Saw 3D

Movie: Saw 3D

Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsey Russell, Cary Elwes

Genre: horror, thriller

I saw it on: November 2, 2010

Synopsis: If you have seen the first six Saw movies, you know what to expect.  People put in impossible situations where they are forced to mutilate themselves I order to say someone else’s life.

My two cents: I this is the seventh Saw I have seen.  Not much new – except the ending had a nice twist.  I almost did not go out of protest to being forced to see it in 3D – not to mention that I have had more than my fill of this series.

Hereafter (2010)

Movie: Hereafter (2010)

Cast: Jay Mohr, Matt Damon, Cécile De France, Bryce Dallas Howard

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre: supernatural, afterlife

I saw it on: November 4, 2010

Synopsis: George (Matt Damon) is able to communicate with the dead.  Marie (Cécile De France) is having strange visions following a near-death experience. Marcus is suffering from the death of his twin brother and is desperately seeking answers.  The movie follows these three  and eventually pulls them together.

My two cents: An interesting movie.  About 1/3 of the way in, I started thinking “Oh well, I guess Clint has to make a bad movie once in a while.  About 2/3 through, I started wavering.  By the end of the movie I was thinking that Clint knocked one out of the ball park again.  This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he does a masterful job of weaving all the threads of this movie so that they finally come together at the end.  The movie will definitely leave you with something to think about.

Megamind

Movie: Megamind 3D IMAX

Voices: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Ben Stiller

Genre: superhero, fantasy

I saw it on: November 7, 2010

Synopsis: Just like superman, two infants are sent to earth from a dying planet.  Metro Man (Brad Pitt) lands in a millionaire’s estate and is raised in the lap of luxury to become a superhero. Megamind (Will Ferrell) lands in the prison yard of a prison for the criminally insane – you can guess how he grows up.  Things always seem to go Metro Man’s way until he suddenly is destroyed.  Now, when a new super-bad guy threatens the world there is no super hero to battle him.  Enter Megamind, forced against his will to become a good guy

My two cents: This movie was a pleasant surprise – much better than I expected.  The whole premise of the evil genius being forced to become the good guy was hilarious.  Jonah Hill was great as the new evil-bad-guy-taking-over-the-world.  And of course, Tina Fey as the object of Megamind’s affections. And let’s not foget Brad Pitt as the everything-goes-his-way hero – who wants a vacation from fighting evil.

I don’t know that 3D really ads much to the movie, but regardless, this movie was thoroughly enjoyable.

Fair Game

Movie: Fair Game

Cast: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

Genre: docudrama

I saw it on: November 7, 2010

Synopsis: The true story of Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts).  Valerie was a CIA field operative.  Her husband, Joe Wilson (Sean Penn) was the former ambassador to Gabon and is now consultant with expertise in the Africa.  Joe is hired by the CIA to evaluate to probability of Iraq obtaining yellow-cake uranium from Gabon.  He reported that it was nearly impossible.  The CIA/White House did not like his conclusion and ignored it.  When he went public with the fact that the White House statements about uranium being shipped to Iraq were baseless, officials within the White House retaliated by making public the fact that Valerie Plame was a CIA operative – thus ending her career.

Valerie becomes a pariah and along with her husband is characterized as a traitor.  The movie tracks their battle to clear their names.

My two cents: A great movie.  Unless you are one of those who thinks the White House did no wrong under Bush, expect to get really ticked off during this movie.  What was done to Valerie Plame and her husband was unbelievable.  They did no wrong, except to tell the truth.  It serves a good purpose to make sure we don’t forget just how badly – and purposely – the public was mislead by the Bush White House and the CIA. What made this act even more unforgivable is the ripple effect this had on the dozens of foreign operatives working for Plame who were put at risk.  There is little doubt that lives were lost as a result of this action by people in the administration.

Monsters

Movie: Monsters

Cast: Whitney Able

Genre: horror, science fiction

I saw it on: November 7, 2010

Synopsis: Six years ago a NASA probe carrying signs of life from somewhere in the solar system crashed in Mexico.  Shortly thereafter, this life form started multiplying in the form of gigantic “things” with octopus-like arms.  They seem to have some intelligence and the strength to toss trucks and cars around like they were toys.  Half of Mexico has been walled off from the rest of the world to try and contain these alien creatures.

The movie follows two Americans trying to traverse Mexico on foot to get back to the Untied States.

My two cents: A big disappointment.  They very seldom showed anything of the aliens other than tentacles.  It almost seemed like a through-back to the 50’s era of sci-fi monster movies.  If that was the effect they were shooting for, they achieved it – but without the fun of those movies.  The twist at the end was interesting – but nowhere near enough to save the film – at least in my opinion.

For Colored Girls

Movie: For Colored Girls

Cast: Kimberly Elise, Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Whoopi Goldberg

Genre: Drama

I saw it on: November 8, 2010

Synopsis: A multi-thread movie follows a number of black women and the troubles they are having – usually involving bad men.  If memory serves, out of all of the couples in this movie, there was only one man that was worth a damn.  No matter how rich an powerful or how dirt-poor – these women had troubles to deal with.

My two cents: While there was some really great acting in this movie, the depressing circumstances of these women started getting to me after a while.  Once scene in particular, dealing with an abusive war-damaged man (Michael Ealy) and his two young children left me rattled for the rest of the movie.  Worth seeing – but plan on being emotionally drained by the time you exit the theatre.