The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Current Ranking: #4 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/28/10
Original Ranking: #4 out of 28

Nic says:

This is definitely the best movie adaptation of the Twilight books so far. (Yes, I’ve read them.) The actors seem to have finally grown into their roles in this film.
The adapted script for the movie took very few liberties with the original story, and the few it did take were excellent. My favorites were definitely Jessica’s high school graduation speech and Lautner’s one-liner in the tent where he tells Edward “Everyone knows I’m hotter than you.”

The one thing I don’t quite understand, and maybe this is just the politics of movie making, is why they replaced the actress who played Victoria. Victoria hardly has any screen time in the film, and the actress, Bryce Dallas Howard, did not strike me as anything spectacular. If anything, she has a softer and less threatening look than her predecessor.

Amy says:

As a HUGE Twilight Book fan, I was a little leery of seeing this movie. While I liked New Moon, I hated the first movie, and so I was not sure what to think going into the third movie. The movie is totally fantastic! I absolutely love watching this third installment on the big screen (and when I say big, I mean really big because we saw this movie in IMAX.) We are seeing it again this weekend and I can hardly wait!!

Knight and Day

Current Ranking: #24 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/24/10
Original Ranking: #19 out of 27

Amy says:

Knight and Day was an okay action flick. It ranked right there with Bounty Hunter, where it has some good parts but ultimately falls a little flat. I was a little surprised I did not hate Tom Cruise, who plays the leading man; I am kind of tired of seeing the former Mission Impossible actor. However, his character’s dry sense of humor actually worked for Cruise, and the chemistry with Cameron Diaz worked for the story. There were a lot of laughs and exciting moments on screen, with a continually hysterical Diaz and too-cool-for-words Cruise. But not enough laughs to make up for the so-so plot. It definitely could have been better.

Nic says:

Tom Cruise has definitely worn out his role as a bad ass missionary. The only role I really want to see him reprise is Tropic Thunder’s Les Grossman. (However, upon reviewing his IMDB filmography, I see he is already working on Mission Impossible 4. Also, did you know his birth name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV??? No wonder he’s crazy… he’s the fourth to have that ridiculous name!)

Sorry, back to the movie. The plot is nothing new, something was stolen that needs to be kept away from bad people who seek to exploit it (heck, this could’ve been Mission Impossible 4), but Diaz’ and Cruise’s dynamic is new. They attract to each other instantly, and spend most of the movie trying to save each other from being killed. No, wait… that’s not new either.

Killers

Current Ranking: #27 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/23/10
Original Ranking: #21 out of 26

Nic says:

If I had read the script for this movie before hearing anything about it, I might have liked it. In fact, as a book, I could see it working. However, when it comes to casting a smooth and successful CIA (or was it FBI?) operative, my first choice would not be Ashton Kutcher. To be fair, maybe it wasn’t the casting director’s first choice either, but I think I’d scrap the movie before placing the guy that’s best known for That 70’s Show and marrying Demi Moore. Secondly, when it comes to casting a bumbling and clumsy loser that is on vacation with her parents, who in their right mind thinks of Katherine Heigl?

This movie would have worked for me if they had cut out the opening scenes in Nice, France (we don’t need to see 15 minutes where our characters meet, date, fall in love, and are now married 3 years later) and maybe exchange it with the background on Tom Selleck’s character. We never did find out why he was being targeted. Lastly, I would definitely change the name of this movie. “Killers” gave me the impression that Kutcher and Heigl were a team of hired killers. The movie might have been more aptly named “Sleepers”. Not only because I almost fell asleep watching it, but because the sleeper assassins are what the “Killers” title is actually referring to in the first place.

Amy says:

I totally agree with Nic’s review and am not sure I have much to add. There are funny moments, but it was not really worth the price of admission to see the movie.

The A-Team

Current Ranking: #12 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/19/10
Original Ranking: #9 out of 25

Amy says:

The A-Team is an enjoyable movie bringing back the characters from the popular 1980’s TV series. In true eighties form this film demands suspension of belief for the plot to take off, but makes up for it with a cheesy love story and memorable characters. The four incredibly different members of the A-Team bring a little something for everyone. My favorite is the huge and intimidating Bosco (played by Quinton Jackson), who is also afraid of heights and is constantly tricked by his team to get him on flights.

Nic says:

This film is all about the action. The A-Team’s quirky team of misfits provides hilarious dialogue with a side of ass kicking. I love the casting of this movie, Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are excellent, but I think my favorite character is the insane pilot, Murdock, played by Sharlto Copley. From insane asylum to insane asylum, Murdock is constantly convincing us that he’s not crazy. My favorite part of his is when they break him out of jail and he’s wearing his 3-D glasses: “It’s like the bullets are actually coming at me!”

Toy Story 3

Current Ranking: #8 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/18/10
Original Ranking: #6 out of 24

Nic says:

I was not expecting much from Toy Story 3, because the second movie wasn’t all that great. However, I am blown away by the sophisticated story line and intense plot that this movie provides. Much like the first two movies, the toys are once again lost and trying to find their home; but this time the concept of home is being redefined as Andy is moving out. For me, the movie touches on a wide array of emotions, from the fear of being forgotten and abandoned, to the hopeful optimism of breaking free and choosing your own future. It showed me that this movie is more than just a child’s story about toys, but also about taking on your role in the world.

Amy says:

I agree that Toy Story 3 has more than I expected. There is a lot more edge of my seat action than I had been anticipating and the new characters are a hilarious addition. I will never forget the purple bear, which smells like strawberries, playing the evil mastermind and ruling like a gangster over the nursery toys.

The Karate Kid (2010)

Current Ranking: #14 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/14/10
Original Ranking: #9 out of 23

Amy says:

Karate Kid definitely packs a punch. Haha! But seriously, this is an entertaining movie that was certainly not what I expected. The title makes it seem like it will be a remake of the 1984 Karate Kid movie, which it is not. While the martial arts theme is there, the characters and situations are quite different. The story ended up being a nice surprise.

It is fun to watch the bravado of the young Jaden Smith who plays the main character Dre. By the end of the film, Smith ends up being able to back up his attitude with some seriously impressive martial arts moves. More extraordinary stunts are performed by the always entertaining Jackie Chan, who plays Smith’s martial arts teacher.

Nic says:

I agree that this movie is terrifically entertaining, and not at all a remake of the 1984 movie. Sure, the kid has the same journey to overcome his fears of getting beat up, but everything else is pretty much different… the place, the style of fighting, even the names. Perhaps the names have been changed to protect the innocent, or maybe Danielson and Mr. Miyagi were just too old school for today’s world.

Robin Hood

Current Ranking: #22 out of 33
Date Watched: 06/05/10
Original Ranking: #14 out of 22

Nic says:

This movie is mostly about the period in which Robin Hood lived and how he became the legend we know him as today. There is very little “rob from the rich, and give to the poor” which I found disappointing. This is Robin Hood as a soldier and a man of action, which is still somewhat entertaining, but it doesn’t really stand apart from any other battle/action movie.

Amy says:

I love the story of Robin Hood, but this movie has a little too much blood for me. I am not a huge fan of battle scenes, so I was bored for a lot of the film. When there is something other than bloody fighting on the screen, it was great! I wish there had been more of the story and less of the fighting.