in a couple of years, so the movie was a blast, with little things coming back to me as I watched. I could see where you could be disappointed if you'd just read the book, as they had to cut quite a bit, and it did seem a bit rushed.
(Michele) I loved it. I love Harry Potter movies, books--it's all good to me. I did read the book quite awhile ago, so I didn't see all that was cut out. It was a movie...it can't be the movie playing in my head when I read the book, now that would be cool! I missed Fred and George, though. I love them. Overall: EXCELLENT.

Legend of Zorro

Overall Rating: # # # (3+ Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Pretty cool continuation of the Zorro franchise. The plot is kinda interesting, involving the incorporation of California as a state, with an evil secret society working against it. The family interraction seemed kinda lame, but overall, a worthwhile movie with fun action and cool stunts.

(Michele) Not as cool as the first one. I liked the history involvement, however; it didn't seem to work as well as it could of. But, hey, it's Zorro...need I say more? And, I liked the family interraction!

Lord of War

Overall Rating: # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Interesting movie. Well-acted with good casting. Not exactly a touchy-feely feel-good flick, very depressing subject, but well done. A documentary feel to it. No amazing revalations - Gun runners are bad, mmmm-kay? (with the note that the US gov't is the biggest gun-runner of all)

(Michele)

Transporter 2

Overall Rating: # # # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) More of the same (which is a good thing) but they showed way too much in the previews. Had a bit of a TV-feel to it. [Which I think is actually a great idea; these characters,etc would make a great TV show.]

(Michele)

The Brothers Grimm

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) This movie was fun and suprisingly scary (in a "Wow, that was pretty graphic... I was expecting the camera to turn away" way.) Terry Gilliam directing brings his unique Monty-Python-esqe style to the picture, and I think it works great. The story is interesting, the effects are cool, and the casting and acting is excellent.

(Michele) I liked this movie quite a bit. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are trapped in fairy-tale land, pretty much of their own making. What's not to like? Not for the young child, unless he or she has been acclimated into the realm of scary fantasy. I liked Heath Ledger's portrayal of Jacob as a dreamer. Matt Damon plays a pretty good Wilhelm, Jacob's older, more responsible brother.

Kung Fu Hustle

Overall Rating: # (? Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # + (1 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # 1(1 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments: [Seeing for the first time on DVD, not in the theatre.]

(Merlin) Seemed like it would be a great movie (recomended to me as such) but I just felt it fell short of it's potential. The tag line of Pulp Fiction meets Loony Tunes is pretty close, but not in a good way. There were some really cool fight scenes with neat effects, but the plot was over-complicated and it seemed to drag on and on and on and on...

(Michele)It was quite funny, but, I guess I expected too much. It was pretty funny at times. I'll try it again...then re-evaluate, ok?

Dukes of Hazzard

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) I was pleasantly suprised with this big-screen adaptation of a classic show. The casting was excellent, but with some tweaks from the original characters that were a little off, I felt. (Boss Hog not being fat, Roscoe being pretty intimidating).

(Michele)Funny movie. Don't go into it expecting a remake of the TV series.This has been updated to the 21st century. Luke has a cool personality, Bo is a bit dumber, Daisy is a whole lot more sleazier, and Boss Hog is not fat. However, Burt does play a good character, just not the same as the TV show. Ennis was pretty funny. Enjoy the movie for the funny flick that it is, and if you like Willie Nelson, you'll love him as uncle Jessee, I did! (For you Jessica fans--check out her "Boots" video: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-295687-videos--Jessica-Simpson ).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # + ( 3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # ( 4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent remake of a classic. Johnny Depp is incredible (yet again). Wonderfully creepy and weird. Unfortunately, the Oompa Loompa songs are too loud/distorted/overwhelmed by the music... I couldn't understand 90% of the lyrics.

(Michele)It must be difficult as a director to re-do a classic movie. This is not a re-do, as much as a 'done different', and done really well. Depp is my favorite, no matter what he looks like or acts like. I really enjoyed this movie, even though at times it was a bit odd. For instance, delving into Wonka's personality. Again, not for young children, more for the older kids and adults. Merlin's correct regarding the Oompa music, hopefully we will understand them when the DVD comes out.

Fantastic 4

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent start to a new franchise. A bit on the cheesy side, but super effects and great casting. Funny and a good time to watch. Michael Chiklis was especially good as the Thing.

(Michele) Very comic-book-like. Good beginning for their origins, now lets delve some more into their characters, please!

War of the Worlds

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Really excellent effects, very well-done aliens. Good mood and cinematography. Believeable acting, especially by Dakota. The relationship between Cruise's character and the character's family/wife seemed contrived to me. Also just couldn't swallow that the teenage boy was his kid... Cruise may be old enough in real life, but he doesn't look it in the movie, as well as the kid towering over him.

(Michele)Scary movie! Very intense. As always, Dakota did superb. Cruise's character is interesting. I disagree with Merlin regarding the contrived family. It's just as realistic as Kim Basinger being eminem's mom in 8-mile. It's possible. Cruise just looks young (he's a year older than me!). I guess they could have had him look like
he does in Collateral. Not just another alien movie, this one has a humanistic quality, and an awesome performance by Tim Robbins.

Bewitched

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Good date movie. Has quite a few funny moments. The combination of Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell is bizarre, but works for this movie. Good example of making a movie from a classic TV show.

(Michele) Very funny. An interesting way to update an old classic, without taking away from the original. Will Ferrell is funny, and not in a "too stupid or painful" way. Nicole Kidman is a bit unremarkable, not her best work.

Hostage

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments: [Seen for the first time on DVD, missed it in the Theatre]
(Merlin) Wow. Bruce does it again. AWESOME acting from him. Very tense and kinda twisted. "Mars" is a truly disturbed character.

(Michele) Bruce Willis is just an amazing actor. He has such a range of emotion. Of course I've been hooked on him since "Moonlighting", when he stole that show. Ben Foster plays "Mars" a very deranged young man to the point of extreme creepiness! Very cool!

The Longest Yard

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Some really funny moments. Great casting. Lots o' wrestlers! First 10 minutes are prolly the best part.

(Michele) Some funny moments. It also had some really dumb moments. It was enjoyable, probably could have waited for it on dvd.

Batman Begins

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn!)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent effects. Well-cast. Good acting. Cool plot - an excellent new beginning to the franchise. Some intense scenes that may be too much for kids.

(Michele): Excellent way to show the Batman's origin!

Mr & Mrs Smith

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets 'o Popcorn!)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Excellent romping adventure/comedy/drama. Lots of cool action, plenty of funny dialogue, and some very nice eye candy ;)=
(Michele) A fun movie! A great date movie! It's got it all! And the eye candy goes both ways!

Madagascar

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)

Merlin's grade: # # # # (4 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's grade: # # # # (4 Bucket's o' Popcorn)

Comments:
(Merlin) Fun movie! Lots of funny stuff, good voice casting. Well-done animation.

(Michele) I lauged alot! A fun movie to watch, great fun for the whole family! Loved those pengies!

Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Overall Rating: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Awesome effects. Incredible visuals. Excellent fight scenes. Wicked cool villians. Could have done a lot more with the Wookies, and I felt some of the Amidala/Aniken interaction seemed forced. Overall a good tie-in between the first 3 prequels and the original 3 movies.
(Michele) This movie makes me cry more than any other movie I have ever seen! I knew what to expect, (I love Vader in all the other movies) yet I was reduced to tears at many scenes. Incredible villains, and really great tie-ins to episode IV.

Kingdom of Heaven

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn!)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets o' Popcorn)
Michele's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets o' Popcorn!)

Comments:
(Merlin) Another excellent preformance from Orlando Bloom, and cool epic from Ridley Scott. Sweeping drama set during the crusades. Super visuals, great characters (the leperous King is especially interesting), and it has Liam Neeson!

(Michele) I love epics! I wasn't sure about this one, because there seems to be alot of great ones out there, but Kingdom of Heaven didn't fail me. Very interesting character development, and of course Bloom and Neeson are superb!

The Interpreter

Overall Rating: # # # (3 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Great acting from Nicole and Sean (He does brooding hurt so well, doesn't he?), but pretty depressing.

(Michele) The movie starts out with Sylvia (Nicole Kidman) masked in intrigue. "Who is she?" Tobin, played by Sean Penn is a hardened Federal agent. I think that Nicole did really well, however I think that a not so well know name may have been better. People seem to have expectations for well knowns. Don't get me wrong, she played this character well, even though I know next to nothing regarding Zuwanie. She did very well, I guess just seeing her in Bewitched, probably wasn't the best thing to do. Good overall political intrigue movie.

SIN CITY

Overall Rating: # # # # (4 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Awesome visual style. Excellent acting, incredible cast. Lots of gratuitous nudity and violence. Some very disturbing scenes. Really like a graphic novel come to life.

(Michele) Really cool visual effects. Definatly a graphic novel-style movie. Almost an NC-17 rating with the violence. Good thing the colors are played around with. A 'guy' movie.

Be Cool

Overall Rating: # (1 1/2 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # + (1 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # + (1 1/2 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) alright movie if you're looking to pass a couple of hours and chuckle a few times. The Rock is probably the funniest part of the movie. Lots of great people (Travolta, Keitel, etc) but just doesn't seem to hit the mark.

(Michele) Not a very good part 2 of Get Shorty. Incredible actors. Names galor! Travolta does well in all his acting endeavors (See A Love Song for Bobby Long--not heard of it? Doesn't surprise me). I can't seem to understand why people think Uma is a sex symbol. Give me a break. The Rock was the funniest, though.

Cursed

Overall Rating: # (1 Bucket 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # + (1 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # (1 Bucket)

Comments:
(Merlin) Pretty much a cliche' waste of time. The creature effects are really cool, and Christina Ricci does a great job with what she's given, but the movie is too silly to be scary and too horror-y to be a comedy. Really was hoping for more from Wes Craven (The THING ROCKS!)

(Michele)Starts out well, and goes down hill from there. Very very disappointing.

Constantine

Overall Rating: # # # # # (5 Buckets 'o Popcorn!)

Merlin's Grade: # # # # # (5 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # # + (4 1/2 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Woah. First, a little disclaimer: I haven't read the Hellblazer comics, so I didn't have them to compare this to. I thought this movie was AWESOME! The plot was supercool with a great twist at the end. Keanu does a great job portraying the tragic hero, and I love Peter Stormare's preformance as Satan.

(Michele)Great movie. The whole idea is just way cool. I really enjoyed it.

Hitch

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Great date movie. Lots of laughs and cute romances. Good premise well played out by the cast.

(Michele) Cute movie. I hate how the previews show some of the best funny scenes. Very good movie, especially for a date movie.

Wedding Date

Overall Rating: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # # # + (3 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # # (3 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Another good date movie. The funny premise and some great laughs. Plot is pretty transparent, but a fun time.
(Michele)A bad twist on Pretty Woman. There were some funny parts in the movie, but no chemistry between the actors. It doesn't flow as one would hope.

Assault on Precinct 13

Overall Rating: # # (2 Buckets 'o Popcorn)

Merlin's Grade: # + (1 1/2 Buckets)
Michele's Grade: # # (2 Buckets)

Comments:
(Merlin) Cliched remake. Suprising that they got such a good cast for this piece of tripe. Laurence Fishburne and Gabriel Byrne do a super job with what they're given, they're just not given much. Halfway descent plot twist towards the end.

(Michele) Good actors, that just didn't give it their best shot. Good action.