The Blind Side (2009)

So I also saw this movie over my Thanksgiving Break with my sister and my grandmother. I didn't really go in with high expectation for the movie; just figured it'd be another cliche sports movie. While at times, you feel those cliches working into the film, the movie is really good, entertaining, and heartwarming. Knowing it's a true story doesn't hurt either. Seeing the compassion extended by one family to help a struggling boy find what family truly means and help his reach his dream made for a wonderful film. Sandra Bullock was really funny and good in this film--totally believable. You may not be expecting it, but this film is better than the average sports film and easily flys by in its two-hour time slot! Though I must admit the poster is a little cheesy...But definitely a must-see!

New Moon (2009)

So over Thanksgiving Break, I went and saw "New Moon" with my grandma and sister. Let me make one thing clear though, I'm not really a fan of the movies or books (haven't even read them). Still, both the movies are okay but really do best when tension builds up with action. Otherwise, the series is obviously not geared towards me. In this movie, though, not much happens. Basically, there's a repeat of the whole "I'm dangerous, you can't be around me" thing with now the wolf instead of a vampire. It picks up towards the end when the main character must go to Italy to save the vampire, but it's over and done in like 5 minutes. Overall, it was a decent movie that kept my attention but nothing to rave about.

The Box (2009)

So a couple of weeks ago, I went and saw "The Box" in theaters. I wasn't super excited to see the film or anything, but I thought it would be decent. While the plot and initial phase of the film hook you in, the rest of the movie just leaves you scratching your head. Now I'm all for the confusing movie that then in it's climax makes sense and it's like "wow". This, however, did not occur in "The Box", as by the end you still have questions and nothing is really explained. As well, it seems like the whole middle of the film could have just been cut out as the ending suspected to happen does and nothing discovered in the middle helps resolve the issue. James Marsden and Cameron Diaz star and are generally good, though I just couldn't get past Diaz's southern accent. Watch the trailer below, but wait for the movie on TV!

A Christmas Carol 3D (2009)

Just saw Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3D this afternoon. The movie stars Jim Carrey as Scrooge (and many other characters) and was directed by the same mind who brought to life The Polar Express. Disney's new adaptation of the film is still able to bring the same joy and life lessons as the numerous previous ones have without it seeming like a re-hash and something we've seen before. Much of this is due to the animation, which is able to capture your attention and keep it. As well, I liked that the 3D helped the film, instead of just being a cheap trick and an excuse to throw things at the audience. Overall, i enjoyed the film and it's 96 min running time kept a good pace for the movie. However much i enjoyed it though, I still prefer the Muppet's version of the Charles Dickens classic that I have watched annually for the holidays.

Paranormal Activity (2009)

I saw the movie a week before last (Oct. 24th) and went in with low expectations, figuring it would be another crappy ghost film to add to the list. However, I did enjoy the film and regard it as one of the better scary movies in recent years. Though not scary to me, the film did provide a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. It helped to also laugh at others in the audience who were scared; especially your friend who has her jacket pulled over her face everytime night came around, lol. The movie has exploded with audiences and topped the box office (even beating the now-tedious Saw series in their sixth installment). The movie generated much of its buzz due to its marketing this as a “true ghost story” and other techniques. However, in case you didn’t know by now, the movie is completely made up and the characters are named after the two unknown actors. Regardless, the film deserves its praise and achievements at the box office. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already and watch the trailer below.

Whip It (2009)

I saw Whip It this past Monday, and though I went in having no clue what the movie was going to be about, I did enjoy the film. The movie stars Ellen Page (you know, the girl from Juno) and Drew Barrymore in a supporting role (she also makes her directorial debut here), and is about a high school beauty pageant contestant who finds new meaning when she discovers the world of roller derby. The movie, which could have been a little shorter, had a good mix of the sport with humor and outside story. I would recommend for people to see the movie, though I wouldn't say it matters whether you decide to pay for it while it's in theaters or wait until it comes on TV for free.

Zombieland (2009)

Like many others, this past Thursday night I went to UNC's advanced screening of the 2009 film Zombieland. Honestly, I only went because a friend asked me to, even though I had never even seen the trailer for the movie. However, the movie exceeded my expectations and was a great mix, involving great comedy and the horror/zombie factor. An especially funny sequence involved when the zombie killers went to Hollywood and crashed at Bill Murray's pad...and accidentally (well I won't give it away). The movie was great entertainment with my only problem being that there was no real ending, but besides this little fact, I suggest everyone go and enjoy the film!

p.s. Remember: NUT UP OR SHUT UP!

Sorority Row (2009)

This afternoon, I went to see the 2009 slasher flick Sorority Row. Apparently, the film is a "loose" remake of an older film with a similar plot. The movie reads like a flashback to the 90's where a group of sorority girls and one of their brothers accidentally kill one of their own sisters through an attempt to play a prank. Foolishly, the group deicdes to cover the murder up and dump the body. 8 months later, the girls are graduating and spending one last night as sisters in their sorority house with a party. However, bodies start turning up and mysterious texts haunt the girls as an unidentified killer (has their sister come back from the dead?) seems to be saying "i know what you did last...fall?", if you catch my drift. While the body pile-up gets a little too big for my taste, the movie keeps a good pace and has some witty lines that give some much needed humor relief to the constant suspense. Although nothing new or groundbreaking, the film was enjoyable for what it was and kept the audience guessing as to what might occur next. The only problem was the seeming revelation of the killer, but not really-so then the real revelation came, leaving some confusion in my mind. To end on a positive note though, who knew there were so many ways you could kill someone with a tire iron? ;)

A D A M

As we're talking about movie trailers in class, I thought about a movie I had seen this past Saturday called Adam. The movie stars Hugh Dancy (most recently in Confessions of a Shopaholic - fortunately, I haven't had to sit [suffer] through that) and Rose Byrne (whose breakout has been her leading role on the FX hit show Damages). The film tells the story of two neighbors who meet and begin a relationship, and the effects in brings into both of their lives (one of whom has Asperger's Syndrome). I enjoyed the film because it wasn't quite the typical rom-com as it was depicted in the trailer, but instead a drama about how we affect other people's lives and sometimes it takes seeing from someone else's perespective to gain a fresh look on things. As well, the film shines a light on a syndrome that many know little about. See the trailer below:

to read more about Asperger's Syndrome visit http://www.aspergers.com/ or google the disorder