"Would you say, I have a plethora of piñatas?"

¡Three Amigos!

Director: John Landis

Producers: Lorne Michaels, George Folsey Jr.
Writers: Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Randy Newman
Starring: Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, Martin Short

Running Time: 99 minutes

Rating: PG

This is one of my all-time favorite movies starring three of my all-time favorite actors. If you're in the mood for a simple feel-good funny movie, go pick this one up!

This movie starts off similar to The Man Who Knew Too Little but doesn't stick with the "clueless protagonist" thing for nearly as long. ¡Three Amigos! is essentially a perfect combination of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Chevy Chase being goof balls in "Santa Poco" Mexico. They even end up saving the tiny village and the damsel in distress. All the while we get to laugh at their ridiculous costumes and all around oblivious pseudo-vaquero shenanigans. Don't forget the legendary "My Little Buttercup" scene!

If, for some reason, you haven't seen this movie, get a move on!

CONTENT: This movie runs away with a PG rating for mild sexual humor, comedic violence, several minor expletives and consumption of alocohol.

¡Three Amigos! earns 4 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Burn baby, burn!

How To Train Your Dragon

Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Producers: Bonnie Arnold, Doug Davison, Roy Lee, Michael Connolly, Tim Johnson
Writers: Adam F. Goldberg, peter Tolan, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, Cressida Cowell
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson

Running Time: 98 minutes

Rating: PG

I know, I know... I said I would see and review Clash of the Titans. However, I heard from every single person who saw it that it is horrible. So, to spare myself and avoid wasting $15.00, I opted for this movie. I wasn't dissappointed!

I usually enjoy Pixar/Dreamworks 3D animated movies and this movie was no different. The visuals look great and the plot is a lot of fun. I did see this movie in 3D with the funny looking glasses. I wouldn't suggest paying the extra bucks for that though.

This movie was plain and simply fun to watch. It is funny and exciting as well as very creative. I am a fan of dragons and Vikings and this movie offers plenty of both. The characters are believable and the voice acting is superb. I definitely recommend this movie. Go check it out!

CONTENT: MPAA gives it PG for "sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language."

How To Train Your Dragon earns 3 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Cyber "front" gone crazy

Surrogates

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Max Handelman, Elizabeth Banks
Writers: John Brancato, Michael Ferris, Robert Venditti

Starring: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, Jack Noseworthy, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames

Running Time: 89 minutes

Rating: PG-13

So I didn't have a chance to get to the theatres to see a more recent movie this week (and maybe I'm just holding out for Clash of the Titans...). I thought I'd get a Redbox and see a flick I had missed, namely, Surrogates.

I hadn't heard anything about this movie before seeing it and thought it looked cool. I found out later than there was a lot of negative feedback for this movie. I, however, was pleasantly surprised. This movie wasn't half bad.

So, imagine Minority Report and i Robot mixed together with a dash of Avatar. There you have it, Surrogates. We see a lot of robot action and Bruce Willis getting beat up but aside from all that, this movie actually has a pretty interesting premise. I think the movie was trying to show us that hiding behind a "front" instead of living your life can be addicting and very damaging. Think Facebook and MySpace. It's so easy to live life vicariously through some cyber-fantasy persona and this movie brings that concept to the extreme.

If you don't expect too much this movie is worth seeing. It teaches some interesting principles and throws your mind for a spin. Other than that, the plot is somewhat empty and it felt like they were just making junk up and throwing it in there so they could consider it a full-length film. I thought the strange robot-exploder-brain-melter-gun-thing was pretty lame too. The ending is pretty predictable and somewhat ironic. I kind of want my own robot now though...

If you're looking for a movie to rent, this one is a safe bet.

CONTENT: MPAA gives it PG-13 for "intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene."

Surrogates earns 2 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Little Potato Sacks with Zippers

9

Director: Shane Acker

Producers: Time Burton, Timur Bekmambetov, Jim Lemley, Dana Ginsburg, Jinko Gotoh

Writers: Pamela Pettler, Shane Acker

Starring: Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover, Martin Landau, Fred Tatasciore

Running Time: 80 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Ok I guess I'm on a Tim Burton kick. I couldn't help but put a review out there for this movie! I saw this randomly at a dollar theater last year and simply loved it.

Either I'm a fan of Tim Burton's work or a fan of weird things in general, but this movie certainly satisfied my desire for the strange and mystical.  I expected a "rotten tomato," but was presented with something that was actually pretty intriguing. I was pleasantly surprised with this movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching 9 strange little creatures run around in a post-apocalyptic  setting as they tried to figure out the mystery of their creation while fighting off the bad guys. The visuals in this movie are top notch and if nothing else, enjoy the eye candy.

The plot was, surprisingly, deeper than I had presumed it would be. It is very imaginative and causes one to ponder. The movie flows nicely and reaches an exciting climax after which we are left with an interesting ending. This movie isn't an epic blockbuster, but neither does it presume to be.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie very much and don't think it got the credit it deserves. If you're looking for a simple, enjoyable movie sometime. Pick this one up from the local redbox.

CONTENT: PG-13 for violence and scary images. This movie is very clean, probably even for younger kids.

9 earns 2½ out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

"I often believe six impossible things before breakfast!"

Alice In Wonderland

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Linda Woolverton (screenplay), Lewis Carroll (book)

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry

Running Time: 109 minutes

Rating: PG

The story of Alice in Wonderland is entirely bonkers; but all the best stories are. This rendition of Alice In Wonderland holds true to the utter weirdness to be found down a curiously deep rabbit-hole. Uniting Lewis Carroll's timeless classic with Tim Burton's infallible "Burtonesque" style offers a tantalizing chemistry that left me wanting to discover what lay around every corner.

This movie provides a cast that can pack a punch; many of which have been in various "weird" movies in the past. Mia Wasikowska plays a very convincing Alice and actually shows a really cool wardrobe a la Burton. Helena Bonham Carter plays the Red Queen sporting an overly-large noggin. Helena has been in roles such as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and Mrs. Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Yeah, she can do weird. Johnny Depp never fails to please and this movie is no exception. He plays a very mad, Mad Hatter.

There is no end to the eye candy, this movie offers beautiful and creative visual effects and scenery that couldn't be found in anything less than a dream. The plot is fairly simple and straightforward and actually follows the original story pretty well. As per the original story, the movie conveys some interesting morals and and lessons to be learned amongst the madness.

My only qualm in regard to this flick is I kept thinking, "This movie is a little boring." In spite of the fantastic scenery and strong cast, it leaves something to be desired by way of premise and plot. They could have done more and delved a little deeper into some of the strange characters and made Wonderland seem even more mysterious. Instead there was so much focus on whether "Alice" was really "Alice" and getting her to find a sword to slay the bad guy.

Overall, it is a fun movie and I would recommend seeing it. Especially if you're an avid Tim Burton fan.

CONTENT: PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar. (hah)

Alice in Wonderland earns 2½ out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

"She turned me into a newt!"

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Writers: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Running Time: 87 minutes

Rating: PG

This week I'm doing a throw-back review of an old classic. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of my all time favorite movies. It is a nonsensical satire based on the Knights of Camelot and King Arthur.

Dry, deadpan humor abounds in this strange, strange movie. The first time I saw it I was confused for a while. Then, as soon as some monks starting chanting and banging planks of wood on their heads I was sold. Some would call this movie pure genius. I call it pure madness. Madness that you can't help but laugh at. This is just one of those movies you can throw in whenever you want to relax or pass the time. It will brighten your mood in no time. Beware those of you who hate movies like Napoleon Dynamite; this movie is somewhat similar and if you are too serious or expect some great, complex comedy, look somewhere else.

The movie takes you on a medieval adventure and quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way you become confused and exhilarated at the twists and turns our faithful crew goes through to reach their goal. The ending makes no sense whatsoever and I couldn't love it more. You'll become very familiar with the airspeed velocity of swallows and the many uses for coconuts by the end of this epic joke.

The budget for this was only £229,575 or $343,214 US dollars. Most of the actors play various roles in the movie and the same guys wrote and directed it. I almost think they weren't taking this project very seriously at the time and hardly expected the almost $120 million the movie has grossed to date. That goes to show that throwing millions of dollars at a project isn't always necessary for great results! I can't even count the times I've heard people quoting the movie and it conjures up a chuckle every time. This is one of those phenomena movies that you just gotta love.

Go see this movie if you haven't. Preferably late at night when you're in that out-of-it giddy mood.

CONTENT: This movie is rated PG for fake comedic violence and some sexual references.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail earns 4 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™(duh)

"...the master of my fate...the captain of my soul."

Invictus

Director: Clint Eastwood

Writers: Anthony Peckham, John Carlin(Novel)

Starring: Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman

Running Time: 133 minutes

Rating: PG-13

If you like rugby, see this movie. If you like political history in Africa or otherwise, see this movie. Just see this movie.

Going into this movie I expected another dime-a-dozen sports drama. I was pleasantly surprised. Matt Damon(François Pienaar) and Morgan Freeman(Nelson Mandela) pull off a very convincing act and kept me wanting to learn more and more about their characters. The plot develops nicely and really envelopes you in the story. You find yourself pulling for "the home team," by the end.

The fact that this movie is based on a true story is what sets it apart from other run-of-the-mill sports dramas. This movie is much more than a sports drama as it presents interesting social conflicts and moral dilemmas. It presents the audience with important "live-by-me" principles and offers an eye opening cultural perspective.

This movie made me want to learn more about rugby and the history behind Nelson Mandela. Films that inspire action are harder and harder to find these days. I enjoyed this movie and would recommend it.

CONTENT: The MPAA marked this one PG-13 for brief strong language. Overall this movie is very clean.

Invictus earns 3 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Oh dear oh dear...

Dear John

Director: Lasse Hallström
Writers: Jamie Linden, Nicholas Sparks (Novel)

Starring: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Henry Thomas, Scott Porter, Richard Jenkins
Running Time: 105 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Dear John,
Stay at home.

I went to this movie expecting a fairly standard romance drama/war film. Well, this certainly isn't a war film. In fact, it's really a love story between an oh-so-altruistic girl and a guy who also happens to be a green beret. There's only one real "war" scene and it was actually the most exciting part of the movie. The rest of the film is drenched in sappy and predictable 99¢ love story. Now, I'm not at all against romance/drama or "chick flicks." In fact, I've seen some really good ones. This one, however, just isn't up to par.

I like Channing Tatum and he usually pulls off his roles very well. He's the standard hardcore buff guy you can throw into a movie and expect great results. He does well in this role and does beat a few guys up. They just could have done so much more with the premise. You basically find yourself begging for some epic war scenes that show what "John" (Channing Tatum) is going through, not a dozen scenes of him loafing around camp daydreaming about his girl and reading her letters. You are pleading for a more believable romance between the girl and the guy or more scenes showing why it was so hard for Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) to wait for her man.

*SPOILER ALERT* The following will reveal some of the plot that actually makes this movie worth renting when it's at redbox and you're bored.

The only redeeming factors of the movie were John's dad and the fact that John didn't just die randomly for cheap dramatic effect points. From the first scene in the movie I got the idea that John was just going to die while at war and the rest of the movie would lead up to that event. He actually doesn't die and ends up with the girl of his dreams (Duh). But, of course, there has to be some twists. John's dad suffers from autism and collects coins. Savannah doesn't "Dear John" John for the guy you think she does either, tricky.

Overall, this movie really isn't that great and very nearly got 1 Popcorn Bucket™, however, since the plot tricked me, I'll throw in another half.

CONTENT: This flick has a saucy love scene and some people get shot. One guy also gets punched in the face. There is very little (if any, I can't remember) foul language.

Dear John earns 1½ out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Elementary, my dear Watson!

Sherlock Holmes

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Simon Kinberg, Lionel Wigram, Arthur Conan Doyle

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong

Running Time: 128 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Elementary! (I love saying that) In this action mystery based off the old Sherlock Holmes books, we are treated with an entertaining film that puts you in 1891 London faced with a tantalizing mystery. Robert Downey, Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) pulls off the part very well alongside Jude Law (Watson). The duo takes us through an explosive and only somewhat predictable mystery to take down the seemingly immortal bad guy.

Going into the movie without any expectations, as I hadn't actually heard anything about it beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised. The plot develops nicely and you get to know the characters fairly well. There are a lot of elements in the mystery that could have been forgotten but they are all wrapped up nicely in the end. I would have enjoyed learning more about the characters and they could have built Holmes up a bit more as a reputable detective. For those who know absolutely nothing about Sherlock Holmes, it can be somewhat confusing. However, we get a good feel for his formidable skills of deduction and forensic investigation. In general, I think they could have done more and added a bit more "kick." Put the protagonists in more of a tight pinch or made the bad guys a bit tougher. They do very well until the end where it abruptly drops off and the antagonist is suddenly a push-over without his "magical" powers. You'll have fun at this movie but don't expect it to be amazing. You might want to wait until it hits the dollar theater unless you're a die-hard Holmes fan.

CONTENT: This is a fairly clean movie and the MPAA marked it for violence and some "startling images" as well as a suggestive scene.

Sherlock Holmes earns 2 ½ out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Dances with... blue aliens?

Avatar

Director: James Cameron

Writers: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver

Running Time: 162 minutes

Rating: PG-13

This epic science fiction drama takes place in the year 2154 and throws us right into an internal moral struggle -- futuristic-style. Think: Dances With Wolves meets Star Wars. Sam Worthington (Jake Sully) and co. are working for an exploration mining corporation on the planet Pandora. This corporation has discovered a sentient species called the Na'vi and is considering destroying their homeland and driving them out in hopes of harvesting the valuable minerals that are found there. The plot takes a twist when Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine prancing around in the body of a Na'vi (I know, cool right?), learns more about this new and fascinating people. The ending may (or may not) surprise you.

This movie has beautiful scenery and CG graphics courtesy of Weta Digital. I still want to see it in 3D (if anyone already has, please post and let me know how you liked it!) The plot flows nicely and even though the running time approaches 3 hours, as is James Cameron's style, it never felt like it dragged on. The screenplay and acting is quite convincing and this was, overall, an entertaining movie even though the premise has been used before and there are very apparent political undertones, which turn many people off when we're dealing with aliens and epic space battles. I recommend this movie, you'll have fun.

CONTENT: A good amount of profanity, epic battle and although the MPAA seems to be more worried about "some smoking," I'd be more worried about half naked aliens/humans running around. This movie probably isn't appropriate for little kids.

Avatar earns 3 out of 4 Popcorn Buckets™

Lights! Camera! Action!

Welcome to the newest and most fastidious (or not so much) critique of the latest movies to hit the silver screen. Here you will find helpful, non-biased opinions to guide you in your movie choice and help you spend your hard-earned money wisely.

We will be using a concise rating system where a movie can earn anywhere from one to four popcorn buckets as follows:

3 and 1/2 out of 4 popcorn buckets.

The more popcorn the better, wouldn’t you agree?

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Here is a  short review to demonstrate:

The Blind Side

Director: John Lee Hancock
Writers: John Lee Hancock
             (written by)
             Michael Lewis
             (book)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quinton Aaron
Running Time: 126 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Sandra Bullock(Leigh Anne Tuohy) and Quinton Aaron(Michael Oher)  pull off a thorough and very convincing performance in this sports drama. Based on a true story, Blind Side takes you for a walk in the shoes of an underprivileged boy who becomes a football star. Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family take Michael Oher under their wing and give him an opportunity he never thought he'd have.

Although I'm getting the feeling that a lot of sports dramas are pulling the same stops these days and seem like they're worth a dime a dozen, this movie offers a unique twist. It is based on a true story and the actual story took place very recently and is still taking place. Oher signed a $13.8 million contract in 2009 with the Baltimore Ravens and is 23 years old. We also get to see Sandra Bullock as a blondie.

Overall it is a fun movie that can tug at your heart strings. I only wish they would have shown some clips of Michael smashing up his opponents in real footage clips at the end of the movie. Go see it, you won't be wasting your money.

The Blind Side earns 3 out of 4 popcorn buckets

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