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A typical low-budget scare fest, where everything happens just like you’d expect it to. Or at least, most of it.
And what better way to start a movie with a mysterious death ? And what better way to continue a movie with more and more of those ? Being a copy of a 2000 Japanese video release, Sam Raimi must’ve thought it was extremely good, or just extremely well-suited for the Americans, with a few minor changes (bringing in youngsters like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr for teen appeal). Keeping the director in place gives the movie a nice signature, though in this genre, it’s not that unique. Just quickly flash a shadow in the background, a few fades in the window or mirror, mix in a few screechy screams, and you’re pretty much there. The story has a backstory to tell, but that’s more or less for the usual half explanatory reasons than real depth.
If you’re into this genre, it’s definitely a go. If not, you might wanna hold on till its rental run.6.

Quite an attraction, that Focker family. No less than $28.5 million made this number one movie (again) race past the $200 million mark. Meet the Parents, was obviously working on half its strength, bringing in $166 million five years ago.
At number 2, White Noise kind off marks a come-back for Micheal Keaton, bringing in $24 million. At number 3, The Aviator still flies with a cargo hold worth $7.6 million. Kids still have power at the box office, making Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events good for a number 4 space, with $7.4 million. Fat Albert, still losing weight, was still good for a number 5 spot though, with $6 million.

Disney and Bruckheimer pair up nicely again, making up for last year’s not so royal King Arthur (certainly according to the domestic box office). It’s not all sunshine and roses though, as this movie races past you with high speed the whole two hours.
Any (typical) Bruckheimer movie can’t escape the comparison process with previous hits, so to start off, within 20 minutes you will realise the fast cut scene changes will not endow this movie with any depth (which was done much better in, say, The Rock). The story twists high paced storytelling with evenly high paced dialogue and chase scenes (same as any other Bruckheimer movie). The structure doesn’t leave much room for the characters to develop either (again, done better in, say, The Rock, or Bad Boys), leaving the chemistry to react only at the most basic levels. The Nicolas Cage/Diane Kruger (love), Cage/Jon Voight (son/father), Cage/Sean Bean (former friend turned enemy) and Cage/Bartha (friend) relationships are all standardised and have nothing more special than the actors can churn out the all too familiar dialogue (which any avid movie watcher can finish after hearing only the first half of the lines) (again, done better in, say, The Rock). Just as unimpressive is the music, under Trevor Rabin’s care, who tries to pull a Hans Zimmer, but fails pretty hard, as after the first 10 minutes the theme already grows old (again, done better in, say, The Rock or Crimson Tide).
Then again, it ain’t all that bad either. See it as a contemporary Indiana Jones, but with the detoriation that always comes with carbon copies.7.

Lotsa people still wanted to meet the Fockers in this new year, with $42.8 million it even set a few records (best New Year’s Even and best New Year’s Day). Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events still did business, though bringing in an unfortunately low $14.7 million, good for the number 2 spot. At number 3, The Aviator flies in some $11.2 million. Fat Albert, naturally, drops down in rank, at 4 with $10.7 million. A moderate heist for Ocean’s Twelve (earning less than Ocean’s Eleven in the same period of time, totalling at $106.9 million, exactly $30 million less than the predecessor), rounding off the top 5 with $9.2 million.

For me it wasn’t really a sequel, as I actually can’t remember that much of Ocean’s Eleven, besides it being moderately entertaining. This ensemble cast pulls it together again, the fun is clearly tangible, and that makes up for a lot. The heist thing moves along a nice pace, and the story twists and turns are around every corner. A few jokes are a bit cheesy and corny and it doesn’t have the big budget move feeling, but the whole ride is, again, moderately entertaining.7+.

While technically a series (as you can clearly distinguish three episodes tied together to make one movie), it’s a slow series. The unfortunate part in the title though, describes how unfortunate it is again, that this is another movie totally geared towards children and not the total family. This means, no fun at all. Simplistic storytelling and no depth. Also the multiple roles of Jim Carrey aren’t that much fun to see, being too obvious and all. Being totally for children also means story ends do not need any tying up (hence, the “big” mystery to be solved turns out to be something sprung up the writer just so he can close the story with an easy way out, with no explanation of what happened previously). But even then, the pace is too slow, and I seriously doubt if children can muster the patience to sit through this movie. If you ever thought of going to see this movie (and you’re older than 6), think… How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or the evenly bad Cat in the Hat.4.

Not the typical Christmas movie, but still a family thing dominated the box office, as Meet the Fockers took in $44.7 million in the weekend.
Cosby’s Fat Albert has to do with the number 2 spot (formerly an animated TV series in the 70’s), starring Kenan Thompson, with $12.7 million. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events drops to the 3rd place with $12.5 million.
Playing in half the number of theatres is The Aviator, but still flying in enough dough ($9.4 million) to end up number 4. Ocean’s Twelve also still doing well with $8.6 million, rounding off the top 5.

You have those “BIG” movies once in awhile, and after watching it, you wonder what the fuss was all about. This is one of those again. Some two big battlescenes can be seen, but filling the rest of the 3 hours are some less memorable moments. Narrative looks strong in the beginning, as an old Anthony Hopkins fires off short history lesson. We then dive into the youth of young Alexander. The relationships between him and his parents are shallow, but well worded in semi-cliche babbling. Development from boy to Great Alexander is evenly lacking in depth, and friends and followers are explored along the same line. The conquest of many countries covers the rest, with unrest with the army leaders ending this so called myth. Reliving too many of the same dialogues, combined with the non-excitement waiting around the corner (unlike Troy’s lingering threat) makes this myth most people will not find interesting. Maybe recutting it to fit it in 90 minutes (that’s 50% of the movie) isn’t a bad idea. It’s actually a very good idea. Trust me.6-.

No surprise that Jim Carrey opens a movie at number one, this time it’s kiddie movie Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events with a very fortunate $30.2 million. Ocean’s Twelve falls down one place, second with $18.3 million. Spanglish, starring Adam Sandler, opens third with $9 million, while The Polar Express is on a steady course at 4, with $8.6 million. Not so sharp anymore is Wesley Snipes’ Blade: Trinity, only $6.6 million in its second week, just enough to stay in the top 5.

While it received plenty of mixed reviews, the critics failed to mention is was a children’s movie only. There’s only one theme going on, believing in Santa Clause, and keeping hammering on this will not retain any adult’s attention. You can’t fill a movie with sappy dialogue all the time, so in between, you’ll get the “adventure” feeling by all the mishaps that can happen on a magical train. By the third time this gets boring, but the visual galore that will ensue will have the kids gaping in awe. By now, still an hour to go, you’ve lost hope. No humor, no sensible dialogue, no depth. Even scrutinising the 3D animation, in this case called performance capturing, isn’t necessary, as the stiffness in movement reveals the capturing wasn’t that successful after all.
Even when I discard the skewed feeling I have towards this movie (a focus on the overall greater good, instead of just a plain white bearded Santa Clause would’ve been nice), it’s still a movie that falls short on every aspect of making it enjoyable.5+.

It’s everything you’d expect from a movie with a title like that. Unsophisticated humor combined with some heavy shit swearing and a tiny tiny bit of a story. Fully predictable, but still a believable class act jerk of a Santa, played by Billy Bob Thornton, teams up with little man Tony Cox. The funny parts are of course, when they’re bitching at each other. For the rest, the middle part is somewhat slow, and as a whole, is only mildly entertaining. Easily digested and already forgotten.6+.

Some major star power makes a tidal wave at the box office, as Ocean’s Twelve’s second heist is worth $40.9 million in ticket sales. Second place is for not so bloodthirsty Blade: Trinity, opening with a less than succulent $16.1 million (compared to $32.5 for Blade II). Third is National Treasure with $10 million, currently totalling a proudly $124.2 million. Almost near it’s destination is The Polar Express, carrying another $9.8 million, bringing the grand at $110 million. Rounding off the top 5 is Christmas with the Kranks, despite suffering from humiliating critic reviews, it still manages to bring in another $7.6 million (total at $54.8 million).

This movie covers the short period of J.M. Barrie’s life where he meets the Llewelyn Davies family and how the Peter Pan play came to life. Subtlety is the word here, as the crude reality is not the focus here. Only slight hints are given and an imaginitive thread leads to a more glorified and inspirational story than what history suggests. The story builds slowly, and the focus is too narrow, covering not a whole lot of different aspects or subjects. This means some parts are dangerously close to sleep inducing.
The acting however (mostly Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet), is all up to par. Combined with an able director, you’ll get a just above average of what you expect from an independent movie.7+.

Nicolas Cage is on a prolongend trip to find the National Treasure, already in its third week at the top, taking in another $17.1 million.
At number 2, despite horrible critic AND user reviews, Christmas with the Kranks has enough christmas spirit to rise one spot, collecting $11.7 million this week.
At the start three weeks ago, The Polar Express seemed to be running out of coal. Apparently an emergency supply has been uncovered, as it’s still rolling along happily, with another $11.0 million. The total standing at $96.4 million, another 64% is needed to break even.
Also still doing well are The Incredibles, with $9.2 million at number four (and a respectable $226 million total).
The kids choosing for The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie are good for $7.8 million, good enough to stay in the top 5.
A limited release for Closer (starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen), still manages to enter at number 6, with $7.7 million.
At number 7, Alexander clearly fell off his horse, bringing in only $4.7 million. A horrible total of $29.7 million, not even a fifth of the budget.

Thriller suspsenser works its way through to almost the end without a hitch. While hanging on the same thread too long, the director has enough skills to keep it visually engaging, while the story focuses on just one thing.
Julianne Moore does most of the acting, and she does it like she always does. Perfect. Tears on command, a little shriek of insanity in her voice when necessary, lingering to a psychotic breakdown. The rest of the cast fares along just as well.
That said, towards the end it begins to feel a bit sloppy, storywise. But as a whole, it’s still a good average movie. It will be forgotten someday, but not as fast as most reviews will have you believe.7½.