Keeping it Reel

When in Rome

Last modified on 2010-05-04 00:06:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

When in Rome is written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson. The movie starts off with an art curator, Beth Haper (Kristen Bell), a single who is unsuccessful in finding love. She goes to her sister’s wedding in Rome where she meets a suave, yet also single, reporter named Nick (Josh Duhamel) who she starts to fall for. During her time in Rome, she happens to pick up four coins from the fabled fountain of love, and by doing so, gets her the unwanted affection of four different men. This soon starts to affect her life back in New York when she tries to pursue a relationship with Nick while she is steadily being harassed by her four very determined suitors.

When in Rome to me, personally, isn’t that good of a movie. I mean, yes, it has its funny parts, like when one of her suitors is a street magician and constantly steals her watch just so he can talk to her. But the idea of having four men stalk one girl is kind of weird to me. To me, that is just wrong to constantly bother somebody day after day when they tell you to stop. I mean other than its plot, by that I mean the acting from the characters, and its comedy, it would be an okay movie. But the plot just brings the whole movie down in my opinion. I would honestly give this movie a five to six out of ten for a bad plot but mild humor. I would only encourage those to watch it if they feel that it’s good for them to.

Tooth Fairy

Last modified on 2010-05-04 00:05:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tooth Fairy, is a movie directed by Michael Lembeck, and written by Lowell Ganz. Tooth Fairy starring Dwayne Johnson, is a movie about a NHL hockey player Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson), nick named the “tooth fairy”, being summoned by actual tooth fairies to serve two weeks’ worth of tooth fairy duties for killing dreams. Derek unwillingly and unwantingly is forced to comply when head fairy Lily (Julie Andrews) tells him that if he doesn’t comply the tooth fairies will continue to interfere with his life until he does and for each appointment he misses another week will be added to his sentence. While doing his tooth fairy job Derek learns to be more patient and attentive, rather than his old head on and aggressive side, which not only helps him become a better hockey player, but a better father figure to his girlfriend’s kids too.

To me the Tooth Fairy was a very good movie. When I saw the preview for it, I thought that it would be less than satisfactory, but it was a really good movie. I especially like the comedy it had in it. The funniest part in the whole movie to me was when Derek is so frustrated about being dragged off to do a job in the middle of a game, he actually goes up to the house knocks on the front door, sprays all the child’s family with amnesia dust, goes into the kids room and takes the tooth. That was incredibly funny to me. Plus, I liked where they took this story. I mean having Dwayne Johnson as a hockey player and a tooth fairy was a really creative story idea. I would definitely give this movie a nine out of ten for creativity and humor. I encourage all to go see it, and have them recommend it to everyone else.

The Spy Next Door

Last modified on 2010-02-06 20:04:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Spy Next Door is written by Jonathan Bernstein, directed by Brian Levant, and stars Jackie Chan. The movie starts out with secret agent Bob Ho (Jackie Chan) living undercover as a pen importer and boyfriend to his next door neighbor Gillian (Amber Valletta), a single mom raising three kids, Nora (Alina Foley), Ian (Will Shadley) and Farren (Madeline Carroll). When Gillian’s dad gets hurt and needs a hip replacement she goes to Bob and asks him if he can watch the kids while she goes to check up on her father. So now, not only does Bob have to deal with his life as a secret agent, but on top of that he has to take care of three kids while trying to make sure that two jobs don’t interfere with the other one.

In my opinion this movie is sort of mediocre. I mean the fact that Jackie Chan is a secret agent isn’t really a new role for him. I think that most of his latest movies are becoming the same act. Its always secret agent this, or FBI agent that. I’m just saying that he should pick a movie that doesn’t have some sort of action or adventure in it. I mean besides that the movie itself was good at best. One of my favorite parts was when Ian was at school and got pulled up by his underwear and carried off by some bullies. Other than that, I would give this movie a six out of ten, and encourage only those who think it is good to go see it.

Planet 51

Last modified on 2009-12-11 19:54:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Planet 51 is a movie written by Joe Stillman and directed by Jorge Blanco that stars Dwayne Johnson. The movie starts out on a planet similar to a 1950s version of Earth, except its inhabited by aliens. It focuses on a young teenage alien named Lem (Justin Long) who, like most teenagers, struggles with everyday problems (going to work, doing homework, trying to find a date etc). However his “normal” life changes when his planet is visited by Earth’s NASA astronaut Charles Baker (Dwayne Johnson). Charles lands his spaceship in Lem’s back yard. When Charles lands on the planet he finds out that he isn’t the only living thing there and runs away in fear. During his run through town he meets Lem at the local planetarium and befriends him. However, Charles finds out that not everyone on the planet is accepting as Lem. He discovers that the inhabitants are looking for him; thinking he might be the first step in an alien invasion. It is then he realizes that if he wants to get his ship back and return to Earth then he and Lem must work together.

Planet 51 to me is a decent movie at the least. I would say that it’s a nice movie to watch on Saturday afternoon if you’re looking for a good laugh. I personally think Dwayne Johnson’s performance was good in this movie, and I think that he really has getting better at starring in PG movies lately. I would give this movie an eight out of ten and advise everybody to see it.

A Christmas Carol

Last modified on 2009-12-14 21:07:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

A Christmas Carol is the 2009 film adaptation of the of the popular Christmas story written by Charles Dickenson. A Christmas Carol was both written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starrs Jim Carry and Gary Oldman. The movie starts out on Christmas Eve, with the old and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carry), resenting Christmas again and treating his workers like dogs. Later that night Scrooge is visited by an old and now deceased business partner Jacob Marley (Gary Oldman). Jacob tells Scrooge that he will be visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future (all also played by Jim Carry), and that if he doesn’t want to end up with the same fate as his friend, he will have to change his ways. Soon after Jacob departs, Scrooge is visited by the ghosts one by one. Each of the ghosts show him a reason to change his money hungry and bitter ways of life.

A Christmas Carol to me was an average movie. It wasn’t bad to me personally, but its not really the kind of movie I prefer. It’s a good movie for the holidays, but I think that it came out a little bit too early. I would recommend that you go see it if you like Christmas, but as a movie I think that you should wait a while until you feel like it. I would give this movie a six out of ten for great role playing by Jim Carry, but also for its basic plot. I’m not saying its bad movie but the movie itself was kind of predictable. If you see the movie you’ll know what I’m saying, and it might change your view on whether or not to see it. Other than that I encourage anyone who wants to see it to go watch it, especially if you if like to be reminded of the holiday spirit.

Astro Boy

Last modified on 2009-12-11 19:51:36 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Astro Boy, written by Osamu Tezuka and directed by David Bowers, is the futuristic animated film based on a 1952 Japanese cartoon. Starring in the movie is Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage and Kristen Bell. The movie starts out with Toby (Freddie Highmore), the genius son of Metro city’s scientist top Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage), going to his father’s job to see Dr. Tenma’s new invention. When the invention is finally unveiled, Toby sneaks in the testing area just as the invention malfunctions. When Dr. Tenma notices that Toby is trapped in the testing area he tries to rescue him, but is unable. When he tries to reassure his son that he will get him out of there, Toby is vaporized by the machine. Guilt ridden and heart broken Dr. Tenma desperately tries to make a new robotic son. He makes the robot look exactly like Toby, but gives him a variety of weapons to make sure that this son won’t be killed as easily as his old one. He is finally able to bring him to life by giving him all the memories of Toby and convincing him that he is Toby. Soon however, Dr. Tenma realizes that he can’t replace his dead son because the new Toby as a robot can’t age like a normal boy. Soon new Toby, a.k.a. Astro Boy, begins to realize that he’s a robot, and runs away from home. On his journey he finds out more about his powers, and new friends as well.

To me Astro Boy was an alright movie. It had a lot of futuristic things which made the film a lot more interesting. The only part of the movie that I didn’t like was when Toby was killed in front of his father’s eyes. That was really unpleasant to watch and I wouldn’t rcommend that little children should see that part. Other than that the movie was really enjoyable. I would give it a seven out of ten and recommend that if the movie sounds good to you so far then go out and see it.

Astro Boy

Last modified on 2009-11-24 00:02:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Astro Boy, written by Osamu Tezuka and directed by David Bowers, is the futuristic animated film based on a 1952 Japanese cartoon. Starring in the movie is Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage and Kristen Bell. The movie starts out with Toby (Freddie Highmore), the genius son of Metro city’s scientist top Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage), going to his father’s job to see Dr. Tenma’s new invention. When the invention is finally unveiled, Toby sneaks in the testing area just as the invention malfunctions. When Dr. Tenma notices that Toby is trapped in the testing area he tries to rescue him, but is unable. When he tries to reassure his son that he will get him out of there, Toby is vaporized by the machine. Guilt ridden and heart broken Dr. Tenma desperately tries to make a new robotic son. He makes the robot look exactly like Toby, but gives him a variety of weapons to make sure that this son won’t be killed as easily as his old one. He is finally able to bring him to life by giving him all the memories of Toby and convincing him that he is Toby. Soon however, Dr. Tenma realizes that he can’t replace his dead son because the new Toby as a robot can’t age like a normal boy. Soon new Toby, a.k.a. Astro Boy, begins to realize that he’s a robot, and runs away from home. On his journey he finds out more about his powers, and new friends as well.

To me Astro Boy was an alright movie. It had a lot of futuristic things which made the film a lot more interesting. The only part of the movie that I didn’t like was when Toby was killed in front of his father’s eyes. That was really unpleasant to watch and I wouldn’t rcommend that little children should see that part. Other than that the movie was really enjoyable. I would give it a seven out of ten and recommend that if the movie sounds good to you so far then go out and see it.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:04:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant is a movie written and directed by Paul Weitz, that stars John C. Reily, Chris Massoglia, and Josh Hutcherson. The movie starts out with two best friends Darren (Chris Massoglia) and Steve (Josh Hutcherson) who receive flyer for a night time circus. Darren and Steve, eager to learn more about the circus, sneak out of their houses at night, and visit the mysterious circus. Inside the two friends find a wide variety of people with different abilities. However the most notable is Larten Crepsley (John C. Reily); a 150 year old vampire. After the show is over, Darren and Steve sneak behind stage because both of them want something that they can get from Crepsley. Darren wants Crepsley’s pet spider, while Steve wants to become a vampire. When Steve confronts Crepsley and asks him to make him a vampire, Crepsley declines and tells him that he doesn’t have what it takes to become a vampire. Darren however get Crepsley’s spider by stealing it when Crepsley isn’t looking. The next day, Darren brings the spider to school and puts it in his locker, but it escapes and bites Steve. Knowing that the spider’s venom is deadly, Darren goes to Crepsley and asks him to cure Steve. Crepsley agrees, but only if Darren becomes the vampire’s assistant.

I think Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant was a good movie. It had a lot of action, especially near the end when a big fight erupted between some of the vampires. It had a little comedy in it, not enough to make it a comedy, but there was some witty banter. For example when Darren had to refill his grave after his fake funeral, and told Crepsley that he couldn’t feel his legs only to make Crepsley hit him in the legs with the shovel. It was a very good movie, I would give it an eight out of ten for action and an above average plot line. I encourage all to see it.

The “Nightmare Before Christmas”

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:03:17 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

or the fourth year in a row, theaters are re-releasing Tim Burton’s famous Halloween story The Nightmare Before Christmas. The story follows the notorious pumpkin king Jack Skellington, who is trying to create a surprise for his town on Halloween. However after years of scaring the town’s folk, Jack (Chris Sarandon) has grown tired of doing the same thing every year. On his way through the forest outside of town Jack comes across several trees; each leading to a different plane of existence which represents a different holiday. Surprised and not fully aware of what he’s doing, Jack goes into the Christmas realm and is very surprised about what he finds there. Soon Jack rushes back to his reality and explains what he saw to his town. However, because the town is so accustomed to scary and mischievous thing, they fail to understand the meaning of Jacks experience. Determined to make the citizens of Halloween town feel what he felt while he was in Christmas town, Jack orders three towns folk to kidnap Santa so he can take on his role and do what he does except on Halloween. Soon, however he finds out that the scary things he delivers to children on Christmas actually scare them instead of make them happy. Determined to make things right Jack rushes to Halloween town to make up for what he did wrong.

The Nightmare Before Christmas in my opinion is a Halloween classic. It has all the things that makes a movie a classic. It has singing throughout the movie, which I normally don’t like but in this movie I make an exception. It has action and adventure, like when Jack is shot out of the air because most people think Jack impersonating Santa and most find his way home. It even has a little bit of romance, like when Sally a ragdoll woman tries to express her feeling to Jack through the film, but it’s at the end when she finally gets to tell him. The Nightmare Before Christmas, to me, is a great movie. If I had to give it a rating I would give it an eight out of ten for style and creativity. I would encourage all to go see it.

The Invention of Lying

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:02:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Invention of Lying is a movie written, produced, directed and narrated by Ricky Gervais, who also stars in the film. The movie also features Jennifer Garner (Juno, Daredevil, Electra, Dude Where’s My Car), Rob Lowe (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers: Goldmember), Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live, Baby Mama, Mean Girls), and Jonah Hill (Superbad, Knocked Up, Funny People). The movie starts out with Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais), a less than successful film writer who lives in a world where there is no lying. Due to the fact that there is no lying in this universe, Mark has trouble writing any good movies because in his world fiction doesn’t exist. One day when Mark goes to work he finds out from co-workers that he is going to be fired because his stories just aren’t interesting to the people around him. He also finds out that he is about to be evicted from his apartment because he doesn’t have enough money to pay off his rent. On his way to the bank to withdraw all of his money, which still isn’t enough to pay his rent, he discovers something strange when he goes to withdraw his money. Suddenly, as he approaches the lady at the bank he lies and tells her that he has enough money to pay his rent and withdraws it. Confused about what he did he, he begins to try to explain it to his friend by lying to numerous people around him. Soon he begins to realize that though lying he can get anything that he wants; including money, fame,and, women. This, however, begins to take its toll on him when his mother begins to get sick and is on her death bed. Scarred and confused about dying his mother asks him to comfort her. He begins to lie to her, and tells her that when she dies that she will go to a place in the sky where all of her love one’s are (in this world religion doesn’t exist). As she dies several nurses and doctor overhear him and believe that what he says is true. Mark, not considering what they are thinking, leaves. The next day however he finds out that various people are camping outside his apartment, believing him to be a messiah of sorts. Soon he has to deal with keeping the people believing that he knows more about what happens when you die, or he risks losing everything if the people figure out that what he says isn’t true.

The Invention of Lying, by my standards, is a mediocre movie. It does have some funny parts, like when Mark tries to explain lying to his friend and tells him that he’s black when he’s obviously not black, or when he tries to explain god to the people. There are also some parts in the movie that Christian people would find very offensive such as Mark listing his own version of the Ten Commandments on the back of pizza boxes, or when it depicts him as a stereotypic version of Jesus Christ. I myself found this movie mildly offensive partly because it had some good humor. However that does not mean that it is necessarily a good movie. In my personal opinion I would give this movie a five out of ten and would only encourage people who think the movie would be good on first sight to see it.

“Couples Retreat”

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:02:31 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Couples Retreat is a movie written by Jon Favreau, directed by Peter Serafinowicz, and stars Vince Vaughn. Couples Retreat is about three friends, Dave (Vince Vaughn), Joey (Jon Favreau), and Shane (Faizon Love), who accompany their friend Jason (Jason Bateman) and his wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) to an island resort for what seems like a terrific vacation. During the trip Dave and Joey bring their wives Ronnie (Malin Åkerman) and Lucy (Kristin Davis), while Shane brings his new girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk). When they arrive at the resort they soon find out that their week long vacation requires couples counseling for them while they’re there. This soon turns out to be a problem because the only couple who actually wants counseling is Jason and Cynthia. Soon however it becomes clear that Jason and Cynthia aren’t the only ones who need help with their relationship.

Couples Retreat to me is a very good movie. It has so much comedy in it; for example when Dave and Jason have to go out into the lake and feed chum to fish, but Jason panic and spills the chum all over Dave and leaves him there. Also, when all the couples have to do yoga with their overly touchy instructor, who makes both the guys and girls do uncomfortable poses and exercises. The movie was by my standards was really amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed that hard at a movie that came out this year. It is really great and I encourage all to see it.

“Toy Story 3D”

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:02:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Toy Story 3D is the three dimensional remake of Pixar’s popular children’s story about a toy cowboy named Woody trying to keep the attention of his owner Andy when he gets a new and exciting toy named Buzz Lightyear. The movie was written and directed by John Lasseter, produced by Bonnie Arnold, and starred Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. The movie’s main plot is how both Woody(Tom Hanks), and Buzz ( Tim Allen) trying to get back home after Woody tries to get rid of Buzz by pushing him out of the window and Woody getting thrown out by the other toys because of it. While trying to get back home they are picked up by a mean neighbor boy named Sid who likes to blow up toys and sew them back together for fun. While staying with Sid, Buzz and Woody have to get back home but they also have to try to survive being blown up, and they have to stand up against an army of mangled toys and Sid’s angry dog.

Toy Story 3D is a classic kids movie and is one of my personal childhood favorite movies. It has a lot of adventure and tons of comedy, mostly due to the fact that Buzz having to realize that he is in fact a toy and not the popular space hero he thinks he is. The movie was one of the best movies I saw as a child and the fact that it has been made into a 3D movie makes is so much better. I mean who doesn’t like to see movies in 3D? It makes the movie all the more real. I encourage everyone to go see while it’s still in theaters for the next two weeks. I personally give it an eight out of ten, and I would be thrilled if everyone saw it.

“Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs”

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:01:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a movie written and directed by Phil Lord, starring Bill Hader, that is based on a children’s story. The movie is about a scientist named Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) who lives in a town called Swallow Falls. Flint isn’t a really good scientist. His inventions normally don’t work the way he wants them to, or they have a habit of going horribly wrong shortly after they’re made. Due to his record of bad inventions, his father and the rest of the town believe that he can’t build any good invention and he is arrested just for having an invention with him. That is, until one of his inventions actually does some good for him and his town. The invention he built actually has the power to change the weather to into food (rain into hamburgers, spaghetti into twisters, snow into ice cream etc.), however soon this invention turns out to be just as bad and as dangerous as his previous ones when it goes out of control and it threatens to destroy the entire world.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in my opinion is a good family friendly movie with a good story and a funny plot. It’s got to be one of the most creative movies I’ve seen all year. To me it was very amusing that when the main character actually did something right for his town it just blew up in his face again. I also liked how the fact that the filmed made a parody on The Day After Tomorrow, when they found out that his machine could destroy the entire world. The movie itself is hilarious and I think that a lot of people would get a really good laugh out of it. I would definitely give the movie an eight out of ten for comedy and creative plot lines. I encourage everyone when they go to the movies to consider seeing this one.

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself”

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:00:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” is yet another Tyler Perry play turned into a movie. It revolves around three orphans who end up breaking into the home of Mable Simmons, aka Madea (Tyler Perry), to look for food when she catches them and attacks them, not knowing they’re kids. They tell her that after their mother died they went to live with their grandmother who they haven’t seen in the past four days since she left for work. Wanting to help them, Madea takes them to their closest relative their aunt April (Taraji P. Henson), a women who frequently goes out drinking each night and is dating a married man. Despite her bad habits, she agrees to let the children stay with her until they can find their grandmother. While the kids are at April’s, their pastor sends over a foreigner named Sandino (Adam Rodriquez) to help fix her house and for a place to stay. Her boyfriend Randy (Brian J. White) does not like the fact that three kids and a grown man are staying at her house. He even tries to make various sexual advances towards the oldest girl, Jennifer, during her stay at the house. Soon April’s attitude begins to change with the kids around and with it, her lifestyle too.

This film, like all other Tyler Perry films, starts off with a main character, who either has a bad background or has lost family, struggling to find their meaning in the world and end up happier because of it. This movie like the rest also has a very comedic side as well, such as Madea and her brother Joe (also played by Tyler Perry) beating up a bunch of little kids. This movie by my standards is a good family movie which I would recommend seeing, but there are some scenes that aren’t appropriate for small children. Other than that I would say it a wonderful movie which I would personally give an eight out of ten. So please go see it, you might just learn something from it.

Movie “Nine” is Really Fine

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:00:04 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The movie “Nine” starts out with how the movie’s main character 9, an animated doll, came into existence, and how the world around him became a barren wasteland of death and darkness. Once he ventures out into this unknown world, he soon discovers that he is not the only one of his kind and how machines run a world without humans. Soon after meeting his eight brothers, they are attacked one by one by the machines and have their souls sucked from them. During their journey through their world, they find out that the only way to stop the machines and save the souls of their friends is to find out more about how the machines took over the world and get back a talisman from the machines.

This movie was written and directed by Shane Acker and was produce by Tim Burton. The movie starred actors such as John C. Reily (Step Brothers), Jennifer Connelly (The Day the Earth Stood Still), and Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings). In this movie Elijah, like in his past movies, takes the role of the protagonist. His role in this film is very similar to his role in the Lord of the Rings. It involves a journey to an unfamiliar place surrounded by evil which can only be defeated by a certain artifact. The movie itself however is a little dark for a PG-13 movie, with some more violent scenes in which a couple of people are killed on and off screen. Other than that it’s a real enjoyable movie which I would definitely recommend seeing.

Movie Topic Really Rockin’

Last modified on 2009-11-14 20:59:36 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hello, my name is Chris Fontaine, and for the next semester I will be writing a blog for the Echo. When I say writing a blog you probably think, “What will he write about?” Well I’ll tell you. Every week for the next four and a half months I will be writing a movie review on a different movie each week. I will also write either how much that movie made or who starred in it, directed it, and wrote it. The category of movies will be from “G” to “PG13”. I will not write any blog on a R-rated movie because it’s most likely too inappropriate for school. You can be sure that I will be writing reviews about different movies that are worthy of news.