Movie Review Report

Happy New Year everyone!

Well, I finally got to go see National Treasure: Book of Secrets. I was looking forward to seeing it for a while but the holidays were screwing me up. At least I got to re-watch the first one before I went to see it… I like to watch things in order.

When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth is revealed, it shows the name Thomas Gates as a mastermind of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) cannot let his great-grandfather be remembered like that and let the Gates name become infamously involved in one of the country’s most tragic events. In order to prove his great-grandfather was not involved, he must follow the clues he discovers to find the truth. This led him on a search that reached France, England and the White House. He will not stop at anything to clear his family’s name, and in the meantime uncovers some the the country’s best kept secrets.

I really liked this movie. I actually liked it just as much as the first one which I found surprising…usually sequels are not nearly as good as the originals. Just like the first one, I really enjoyed the historical references and how they involved so many different parts of history. I still can’t stand Nicholas Cage but I guess I’m learning to tolerate him more and more. Luckily, the same actors were involved in this movie as the first, plus a few new ones including Helen Mirren, Ed Harris and Bruce Greenwood. And of course Riley is still my favorite, he is so funny… gotta love the geeky smart guys. Overall it was another action filled adventure movie the family will love. I can only assume there will be a third installment. There were definitely some loose ends that need to be explained.

My Rating:

Really Liked it

Review: National Treasure

National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, movie review, Nicholas Cage, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood

Top 5 movies at the Box Office this weekend:

1. I Am Legend
2. Alvin and the Chipmunks
3. The Golden Compass
4. Enchanted
5. No Country for Old Men

Well, I Am Legend turned out to be a record breaking hit. It received the biggest December opening in history with $76.5 million. That’s pretty amazing. The movie got a lot of hype built around it, I must say. Well, let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love Will Smith? I’ve never met anyone who didn’t. Get back to me on that one.

Anyways, I almost wanna see Alvin and the Chipmunks but I really don’t at the same time. I have always loved the chipmunks and I don’t want this movie to ruin that. I don’t like the CGI chipmunks and I can’t stand Jason Lee…so I don’t know. I definitely will not pay to see it in the theater but maybe I’ll see it someday…it does kind of look cute.

I have absolutely no interest in seeing The Golden Compass. It just doesn’t look entertaining to me. And I hate it when a movie gets a lot of hype around it because of some stupid controversy, it’s annoying.

Enchanted, is still in the top 5, as well it should be. Loved that movie! It’s such a great family holiday movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should.

Well, I haven’t been to the movies in a few weeks but I would like to see I am Legend sometime soon.
I’m really looking forward to seeing National Treasure: Book of Secrets too. I think that looks like it’s going to be awesome! I have to re-watch the first one so that I can be prepared.

I am Legend, Will Smith, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Jason Lee, The Golden Compass, Enchanted, Patrick Dempsey, No Country for Old Men, National Treasure: Book of Secrets

I really enjoyed Knocked Up, which you would have already known if you had read my Review about a week back.

Writer/Director Judd Apatow is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and I’m anxiously awaiting his next project.

I have been a huge fan of Katherine Heigl for a while now, but surprisingly Knocked Up was the first movie I had ever seen her in. I had, of course, watched the first two seasons of Grey’s Anatomy so I was familiar with her work before seeing Knocked Up.

Seth Rogan is absolutely hilarious, and I think he could be one of the biggest up-and-coming young comedy stars around. He fits the “lovable loser” role to a tee.

However, saying all of that, one of the people that was the biggest scene stealer for me was Leslie Mann. She played “Debbie”, Heigl’s sister in the film. She was absolutely perfect in her role as the somewhat psychotic, but loving mother and wife in the midst of a mid-life crisis.

If anyone can play the perfect late-30’s nut job, it’s Leslie Mann.

You may also recognize her from some of her previous comedy roles in films such as The Cable Guy, She’s the One, George of the Jungle, Big Daddy, Orange County, Stealing Harvard and The 40 Year Old Virgin.

A note of interest is that her husband is Knocked Up Director Judd Apatow, and her two real life children played her kids in the film.

You can see her next in Drillbit Taylor, a film co-written by her Knocked Up co-star, Seth Rogan. It’s about two kids who hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them from bully’s on the playground. The film also stars Owen Wilson.

I hope we see her in more films in the future. I find her absolutely hilarious, and I hope she starts to get the credit (and roles) she deserves.

This is Lauren Ambrose.

She was a star on one of my all-time favorite television shows, Six Feet Under. I miss the show a lot. I never watched it when it was on TV, but I did pick up the entire series on DVD, and at one point last year I watched all five seasons in a row.

I still say the series finale of Six Feet Under is the best series finale I have ever seen.

I haven’t seen Lauren Ambrose in anything other than her role as “Claire”, on Six Feet. I loved her work, but unfortunately, she hasn’t had a lot of high profile roles since finishing the series.

The picture above was recently taken in New York, after the opening night of the Shakespeare in the Park 2007 production of “Romeo & Juliet”. Ambrose plays Juliet, which I think is a very fitting role for her.

You can see Lauren in the upcoming Tonight at Noon, which stars Ethan Hawke, and in A Dog Year, which co-stars Jeff Bridges.

5. Toy Story

For a film that was made twelve years ago, the fact that the animation is almost up to par with movies made today is simply incredible. This was the first ever CGI film that I saw, and it started my love of them. A great story and something, as a young boy, you always wish would come true.

4. Monsters, Inc.

Monster’s, Inc. is almost the forgotten Pixar film. It was popular, but not up with there with some of the other gems such as Toy Story or Finding Nemo. I think it should be. It’s an excellent film, in both writing, animation and voice acting.

3. Toy Story 2

Another rare achievement, as I found Toy Story 2 to be better than the original. Barely, but I did like it slightly more. The animation improved slightly, and I liked the storyline a little more. Such a great movie, and I can’t believe it’s already 8 years old.

2. The Incredibles

Although it is a slight rip-off of the “Fantastic Four” idea, it becomes it’s own film, and does a great job in doing so. I love superhero movies, and I love computer animated films, so the fact that I like this movie is pretty obvious.

1. Finding Nemo

This is probably the most beautifully colored film I’ve ever seen. The animation is so vibrant and amazing, it’s often used as the sample film to show off big screen TV’s. So yes, it’s a visually appealing film, but that’s not what makes this film great. It’s one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, and to be able to pull off funny with a “G” rating is a unique accomplishment. A great story, Finding Nemo is the complete package for not only a CGI film, but any film.