Tuesday
Feb212012

Project X (Official Trailer 2012)

Monday
Feb202012

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) 

 

Tuesday
Feb142012

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) 

 

Thursday
Feb092012

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)