Sarah Silverman is one of the few female comics that I actually find funny. Based on this movie I’d also say she’s one of the best comics – period. The film is simply her doing her standup routine interspersed with various musical vignettes. At first I found them distracting, but then I ‘got’ what was going on and came around to liking them – especially the old folks home number. As for the material she covers everything from rape, sex, AIDS, 9/11, religion and just about every racial group is equally skewered. It’s not the subject matter that is funny; the hilarity comes from her delivery. Highlight line: “People are always saying that the Jews killed Christ. You know what? I hope we did kill him. I’d fucking do it again!...because I’m edgy…”

I remember watching a review of this on Ebert & Roper and they were simply gushing at how great it was. So when I came across it in the video store I grabbed it – knowing full well that this was a so-called Indie-film. My hope was that this would complete the trilogy of brilliant Murray films, accompanying Rushmore and Lost in Translation. Alas, I found myself disappointed. Murray plays a middle-aged, Don Juan type who’s live-in and much younger girlfriend just walked out on him – while sitting on the couch one day contemplating his lonely existence he receives an anonymous letter informing him that he fathered a boy, now an adolescent, who is trying to find him. Not knowing who the mother is he goes on a road trip visiting all his old ex-flames in order to find her and to find out more about his son. With such a terrific cast it was disappointing to see them with so little screen time.  We are instead mostly left to observe Murray pondering what might have been. While it worked well in Translation, for me this was just to slow moving, especially with the unresolved storyline.

400 Years into the future a virus has wiped out 99% of the population, the survivors live in the sole remaining city surrounded with towering walls in an attempt to keep the wilderness out. The citizens within live in a controlled paradise, but all is not as it seems as people suddenly begin disappearing. Theron plays Aeon Flux, an assassin who is charged with terminating the city's ruler, Trevor Goodchild (Csokas). Ok, I admit I've never seen the Anime series this was based on, so I can't compare it to that (which by all accounts is much superior). And at first I found myself thinking that the movie was pretty bad...but then about half way through I found myself starting to like it - mostly I found the story intriguing. While not entirely original, it was enough to make me want to see where it was going. Charlize as usual is gorgeous and thankfully we get to see her in all kinds of tight, leather outfits as she dispatches her enemies in a flurry of acrobatic moves. Is she enough to save this movie from being a mess? No. But then again there's probably worse ways to spend an evening.

I guess the point of this movie is that even boring wars suck. Jarhead is based on the memoirs of a marine who served in Operation Desert Storm. Gyllenhaal stars as Swofford, an elite marine sniper who spends months in the desert with his unit dealing with the mind numbing boredom of waiting for combat - then suddenly (in 4 days, 4 hours, and 1 minute) their war was over. The acting is top notch - Gyllenhaal plays a very convincing grunt and Foxx is almost unrecognizable as the drill sergeant. There are also several great scenes, from the dead Iraqi soldiers burnt alive in their vehicles to the oily black hell from the burning oil wells. In every great war film there is a very poignant and defining moment - in this film that moment comes when Swofford and his spotter (Sarsgaard) after all the years in training, all the months baking in the desert, and all the girlfriends and wives lost to loneliness are denied the one thing they were meant to do - to kill the enemy. While intellectually this is great stuff and this definitely isn't your typical war movie, as a moviegoer, much like the soldiers in the film you'll want to scream in frustration while you wait for the action to begin.

We grabbed this movie thinking it looked like one of those movies that would be side-splitting if you were stoned. Needless to say we weren't, but still managed to almost piss ourselves laughing. Waiting...is the story of a typical day at Shenaniganz, an Applebee's-style restaurant, and the characters who work there. From the smooth talking, underage womanizer (Reynolds), his best friend upset over lost opportunity (Long), the white gangsta wannabee bus boys, the self important manager, the wizened dishwasher, the lesbian bartender, the hyper-stressed potty mouthed waitress, all the way to the new guy who gets to learn the finer points of the 'The Game'. The Game consists of exposing your genitals in various creative ways to your fellow male co-workers and getting to repeatedly kick them in the ass and call them gay for looking. I know, it doesn't sound overly funny, but in the context of the movie it's a laugh riot. Waiting... is so crude, so wrong, but so very, very funny. Oh, and you'll definitely think twice the next time you go to complain about your food.

Victor (Depp) has a dilemma. On one hand he’s being forced to marry Victoria (Watson), a woman he hardly knows so as to increase his family’s standing in the world, on the other hand another woman (Carter) claims that he’s in fact already married to her. Emily seems really nice and they get along great, but there’s a slight problem. She’s a corpse! While there’s the inevitable comparison to The Nightmare Before Christmas, not having seen Nightmare I can’t really comment on which one is ‘better’. I can say that this film is simply gorgeous to watch! Instead of cheaping out and using CGI, Burton employs stop-motion techniques to bring the characters to life. The mood and subject matter are deliciously macabre and the voice acting perfect. Truly a visual classic!

Not having seen the original film with Gene Wilder, or even read the book, I came into this movie without any preconceived ideas or notions. The result? A thoroughly entertaining and I dare say – perfect movie. I must admit that when I first saw the previews I wasn’t overly impressed – I thought it kinda looked stupid. Thankfully (in this case) the previews don’t do it justice. Depp stars as the eccentric Willy Wonka who offers five children the opportunity to visit his chocolate factory, but first they must find a chocolate bar with a golden ticket inside. Director Tim Burton brings his usual eccentric touch and visual flair and it works well with the fantastic nature of the story. I guarantee you'll have the 'Willy Wonka' song stuck in your head afterwards! I also found the DVD extras interesting. Especially how they ‘made’ the Oompa Loompa’s. It’s refreshing in a world of CGI everything (thanks George Lucas!) to find a film also employing animatronics and models.

Of all the stories I've read, the Narnia series is nearest and dearest to my heart. When I was a child these books were magical to me. Invoking intense feelings of wonder the likes of which, unfortunately, I have yet to experience again. So I felt both apprehension and excitement when I heard that they were making the second novel into a movie. Still, given that Peter Jackson did such an amazing job with the Lord of the Rings series and that they would use the same special effects team I was hoping for the best. Now that I've seen it I have to admit it was a bit of a let down for me - and I can't quite explain why that is. It's obvious a lot of effort and love went into the making of this film. And aside from some exposition at the beginning, the movie is entirely faithful to the book. The actors who play the kids do an amazing job, especially the ones that play Lucy and Susan. Likewise Tilda Swinton makes a terrific and fearsome witch (even if her hair is blonde). The special effects are for the most part well done (although Aslan sometimes comes across to obviously as being a CGI creation) and the sets - particularly the witch's castle - are breathtaking. So why wasn't I awestruck? I guess because nothing, no matter how well done, will be able to reproduce the feelings I had when I first read the book - and also perhaps, because I am no longer viewing it as through the eyes of a child. Note also that while The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a children's story it might not be suitable for everyone. There were several scenes in the film where I heard children crying to their parents that they were scared. And the 'crucifixion' scene is especially hard to watch - even for adults.

There's a chance that people will overlook this film, having had their fill of 'epics' such as Alexander and Troy. Which is a shame, as Ridley Scott's latest contribution to the genre is stellar and by far the best of the lot. Bloom (in a leading role for once) plays a grief stricken blacksmith who reluctantly becomes involved in the Crusades and ultimately ends up defending the holy city of Jerusalem against the marauding Muslim invaders. A number of critics have panned the film as being revisionist history - and I can't really comment on the accuracy of it. Still, it's refreshing given current sensibilities that a director would choose to make a movie that doesn't demonize Muslims. The other main critique is that Bloom, while excellent in this role, doesn't quite command the presence of say Mel Gibson in Braveheart or Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Those two issues aside, this film (like all of Scott's films) is a visual masterpiece and a wonder to behold. I also found the story to be thoroughly engaging - however those without a basic grasp of religious history might initially have a hard time following along. The Hollywood epic has taken quite a beating lately, thankfully Ridley Scott has shown us how to do it right.

The Interpreter is one of those frustrating films - excellent for the most part but ultimately disappoint with a weak ending. Penn plays a secret service agent tortured by the recent death of his wife. He is assigned to investigate claims by an interpreter (Kidman) at the United Nations that she overheard a plot to assassinate a visiting African leader. As I said, three quarters of the film are an on-the-edge of your seat thriller. But I saw the ending coming a mile-away and it was one of those endings that are painfully scripted to neatly tie-up the rest of the movie. There is an alternate ending on the DVD (which I didn’t watch) that I suspect might have been the original ending – but likely one that test audiences didn’t like (oh boo, hoo!). Still, the acting is top notch and the movie is also noted for being the first production allowed to film inside the United Nations.

Rob Zombie's first effort, 'House of 1000 Corpses', literally made me nauseous. Thankfully this quasi-sequel didn't. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. While there are still sickening elements from it's predecessor, Zombie has also infused the film with humour and in places it's more 'Bonnie and Clyde' than 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. The movie opens with a deformed man slowly dragging a woman's naked corpse (which looked disturbingly real) through the woods.....still with me? No? Obviously anyone who shuns horror flicks will not want to see this one. And for those who think that 'Scream' or 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' qualify as horror - you will also want to skip it. For the rest of us, this is one guilty pleasure of torture, bloodletting, and gratuitous nudity. Oh, and the soundtrack, editing, and visuals are standout as well. Also look for numerous cameos from 70's and 80's stars including Priscilla Barnes (Three's Company) and porn legend Ginger Lynn.

Poor Arthur Dent (Freeman), not only is his house about to be demolished, but he finds out from his pal Ford Prefect (Mos Def) that the entire planet is about to be destroyed to make way for a new interstellar bypass. Having previously been a BBC radio play and a television series, the late Douglas Adams' masterpiece finally gets the big screen treatment. And what do you know? They didn't butcher it! While it's been years since I've read the 5 book trilogy, there were many moments that made me smile as I remembered various parts of the story. I also believe that if you've never read the books you'll still be able to follow along without to much difficulty. The performances are good with Rockwell's over-the-top portrayal of Galaxy President Zaphod Beeblebrox being a good counterbalance to the dry British humour. The special effects while not earth-shattering are effectively done and have a unique look to them. Two other items to note, Digital DTS sound is offered as a setup option (wish more movies had this) and see if you can spot the original Marvin the Paranoid Android in the film. Above all else - Don't Panic!

Tom Stahl (Mortenson) is a simple man living the simple life with his family in rural heartland USA. But when an incident occurs which thrusts him into the spotlight he must come to terms with his past - is he really the man he says he is? I went to this movie because Canadian director David Cronenberg is one of my favourite directors. But shockingly, he creates a film that is devoid of his usual eccentricities and is actually quite mainstream. Thankfully the acting and the story propels this flick into the realm of excellence and more than makes up for any disappointment at not seeing another Naked Lunch or Dead Ringers. All of the actors give amazing performances with plenty of nuance in every scene. But the standout role has to go to William Hurt - he is simply brilliant. As the title implies there is an abundance of violence, but it never seems gratuitous and is effectively shocking in it's suddenness and brutality. A great film from one of the best directors!

Andy Stitzer (Carell) is a quiet 40-year old who works at an electronics store and collects vintage action figures. Oh, he also happens to be a virgin. During a poker game with his co-workers his virginal status is revealed and they pool their energies and vast knowledge of banging women in an attempt to get him laid. Along the way Andy meets Trish, a divorced mom of three and the grandma of one, whom he falls hard for. But can he tell her the horrible truth? That he’s a virgin!?!? Virgin is funnier than Wedding Crashers yet not quite as side-splitting as say, Office Space. While Carell is great at playing the naive role, it’s the supporting cast that really sells this movie. Nothing is sacred. From picking out the really drunk chick to take home, to masturbating with shower heads, to the ‘you know how I know you’re gay?’ jokes, and to making fun of the typical racial stereotypes. But without a doubt one of the funniest scenes is the very last one where you’ll wonder if you somehow smoked up without knowing it. Hell the movie poster alone cracks me up.

Based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller, Sin City is broken into three separate yet overlapping storylines with Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, and Mickey Rourke playing the lead characters. Similar to ‘Sky Captain’ with everything taking place against a blue-screen background, Sin City is shot in black & white and enhanced by splashes of vivid colour. The combination makes for stunning visuals and works to create a modern noir-like atmosphere. Sin City isn’t just a comic book adaptation; Sin City is the comic book coming to life. Therein lies its biggest problem. Comics rarely are literary works of art. And the story, while faithful to the source material, is a letdown. I didn’t get an emotional connection with the characters, and after awhile the repetitive violence lost its shock value. Others will find the gore and dark themes to be distasteful - what did you expect from the title? Still, despite its flaws there's no denying that Sin City is a groundbreaking film. 

Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine, a chain smoking anti-hero who’s tasked with slaying demons who break the rules by upsetting the balance between good and evil. His motivation? He’s going straight to Hell and hopes that as the demon body count rises so might his chances of getting into Heaven instead. Along the way he teams up with a cop (Weisz) who’s investigating the bizarre death of her psychic sister. Soon they discover that a powerful object has been unearthed which threatens to destroy mankind. Together they must overcome all manner of horrors and darkest betrayal – in the end forced to seek help from Satan himself. Constantine is a visual treat and a guilty pleasure of a movie. If you don’t try and pick it apart (because there’s holes aplenty) and instead go with the flow, you’ll find it to be one heck of a ride.

You've all seen the previews over and over again for what seems like the past two months. Well finally, the movie is here and yes, it's funny. Not bust a gut funny mind you, but still laugh out loud funny. Jeremy and John (Wilson and Vaughn) play two aging men trying to cling to youth by crashing weddings with the goal of scoring with the women who are easy pickings as they are swept up in the emotion of the moment. All good things must come to an end and eventually they tire of the game, but before they are done they decide to go for one last big score and crash the wedding of a Washington political heavyweight (Walken). Unfortunately Jeremy breaks one of the crashing cardinal rules and ends up falling in love with the girl he's chasing. Wilson and Vaughn have great chemistry on screen and are a duo we'll undoubtedly see again in future films. Add the always entertaining Walken and Jane Seymour in a rare comedic role and you have a dynamite cast. However the film is overly long (comedies should never be more than 2 hours) and gives into the required sappy Hollywood ending. Add an unnecessary cameo by Will Ferrell and in the end you have a flawed movie. Still the majority of the film is a guilty pleasure to watch and the fact that they didn't tone it down to get a PG rating is commendable.

I like my science fiction to be either thought provoking (Solaris), horrifying (Alien), or visually stunning (Blade Runner). While this movie has elements of each, in the end it failed to win me over. That being said, as far as summer blockbuster movies go it’s fairly entertaining.  Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a divorced dockworker whose alienated teenage son and younger daughter (Fanning) are dropped off for the weekend. While in his care, a bizarre electrical storm unleashes alien monstrosities lying previously dormant and he must struggle to protect them from their merciless onslaught. As much as I dislike Cruise I have to say he's very convincing as the dysfunctional father. But Dakota Fanning is simply amazing in her performance. One of those rare child actors who aren't cloyingly cute and who can truly act. Director Spielberg stays close to HG Well’s 1898 novella – from the appearance of the alien tripod machines to the odd (some would say cop-out) ending. Herein lies my biggest complaint; I wish the film had been set during the time the book was written. That would have been unforgettable and truly unique. Instead it’s been updated for modern times and references and imagery related to 9/11 abound. I go to movies to escape from reality, not to be reminded of it.

As Yoda would say 'Saw Star Wars did I...........sucked it did.'

Where to begin? I guess the opening credits which read 'War! Evil is everywhere!' set the tone. Even worse was to follow. The absolute worst dialog has to be the conversation between Anakin (Christensen) and Padme (Portman):

“You’re so beautiful.”
“That’s only because I’m so in love.”
“No, it’s because I’m so in love with you.”

Is a drunk monkey writing this crap? Yes this movie is better than the last two, but as Episodes I and II were so abysmal that's not saying much. The first half of the film is bad - so bad that at one point I actually contemplated walking out. But I decided to give it a chance and it did indeed improve, markedly so. But overall it's still a mess. Yes the original trilogy also had bad acting and corny lines but it also had special effects that had never been seen before in the history of cinema - effects that literally made your jaw drop. There's nothing new or spectacular in this one. In fact there's so much CGI that it's annoying - it's a cop out, it's lazy. In certain scenes it's plain awkward. It's telling that the scene aboard the senators ship - the same ship under attack in the beginning of Episode IV - which is faithfully reproduced looks odd. There's something profoundly wrong when a real set looks out of place. Are there any bright spots? McDiarmid who plays Emperor Palpatine is about the only one who can truly act. Although, Christensen is much more convincing this time round.

Lucas is without a doubt one of the worst directors - ever. For those still without a clue, Empire and Return which are commonly accepted as the best of the Star Wars films were not directed by him. Perhaps if he had put this one in the hands of someone else it might have become the fitting conclusion that it should have been.

'The Breakfast Club On Acid'? or maybe 'The Best Movie You've Never Heard Of'? Either one would adequately describe this movie. At least twice I'd be flipping through channels and come across (either on Bravo or IFC) the very same spot in the movie - where teacher (and producer) Drew tells the new student to 'sit next to the boy you think is the cutest.' And I'd think to myself 'what film is this?' but then get distracted and switch to something else. Recently I was in the video store and saw this Director's Cut version of the 2001 release on display and realized that this was the movie I kept coming across. Set in the late 80's, Gyllenhaal plays Donnie, a teen awkwardly stumbling through adolescence who also happens to have visions of a maniacal 6ft rabbit telling him the world will end in exactly 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds...The less you know about this movie the more you'll enjoy it. If you appreciate movies that are unique, challenging, and don't spoon feed you the same recycled crap then I highly recommend you see it.