Movie Reviews As a voting member of the North Texas Film Critics Association, I have the opportunity to view films prior to their general release. How often are you uncertain whether you might want to see a movie in the theater, rent it for home viewing, wait until it is available on cable or satellite TV, or just pass on it altogether? Do you always agree with what the critics write? How do you separate all the advertising hype from the many differing points of view? When I view a movie, I form an opinion based on whether the movie was an enjoyable and entertaining experience and whether it would really be worth the money to see it on the big screen. Isn't that what you really want to know? Bookmark and return to this page for additional listings and opening date information. I welcome your opinions, too. See you at the movies!
Barry's Box Office Key to Ratings: **** - Excellent - A must-see on the big screen! You'll get your money's worth and more. *** - Very Good - A great movie choice. Worth your time and money to see on the big screen. ** - Fair - Might be worth a look. A DVD rental or waiting for cable or satellite TV could be the best choice. Will appeal to some moviegoers. * - Poor - Pass on this one. Save your money. A waste of time even on cable or satellite TV. Watch this space for coming attractions. Watch List for June 2008:
Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for July 2008: The X-Files: I Want to Believe - Opens July 25 The Dark Knight - Opens July 18 Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3-D - Opens July 11 Hancock - Opens July 2 Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for June 2008: WALL-E - Opens June 27 The Love Guru - **1/2 - Get Smart - *** - The Happening - **1/2 - The Incredible Hulk - **1/2 - You Don't Mess With The Zohan - **1/2 - Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for May 2008: The Fall - *** - Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - **** - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - **1/2 - Son of Rambow - **1/2 - Iron Man - **** - This movie has everything that a moviegoer desires in return for their hard-earned entertainment dollar. Expect a great story, plenty of action, excellent casting and acting, and even some humor. It stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges. The movie is directed by Jon Favreau and is rated PG-13 with a running time of 126 minutes. Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) heads a weapons manufacturing firm founded by his late father. He is a computer and engineering wiz who enjoys a lifestyle typically reserved for rich, famous and high profile bachelors. His complicated life is coordinated by his trusted assistant, Pepper Potts (Paltrow). On a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his latest missile deployment system for the military, his convoy is attacked and he is captured by terrorists. Tony is dismayed to find weapons that he designed in the hands of his captives. His inventions are being used on allied forces and Afghan civilians. He uses his cunning and mechanical aptitude to escape. Back home in the U.S.A., Tony decides to change the direction of his company and meets resistance from old-school board members. He turns his energy into designing the ultimate warrior, an advanced fighting machine that can be utilized against well-armed terrorists. See this action packed movie on the big screen and plan to be highly entertained for over two hours! Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for March 2008: 21 - *** - I really enjoyed this adaptation of Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book Bringing Down the House. The story of how MIT students and an instructor card-counted their way to millions of dollars in Las Vegas was well acted. Their adventure held my interest and is definitely worth a big screen look. It stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, and Laurence Fishburne. Directed by Robert Luketic, the film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 123 minutes. 10,000 B.C. - ** - This Stone Age movie has romance, action and unintended comedy. It's a little weird to view cavemen speaking perfect English while grunting and groaning and running around in animal skins. It's basically the story of a young man's quest to rescue his true love and village friends who have been abducted and held captive by an advanced and evil tribe. I really did not have as much trouble with the computer generated beasts as did some reviewers. I enjoyed most of the film even though it was tedious watching at times. Overall, 10,000 B.C. might best be viewed on cable or by DVD rental. Stars Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Omar Sharif and Tim Barlow. Rated PG-13 with a running time of 149 minutes. Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for February 2008: The Spiderwick Chronicles - ***- This children's fantasy has good special effects, is rated PG, and has a running time of 97 minutes. A few of the scary creatures may be too intense for young children. A mom and her three children move into the old Spiderwick Mansion that has been left unoccupied for 80 years. One of the youngsters finds an old book that holds secrets to unseen fairies and goblins. A story of good vs. evil unfolds as the Grace family tries to survive the power of a magical world released when a warning message attached to the cover of the ancient book is not followed. Stars Freddie Highmore, David Strathairn, Nick Nolte, Mary-Louise Parker, Sarah Bolger, Joan Plowright, Martin Short and Seth Rogen. It is directed by Mark Waters and is available in wide release and in IMAX. Jumper - **1/2 - A fun movie geared to young audiences. David (Christensen) has been able to teleport himself anywhere in the world since his mother abandoned him at age five. He easily robs banks for cash and lives a carefree lavish lifestyle. He discovers that there are others who share his unique ability. The secret Paladin Group has a mission to eliminate all jumpers. David and a young British jumper, Griffon, find themselves being hunted by the group that includes his biological mother. With is girlfriend caught in the middle, David fights for his life and the preservation of his gift. Stars Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, and Samuel L. Jackson. Rated PG-13 with a running time of 88 minutes. Barry's Box Office Mini-Reviews for January 2008: The Orphanage -***- You say you don't like foreign movies? Well here is a movie from Spain that is worth the effort of reading the English subtitles. It is a supernatural thriller that will keep your attention and produce a few shrieks or startled jumps along the way. It stars Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep and Geraldine Chaplin and is directed by Juan Antonio Bayona. A woman returns after thirty years to the orphanage where she was raised. She intends to buy the old mansion and turn it into a home for special-needs children. Accompanied by her husband and an ailing adoptive son, the deal is closed and they take up residence. The little boy is fascinated by new imaginary friends he finds around the old house. When the boy goes missing for six months and is believed dead, the parents decide to abandon their dreams for the property. Discovering things that she believes are tied to her past, the mother stays alone in the home while her husband is away making plans for their move. The tension continually builds. This old place is most definitely haunted and the mansion has some startling secrets to reveal. Terrible deeds long hidden and ghostly entities with a story to tell charge back from the past to manifest in the present. This movie has some great twists and turns and it is definitely worth a look. Don't let the subtitles keep you away. Rated R with a running time of 100 minutes. The Bucket List -***- This movie is directed by Rob Reiner and stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Two terminal cancer patients, Ed and Carter, meet in a semi-private hospital room while undergoing treatment. Edward Cole (Nicholson) is a cynical rich industrialist and Carter Chambers is a wise old man with a loving family. They each receive bad news that they have only six months to one year to live. Ed watches Carter contemplate and write some thoughts down on a piece of paper. When he gets a chance to see what Carter has been writing, he comes up with a plan. You see, Carter has been making up a list of things he would like to do before he dies, before he "kicks the bucket". Ed has some thoughts on how both of their final days should be spent. He has plenty of money, but he has to convince Carter that he should spend valuable time away from his family to pursue his dreams. After a little persuasion, off they go on a worldwide trip to experience life to its fullest with the time they believe to have left. They begin to cross the things off their "bucket list" that they have deemed important to accomplish. In the process, they find the true meaning of a joyous life in four short months. This movie will bring a smile to your face and maybe a tear to your eye. It is well acted and definitely worth seeing. It is much better than the movie trailers might depict or some movie critics might declare. Put this movie on your "must see" list. Rated PG-13 with a running time of 97 minutes. |
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