femaleanimefan Reviews

Valentine's Day (I) (2010)

Not that bad, but definitely not a must see

[4/10 · 13 February 2010]

I hate romantic comedies, so I didn't have high hopes for this movie. The reviews were bad, the trailer didn't look promising, so I went in expecting to hate it.

I didn't. But I didn't like it too much either. It had a few sweet moments, a few mildly funny moments, but it ultimately was too predictable and had too many stars. I could tell what was going to happen in every storyline. Nothing surprised me. There was nothing new or fresh, which I expected.

The actors are, honestly, mostly charming in their roles, but aren't given enough screen time to build on that charm. They are all good-looking, likable performers, but they are given absolutely nothing to work with. I would say the best performance would have to go to Jennifer Garner, who has a few funny moments but a completely uninteresting storyline. The worst would definitely have to be Taylor Swift. I don't hate the girl, but even playing an airhead bimbo, she is awful. She completely overacts, and I didn't laugh once. Taylor Lautner isn't too bad, he at least pokes fun at himself but he is still pretty stiff. There are tons of other stars who turn in admirable work (I particularly enjoyed the Bradley Cooper and Julia Roberts scenes), but are otherwise wasted. But Jessica Alba, who is top-billed, is only in about four scenes! She isn't even the greatest actress, but she had absolutely nothing to do.

If you want a good date movie, I don't recommend this one. It is definitely an inferior version of the imperfect but ultimately heartfelt Love, Actually. While it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, the script is too weak and there are too many story lines. I say skip it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

The best Potter yet

[9/10 · 15 July 2009]

Book purists beware: if you expect every scene in the book to be covered here, you'll be disappointed. If you're expecting a fun, well-crafted, well-acted, exciting adaptation that captures the essence of the book, you'll be satisfied.

This is by far the best Potter film since Prisoner of Askaban, and arguably the best yet. The visuals are terrific, the acting is wonderful, the editing is top-notch, and and the writing and direction are all pitch-perfect.

Many fans have complained that the film spends too much time on comedy and romance than on the action. All I have to say is: did they even read the book? The novel didn't have as much action as the others, and instead focused on story and character development, which the comedy was part of. The humor was well done, and always funny.

The acting has very much improved. Out of the trio, Daniel Radcliffe has most improved. He has wonderful comedic timing and real dramatic chops as well. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have also improved, with Grint becoming more than just comic relief and Watson growing out of her occasional woodenness. Tom Felton has more to do this time as Malfoy, and he is positively mesmerizing. You really feel sympathy for the poor kid.

The adult cast is top-notch, as well. I have finally gotten over the beloved Richard Harris, and I believe Michael Gambon was absolutely perfect as Dumbledore. Jim Broadbent shines as Professor Slughorn, making up for the drastic physical change with charm pitch-perfect delivery.

I was not a fan of David Yates's Order of the Phoenix, but I am now convinced after this film that he is the one who will lead this series to greatness. I can't wait for Deathly Hallows Part I & II, and hopefully they capture the essence of that book there as they did here.

The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

Reasonably atmospheric, but overall, clichéd and forgettable

[4/10 · 27 March 2009]

I have never been too fond of "true story" flicks, so I didn't expect much from this. I expected it to be bad, and it wasn't. But it wasn't great or memorable either.

The plot: After a family is forced to relocate for their son's health, they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, which turns out to be a former mortuary.

The good: A few good performances here. Though Virginia Madsen, who I loved in Sideways, was rather flat, Kyle Gallner was great as her son. I've been a fan of his ever since he portrayed the insecure, mass-murdering rapist Cassidy Casablancas on Veronica Mars, and he was actually very good here.

The bad: The script. Everything in it is cliché. And even though I did jump a few times, there was really nothing fresh, scary, or groundbreaking here. Just another run-of-the-mill supernatural horror flick. And if that's all you want, then check it out. But if you want a terrifying, memorable film going experience, you'll be disappointed.

Final Verdict: Wait for DVD. Don't rush out and see it; it's not worth it. You may get a few jolts, but overall, "The Haunting in Connecticut" brings nothing new to the horror genre and will most likely be forgotten.

** out of *****

The Spirit (2008)

Unique visuals and terrific atmosphere can't save the film

[3/10 · 24 December 2008]

I was really looking forward to seeing 'The Spirit'. From the trailers, it looked like an interesting, entertaining film. However, when I finally saw it, I was underwhelmed. The dialogue was silly, the plot was dumb, and the execution was extremely poor. Not even the talented cast could save the terrible script.

The visuals, as many have said, are very unique, even stunning. When I first saw the trailer, I was intrigued. However, the rest of the film is rather hollow. I couldn't even figure out what the story was supposed to be, and though the cast was top-notch, they do little to help the atrocious dialogue.

Overall, the film is easy on the eyes, but it's rather dull and difficult to understand. Frank Miller doesn't seem ready to be a director. What he has created is a dull and quickly forgettable film.

D+

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

So bad it makes the prequels look stuff for the Oscars

[1/10 · 17 August 2008]

When I first heard there was going to be an animated Star Wars film, my reaction was : What the hell are they thinking? I had the same reaction when I was coming out of the theater after watching this horrible mess.

Most movies I initially think will suck end up being good. I was pleasantly surprised by Tropic Thunder this weekend and Iron Man earlier this year, I hoped I'd get the same impression when I saw The Clone Wars. My faith in Lucas was misplaced, and I was angry when I got home.

The old Star Wars are some of the most beloved films of all time, and they are some of my favorite films. To be honest, the prequels aren't all that bad. Especially when compared to this one. ROTS was great, but not in the same league as TESB.

The plot is nothing worth talking about, but I must say, it's nothing great. It's tired, bland, and unoriginal. The voice acting is as wooden as the animation. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Hayden Christensen as Anakin. This new guy makes Anakin a completely different character, overly sarcastic and immature. It is nice to have Samuel L. Jackson back as Mace Windu, but he is rarely shown. The other returning voice actors, Christopher Lee and Anthony Daniels, are good too, but don't help the film at all. The only remotely good VA is James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan. He actually sounds a bit like Ewan McGregor.

There are two things that make this movie worse than it already is : the Ahsoka character, and the fight scenes. Ahsoka is so very irritating that she makes Jar Jar Binks look lovable. Anakin shouldn't have gotten a padawan at all.

The annoying thing about the fights is that they are loud, noisy, and repetitive. They are all the same. Unlike the Mustafar fight in Episode III, which absolutely took my breath away, they just seem out of place.

Anyway, to wrap this up, this is an unworthy addition to the original series, and one of the worst movies I've seen this year. Star Wars fans: skip it. You're not missing anything.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Full of great characters and non-stop laughs

[9/10 · 17 August 2008]

I don't think I've laughed this hard during a movie in years. I initially thought it was just going to be a stupid movie with a few laughs, like Get Smart was. But I was wrong. Tropic thunder is a hilarious film full of great characters and ridiculously funny moments.

The plot, as you probably know, is about a bunch of actors : Tugg Speedman, an action star whose career is going down the toilet, a rapper named Alpa Chino (say it), an Australian method actor named Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr. in another great performance), a heroin addicted comedic actor named Jeff Potnoy (Jack Black), and a rookie actor, who is also the only one to attend boot camp named Kevin Sandusky. After just 5 days of shooting, director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) cannot handle how self-absorbed the actors are. So Four Leaf (Nick Nolte), who wrote the book the movie is based on and also claimed to be part of the war, decides to throw them out in jungle with cameras placed everywhere.

It's a lot funnier than it sounds. Every moment in the movie is genius. From the interaction between Lazarus and Chino, Tugg being kidnapped by the "Flaming Dragons", and Jeff's constant heroin needs, there is never a dull moment in the film.

The acting is surprisingly great. First off, since everyone is talking about it, the Tom Cruise cameo. He's barely recognizable, but he's also pure genius. It's not really a cameo, since he appears many times during the film. It's great stuff. Another stand-out is Robert Downey Jr. as Lazarus. He steals almost every scene he's in, and also does a great Australian accent. The rest of the cast is good too, and I actually liked Ben Stiller.

All in all, it's great summer entertainment. Definitely one of the funniest movies in a long time, and possibly the funniest of the year.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Spit out the 2003 version of Hulk like a bad taste in your mouth! This is an exciting movie

[9/10 · 8 June 2008]

I wasn't really sure if I'd like the movie. Ang Lee's version didn't please me at all. It didn't have enough action and it had far too much dialogue. I had never really been a fan of the Hulk comics, but I did like all the movie adaptations of the Marvel Comics. While I didn't enjoy The Incredible Hulk as much as Iron Man, it's still great fun, and it will definitely make a big profit at the box office, and hopefully more money than the first did.

I also must say the cast is a lot better this time around. Edward Norton is far more convincing as Bruce Banner than Eric Bana was. Liv Tyler does a good job as Betty, Bruce's girlfriend, though I do like Jennifer Connelly a bit more. The supporting cast is also great, and they all deserve to at least be nominated for some awards. My favorite performance is tied between Norton and Tim Roth.

Now, to the special effects. Predictably, they are magnificent. With recent superhero movies, the effects are always brilliant, and they certainly adapted the Hulk character more closely to the original comics from what I've heard. The action scenes are cool and fun to watch, and fans of the comic books will be on the edge of their seat in excitement.

All in all, it's a great movie that comic fans should enjoy, and even if you don't really read them, you'll still like the movie, as I did. While it's not my favorite superhero movie, it is a whole lot better than Ang Lee's version, and a fun time at the theater.

The Latest Buzz (2007–2010)

Overadvertised

[30 March 2008]

Normally I don't hate kid's shows, but this one is just terrible. The acting is wooden, the characters are all unlikeable, and the plot is not as interesting as the advertisements made it out to be. It may be just a kid's show, but not even kid's will enjoy it. My niece finds it extremely boring and unfunny.

The show has two huge flaws that make it practically unwatchable. The first, is the god-awful acting. I know they're inexperience kids and all, but come on, they can do way better. Their delivery is off, and the way they act, especially during the comedic scenes, is incredibly awkward. It seems they are trying to hard to make the dialogue funny, which is hard to do because of the horrible script.

The second flaw is the laugh track. We've all seen it in Disney shows before; a character does or says something funny, and you hear an audience laugh. The laugh track in this show, is completely overused and annoying. After practically every line of dialogue, you hear the audience laugh. I am beginning to doubt there is even a real audience, and that the laughing is prerecorded.

This show is a definite waste of time, and painfully over advertised. It's a show that simply isn't worth your time. 1/10 stars.

Devil May Cry 4 (2008 Video Game)

The best in the series

[9/10 · 22 February 2008]

--NO SPOILERS--

This game is major badass. Not only did it have great characters and voice acting, it contains excellent gameplay and is easily the best one since the first. The first DMC game was great, but had a few cheesy moments. The second one sucked, and the third was pretty good. This one owns 2 and 3, and only beats 1 because it barely had any cheesy moments.

When I first heard there was going to be a Devil May Cry 4, I found out that Dante would no longer be the main character, but Nero would, a new character who looks a lot like Dante and Vergil. I was a bit surprised and thought I would be in for a disappointment. When I finally played it, I found Nero an incredibly different and refreshing character, and I'm glad Dante was at playable for part of the game.

Devil May Cry fans won't be disappointed with the game, and even people who have haven't played the first three should enjoy this game.

Enchanted (2007)

Enchanting

[9/10 · 24 November 2007]

It's a nice movie thats entertaining, very clever, and even somewhat funny. That says something because I normally don't go for movies like this. It's definitely good for kids, particularly little girls. There's just a lot to like about this movie. It's different for a lot of stuff that's been done nowadays and very clever. Amy Adam's does a great job as lead female, Giselle.

The movie starts off animated. Giselle meets a prince named Edward(played by James Marsden), and they fall in love instantly. However, Edward's bitterly evil step-mother(played by Susan Sarandon) does not want this and decides to push Giselle down a well. She ends up in real life, New York, where she is extremely confused and out of place. She meets a lawyer named Robert. Oh, and Edward follows her to New York as well, just as out of place and lost as she is.

It's a very fun film. In my opinion, the kids will enjoy the comedy and the cartoon chipmunk, and the adults can enjoy the actors performances and have a good time. I recommend this movie to anyone. It's very charming and could end up being a classic.

Bee Movie (2007)

Come on guys. Lighten up

[7/10 · 10 November 2007]

This movie has been getting bad reception. It's got a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only a 6.6 out of 10 here on IMDb. I think this movie is very underrated. It's not that bad! Really.

It's a nice film. It made my nieces laugh and we all had a good time. I don't know why it's criticized so much. I guess people just don't "get" the movie's message, or maybe they didn't like the somewhat silly and light hearted tone of the movie.

The voices of the characters were a nice match. Jerry Seinfeld did a good job bringing the voice of the lead character, Barry out, Renee Zellweger was a good choice for the part of Vanessa, and Patrick Warburton was funny as Ken. The plot was imaginative and clever, and with a cast of colorful and likable characters, it truly was a pretty good film.

Is it a great movie? Well, no. But its not bad either. It's definitely not the best animated film ever made, but it was a fun time and it achieved it's goal in making me laugh. I definitely won't be watching it again, but it was a fun little movie.

My Final Verdict: A fun but forgettable look into the life of a bee named Barry.

Superbad (2007)

The Best Comedy I Have Seen In A Long Time

[10/10 · 25 August 2007]

I didn't except to like this movie as much as I did. It was hilarious. I have already watched it twice in theaters. I just think it is one of the best comedies ever made. I had an aching stomach after leaving this movie from laughing so hard. The reason I wanted to see this movie was because it had Michael Cera in it. He is one of the most talented actors out there.

The movie's plot is simple. Vulgar and obnoxious Seth(played by hilarious Jonah Hill) and his best friend, the shy and sweet Evan(played by funny and adorable Michael Cera of Arrested Development), are both headed to different collages and are very upset about it. So, when they are asked to bring alcohol to a party by their crushes, Jules(Emma Stone) and Becca(Martha MacIsaac), they set out to get the drinks for them so they can get them drunk and get laid.

Forgell, a.k.a. McLovin(Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is how they are gonna get the alcohol. But when he is buying it, he is punched and the store is robbed. When the cops(Seth Rogan and Bill Hader) arrive, he hangs out and gets with them.

The performances are all very good. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera have great chemistry and are believable on-screen best friends. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who has never been in a film before, pulls this role of hilariously and I hope to see more of him in the future. The cops are also very, very funny. Another thing I would like to mention is the female characters, Jules and Becca. They are very likable unlike a lot of girl characters in high school movies. They are pretty and nice, and not snobby.

The whole movie is hilarious, gross, and slightly sweet. I really recommend it if you want a great laugh. It is an excellent comedy for boys and girls.

Hairspray (2007)

I Am Shocked

[10/10 · 23 July 2007]

I am shocked at how much I liked this movie. When I first heard about it, I wasn't too excited. I'm not a big fan of musicals and I didn't think this would make me warm up to them. But I really loved this movie. It was absolutely fantastic. I was forced into seeing this movie and I didn't expect it to be that good.

My sister asked me to take her daughters, Jacqueline and Emma to see the movie and I was a little reluctant to at first, but I eventually agreed to go. It wasn't as good as Transformers, but it was a ton of fun! My nieces were smiling to the whole movie and so was I. It was just very funny and extremely enjoyable.

The whole cast was absolutely superb. Nikki Blonsky has talent. She pulled off the role of Tracy great. Amanda Bynes was great as Tracy's pal, Penny. I like Amanda, she is a funny girl. John Travolta as Edna, Tracy's mom. Wow. Pretty good. Michelle Pheiffer and Brittany Snow play snotty mother and daughter, Velma and Amber Von Tussel. They were pretty funny. Christopher Walken is excellent as always. Queen Latifa as Motormouth Maybelle was pretty damn hilarious. Zac Efron as the dreamy Linc Larkin. He was pretty cool. Elijah Kelley as Seaweed was just awesome!

The script was pretty awesome. The songs were good and you may find yourself tapping your feet to the music. The dialogue was fun and absolutely hilarious. The characters were very, very likable. You may even grow attached to the antagonists. It was very well written and the cast proved that even more.

If you want to have a fun time at the movies, I really recommend Hairspray. Even the guys will love it. The songs, script, and cast were all excellent and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Even though I loathe musicals, this one was great. Go watch it. It's very entertaining.

Cast: 10/10 Songs: 9/10 Choreography: 9/10 Writing: 10/10 Characters: 10/10

Overall Score: 10/10

The Glass House (2001)

Not What I Expected

[6/10 · 17 July 2007]

The Glass House is not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a horror film about a family who moves into a glass house and then a killer watches them through a window and goes on a killing spree for no reason. That idea is very stereotypical. But I rented it anyways because I thought it would be like any other horror film: cheesy, stupid, and fun! But my plot guess was completely off. The real plot is totally different. The plot focuses on 16 year old Ruby Baker(Leelee Sobieski), whose parents, Dave and Grace, just recently died in a car accident. So her and her game obsessed brother, Rhett move in with their neighbors, Erin(Diane Lane) and Terry Glass(Stellan Skarsgård). They are all happy and everything is fine. But as things change, Ruby gets suspicious that Erin and Terry aren't all sweet and kind. She talks to a guidance counselor, Alvin Begleiter(Bruce Dem) and finds out that their parents left them 4 million dollars. Things get very strange in the house. Erin is seen injecting herself, Ruby thinks Terry was trying to rape her, and there are a lot of suspicious phone calls.

Review

Acting: 7/10. The acting was all right throughout the film. Leelee Sobieski was a nice fit for the part of Ruby. Her acting was pretty good seeing this movie was more of a drama film than a thriller. Other cast members, Diane Lane and Stellan Skarsgård were pretty good but they weren't at their best. The one performance that stands out was Trevor Morgan's character. He played Rhett and he played him well. Overall the acting was decent.

Story: 6/10. The story wasn't bad. But the whole car accident scenario has been used before. But I think it is an interesting twist on it and the story won't be what you think.

Entertaining: 7/10. This movie wasn't the most entertaining thriller I have ever seen. It was more of a drama than a thriller because it let more dramatic than thrilling scenes in the film. Some of it could be boring while some of it was suspenseful.

Humor: 3/10. Well, it wasn't funny. But that's okay. It wasn't supposed to be funny. It was meant to be about Ruby and Rhett's time with Glasses and all their problems. So humor wasn't really necessary.

Pros of The Film -It was interesting. -It showed Ruby's troubles and grief after her parent's deaths very well. -Rhett was awesome. -The acting was above average

Cons of the Film -A bit too long -Boring sometimes

Overall I thought the film was enjoyable and a little corny, but fun none the less. And a message for guys, if you want your girlfriend to hug your arm in fright while watching a horror film, I don't recommend the Glass House because it is more of a drama then a horror. I would recommend the new horror flick, 1408. That one is scary. But watch this film for a little fun. This film is one of those "it's so bad it's good" movies.

6/10

Kingdom Hearts (2002 Video Game)

Magical

[10/10 · 7 April 2007]

NO SPOILERS This is definitely one of the most amazing games I have played in my life. It made me cry and I was 14 when I first played the game! It has all the Disney characters and worlds that have been around for a long time, some of its own characters(the wonderful Sora, Riku, and Kairi) and of course you've got my favorites, the Final Fantasy characters(Cloud, Squall, Yuffie, etc.) I just have to point this out, Sora and Kairi's romance has got to be one of the sweetest loves I have ever seen. It made me cry at how beautiful it was. The characters are all wonderful, and definitely lovable! I love these characters so much I hope to see a third game! The story is so clever and original and powerful. I never suspected combining Final Fantasy and Disney, I was expecting it to be something cheesy, but it worked. The relationships between the characters are so heartfelt and sometimes heartbreaking and sad. I suggest to parents, watch your kids play this. It is just so beautiful.

10/10, just a wonderful game for all ages! The Kingdom Hearts franchise will never be forgotten.

Tru Confessions (2002 TV Movie)

Two Thumbs up for Tru Confessions!

[10/10 · 7 April 2007]

NO SPOILERS This has got to be the most powerful Disney movie out there! It had me crying. I loved the novel and was kind of excited when they made it into a movie. The whole cast was strong and played very effective performances. I miss this Disney Channel. Now they are piling movies in like the dreadful High School Musical, or Jump In. All that is just feel good, predictable crap. This movie doesn't air enough anymore. It is literally one of the best movies ever, not just for TV, movies in general.

Now my ratings: Story 10/10- The story is just powerful. A girl named Tru hates her life because she has an over working father, a mother who never takes her side, and a mentally challenged brother. So she enters a video contest that may change her life forever. The relationships are so moving and everyone can relate I think.

Acting 10/10- Wonderful performances by all actors. Shia LaBeouf took on Eddie perfectly. He actually seems like he is mentally challenged. Clara Bryant was a perfect Tru and I thought some people could relate to her in at least one way. She is a girl of substance going through a rough patch in her life.

Emotion 10/10- Every part had me crying. Literally. And I don't cry a lot during movies. Well this movie had so much power! And it is impossible to hate it! 10/10. Watch this. Leave HSM and JI to die in the cold. This movie was powerful.

The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is just magic!

[10/10 · 24 March 2007]

This movie was excellent. Probably the most original I have seen all year. It was a little confusing to some people(my friend was totally lost) but at the end you will either be saying "Huh?" or "OHHHH!! I GET IT!". I understood it, and then I had to spend 15 minutes explaining it to my friend. When he finally got it, I had to bring it over to my friend, Annie's house, so she could watch it.

The movie has a great story. Robert Angier and Alfred Bordan are two magicians, they are friends and both excellent magicians. But after Angier's wife, Julia(Piper Perabo) drowns in a trick gone wrong, the two become enemies for life. Angier is now trying to steal Bordan's trick of magic. So he sends his beautiful assistant(and lover), Olivia Wenscombe(Scarlett Johannson) to steal it for him. Olivia doesn't like this, so she hates Angier and becomes Bordan's lover and partner. Also, Bordan is having trouble at home, his wife Sarah, is having a hard time living the way they are. I don't want to spoil anything more.

The performances were excellent. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were terrific in their roles and played them perfectly. Michael Caine plays Cutter, and that's another wonderful performance. Scarlett Johansson was good as Olivia. Some people complained she was flat compared to the other actors, but I liked her in here. Her fake accent was very convincing. Same goes for Piper Perabo(Julia). She wasn't in the film very long but she played it very well and put on the fake accent very well. My favorite performance was by Bordan's daughter, Jess. She was just so adorable. I also liked the performance of Sarah. I felt very bad for her because she started out happy and then she just was never happy anymore.

This was a great film. One of the best. Comes in my top 4(The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, The Prestige, Casino Royale) I highly recommend this movie. It was very good. Great cast, great script, great story, great directing!

Acting: A+ Script: A+ Story: A+ Plot Twists: A+ Suspense: A+ Ending: A+

Final Grade: A+ Stars: 10/10 Percent: 100

In general: This movie rules!

The Cheetah Girls 2 (2005 TV Movie)

Good

[10/10 · 16 March 2007]

This movie was really good. Sure it was kind of corny, but I loved it. The songs were catchy and the city, Barcelona, Spain is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could go there. The dialogue was funny and most of the characters are likable, except for Lola. Marisol is absolutely beautiful and a great singer but I don't really want her in the Cheetah Girls band but seeing her in the next film would be really interesting.

This time around, Dorinda has a love interest and Galleria is a little less of a control freak, but still needs to calm down. The only flaw in this movie is that Aqua lost her Texas accent, but she was still funny as hell. Chanelle still has that attitude and strong will from the first and the new characters are a charm. Watch it. It is awesome.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Hilarious, a totally must see

[10/10 · 15 March 2007]

This film is an instant classic. It starts with a very dramatic opening, and turns into a hilarious dramedy about a dysfunctional family on the road from New Mexico to California. It has a brilliant script and a shiny plot. I loved this movie from beginning to end. And so will you.

The movie starts off with Sheryl(Toni Collette) going to pick up her brother, Frank(Steve Carrell), a homosexual who has just recently tried to kill himself. She takes him home to her house to live with her for a while. Her family includes her overachiever husband, Richard(Greg Kinnear), her silent son, Dwayne(Paul Dano), adorable daughter Olive(Abigail Breslin) and of course, Grandpa(Alan Arkin). During dinner, Sheryl gets a phone call on the answering machine saying that Olive can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pagient. Olive runs around the house packing yelling, "I WON!". Therefore, all the Hoovers are going to California.

The cast is wonderful! Abigail Breslin is one of the cutest kids ever. She is a great actress and pulls off Olive so well. Richard, the overachieving father, is played by Greg Kinnear, who i am normally not a fan of, but he pulled off Richard very convincingly. I liked him. Toni Collette as Sheryl was so great. She could totally hide her Australian accent perfectly. Of course you got Grandpa! Alan Arkin is absolutely HILARIOUS as Grandpa. He totally added great humour to the story. Then you got Steve Carrell. Really funny as the depressed homosexual. Very convincing and very funny. In my opinion, there are two performances(although they all rocked) that stood out the most. Of course, little Abigail, and then you have Paul Dano. He was amazing as Dwayne. I found that he and Frank sort of bonded on the trip. They both never really smiled at all and they used great comedy. Dano's character doesn't say a single word until the middle/near the end. His character has taken a vow of silence until he can become a pilot. His scene where he finally talks is kind of emotional yet SO funny! I definitely recommend this movie for anyone who wants to laugh and maybe even cry at the same time. Rent it or buy it. Either way watch this film. It is excellence. It deserves its top 250 spot. Though maybe even higher.

P.S. This isn't a kids movie. There is bad language and drugs in this one. But kids from 12+ can handle that.

Harriet the Spy (1996)

Just fun!

[9/10 · 4 March 2007]

I love this movie. It is just so much fun. Michelle Trachtenberg was so adorable as Harriet M. Welsch, the little kid detective. Watch this with your kids, parents. It is so funny! I highly recommend this movie to everybody. Everyone will love it. Especially the kids. It teaches them a good lesson. It taught me one when I was little.

The plot is so silly but so fun that it makes the movie so fun. I loved watching it when I was little. Me being older now, 15, makes me a little less into it but I still adore this and I watch it with my little cousin Lydia every Thanksgiving. She loves it as much as I do. Watch this movie. It's so awesome!

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Fantastic, moving, and tragic tale

[10/10 · 28 February 2007]

The movie tells the story of Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. Jess is a ten year old who loves running and drawing. He goes to school where he is bullied and has a pretty hard life(I can relate). Then he meets a new girl, Leslie Burke. She comes into his class and when they find out she doesn't have a TV, everyone makes fun of her, except Jesse. During the race at school that Jesse wants to win, Leslie beats him. When he falls to the ground, Leslie offers to help him up, but he hates her. On the bus it turns out she lives next door to him. After a few days, the two become friends. This friendship is like no other. They become close and almost inseparable.

Then they create a magical world called Terabithia. It is a very beautiful and sad story. I'd definitely watch this. It is a tear jerker. It tells the story of powerful friendship and epic fantasy. This is not another Narnia, I enjoyed this more than Narnia. A MUST SEE! PARENTS: TAKE YOUR KIDS AND SEE IT! I took my little cousin Lydia and we both LOVED IT. Watch.

Titanic (1997)

Beautiful and moving

[2/10 · 27 February 2007]

When it comes to pure visual spectacle, Titanic is one of the best movies ever made. But the love story is great as well. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have such wonderful chemistry that it makes the occasionally poor dialogue tolerable. Their scenes together are some of the most memorable moments in romantic movie history.

However, the visuals steal the show. The scenes of the Titanic sinking are some of the most beautiful yet terrible scenes ever filmed. Beautiful because it looks so real, and terrible because we know this actually happened. But that's not to say the love story is shoved into the background. The romance takes up most of the film, and their tragic ending is one that is sure to draw tears from the sensitive ones.

Overall, the film is well-acted, visually masterful, and unforgettably romantic. By now, it is an absolute classic and, in my opinion, it certainly deserved it's Best Picture win at the Oscars.

Lizzie McGuire: Grubby Longjohn's Olde Tyme Revue (2003) Season 2, Episode 27

Funny episode

[9/10 · 27 February 2007]

This episode is where Lizzie, Matt, Jo, Sam, Gordo, and Mirando all drive up to Grubby Gulch. Aside from being predictable, it was an entertaining and fun episode. So, Jo and Sam wake up Gordo, Lizzie, and Miranda who are tired and don't want to get up while Matt is hyper and jumping up and down all over the place. Lizzie of course feels she is too old for this but has to go.

When they get there, Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo are miserable while Matt, Jo, and Sam are having fun. So Lizzie Miranda and Gordo decide to go get some popcorn. They meet a boy named Hezekiah, Lizzie can't really pronounce his name so he tells them his real name, Corey. Lizzie is interested. There is also a girl working there, Clementine. Gordo likes her. Gordo makes a comment on how Clementine is a worse name than Hezekiah but it turns out Clementine is her REAL name. Gordo is worried Clementine took it offensively, luckily she didn't care. So they all agree to meet back at the popcorn place at 7:30 to go to the mall. Miranda complains that she has no date. But Clementine promises her that her brother Heith will go with her. And he is the good looking one. Miranda is please.

When they get back to Lizzie's parents to eat lunch, coincidently, Sam comes back with tickets for Grubby Longjohn's old time Western Revue, in which tickets are apparently hard to get. They ask when the show is and it is at 7:30 of course. So Lizzie, Gordo, and Miranda make a plan that when its time for the Revue, they will fake sick from a bad batch of Prospector Stew so they can go to the mall with Corey and Clementine. When they go to get their picture taken and dress up in old fashioned clothes, they see a picture of young Lizzie, young Matt and Jo and Sam from a long time ago. When their mom gets teary about how much the kids are growing up, Lizzie starts to feel guilty. They fake sick anyways and go back to get changed. When they meet Clementine and Corey, Corey puts his arm around her and asks if she wants to go. She gets confused and of course, they don't go to the mall.

Stick It (2006)

Can Haley stick it?

[9/10 · 16 February 2007]

I had my doubts for this movie. I thought it would be pretty average but I was forced to watch it when my sister rented it. I thought it would be pretty stupid but I ended up laughing a lot during this movie. The characters were all pretty much likable in their own way. Even though Joanne was somewhat snotty but I think she had a sweet side too.

The plot is simple. A delinquent is sent to a gymnastics academy to do time. Yes, its very simple. But it was well written. I also really liked Haley's two friends, Poot and Frank. They were so funny! So was the movie. I really recommend this. It isn't a gross out comedy at all. It was just a more appropriate teen comedy.

I would watch this flick if I were you. Good movie.

GRADE: A-

Elf (2003)

Hilarious family fun

[9/10 · 15 February 2007]

This is probably some of the best family fun I had seen in 2003. It was very funny, and perfect for your kids. The humor was silly and original and I think the script and plot were pretty well done. It may not look like the most original film, but it was VERY good and VERY original. It's different.

The way Buddy got his name was so funny and the humor was just always delivered perfectly by Walter, Buddy, Michael, and I also found Jovie pretty funny as well since she was always being sarcastic. The movie is also pretty surprisingly heart warming as well. Not your average Christmas flick. This one was really good.

I definitely recommend Elf for the whole family because it is hilarious family fun!

Bad language: Very minor Violence: Just a small part where Buddy gets beat up by a midget(HILARIOUS!)

Clean family fun!