Project X (Official Trailer 2012)

THE BOTTOM LINE: JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

 

STARRING:  John Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens and Kristin Davis

 

DIRECTOR:  Brad Peyton

 

GENRE:  Action / Adventure

 

SYNOPSIS:  The journey continues as Sean Anderson goes on a mission to find his missing grandfather.

 

RATING:  PG

 

RUNNING TIME:  94 Mins

 

THE GOOD:  Dwayne Johnson was the right choice to replace Brendan Fraser. He has the right type of charisma and energy to make this lame film somewhat tolerable.

 

Michael Caine was also a wise choice. His appearance gives the film some credibility; even if it is only when he is on the screen.

 

THE BAD:  This journey isn’t worth taking.

 

With John Hutcherson being the only actor to return from the 2008 original, this film doesn’t feel like a sequel.  It is just more of the same; only half-hearted.  

 

It plays like a cheesy Disney film from the 70’s. 

 

THE UGLY:  It must have been cold on that “mysterious island”, because Dwayne Johnson’s “headlights” were turned on throughout the entire film. 

 

And unfortunately, his pecs are so big that his nipples seem out of place; which was annoying and confusing.  I thought he had a third nipple…

 

MY SCORE:  **

(2 OUT OF 5 STARS) 

THE BOTTOM LINE: THE VOW

THE VOW

 

STARRING:  Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange, Sam Neill and Scott Speedman

 

DIRECTOR:  Michael Sucsy

 

GENRE:  Romance

 

SYNOPSIS:  A young woman wakes from a coma with no memory of her husband or her marriage.

 

RATING:  PG-13

 

RUNNING TIME:  104 Mins

 

THE GOOD:  Hopefully you are too busing making out with your date to notice that this NOTEBOOK wannabe doesn’t even come close.

 

Where THE NOTEBOOK was heartbreaking and gut wrenching, THE VOW is just plain frustrating. 

 

Despite the subject matter, this isn’t a tearjerker. So, you can leave your hankies at home.

 

THE BAD:  Channing Tatum is no Ryan Gosling.  Instead of bringing out the best in Rachel McAdams, he brings out the worst.  Did she forget how to act?

 

THE UGLY:  Always use your seatbelt!

 

MY SCORE:  ***

(3 OUT OF 5 STARS) 

THE BOTTOM LINE: THE WOMAN IN BLACK

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

 

STARRING:  Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciaran Hinds and Misha Handley

 

DIRECTOR:  James Watkins

 

GENRE:  Horror

 

SYNOPSIS:  A young lawyer must finalize the will of a wealthy woman whose estate has been deemed haunted.

 

RATING:  PG-13

 

RUNNING TIME:  95 Mins

 

THE GOOD:  Daniel Radcliff will definitely have an acting career after the “Harry Potter” series and this film is proof of that.   Despite, his acting skills or lack there of, he still is somebody you would be willing to pay good money to see.  Edwardian black certainly suits him.

 

Ciaran Hinds (THE DEBT, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and HBO’S ROME) and Janet McTeer (ALBERT NOBBS, SONGCATCHER) make up for anything that Radcliffe is lacking in the acting department.

 

THE BAD:  We have seen this story so many times and done so much better… Yes, that shark is going to jump out of the water when you least expect it… actually, it is more like clockwork.

 

THE UGLY:  Nobody likes an unhappy ending… or was it a happy ending?  That is for you to decide.

 

MY SCORE:  **

(2 OUT OF 5 STARS)