35mmReviews

Synopsis: From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos.

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols
Directed by: Stephen Sommers
U.S. Rating: PG-13

Being such a fan of all the G.I. Joe cartoons since I was just a little boy, I couldn't miss the opportunity to watch G.I. Joe on the big screen. Lots of action, some comedy, thriller and adventure, but most of all, lots and lots of CGI. For all those who have followed this cartoon series in the past and watched this new movie know that they have only got involved 6 characters, but there are so many other characters in the original cartoon episodes. It means that after having a great success with this movie, they will have material for at least, 2 or 3 more movies, just like X-Men. For all those cartoon heroes movie fans, I could say that this movie is a most, 100% recommended. Even though, there are some likes and especially, dislikes, that I'd like to share about this movie.

What did I like from this movie?

1. Definitely, there were some really amazing effects and action scenes that made the best of the money paid for it.
2. The plot was entertaining. I liked the fact that they tried to explain some important things related with the roles and characters going forward and backwards in their stories. It helped also to force people to pay realy attention to the movie and enjoy the most of it.
3. Loved the gears and gadgets. As well as X-Men, all their special techniques and unique talents or gifts made them a great team.
4. The action scenes were really entertaining. Ex., the fight of the ninja brothers (the Joe and the Cobra), or the persecution in the streets of Paris.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. Way too much CGI. It had so much computer generated images that made the movie so unreal, especially being in the future/present. It could have helped the movie to be more realistic and have more action and interaction if they used more set and real "people-situations" than so much CGI on the fights, persecutions and especially, secret sites and command bases.

I would rate this movie with a 4/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: Mitch, Frank and Beanie are disillusioned with their personal lives begining when Mitch's nymphomanic girlfriend, Heidi, cheats on him, then former party animal Frank gets married, but unwilling to get go of his wild life, and Beanie is a family man seeking to reclaim his wild and crazy youth. Beanie suggests that they form their own fraternity in Mitch's new house on a college campus to re-live their glory days by bringing together a variety of misfit college students, losers, middle-aged and elderly retirees as their new friends and later try to avoid being evicted by the new Dean of Students, Pritchard, whom still holds a personal grudge against all three of them.

Starring: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Piven, Ellen Pompeo
Directed by: Todd Phillips
U.S. Rating: R

A funny and very entertaining plot, when three old friends trying to escape from their lives and daily routines decide to create their own fraternity with the weirdest selection of losers and old people, trying to bring back their golden years at school.

What did I like from this movie?

1. Definitely, the whole situation with Blue was one of the funniest components in this plot.
2. I really laughed when they went out and kidnapped the first members of their new fraternity, when they're hunting one by one with their women stocks in their heads and can't be mean with some of them or their relatives (ex. the scene at the parking lot).
3. The reason why Frank can't drink... he totally loses his mind. After falling on this temptation at the welcome party, he runs naked to the gymnasium, really funny.
4. The whole qualification process to be accepted and all the tests they had to face.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. It could be even more entertaining and funny. I believe the cast brought three really funny movie comedians, so we could expect more from it, but it was really entertaining though. I can't wait for the sequel in 2011!

I would rate this movie with a 3/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Starring: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson, Mark Strong
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee
U.S. Rating: PG

I watched The Young Victoria last night, and LOVED it! I'm a BIG fan of period films, and this one did NOT disappoint. There were beautiful dresses, handsome men, and a LOVE story to rival the best in history! I watched it twice last night, and I'm making Luis (my husband) watch it this morning with me. I love period dramas. If you do, you LOVE this!

I looked up how historically accurate this film is and it seems it is very much accurate. There are even scenes where the actual words are the same! WOW! Some things that were not were: Victoria's relationship with her Uncle Leopold, he was not as harsh an Victoria cared for him very much as he was like a father figure to her.

I enjoyed this movie VERY much! It is now out of DVD, so go buy it for your wife or a friend and have a girls night in! 2 Thumbs Up!

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Kim is the pride and joy of her father Bryan Mills. Bryan is a retired agent who left the Secret Service to be near Kim in California. Kim lives with her mother Lenore and her wealthy stepfather Stuart. Kim manages to convince her reluctant father to allow her to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. When the girls arrive in Paris they share a cab with a stranger named Peter, and Amanda lets it slip that they are alone in Paris. Using this information an Albanian gang of human traffickers kidnaps the girls. Kim barely has time to call her father and give him information. Her father gets to speak briefly to one of the kidnappers and he promises to kill the kidnappers if they do not let his daughter go free. The kidnapper wishes him "good luck," so Bryan Mills travels to Paris to search for his daughter and her friend.

100% recommended! Liam Neeson plays the role of a retired secret agent who has a huge and unique devotion: his daugther. After giving her permission to travel to Paris with her friend on a teen tour, the girls are kidnapped by a Albanian gang. Liam gets the chance to get a piece of information from his daughter at the very moment when she's being kidnapped and talks with one of the men involved in this situation, trying to negotiate with these men and ask them to leave his daughter free, since he didn't have any money for a ransom, but the particular skills he had would be a nightmare for people like them. From this moment on, Liam gets involved in a persecution against the clock trying to find the kidnappers and especially, his daughter safe and alive. A perfect plot loaded with dozens of action scenes. Liam Neeson, such an amazing actor, along with a really great cast, brings an electrifying movie that will keep you focused on every single situation faced until he finally finds his daughter.

What did I like from this movie?

1. Totally consider the most exciting moment in this movie when Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) gets one of the kidnappers on the phone and says: "I don't know who you are, I don't know what you want... if you don't let my daughter go, I will look for you, I will find you... and I will kill you!" and from the other side of the line he hears: "Good luck".
2. I really enjoyed all the different tactics he used to follow and find more information about the kidnappers and his daughter until the moment when he hunts them and get her daughter back.
3. The scene during the concert and how that relationship brings a good final in this movie. Totally laughed when he was called "Rambo" after the whole situation at the end of the concert.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. The only thing I didn't like in this movie was the moment when the girl was being sold and she was supposed to be drugged, but she looked pretty lame, a really cheap "drugged" acting moment. But, Liam was able to capture the whole attention during those few seconds also.

I would rate this movie with a 5/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: Peter Bowman, an American engineer in a Latin American country, is kidnapped for a $3 million dollar ransom. Abandoned by her husband's employer and insurance company, his wife Alice refuses to give up his life. She takes on the task of bringing him home but quickly realizes she can't do that without help. An expert in 'K&R' (Kidnap & Ransom), Terry Thorne is Alice's best and only hope for saving Peter. He takes on the job, but soon finds it to be trickier than anyone thought. Throughout the lengthy negotiations, Alice and Terry develop a mutual respect which evolves into a mutual attraction as they barter for Peter's life with the kidnappers. With the help of a fellow negotiator, Dino, and a trio of highly trained mercenaries, Terry takes on a do-or-die rescue operation that could as easily result in disaster as in triumph.

A great plot with a great cast. This could be considered one of those very few great movies with a cast full of great actors and actresses. Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe make a great team on this movie with great supporting roles by David Caruso, David Morse and Pamela Reed. This movie brings to the big screen a tragic reality lived by hundreds of people in many different countries in South and Central America: Being kidnapped by revolutionary armed groups. I always enjoy these plot expressing situations that are pretty closed to real situations in life. In this case, the movie is able to go through all possible situations: Peter Bowman, an American engineer in a Latin American country, is kidnapped for a $3 million dollar ransom. They're abandoned by Peter's employer and insurance company, all the negotiation process and final rescue from the jungle. It also brings some drama when Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe get too attached to each other due to the situation, even though, they knew it couldn't have a happy end, since the priority and most important thing was to rescue Meg's husband.

What did I like from this movie?

1. As mentioned before, I believe it is a plot that offers a little bit of drama, love, treason, action, suspense. I believe that all the roles were clearly identified in this movie. It didn't have a main role or character, but all the roles involved were influential and relevant.
2. In a fictional plot expressing such a real situation lived and suffered by so many people in some Latin American countries.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. The casual situation when the house keeper's daughter recognizes the kidnapper's voice. Even though, I know it can possible, since in most of the kidnapping cases, there's an insider that always provides information about the victim.
2. Some of the rebels were really lame as actors or actresses.

I would rate this movie with a 4/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: A rush-hour fender bender on New York City's crowded FDR Drive, under most circumstances, wouldn't set off a chain reaction that could decimate two people's lives. But on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying one another might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost. Late for court, high powered attorney Gavin Banek is weaving through heavy traffic. In a different lane is Doyle Gipson, a father whose right to see his children rests on the decision of a judge with a full docket and no time to spare. On the surface, Banek and Gipson are two very different men: one is struggling away from rock bottom. But a minor accident will drive these two strangers to the brink of self-destruction, and prove that rage can equalize any playing field when men turn into beasts.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Toni Collette, William Hurt, Bradley Cooper
Directed by: Roger Michell
U.S. Rating: R

I consider this movie one of the best plots watched in 2002. I'm a loyal follower of every single movie with Samuel L. Jackson (some of them are not that good, because the rest of the cast sucks, or his role is not good enough for him). In the other hand, I consider that Ben Affleck has been in some really good movies (this is one of them), but honestly, I'm not totally convinced by his talent, after wining an Oscar for best actor. I know he's won an Oscar... bla, bla, bla... but I don't know, I strongly believe that his friend Matt Daemon is way much better actor than him. Anyway, I watch all his movies, especially because he's always working with other great actors & actresses. Now, let's talk about this movie. I really enjoyed the plot. Due to a coincidence, both lives, tragedies and situations are connected by destiny. I really enjoyed all the situations forced by both sides trying to not just find the solution to their own problems, but trying to make each others lives miserable. Everything was escalating until the one who originated the situation, Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) notices that he's not just destroying the other person's reputation and life, but hurting his family (wife and kids). It's a really good thriller with some drama from the very first minute. Totally recommended.

What did I like from this movie?

1. I really liked this plot. This is the kind of plot that I really enjoy, because it gives you a little bit of everything and helps you to get involved in the situation and lives of the characters in this movie.
2. I enjoyed the moment when Gavin Banek is driving his Mercedes trying desperately to fix the situation after getting the documents back and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson) is in the taxi right next to him and shows him a wheel brace, letting him know that he took the nuts from his wheels.
3. I liked the final, when Gavin Banek not just helps Doyle Gipson with his family, his financial situation (buying him a house), but taking control of the situation with his father in law, who's a corrupt lawyer that forged the document lost by Doyle Gipson.

I would rate this movie with a 4/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: Gabe Walker is the leader of a mountain rescue team who loses his nerve after witnessing an amateur climber fall to her death. Almost a year later, Gabe is asked to go back to the same mountain range and rescue a group of 'stranded' people. The only problem: when this group of ingenious fugitives survive a plane crash, and take his ex-girlfriend and his former climbing partner hostage, Walker must overcome his fears and climb the mountain to take on the well-armed gang. The only catch is that these so called 'stranded' people are infact looking for three boxes filled with $100,000,000 and they need mountain ranger to lead them to them!

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Rex Linn
Directed by: Renny Harlin, Philip C. Pfeiffer
U.S. Rating: R

Cliffhanger is one of those movies I never get tired of watching, especially on a lazy afternoon or evening at home. Silvester Stallone plays Gabe Walker, the leader of a mountain rescue team who suffers a traumatic incident witnessing an amateur climber fall to her death. A year later, he gets involved in a rescue situation where is involved his girlfriend and former climbing partner, who are kidnaped by a group of fugitives. This entertaining plot will get you involved in all the extreme situations and action scenes from the very begining. My wife is not a big fan of Silvester Stallone, and when we watched this movie again a couple of nights ago, she was really excited about the movie, telling me that the first time she watched this movie, she dreamed that night with the weird looking face Stallone (that's the way she called him). By the way, she didn't tell me the dream :D

What did I like from this movie?

1. Definitely, what everyone would agree: The scene when Gabe Walker can't hold the hand of the amateur climber girl and she falls from the top.
2. All the persecution and climbing scenes offer great action moments, especially because Stallone never used a doble for these stunts.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. There were some moments where we could see a obvious difference between a real nature shot and a studio shot. For example, the scene when Stallone is trying to save the amateur climber at the begining and the guys helping him from the helicopter. We can notice a difference between both images. But, I still enjoyed a lot these scenes.

I would rate this movie with a 4/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: Matt Sullivan's last big relationship ended in disaster and ever since his heart's been aching and his commitment's been lacking. Then came Lent, that time of year when everybody gives something up. That's when Matt, a guy who's never been able to finish anything, decides to go where no man's gone before and make a vow: No sex. Whatsoever for 40 straight days. No touching. No kissing. No foreplay. No fooling around. No self-gratification. No nothing. At first he has everything under control. That is until the woman of his dreams, Erica, walks into his life. Sexy and spirited, Erica drives Matt wild. Now, with everyone betting he won't finish what he started, he's just trying to hold on, and hoping she's willing to hold out...

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Vinessa Shaw, Paulo Costanzo, Griffin Dunne
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
U.S. Rating: R

After a huge success with Oscar winning award movies like Pearl Harbor & Black Hawk Down, such amazing action and drama movies, Josh Hartnett came to the big screen with this romantic comedy... 40 Days and 40 Nights. I actually enjoyed the first time I watched this movie, I remember I went with a bunch of co-workers had some good laughs and good time watching this movie. I believe that being with all my friends helped it to be a good time and movie. It was a fun movie, but it was one of those movies that promotes their best scenes on their trailers. So, I felt I just laughed over those scenes that I already knew and watched few times before on its promotional trailers. I liked Shannyn Sossamon in this movie. She looked like a great promise as a sweetheart and romantic actress, after being part of great movies like A Knight's Tale and The Rules of Attraction. I don't know what's happened, but I haven't seen her again in good movies and roles. Josh Hartnett is a good actor, but honestly, I see him playing good action, drama movies, since the plot of this movie was funny, but a little cheesy for my taste.

What did I like from this movie?

1. One of the funny parts in this movie was the whole bets and gambling situation about the abstinence commitment.
2. It was kinda funny that his brother was the priest who should give him some advise, but at the end, he falls into temptation because of his brother's stories.
3. The romantic part was ok. I mean, the whole "save yourself for the right one" and showing you that you can actually have a healthy love relationship before marriage without the need of sex.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. Let's be honest... we all know that we men love women, but this whole "desperate for sex" situation is not as it seems in this movie.
2. As said before, I couldn't see Josh Hartnett as a comedy actor, but as a drama or action kinda movie actor.

I would rate this movie with a 3/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: The residents of Cradle Bay are living an idyllic small town existence. Or are they? After the suicide of his older brother, Steve Clark is uprooted by his parents and moved to the sunny enclave where the teenage success rate soars above the norm. No drunk driving accidents, no drug overdoses, no passionate suicides. In Cradle Bay, the teens are busy with wholesome activities like bake sales, community service and making the grade. But there's something unnatural about all that perfection. Resisting the lure of the "Blue Ribbons"--the town's picture perfect teens--Steve connects with outcasts Gavin and Rachel, who are equally suspicious of their peers' disturbing behavior. Dr. Caldicott, the school psychiatrist, has convinced the parents of Cradle Bay that a "Stepford-like" surgical procedure is the answer to their teenagers' nasty habits and rebellious behavior. And Steve's parents are just a meeting away from agreement.

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Katie Holmes, William Sadler, Nick Stahl, Steve Railsback
Directed by: David Nutter
U.S. Rating: R

I watched today this movie, Disturbing Behavior. It was actually disturbing, not because of its plot, but because of how cheap, boring and bad it was! Having such a good young cast, I expected it could be a good movie, but honestly, I didn't like it at all. I even believe it was just a cheap copy of pretty similar movie I watched many years ago (I don't really remember the name of it at this moment) where a new girl moves to this tiny quiet & peaceful town and all the young people she meets at school are being drugged and mentally controlled by the school director and other parents. She finds out and can't get help from anyone else in this town, since everyone knows about it and are part of it in some way. In fact, I believe that old movie was more interesting than this one. Maybe because I was continuously comparing this one with that old one.

Katie Holmes, after some famous movies and TV series, hasn't convinced me yet as an actress. I believe her major recognition is being married to Tom Cruise. On this movie, she plays the role of a renegade girl who believes of their peers' disturbing behavior. Nick Stahl (Terminator 3) plays also as a renegade boy who believes of their peers' disturbing behavior, becomes one of them and survives at the end, when everyone thinks that the mind controlling ended at the moment when the psychiatrist and all the boys die at the end. James Marsden (Superman, X-Men) is the new boy in town who finds himself in the middle of the dilema of trying to make friends and solve this mistery, keeping Rachel and himself saved and away from the group of boys and girls controlled by r. Caldicott, the school psychiatrist.

What did I like from this movie?

1. I was excited about the cast on this movie. I never heard of the movie until today so, when I saw the cast at the begining of the movie, I totally believed that it could be a good movie.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. The plot was extremely predictable, especially since there are other similar plots from older and newer movies.
2. Even though it was a movie with recognized actors and actresses, the movie was extremely boring and not scaring at all (being a "horror" movie).

I would rate this movie with a 2/5

What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie?

Synopsis: New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber's ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, a criminal mastermind, leads a highly-armed gang of four, threatening to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro, Frank Wood
Directed by: Tony Scott
U.S. Rating: R

Last night I finally had the chance to watch The Taking of Pelham 123, one of the top movies I've been waiting to watch on this Summer. I'm a big fan of these such amazing actors: John Travolta & Denzel Washington. The Taking of Pelham has been definitely one of the great action/thriller movies of the year so far. John Travolta played a great role on this movie as Ryder, a fearless hijacker and criminal mastermind. His look matched perfectly with his role as a villain: his renegade mustache, cloths, attitude, everything was perfectly matched on this role as a villain. On the other side, Denzel Washington played also a good role as the subway dispatcher with a an it darkened professional reputation due to a bribery investigation.

What did I like from this movie?

1. Definitely, one of the great things that I enjoyed from this movie was John Travolta's role. I personall have enjoyed all his previous movies, especially when he plays the villain roles. On this movie, he excelled the typical villain roles he's played.
2. When the sniper has John Travolta and his partner in sight and is just waiting for the green light, and when he's aiming his rifle to the partner first and then aims John Travolta, I totally laughed when he knew he was being aimed by the sniper and he flips him off.
3. Great mental play from John Travolta's role, when he forces Denzel's role to confess he is guilty of the charges on bribery that haven't been proved up to that moment, as well, as the way he plays the major, when trying to be smart Travolta's role makes the major look like a coward and fool.

What did I dislike from this movie?

1. I personally didn't like the end of the movie. All the effort and plans from such a fearless and criminal mastermind to just die in the middle of the street without even try to use his gun. At least, his partners fought the police and got killed with the same violence they worked until that moment. Using the words from the plot, I believe we all didn't know how the movie was gonna end.
2. The cheesy phrase of Walter Garber's wife, when he tells her that he needs to go to the tunnel and deliver the money and she asks him to bring a gallon of milk, as a proof that he'll be at home tonight.

I would rate this movie with a 4/5