Sometime Mad Ramblings of Day to Day Life

The Best of 2011

2012-01-16T12:01:00.000-06:00

My apologies dear readers! With the holidays and my actual work schedule, I have been lacking in pulling my weekly review together. I hope I haven’t lost too many of you in the silence. I hope to make that all up to you with this week’s feature, which is more of a list of recommendations than anything else! A few weeks ago, I published my 2012 Oscar Previews; a list of films that I thought would

‘Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1’ – Breaking Yawn more like it…

2011-11-24T12:35:00.000-06:00

I will openly admit that I am neither a 'Team Edward' fan nor a 'Team Jacob' fan. I really could care less and I suspect only those that actually care would appreciate this film, and this film series. I have not been a fan of the 'Twilight Saga', at least the films. For the most part, they have been wooden, boring and very poorly acted. Basically, it is a 50 minute movie that has been stretched 2

‘J. Edgar’ – Not Eastwood’s best, but still outstanding..

2011-11-17T13:55:00.002-06:00

As flawed human beings, our very emotional make-up is about being remembered. For some, it is as simple as wanting people to remember us as a ‘nice guy’ or ‘a beautiful woman’. For others, it is about the legacy they want to leave, it is about the adoration and for those of us doing the actual remembering; it is about all of the shades of grey in the middle. Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial

It’s Oscar Season!

2011-11-11T10:08:00.001-06:00

This is the time of year that the studios roll out their Oscar contenders; oh sure, there will be some trite junk for sure (you can’t pay me to go see ‘Jack and Jill’), but for the most part, the upcoming slate of Oscar bound pictures is one of the strongest I have seen in some time. Sorry Twiheads, the new ‘Twilight’ movie did not make the list – when I do my clunker list, maybe then! So, here

Boo! Top 10 Horror Films for Halloween

2011-10-20T12:17:00.002-05:00

A great horror film will live with you for a long time – it will survive the ever increasing desensitized viewers that are currently awash in blood and gore. A great horror film will strike you at a core level that cannot be touched like any other; they will make you squirm in your seat, they will make you turn the lights on because you see movement in the dark shadows and they will (sometimes)

‘Ides of March’ – Tired of politics yet?

2011-10-14T11:41:00.002-05:00

George Clooney’s ‘Ides of March’ is supposed to be a political thriller. But, in order to be that, it must be thrilling to begin with. More a stump speech for Clooney’s obvious political views, ‘The Ides of March’, while filled with solid performances, simply fails to live up to what a political thriller should be. If you want a taunt political thriller, rent ‘The Candidate’ the 1972 film with

‘50/50’ – Hits the mark and beats the odds!

2011-10-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Inception’) is the nice guy Adam Lerner in the very moving ‘50/50’. Levitt is turning into a deeply powerful actor, presenting a performance that is touching, funny and very moving; the nuance he brings to his characters relay a strength and maturity not found in most actors of his generation. As Adam Lerner, we are treated to his finest performance to date. Lerner is

‘Moneyball’ – A near perfect pitch…

2011-09-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

‘Moneyball’ is based on the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a once promising baseball prodigy who found himself a better manager than player. Managing a team with a rather small budget, Beane’s Oakland A’s seem trapped to becoming a club system for the bigger pay rolled teams. After losing several key players in the 2001 season to New York and Boston, Beane

‘Killer Elite’ – Passable action flick…

2011-09-27T13:32:00.002-05:00

‘Killer Elite’, the new Jason Statham (The Transporter, pick a number) action flick, starts out with the tag line that reads: ‘Based on a true story’, hmmmmm. The ‘true story’ is the 1991 novel by Sir Ranulph Fiennes , ‘The Feather Men’; a novel where the claim of truth has shrouded the book since it was published. In reality, it is just another steroid pumped action film with the clever bonus

‘Drive’ – relentless thriller!

2011-09-19T13:27:00.000-05:00

‘Film Noir: A style or genre of motion picture marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. The term was originally applied to American thriller or detective films made in 1944 – 54’ – Dictionary.com Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Drive’ delivers a powerhouse of film noir with art house qualities and just enough of mass market appeal to make a nearly perfect movie. With a nice homage to the

‘Contagion’ – infectious thriller!

2011-09-15T13:45:00.000-05:00

The mark of a true horror story is the impact it leaves on you after you have left the theater. With ‘Contagion’, you will never look at a person coughing into their hand before they shake yours the same way again. A simple thing as a bowl of peanuts on a bar will never hold the same appeal and the need for hand sanitizer will never be as strong as you walk from the theater wincing as the person

The Worst is Yet to Come!

2011-09-07T08:04:00.000-05:00

I see a lot of movies – practically every one that comes out. Due to the nature of this publication (the New Lenox Patriot, for my Blog readers), I try to weed out the films that I think will NOT be around by the time the article is published. Every once in awhile, more than one movie makes that distinction and I am left to give a sour review to a film that, mercifully, will not be around when

'Our Idiot Brother' - Charming & Sweet; 'Columbiana' - Ugh

2011-09-01T15:59:00.002-05:00

‘Our Idiot Brother’ feels like an art house, independent film, but filled with several big name stars it has a very mainstream quality to it and that is what ultimately makes it a winner. It is the quality of the acting and the stars that bring what would be a run of the mill, almost sitcom like film to life. Paul Rudd (‘Anchorman’) is Ned, a naïve and trusting hippie organic farmer who is still

'One Day' - A sweet, compelling look at love and lost time....

2011-08-20T17:16:00.000-05:00

'One Day', is a story about unrequited love; it is the story of 'the one' that is always just an arms length away, of 'the one' that is seemingly always trapped in a relationship that is either fatally doomed or restricted by a love that is there but never filled with passion. It is a story of memories and regret, the recognition that 'the one' can be as close as your best friend who has loved

‘The Help’ A solid, wonderful film

2011-08-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

‘The Help’ is a film about three very different yet extraordinary women in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s; arguably one of the most racial charged times in our history. However ‘The Help’ chooses to be a safe film about a very emotionally charged subject, as it glazes over the more racial charged issues; which is fine as the performance of the actors far outweighs any attempt to

‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Go ape for it!

2011-08-12T12:10:00.002-05:00

The original ‘Planet of the Apes’ films were never really about apes – they were morality plays about man’s own inhumanity to man. At the time the original was made, 1968, the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam War and racism was still the common practice of the day. A marooned Charlton Heston discovers what it is like to silenced (he was shot in the throat if you recall), and treated as

‘Cowboys & Aliens’ Good summer fun!

2011-08-12T12:02:00.002-05:00

How serious can you take a film titled ‘Cowboys & Aliens’? It almost reminds one of ‘Snakes on a Plane’, as far as silly titles go – as far as fun at the movies goes, ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ delivers on the promise of a very good time. I mean it is already front loaded with James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), toss in some aliens (no matter how stock and cliché) along with

‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ Not really crazy, but sweet and endearing.

2011-07-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

I am a hopeless romantic, I admit it. I like romance movies; I enjoy music that makes you feel and sometimes even makes you cry. I believe in the power of love and the strength of feelings that another person can bring out in you. I believe that we can’t pretend to know if and when it will happen; or if it even will happen; but I know, I believe, that everyone (if they are open to it) has that

‘Captain America’ True blue fun!

2011-07-29T10:07:00.000-05:00

Captain America first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1941, a true propaganda piece in the efforts to rid the world of Adolph Hitler. At that time, Marvel Comics had only been around since 1939, so it is a true testament to the character of Captain America that 70 years later he is still just as vibrant and full of life as he has ever been. Portrayed in various forms, from quick movie serials to

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ – The long kiss goodbye!

2011-07-21T13:20:00.000-05:00

I am betting that by the time this makes the paper – you will have seen ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’; nearly the entire globe has seen it, pushing it to an astounding $220 million in ticket sales as of this writing (July 21st). So, this review is really a testament to the sheer weight of producing 8 films, all of equal if not greater than the one before it, quality. Consider the

‘Beginners’, ‘Larry Crowne’ & Transformers’ – 2 out of 3 ain’t bad!

2011-07-07T12:06:00.000-05:00

It was a busy week at the movies! A long holiday week-end with one blockbuster opening, enough for two articles, but in keeping with the timing of the box office and the timing of The Patriot, I am going to try another extended version of Unscripted! First up: ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’; Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky is back as the human friend of the Transformers, a robotic race of aliens

‘Bad Teacher’ – Even worse movie!

2011-06-30T16:03:00.000-05:00

‘Bad Teacher’, is the latest comedy from director Jake Kasdan; his last comedy ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox’ story was brilliant; however, that may have been due to the sheer comedic genius of John C. Reilly. With ‘Bad Teacher’ he earns a resounding failing grade with a flop of a comedy on a mammoth scale. The previews are all the best bits and lines; I would recommend a quick YouTube of the

‘Green Lantern’ – In this case, green does not mean go!

2011-06-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Generally green means ‘go’, we learn this from an early age – in the case of the horrid disappointment ‘Green Lantern’ – green means run-away! ‘Green Lantern’ was one of the many favorite comic book characters that I had growing up. After all, what’s not to love? Everyday guy gains incredible power through the use of a ring, with which he gets to prove his heartfelt bravery each and every day

‘Super 8’ – Super filmmaking!

2011-06-14T10:14:00.002-05:00

I’ve always been a movie nut; I practically grew up in a movie theater! As a young man, my best friend Steve and I would sneak from theater to theater; we would start our day at the early 10:00 AM show and end it somewhere around 10:00 PM (our local theater had 4 screens) assuming we didn’t get caught and kicked out for the day! This was back in the days when movies were not the big budget

‘X-Men: First Class’ – First class story telling for a first class film!

2011-06-09T08:59:00.000-05:00

How do you reboot a stagnant franchise? You go back to the beginning and start over of course! Director Matthew Vaughn does just that and in grand fashion with a stable of unknown, energetic stars with ‘X-Men: First Class’. After the sloppy and disjointed ‘X-Men: Last Stand’ and the very disappointing ‘Wolverine’, Vaughn has reignited the excitement and interest in the series, he has given the

‘The Hangover Part 2’ – Take 2 aspirin instead and see ‘Bridesmaids’!

2011-06-03T10:17:00.000-05:00

It’s been a disappointing summer at the movies so far, the only exception being ‘Bridesmaids’. ‘The Hangover Part 2’ continues the disappointment. If you were a fan of the original ‘The Hangover’, and you considered it the greatest comedy ever made, you may just enjoy the 2nd version. If you are like me, you will recognize the absolute cash grabbing laziness on behalf of director/creator Todd

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’– Set it adrift!

2011-05-26T13:58:00.000-05:00

I was a fan of the first ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’, it was the best in the franchise and still remains so. The next two films in the franchise, ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ and ‘At World’s End’, struggled at best to keep up with the original and the current chapter, ‘On Stranger Tides’ has lost all of the wind in its sails. I actually elected to see this version in 3D,

‘Thor’– Epic Adventure!

2011-05-26T13:55:00.000-05:00

You would think that director Kenneth Branagh, most notably a Shakespearean actor and director, would be out of his element in the superhero adventure ‘Thor’; but his background lends itself nicely to the much textured scenes of grandeur, pride, family and honor. The pedigree of Branagh is very apparent throughout the film as it bounces expertly from the heavenly realm of Asgard to the dusty

‘Fast Five’– Yes it is!

2011-05-10T08:27:00.000-05:00

Full disclosure, I actually liked the original ‘Fast and Furious’; it was the three following sequels that I could have done without. The action as well as the sorties (such as they were) paled in comparison to the original. They just seemed like the same tired retreads that sequels normally fall into. However, when you come right down to it, it is a car chase/crash bonanza, what more should I

Water for Elephants - Easy to Forget

2011-04-28T12:45:00.002-05:00

A good romance movie requires chemistry and emotion between the lead characters. What happens when excellent source material, engaging dialogue and a beautifully (if not somewhat standard) shot film has no chemistry? You get the bland and sometime pondering ‘Water for Elephants’. Based on the acclaimed bestseller from Sara Gruen, ‘Water for Elephants’ is the story of two depression era star

‘Hanna’ – Electrifying Thriller

2011-04-14T15:36:00.000-05:00

Try not to focus on the plot, instead focus on the adrenalized thrills that Joe Wright delivers in his latest film ‘Hanna’. Starring the very talented Saoirse Ronan (‘Atonement’, another Joe Wright film) as Hanna, Eric Bana (Time Travelers Wife) as her widowed father and Cate Blanchett (Robin Hood) as the evil, CIA operative Marissa, this film is action packed thriller. Slick, moody, with dark

‘Jane Eyre’ – Gothically Romantic

2011-04-04T09:15:00.002-05:00

Atmospheric and completely absorbing, the latest film adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ is simply one of the best versions to come out in years. The classic romance tale of head strong orphan, who falls in love with a very mysterious and wealthy older man with a dark gothic secret, is handled deftly by director Cary Fukunara. Of course, Fukunara fills his period piece with a stunning

Oscar Contest Recap!

2011-03-15T11:39:00.000-06:00

Well, the Oscars came and went last week with hardly a bang, but not quite a whimper either! This year, in an effort to draw a younger audience (the Oscar telecast put up its worst numbers ever), the Academy enlisted the help of the always stunning Anne Hathaway and the often funny (when he is playing a stoner) James Franco. While Hathaway had some pretty good moments, Franco often seemed to be

‘Just Go With It’…just leave it be! ‘Cedar Rapids’…plan a trip soon!

2011-02-16T21:59:00.000-06:00

I never really thought Adam Sandler to be that funny; his silly voices, his frat house humor, his perchance for falling to toilet humor and kicks to the groin to get laughs, it all really lost me about 5 years ago! Occasionally he hits it right, such as ’50 First Dates’ (although Drew Barrymore really carried that) and ‘Funny People’; in those films he played his characters more straight and let

2010 - Out Guess Bob's Oscar Picks Contest!

2011-02-12T09:04:00.000-06:00

2011 Oscar Picks The Oscar telecast is Sunday, February 27th; it promises to be a very exciting race! Veteran actors, dark horse new comers as well as some very good films have all been thrown into the mix. Once again the Patriot is running a ‘Out-Guess Bob’s Picks’ contest. The details are provided below – suffice to say there are some cool prizes being offered! Here now – are my

‘The Rite’ – Unsettling terror...

2011-02-02T13:32:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for fly out in your face scares, then ‘The Rite’ is not the film for you. But if you are looking for unsettling and a deeper kind of creepy scare, Anthony Hopkins, channeling his Lector sneer, fills the bill. ‘The Exorcist’ is one of my favorite movies; I have it in several forms and even went to meet Linda Blair for the anniversary release last winter. What made ‘The

No Strings Attached - light, romantic fare...

2011-01-27T10:31:00.000-06:00

I have to start by giving some full disclosure. I hate Ashton Kutcher. There I said it. Last year’s ‘Killers’ was one of the worst movies of the year; in fact, I don’t think Kutcher has done anything that I liked at all, even his camera commercials make me turn the channel. So, with that being out in the open… ‘No Strings Attached’ is a surprisingly likable and often funny romantic comedy!

Green Hornet, The Dilemma and Black Swan!

2011-01-24T17:22:00.000-06:00

Awards season is always a fun time of the year for any movie patron. The best of the best always find their way to the local multiplex in the hopes of gathering the most attention for the coveted Oscar. But there is also a lot of misses during this time too! This week my first two reviews are such films – films so bad that they can even be lumped in together so as not to waste too much of the

A trio of reviews! I am behind…

2011-01-14T11:26:00.000-06:00

Dear Readers – my apologies! I am well behind in reviews – both here for the Patriot and on my Blog. It has been incredibly busy and while I still make the time to go see more movies than I should – actual time on the keyboard has been pretty darn scarce! So, in order to catch up and start getting everyone ready for the awards season, I am offering a trio of reviews for your reading pleasure!

‘Love and Other Drugs’– Smart, sexy, adult romantic comedy!

2010-12-07T23:15:00.000-06:00

‘Love and Other Drugs’ is a most welcome cure for the candy coated romantic comedies that we have had to endure so far this year. Sure there were a couple of good romantic comedies, but none have taken the forward and very real approach of Writer/Director Edward Zwick. Jamie (Jake Gyllenhall) is the twenty something slacker that is still searching for his life’s calling; he has made a career of

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’– Harry is all grown up!

2010-11-24T08:58:00.000-06:00

The Harry Potter series is all grown up in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’ the seventh installment that sets up the penultimate ending in Part 2 this July. I have to admit, I was never a big fan of the Harry Potter movies (don’t give up on me yet Potter Maniacs, read on) – I didn’t read any of the books either! So far, the first six movies reminded me of amped up Nancy Drew/Hardy

‘Morning Glory’– Sweet & Funny; ‘Unstoppable’ – Thunderous Excitement

2010-11-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

Two for one this week folks! I love this time of year, so many movies, too little time and space to give them all equal time!! First, ‘Morning Glory’ starring the always amiable Rachel McAdams (as adorable as ever) as Becky, a TV news producer dedicated to her job and craft. She is given the shot she has been searching for with a third rate network and is hired to save a floundering morning

Anyone At All

2010-11-13T07:52:00.002-06:00

Funny how I feel more myself with you Than anybody else that I ever knew I hear it in your voice, see it in your face You've become the memory I can't erase You could have been anyone at all A stranger falling out of blue I'm so glad it was you Wasn't in the plan not that I could see Suddenly a miracle came to me Safe within your arms I can say what's true Nothing in the world I would keep from

‘Hereafter’– Intriguing and insightful, just a bit too slow…

2010-10-29T07:29:00.000-05:00

Have you ever taken a long road trip before? We recently went down to Carbondale to visit my son at SIU; the trip was over 6 hours (because of construction along the way) – sitting in the same spot/position; by the time we emerged from the car our butts were screaming for relief. But once we got there – the campus was beautiful and we were happy to see our son. ‘Hereafter’ is a bit like that –

‘R.E.D.’– Colorful, action packed fun!

2010-10-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

Well, as many of you know, I love movies mined from comic books – and it has been a pretty fair year so far; ‘Kick Ass’ was terrific; ‘Ironman 2’ while not living up to the first, was able to stand well on its own and ‘Scott Pilgrim VS the World’ was very enjoyable. Notice I am leaving out the clunker ‘Jonah Hex’ – a bomb and not even worth you $1.00 at Redbox! Now along comes R.E.D. (Retired

‘Life As We Know It’ – predictable but sweet….

2010-10-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

There have been quite a few ‘romantic comedies’ this summer and most of them have been dismal; these light weight attempts at a decent picture have been feeble at best – predictable always. The latest to hit the theaters Life As We Know It’ seems to come off of the same assembly line as all the others – but it does have a sweet, endearing quality that saves it from the bottom of the barrel. The

‘The Expendables’ – throw away throw back to the 80’s

2010-08-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

Sylvester Stallone is back to the action game in rare form with ‘The Expendables’ – an unabashed throwback to every 80’s action movie that ever chopped, shot or grunted its way across your local Cineplex screen. Stallone assembles nearly the perfect dream team of action stars that includes: Jason Statham (The Transporter), Jet Li (Fearless), Dolph Lundgren (obscurity), Terry Crews (Middle Men),

‘Piranha 3D’–Cheesy, schlocky summer fun!

2010-08-27T12:49:00.002-05:00

It’s been a long time since I have had the pleasure of sitting through a campy movie – or at least a campy movie that UNDERSTANDS that it is camp and plays it up to the maximum limits it can. ‘Piranha 3D’ is one of those guilty pleasures of a pure camp, summer cheese fest, popcorn flick! Director Alesandre Aja (‘High Tension’) is in rich form and really does understand how to use the genre of

Apologies...

2010-08-25T09:52:00.000-05:00

I am sorry - I am behind on my reviews due to a huge project that I am working on - I am working on a couple today and will be going to a movie tonight - hopefully! :) Please bear with me and continue to check back often!! I appreciate your readership!!

‘The Other Guys’–Finally, a fun time at the movies!

2010-08-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

It’s been a busy, hot summer and unfortunately very short on laughs and no ‘The Last Airbender’ does not count – that was torture. Then along comes ‘The Other Guys’ – the latest piece of work from long-time partners Adam McKay (who also directed), Chris Henchy and Will Ferrell. Which is refreshing as Ferrell’s last few efforts have been passable at best (I get a little tired of him acting like

‘The Kids Are All Right’– Well acted dramedy touches the heart…

2010-08-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

‘The Kids Are All Right’ is a wonderful, yet unconventional look at the modern family and the trials the family unit faces. Lisa Cholodenko (The L Word, 1 episode) directed and wrote this amazing film that is about many things but centers around a young girl who is ready to head out into the world, college bound, away from her home and two Moms, Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore).

‘Salt’– Same tired flavor!

2010-07-31T14:00:00.000-05:00

As an action star Angelina Jolie is worth her ‘Salt’, although I would argue her stint as Laura Croft was much better, but ‘Salt’ itself never quite lives up to the performance that Jolie is able to give to the film. ‘Salt’ is a completely absurd stab at resurrecting the cold war tension that all but has disappeared in today’s Jihadist terrorism world. Over plotted with enough red herrings to

‘Inception’– Thrilling, creative and mind blowing!

2010-07-22T14:36:00.001-05:00

Am I dreaming of writing this review right now or am I actually writing this review and are you, dear reading, merely dreaming of reading this review? And if you are in fact dreaming of reading this review could I in fact, be controlling that dream and planting the very subconscious thought that this is by far the best film to come out of the drudge that has been the summer film crop?

‘Predators’– Action packed fun! And ‘Despicable Me’ Simply Hilarious 3D fun!

2010-07-15T15:57:00.000-05:00

Who would have thought that Adrien Brody could be a six packed action hero? Let alone a convincing action hero? Yet in ‘Predators’, Nimrod Antals (Armored) total popcorn B movie treatment to Robert Rodriguez’s (Sin City) original send up that he had back in the early 90’s, he is able to pull it off very well. Rodriguez, as a producer, writer and director has been establishing himself as a B

‘Cyrus’– Tender, Sweet, Funny, Romantic and just a bit creepy…in a good way!

2010-07-08T06:57:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought the summer movie pickings were going to be a total loss, along ambles a romantic comedy that breathes a welcome breath of fresh air into not only the romantic movie genre, but the whole summer movie season as well. ‘Cyrus’, I am very happy to say, is a new romantic comedy that is smart, funny, very tender and endearing. While at times a little creepy, by design mind you,

‘The Last Airbender’ – Please let it be the last one!

2010-07-06T19:34:00.000-05:00

Didn’t M. Night Shyamalan once make a good movie that actually shook the film making community? Wasn’t he once a filmmaker of relevance? Oh yes, wait a second – he was…in 1999! M. Night! Wake up! You have not made a decent movie since ‘The Sixth Sense’! At what point does Hollywood stop letting him cash in those chips and start expecting him to actually produce some quality work? Apparently

‘Grown-Ups’ – It’s not even for kids!

2010-07-06T17:37:00.000-05:00

Note to Adam Sandler, after such gems as: ‘Funny People’, the often misunderstood ‘Reign Over Me’, ‘Bedtime Stories’, ‘Click’, and ‘Spanglish’ – you can stop making useless crap like ‘Grown-Ups’ now. You don’t need the paycheck. But perhaps I am not getting it – perhaps you are really doing the favor for Rob Schneider and David Spade; it seems that the only way these two hacks can get into a

“Knight and Day’ – Don’t let the title fool you – this is a fun movie!

2010-07-05T17:23:00.000-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I love Cameron Diaz as much as I love Sandra Bullock. And because I am pretty sure neither one of them reads The New Lenox Patriot or my Blog – I am ok with admitting that! But I promise you – I will not let that love for either of them cloud my reviews (as evident with ‘All About Steve’…really Sandra…did you have to make THAT???). ‘Knight and Day’ is one of those big,

Let’s hope ‘Eclipse’ is the ‘Twilight’ of the series!

2010-07-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

Considering that I was barely able to stay awake during the first two ‘Twilight ‘ films – the third in the series can be considered a step up in the food chain. Make no mistake about it; the studio is not looking to capture anyone outside the target audience of the novels billions of readers. Why should they? They have a built in core audience. However, that is not an excuse to make a series

‘Toy Story 3’ these are Toys that I hope to keep forever!

2010-06-22T13:33:00.001-05:00

Can the geniuses at Pixar do no wrong? Can they possibly make a bad movie? If ‘Toy Story 3’ is an indication, their current streak of unparalleled filmmaking continues to march on strongly. In a summer that is filled with bad remakes (ugh – do I need to mention ‘The A-Team again), sequels that will not live up to its hype (although I am hopeful for ‘Eclipse, the Twilight Saga’) and completely

‘The A-Team’ Really? D is more like it!

2010-06-17T14:20:00.000-05:00

Where is the ‘A-Team’ when we really need them – like right after I have shelled out $18.00 (plus another $5.00 for some Diet Coke) to see what is most likely the worst movie of the year (I refused to go see ‘McGruber’ – so some may argue that!)? I have to admit – I was pretty excited to see ‘The A-Team’ as I was a fan of the obnoxious, but always knew it was a joke, series from the ‘80’s.

‘The Karate Kid!’ Finally a remake that packs a punch!

2010-06-17T07:02:00.001-05:00

‘The Karate Kid (2010)’, is a remake of the 1984 version of the same name and one could ask do we really need to remake ‘The Karate Kid’. At first my answer would have been a resounding ‘NO’ – however after a completely enjoyable two hours of film going, I have to admit that I am glad they did.Director Harald Zwart (The Pink Panther 2 – really did we need two of those Steve Martin?) smartly

‘Get Him To The Greek!’ Raunchy, good fun!

2010-06-07T18:00:00.001-05:00

‘Get Him to the Greek’ the latest effort from Judd Apatow (Funny People) and director Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is a raunchy, hilarious romp through rock and roll fame. Rocker Aldous Snow (Russell Brand in one of the best comedic performances this year), last seen in ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ has tanked his career and is found wallowing in a drug induced pity party. Enter

‘Prince of Persia…’ Even ‘The Sands of Time’ could not stop this!

2010-06-07T07:36:00.000-05:00

‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ is based on the video game series of the same name. In the video game as in the movie, Prince Dastan (a very pumped up Jake Gyllenhaal) leaps from one adventure to the next, seemingly unafraid of gravity or heat stroke. It is this exhilarating reason that the movie works – assuming you can ignore all sense of reasonable plot or dialogue that is!The movie

‘Letters to Juliet’ Sweet and Charming!

2010-05-28T10:52:00.001-05:00

‘Do you believe in destiny?’ This is the question Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) poses to Charlie (Christopher Egan) during a dinner while searching for the lost love of his grandmother Claire (the enchanting Vanessa Redgrave). Charlie, a cynic, is perplexed by this question but in this utterly charming, sweet and often predictable film, by the end he does believe in destiny as we the viewers

‘Shrek Forever After’ George Bailey Would Be Proud!

2010-05-28T10:47:00.000-05:00

The fourth and final (allegedly) in the Shrek series, ‘Shrek Forever After’ finds Shrek (Mike Myers) in something of a mid-life crisis. Having fallen into the rigors of fatherhood and marital bliss, Shrek begins to miss the days of ogre roars and screaming, frightened villagers. The thrill seems to be gone in Shrek and he is missing his ogre mojo! In wanders the very disgruntled and evil

Regular Reviews

2010-05-28T10:44:00.001-05:00

Well guys! The New Lenox Patriot has decided to to a pay per view model! I am going to start publishing my reviews on the Blog - weekly! Which actually will mean more reviews! So subscribe to my Blog for regular updates!

Immortal Beloved - 2

2010-04-20T18:53:00.001-05:00

2.Longwood, St Helena, British Empire: May 5th, 1821“Christophe!”I started at the mention of this name, my name, Antoine Christophe Saliceti, a Montagnard within the Assembly with direct contact with his majesty, Bonaparte.Was I just in Rome or was I simply dreaming of my days in Rome? The days, weeks, months, even years seem to crash together at times. They pass so quickly and yet they drag

Immortal Beloved

2010-04-19T20:29:00.002-05:00

1.Curia of Pompey, Rome: March 15th, 44 BCThe hunger gnaws within me – deep, rumbling up from within. The blood lust is beginning to rise – a fervor pitch, screaming in my ears – so loud that I can hardly control it. I close my eyes, stealing away to the darkness and the words of my father: “We may be cursed – but we are not animals. You can control the hunger. Focus the hunger and you will

Novel Idea

2010-04-18T09:51:00.002-05:00

So - I was watching 'Julie & Julia' yesterday and the idea of publishing my novel to my blog to gain attention actually sounded like a good idea! Is it? Do I just give up my hard work for free or does it draw much needed attention to the idea? I know it will force me to work on it much more than I do...

2010-03-07T21:18:00.001-06:00

Great send up of 'Paranormal Activity' by Steve & Alec! oscars

2010-03-07T21:11:00.001-06:00

Why do only the movies that are period pieces get Best Costume Design?

2010-03-07T21:08:00.001-06:00

'Avatar' will win all of the tech awards - that's about it. A blockbuster does not make an Oscar worthy film!

2010-03-07T21:03:00.001-06:00

A salute to horror films on the Oscars - hope they do a good job!

2010-03-07T21:00:00.001-06:00

Woo Hoo! 5 for 5 so far!! Now just a warning - my original pick for Best Actor was George Clooney - because of the paper, my picks were way early.

2010-03-07T20:56:00.001-06:00

Best Supporting Actress - my pick is: Mo'nique

2010-03-07T20:55:00.001-06:00

If you want to see true glam - check out Lauren Bacall in any of her films!

2010-03-07T20:53:00.001-06:00

Roger Corman movies rock!!

2010-03-07T20:52:00.003-06:00

Queen Latifa looks good!

2010-03-07T20:52:00.001-06:00

Wow! Steve Martin - go for broke!

2010-03-07T20:50:00.001-06:00

Woo Hoo! 4 for 4 so far! If you want to see my picks: http://ping.fm/AdNt0

2010-03-07T20:48:00.001-06:00

Best Adapted Screenplay - My Pick is: Precious

2010-03-07T20:42:00.001-06:00

Thank God that JJ Abrams reinvented the Star Trek series!

2010-03-07T20:39:00.001-06:00

Ben Stiller is a riot!

2010-02-14T11:08:00.001-06:00

Can you outguess my Oscar picks? You can when cool prizes if you do! http://ping.fm/GaY42

2010-01-04T07:44:00.001-06:00

Five New Year resolutions for Google: http://ping.fm/n94yO

2009-10-26T10:25:00.001-06:00

Daylight Savings Time - When and Why? http://ping.fm/aklY2

2009-10-26T10:19:00.001-06:00

Storm 2 is coming - but you can upgrade your current Storm OS and it is slick! http://ping.fm/wFhSk

‘Angels & Demons’: Goggle Maps Would Be Easier!

2009-05-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

Ron Howard’s (The DaVinci Code, Apollo 13) ‘Angels & Demons’ begins where ‘The DaVinci Code’ left off (although in Dan Brown’s books – Angels & Demons is the first Robert Langdon adventure) – with the Roman Catholic Church once again in peril because of mistakes it has made in the past. This time it is the dark and mysterious ‘Illuminati’, a group of intellects who were long ago banished (and

‘Star Trek’: Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Once Again!

2009-05-22T13:51:00.001-05:00

No doubt, even the most ardent Trekkie hated the last Star Trek installment ‘Nemesis’ – and the box office proved as much as it was a commercial dude. Which is why it took nearly 7 years to get the JJ Abrams (Mission Impossible III) exhilarating reboot of the Star Trek franchise off the ground; not satisfied with simply retelling the Star Trek tale – Abrams recreates the mythology breathing new,

‘Wolverine’: All bark, some bite – not much else…

2009-05-22T13:49:00.000-05:00

‘Wolverine’: All bark, some bite – not much else…By: Robert SiegerI have admitted this before – I am a fan boy! I love my comic books – I grew up on them and still have them lovingly stored in moisture proof bags with acid free backing boards; most if not all of them in MINT condition. Wolverine has always been my favorite character – the feral mutant with healing abilities and claws of bone

‘The Soloist’ – Not a solo act…

2009-04-30T11:23:00.001-05:00

In any other hands, ‘The Soloist’ (based on a true story) could have been sentimental overkill; but deftly crafted by Jamie Fox as the troubled, homeless musical genius Nathaniel Anthony Ayers and Robert Downey Jr. as the LA Times Columnist Steve Lopez who befriends him, it is a film that simply tries too hard to pull at our heart strings. It is their performances that ultimately rescues the

Yawn….zzzz…not obsessed about ‘Obsessed’

2009-04-30T11:22:00.000-05:00

I love a good exploitation film – if it is done right and it has plenty of thrills to keep me interested. ‘Obsessed’ – at least from the trailers – seemed to have the promise of a good exploitation film. Good looking actors: Beyonce Knowles (Cadillac Records, a much, MUCH better film), Ali Larter (Heroes) and Idris Elba (The Wire and more recently The Office), a campy plot: office temp becomes

No playing around in ‘State of Play’

2009-04-30T11:20:00.000-05:00

‘State of Play’ – the new thriller from Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) is set in the gritty world of backroom political intrigue amid the backdrop of the dying newspaper industry. In it we have old school newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey, played with ink stained gusto by Russell Crowe, growling through the tombs of the Washington Globe pursuing stories with pen in hand and a 16 year

Adventureland Review

2009-04-09T14:13:00.000-05:00

I have to admit I am a sucker for young love movies, especially those that are set back in the days when I was still young! Director Greg Mottola, who made the wonderfully raunchy ‘Superbad’, has hit a fresh, sweet and intelligent home run with this coming of age twenty-something comedy.James (Jesse Eisenberg) a fresh college graduate, returns home for the summer of 1987, intent on touring

Who watches the ‘Watchmen’? Everyone should – over 17 that is!

2009-03-16T09:56:00.000-06:00

Ok – I admit it, I am a fanboy! I have thousands of comics stored lovingly in sealed Mylar bags, pressed gently against acid free cardboard. I was raised on the ‘Golden Age’ of comics – Batman, Flash, Superman, Spiderman and Captain America. Throughout college I gorged myself on the darker images and storylines that comics had evolved to. The bigotry and racism illustrated in the tales of the

My Latest Review in the New Lenox Patriot

2009-03-16T09:55:00.001-06:00

http://shrinkify.com/lec

Confessions of a Shopaholic Review

2009-02-25T12:01:00.001-06:00

Confessions of a Shopaholic ReviewPredictable, light and with little substance; Confessions of a Shopaholic may be just what the doctor ordered for these dark, tired times. Just don’t pay full price to see it, try the matinee or wait for the ‘Five Buck Club’ at your local theater.Isla Fisher’s very light and frothy portrayal of Rebecca Bloomwood, a journalist for a gardening magazine who is so

My Latest Review in the New Lenox Patriot

2009-02-20T07:58:00.001-06:00

http://shrinkify.com/jsm

2008 Oscar Picks

2009-02-16T10:33:00.001-06:00