2011 Movie Reviews
So why do we love to go to the movies? What is it about sitting in a darkened auditorium, among a swarm of rude thoughtless jerks, noisy simpleton’s, crying babies, cell phones ringing, human pigs masticating on snack foods, watching other people's stories on the screen, that so inspires us? Moves us?
Going to the movies is unlike any other form of art. Sure, much of what comes out of Hollywood's absurd system is hardly “art”, but sometimes you come across a film that
is critically acclaimed, or a significant "must-see" film.
The following is a series of capsule reviews of movies that I have seen in the Cineplex
Theaters of Las Vegas, Nevada, Lehi, Utah, American Fork, Utah, Cedar City, Utah, St. George, Utah, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapolei, Hawaii, Lahaina, Hawaii, and Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2011.
Some of the synopsis comments are taken from http://www.rottentomatoes.com/,
and http://www.imdb.com/. Most of the sardonic observations are
mine, as are the letter grades.
1.
3 Musketeers (Grade B)
same old story but with some new
twists, a substantial cast, and some energetic special
effects.
2.
17
Miracles (Grade A) a dramatization of stories from early LDS pioneers in the
Willie and Martin handcart companies.
3. Abduction (Grade B-) the critics ripped this film to shreds, but I found it to be a truly on the edge, suspenseful movie that kept me wondering what would happen next.
4. Adjustment Bureau, The (Grade D+) do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart affect an affair between a politician and a ballerina.
5. African Cats (Grade B) with breathtaking photography, and at times gripping, the film follows two families, one a pride of lions, and the other a family of cheetahs, living on either side of a river in the African savanna.
6.
Another Year (Grade A-) a
married couple, who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their autumn
years, are surrounded over the course of the four seasons of one average year by
friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of
unhappiness.
7.
Art of Getting By,The
(Grade B-)
a coming-of-age story
about a geeky misfit who won't do any school work, who forges an unlikely bond with the most popular
girl in his class.
8.
Atlas Shrugged
(Grade A)
based on the book published in 1957, then a work of fiction, and now as a movie
based on cold, hard, reality, dramatizing the
lesson that any government intervention into the economy is not only wrong but
in the end causes more harm than good.
9. Barney’s Version (Grade B) film chronicles a hard drinking, cigar smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life's successes and (numerous) gaffes and failures.
10. Battle: Los Angeles (Grade B+) the pace is fast enough and the goal of victory against alien invaders so seemingly elusive that this is a pretty entertaining ride.
11. Beastly (Grade B-) the beauty and the beast fairy tale modernized into a 21st century New York City High School with 30-year-old actors playing the parts of High School Seniors.
12. Big Year, The (Grade B-) chronicles an informal competition among birders to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year; but the competition becomes an allegory for the challenges faced by the films characters.
13. Biutiful (Grade A-) a man finds redemption in the quagmire of his life.
14. Black Swan (Grade C) a psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet.
15.
Born to Be Wild
(Grade A) IMAX this
film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants
and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them—saving endangered species
one life at a time.
16.
Bridesmaids (Grade B-) the gynecocentric answer to The
Hangover, which is even more vulgar, raunchy, and brazen, than its male
counterpart, but features refreshingly real female characters.
17.
Captain America: The First Avenger (Grade B-) is a solid summer popcorn movie which
concerns the transformation of one Steve Rogers, "a 90-pound asthmatic,”
who volunteers in an
experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as
Captain
America.
18. Casino Jack (Grade F) a film about the evil Jack Abramoff's lobbying and the surrounding scandals and investigation are turned into a slanderous smear campaign against any Republican who had ever met him.
19. Cedar Rapids (Grade B+) a consistently funny observation of small-town sincerity muddling through a dog-eat-dog world, when a "naïve" Insurance Agent is sent to Cedar Rapids to represent his company at the annual insurance convention.
20. Ceremony (Grade C-) a young man falls in love with an older woman. He is hell bent on crashing her wedding and winning her affection in the process, before it is too late.
21. Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Grade B) Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.
22.
Columbiana (Grade B) a
young woman, who witnessed her parents’ murder as a child in Bogotá, grows up to
become both an assassin and vigilante.
23.
Contagion (Grade C+) film follows the rapid progress of a lethal
indirect contact transmission virus that kills within days. As the
fast-moving pandemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure
and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus
itself.
24. Company Men, The (Grade B-) the film sticks to its point: that losing your job hurts you and your sense of identity whether you are at the top or the bottom of the ladder.
25. Conspirator, The (Grade B) Mary Surratt was the first woman executed by the United States federal government. She was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln. The film focuses on her trial, when public opinion was inflamed, and her constitutional rights and the rule of law - bedrock principles of American democracy - were seen by some as costly luxuries in the face of a mortal threat to the nation.
26. Country Strong (Grade B) drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter who sparks with a fallen star.
27.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
(Grade B-) a romantic comedy that is actually romantic and
comedic, I chuckled throughout the film.
28.
Dolphin Tale (Grade A-)
is a family adventure inspired
by a true story that centers on a courageous dolphin named Winter, and the
people who banded together to save her life.
29.
Diary of A Wimpy
Kid:
Rodrick Rules (Grade C+) a perceptive,
funny, and unusually edgy voyage into the comic travails of schoolyard politics
and childhood friendship.
30. Dilemma, The (Grade C-) a tactless, humorless slog that ratchets up the pain by forcing you to endure Vince Vaughn and his tiresome, rapid-fire non-sequitur improvisations.
31. Dream House (Grade B-) a man wrongly accused of killing his wife and daughters, exposes the real killer during a series of hallucinations.
32.
Eagle, The (Grade B) a
sword-and-sandals drama that hammers home the virtue of honor.
33. Everything Must Go (Grade B+) a much better than expected film about the struggles of alcoholism with some subtle comedy thrown in to keep the audience interested and on their toes.
34. Fighter, The (Grade A-) true story of the early years of boxer Micky Ward and his brother, who helped train him before going pro in the mid '80s.
35.
From Prada to Nada (Grade B-)
a modern twist on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility which takes
place in a 21st Century East Los Angeles Barrio.
36. Greatest Movie Ever Sold, The (Grade B) examines the increased proliferation of branding in every aspect of our lives, yet, presented it in a surprisingly engaging and entertaining way.
37. Green Hornet, The (Grade B) I wasn’t expecting much from a retro redux of a 1930s radio series, but it was surprisingly entertaining.
38. Gulliver’s Travels (Grade D+) Jonathan Swift's witty 18th-century satire becomes a witless 21st-century celebration of the most imbecilic aspects of contemporary junk culture.
39. Hall Pass (Grade D) early in the movie, one of the characters strips nude and defecates into a sand trap on the golf course, as the film cascades downward from its enfeebled script, and contemptible premise. If they were showing this on an airplane, I'd ask for a parachute.
40. Hana
Surf Girls (Grade A-) the film gives us a look at the
unique and exciting lives of two local Hana girls in a documentary, shaped by Hana's strong power of the land, mana, and by
their own inner strength and resilience.
41.
Hangover Part II, The
(Grade C-) tasteless, vulgar, and irrational summer
fun.
42. Hanna (Grade B+) a film that largely succeeds at being novel, beautiful, bizarre, moving and action-packed. It’s a pretty great movie.
43.
Heart Specialist, The (Grade B+)
A modern comedy about the everyday perils of first year medical
residents at a shabby south Florida hospital.
44.
Help, The
(Grade A) the story is about African American maids working in white
households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early
1960s.
45. How Do You Know (Grade C-) features a quartet of likeable leads, but with a script that creates a dull and listless movie.
46.
Hugo
(Grade A) follows the adventures of an orphan who lives
in the walls of a train station in 1930's Paris.
47.
I am Number Four (Grade B-)
There's enough interplay between the characters to make this agreeable
and it builds to a reasonably entertaining effects-heavy climax.
48.
Ides Of March (Grade C+) a
dramatization of the morally bankrupt Democratic Party and its malignant
Presidential candidates, who spout detestable party slogans, intended to promote
class warfare in an effort to keep America on the road to irreversible economic
collapse.
49. Insidious (Grade B-) is a very scary and very fun haunted house thrill ride.
50. In Time (Grade C-) film attempts to be both thriller and political allegory but ultimately falls someway short of being either.
51.
Jane Eyre
(Grade A) an impressive film, based on Charlotte Brontë's classic novel.
52.
Joseph Smith — Volume 1: Plates of Gold (Grade B)
follows Joseph's early adult years and portrays the events that lead up
to the publishing of The Book of Mormon and the founding of a new
worldwide church.
53. Just Go With It (Grade C-) Anniston squints her way through the film, while Sandler mumbles, and Decker flashes her ample breasts.
54. Killer Elite (Grade B-) An ex-special ops agent is lured out of retirement to rescue his mentor. The semi-incomprehensible plot boils down to be a series of violent skirmishes. I ended up enjoying it. Is it a masterpiece? No.
55. Kill the Irishman (Grade A-) an impressive film documenting the life of Cleveland gangster Danny Greene, who began competing with local families of the Italian-American Mafia, and set up his own group called the Celtic Club, complete with enforcers.
56. Kings Speech, The (Grade A) an impressive movie about a king with a speech impediment.
57. Lincoln Lawyer, The (Grade A-) a complex, entertaining story about a cynical lawyer and a rich client.
58. Limitless (Grade A-) compact, and loads of fun as it parses the combustible combination of ego, brains, and money.
59. Little Fockers (Grade D+) the third installment in the series is tedious and stale.
60. Lottery Ticket (Grade C+) Better than expected movie, with a worthwhile message at its heart, but loaded with tired stereotypes, and obvious clichés.
61. Mars Needs Moms (Grade C) an animated movie filled with dazzling effects and funny creatures and the requisite five-hankie "I love you, Mom" ending.
62. Mechanic, The (Grade B-) an existential hit man who seeks vengeance after a close friend is killed teams up with his friend's son to get the bad guys, but soon our heroes are on the run themselves.
63. Middle Men (Grade B) a highly entertaining true story about the way a family man from Texas gets mixed-up-with-the-mob during a business trip to Hollywood.
64. Midnight in Paris (Grade B) a family, including a young couple, travels to Paris, France for business and have their lives transformed.
65. Midway to Heaven (Grade B-) an LDS romance film with a family-safe script, uplifting values, and an edge-free story so devoid of tension that it serves like the sleep aid Ambien.
66. Moneyball (Grade B+) an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team.
67. No Strings Attached (Grade C) Frisky, well timed, and sweet to the edge of socially acceptable cuteness, but very vulgar in places.
68. Our Idiot Brother (Grade C) tells the story of an idealistic man who intrudes and wreaks havoc in each of his three sisters' lives.
69. Paul (Grade B-) better than expected film about two sci-fi geeks from the U.K., whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip.
70.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger
Tides (Grade B-) not an exceptional summer popcorn movie, but it
provided acceptable summer fun for my Grandson and
I.
71.
Polar Express 4D Experience,
The (Grade A-) when a doubting young boy takes an
extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of
self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who
believe.
72.
Rango (Grade C+) the
animation is good but the overall effect of the movie is dull.
73.
Real Steel (Grade B) absurd premise notwithstanding, this is a
well-made Hollywood movie: Thrilling and exciting action with just enough
characterization.
74. Red Riding Hood (Grade C) film is a "whodunnit" about who in an isolated Bavaria village is the big, bad werewolf which has been terrorizing them for years.
75.
Rescue
3D – (IMAX) (Grade A) plunges
audiences into the hard, but inspiring work of saving lives in the face of a
natural disasters, featuring fearless first responders during humanitarian
rescues.
76. Rio (Grade C+) predictable and weightless fluff, a kiddie flick that's instantly forgettable but far from regrettable.
77.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(Grade B+) takes advantage of the spectacular advance in special effects
over the past 40 years, with an entertaining reboot of the Planet of the
Apes series.
78.
Rum Diary The (Grade C-) an
autobiography of writer Hunter Thompson, whose brain was rotted with drink and
dissolute living, spells out a story of corruption, boredom, insanity,
socialism, & poverty, in 1960 Puerto
Rico.
79. Sea Rex: Journey To A Prehistoric World 3D (IMAX) (Grade A-) film explores an amazing underwater universe inhabited by larger—than—life creatures during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
80. Season of the Witch (Grade B+) 14th-century knight’s transport a suspected witch to a monastery, where monks deduce her powers could be the source of the Black Plague.
81. Sitter, The (Grade C-) With an improbable story, bogus sentimentality, and dialog jammed with as many four-letter words as the script writers could dredge up said in as mean a way as possible, the viewer must endure 81 minutes to watch Mary Poppins gone rogue.
82. Something Borrowed (Grade D+) film deals with serious love vs. friendship issues, but this one is as empty-headed as it gets.
83.
Soul Surfer
(Grade A) a wonderful film documenting the life of Bethany Hamilton,
known for
surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the
serious and debilitating injury to return to professional surfing.
84. Source Code (Grade B+) Slick sci-fi thriller about parallel universes.
85. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D (Grade B-) a mother returns to her spying profession in order to prevent a villain bent on stopping time.
86. Sucker Punch (Grade D+) loud and vulgar movie with a ridiculous story. The heroine looks like a young Dolly Parton with an A-cup.
87.
Super 8 (Grade B) a complex
movie about family issues, young love and friendship, and a mysterious monster that wreaks havoc on
screen.
88. Take Me Home Tonight (Grade C-) film about characters realizing their adulthood as boys get to have their fun and then suddenly emerge as men, complete with life lessons and hot girlfriends.
89. Thor (Grade C+) Ten-year-olds will be blown away by "Thor." For the rest of us, it's a visually thrilling joyride with not much story to back it up.
90. Tower Heist (Grade B) a comedy caper about working stiffs who seek revenge on the Wall Street swindler.
91. Tree of Life, The (Grade F) an absolutely horrible, dull, awful movie that posits a thesis that life is hopeless, and that in the scheme of things, any belief in deity is pure folly.
92. Tron:Legacy (Grade D+) Tron is loaded with visual delights but falls way short of the mark in story and viewer involvement.
93. True Grit (Grade A-) a tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.
94.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1,
The (Grade C+) When it's good, this fourth installment in the
Twilight series is a supernatural-romance guilty pleasure that's self-aware
enough to be tongue in cheek.
95. Unknown (Grade B-) an unexpectedly enjoyable stolen identity thriller, with some nice surprises before it turns into an ordinary action flick.
96. Water for Elephants (Grade B+) a veterinary student falls for a married circus performer in this romantic drama.
97. Way
Back, The (Grade B) Siberian gulag escapees walk 4000
miles overland to freedom in India.
98.
What's Your Number? (Grade C-)
a crude romance comedy
with crude content, and lots of foul language, (including
many “f” words spoken even by children)
99. Win Win (Grade A-) a unique story that is both moving and also believable at the same time, an increasingly-rare combination. Be sure to see it!
100.
X-Men: First Class (Grade
B+) this prequel to the X-Men film series is audacious, confident and
fueled by youthful energy.
