Love this movie. I love the concept, the execution, I even love the stupid prosthetic pieces they added to Joseph Gordon Levitt's face! I have a soft-spot for science-fiction films that aren't really science-fiction films. It takes place in the future but never tries to explain new technology or why the economies of the world are the way they are but it takes the effort to have it all fleshed out to see nonetheless. I can tell the writer/director knows the back stories behind it all but doesn't spend any time with messy exposition about it. It's just an old-fashioned action tale in a sci-fi backdrop and I love it, especially the time-passing montages and the wires sticking out of most car's old-fashioned gas tanks.

4.5 Stars (out of 5)

This was the best The Avengers movie anyone could've hoped for and I'm giving all the credit to Joss Whedon, (and to Marvel for hiring him).  Usually the screenplays for summer blockbusters are jammed out by committee, with producers and writers (and toy designers) all sitting in a room jamming more and more things into it for their own commercial or personal reasons.  By the time we see a summer movie it's been watered and dumbed down until it's hardly a "movie" anymore.   I went in expecting The Avengers to be more like last year's Thor with silly product placements for Kashi GoLean Crunch, big name actors shoved in like Anthony Hopkins just to sell tickets, and a less than cohesive plot made up of conflicting ideas from multiple parties.

Yet The Avengers isn't anything like that.  Marvel put almost all their eggs in this basket, spending years building up the individual story-lines, and it could've all fell flat.  But it didn't.  Thanks Joss.  Thank you for working hard and stepping up to the plate when called upon.  Now I expect nothing less than Joss (and more storytellers like him) to step in and clean up the messy Hollywood situation.  The recent release of Cabin in the Woods and now this film shows that audiences are sick of the dribble, and clamoring for something with actual entertainment value.  Just because it's a fun summer movie, doesn't mean it has to suck.  I was once as sick of superhero movies as I'm getting with the boardgame and fairytale movies now, but... If Battleship was written and directed like The Avengers, even I'd want to own it on Bluray and visit the theme park ride they base on it.

4.0 Stars (out of 5)

And some credit goes to Jon Favreau and Robert Downey, Jr. for showing how fun these comic movies are supposed to be.

The most fun I've had in a movie in years. During the first scene I am literally wondering if we accidentally walked into the wrong movie, and then when the title pops up I just bust out laughing. The dual storyline concept was done beautifully jumping back and forth from a straight-forward horror film and something else. The entire third act is just candy, a bonus to be savored. It's refreshingly unpredictable. It's silly without being stupid. It's serious without being heavy. It's a strange movie definitely worth experiencing, especially if you're a horror movie buff. I cannot believe it was ever greenlit, but I'm extremely thankful it was.

4.5 Stars (out of 5)

There's a lot of depth to this seemingly straightforward silent film. It feels like all the different elements came together perfectly to create a playful yet compelling story: endearing actors, a fun score, peppy editing, and always interesting visuals. I enjoyed the film's humorous take on the ever-evolving film industry. This is a timeless popcorn movie that revels in the magic of movies and keeping the old Hollywood nostalgia alive for future generations. Plus, it has John Goodman in it, so I'm all set.

4.0 Stars (out of 5)

I love a good mystery and at its core that's what this film is about. Much like Joe Friday and his partner the two main characters work together interviewing people and following the clues. I'm a big fan of David Fincher and this is some of his best work. Plus the source material is solid and the actors are a perfect fit. Movies like this are why I love going out to a theater. I'm looking forward to the next two films in the series.

4 Stars (out of 5)

The Lion King is my second favorite movie of all time. I hate to say it but the 2D film doesn't really work in 3D. If they had done it like a View Master slide with different flat planes layered at different depths it might have worked. Instead the characters had depth unto themselves as if they were 3D models only without any shading. Simba's nose was sticking out of the screen like it was floating in front of his face. The environments looked great and the effects in the Be Prepared sequence was fun at least.

4.5 Stars (out of 5)

The film studios really didn't want this to ever come to an end. It's been a fun ride for the past 10 long years, but now it's time for the Harry Potter franchise to step away from the big screen (for at least another decade, when they will re-release them all in 4-D-smell-o-think-o-vision technology). Since this is their last chance for a while, they actually put out dozens of different movie posters for this one film. Looks to me like a special edition TV Guide or Entertainment Weekly issue with multiple covers. Everybody gets a cover, you get a cover! You get a cover! Even Neville gets his own two posters!

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Source Code is a fascinating story masterfully told by a fairly new yet extremely talented director. Sequences unfold in a satisfying way throughout without being too predictable. It has the fast-paced action of Speed and the addictive narrative style of Groundhog Day. This is a science fiction/action film that happens to also be a great movie; not cheesy or gimmicky like others in the genre (no 3D glasses needed.) It may sound cliché but I literally was on the edge of my seat for most of this smart thriller. I was already sold on the director, Duncan Jones, from his brilliant film Moon. He tackles some of the same meaningful themes in this film that make you think and keep you thinking long after you leave the theater.

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