New Release Movie Reviews

Movie Reviews:

Get Smart
Rated: PG-13
Run Time:
53% on the Tomatometer
54 on Metacritic
Trailers: Bad

This is a run of the mill, instantly forgettable, movie for many reasons. First off, it's decent. Not great enough to quote endlessly and actively encourage others to watch but not so horrendous you warn passerbys to stear clear (I.E Zohan and Guru...). Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway have some chemistry but it's hard earned. The plot is decent, the action is better then most other comedies and there are some laugh out loud moments. Steve Carell is at his best when he has no self awareness like the lovable Michael Scott and part of that shines through in this performance. Good date movie, good for a matinee or a good way to kill a couple hours in a theater waiting until Dark Knight comes out. But not a future cult classic like 40 Year Old Virgin. But a boat load better then Evan Almighty.





The Incredible Hulk
Rated: PG-13
Run time: 114 min
65 % on the Tomatometer
61 on Metacritic
Trailers: Good

I was a little hesitant with this "new" Hulk movie. The Ang Lee version was horrible. Bad acting, bad plot, bad CGI. Just bad. But I perked up when I heard Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Italian Job, American History X) would be playing Bruce Banner and co-writing the script. Edward Norton is a comic book fan so I knew the story would at least follow the origins (except updated much like in Iron Man) in the comics. It skip over the traditional origin part where Bruce is blasted with Gamma Radiation and goes straight into plot with Bruce hiding from the US Army. The story moves rapidly but still feels slow at times. Before you know it the Hulk is having is showdown with Abomination. But it has some superb acting in Mr. Norton and Liv Tyler isn't as annoying as she usually is (. . . Armageddon). I love that Marvel is starting to establish its own Marvel Movie Universe continuity which was a major reason for the rebooting of the Hulk franchise. Its the little connections like Tony Stark in the Hulk, Nick Fury in Iron Man that makes the Marvel Universe feel more alive. And all of this is leading up to the Avengers movie due out in 2011.


Kung Fu Panda
Rated: PG
Run Time: 88 Minutes
87% on the Tomatometer
73 on Metacritic
Trailers: Bad

This movie focuses on an out of place Panda voice by Jack Black trying to find his place in the world. Its a pretty cut and dry story and typical of what is to be expected with most kids movies. It's funny, don't get me wrong, but predictable. I walked in expecting an average animated movie but walked out watching a decent Kung Fu movie. This is one that will keep the little ones entertained without boring the parents. There were some scary images for the really little ones but I seen a fair amount of 4 year olds in the audience. All in all not bad and a good way to spend a couple hours in a cool movie theater.

Iron Man
Rated: PG 13
Run Time: 126 Minutes
93% on the Tomatometer
79 on Metacritic
Trailers: Good

Best movie of the year. Until Dark Knight comes out. This movie mixes great action, good acting and great special FX. Its one that I have seen a half dozen times in the theaters and it just gets better. Robert Downey Jr. is back on top and is here to stay, I hope. I loved his character in Zodiac and hoped I would get to see more of him in the upcoming months. Between Iron Man and Tropic Thunder its going to be a good year for Downey. And finally we get a decent female lead in a comic book movie. I actually found Gwenyth Paltrow bearable and downright likeable. Perfect for Pepper Potts. It has a couple nods to the comics and a couple great easter eggs (Captain Americas shield makes a cameo)

Indiana Jones
Rated: PG 13
Run Time: 123 Minutes
77% on the Tomatometer
65 on Metacritic
Trailers: Good

I wanted to like this movie but I just couldn't. Indy is a character we all know but really don't love. You can make a Star Wars movie any time and people will watch it because Star Wars is a religion, same with Star Trek. But not Indiana Jones. No one was wondering what Indy was up to. Sadly its like this movie was done more for money then anything which doesn't make any sense because Spielberg, Ford and Lucas doesn't need the money. It was ok at best but toward the bottom of the summer movie list for me.