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X-Men: The Last Stand

**1/2 Stars
It could've been great...

The Da Vinci Code

*** Stars

The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, is a high octane, intelligent thriller, filled with controversy and excitement. It is a summer blockbuster for the book readers and first timers.

Everyone in the world knows this story by now, but let's recap. Famed symbologist Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) has already been through a lot (with the first Dan Brown novel Angels and Demons) and now he's back, being called to the Louvre museum one night where a curator has been murdered. His body has left clues and symbols to let Langdon solve a puzzle that will unveil secrets involving the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. With the help of police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), the pair set off on a monumental quest through Paris, London and Scotland in search of all the answers. Sir Leigh Teabing (the always fantastic Ian McKellen) who is basically a guru on the subject, joins the dangerous chase.

Now of course Tom Hanks hair looks like a pile of scum found in a sewer, but that is still no reason to bash a film. After all the hype and negative reviews, the movie doesn't let you down. If you are against the ideas of the book written by Dan Brown and then take Howard's advice: "If the movie upsets you, don't see it". The film is really not as bad as you might think.

Poseidon

Well, basically, Poseidon, directed by Wolgang Petersen, just plain sucks.

** Stars

Mission Impossible III

***1/2 Stars

The summer kicks off with an explosive, heart pounding, experience. Mission Impossible III will be one of the top films to beat come summer's end.

Super-spy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise at his best) has retired from active duty to train new IMF agents. But he is called back into action to confront the toughest villain he's ever faced. Owen Davian (a fabulous Philip Seymour Hoffman) is an international weapons and information provider to anyone willing to pay. Hunt acquires his old friend Luther Strickell (Ving Rhames), a transportation expert Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a background operative Zhen (Maggie Q), and a new recruit Lindsey (Keri Russell). Soon, they must work together to protect Hunt's newly wed Julia. The rest you must see for yourself.

The movie sends a jolt that hits you with constant emotional energy. The film has more stunts than most films combined and a match up consisting of Cruise and Hoffman is just so awesome. Its only weakness is its briefness towards Hoffman's character. His character is shown with little history of his past doings and goes little into detail about the Rabbit's Foot, the weapon everyone is after. But it's easy to move on.

The movie is a consistent action packed episode of 24. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Tip of the cap to first time director J.J Abrams who should be welcomed greatly into the film industry. And as for Tom Cruise, well, I never stopped loving him.

United 93

**** Stars

"United 93" is a monumental film. It is a brutally stunning visual that will stand among the crowning achievements of 2006.

We all know what happen on the horrific day five years ago. It was shocking, horrifying, disturbing, and most important...heroic. Director Paul Greengass completely honors the tragic victims of the day the world stop turning. United 93 is a visualized account of the fourth hijacked plane on 9/11. It begins as an ordinary day at an airport. The pilots discuss their flight routes, the attendants discuss their upcoming schedules, and the passenger’s board a routine flight for work, vacation, family visits etc. What happens next is nothing close to ordinary.

Four hijackers take over United 93, along with three other planes. They kill the pilots, hold the plane hostage and change course to a different location. The crew and passengers begin to understand about the World Trade Center and The Pentagon through their cell phones and their families. They realize that their only chance of survival and to prevent another attack is to try to tack back the plane. You know the rest.

Greengrass is a respectable and honorable filmmaker. This is a documentary like film that has no time for Hollywood waste or political garbage. It is simply a tale of heroism and how those in the air and those on the ground made the best decisions possible to prevent more devastation. Families of the victims are encouraging all Americans to see this film. They want us not to mourn those who died, but to celebrate their lives and their acts of true heroism. Shouldn't we honor that? Paul Greengass and the cast and crew of "United 93" sure do. This is a film to remember.

Stick It

** Stars

The Sentinel

*** Stars

Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas, in his first role since 2003's The In Laws) has been a Secret Service agent to the president for as long as he can remember. He's been trying to protect the president from any threat that comes his way, which ironically becomes himself. He is set up to take the fall for an assassination attempt on the president after one his loyal agents and friend is killed. Garrison desperately attempts to prove his innocence by searching for the real criminal behind this operation. While doing this, he is tracked by his former best friend David Breckenridge (24's Kiefer Sutherland)

The performances and script are solid. I can't ever imagine the president going to Toronto for a public speech right after the presidential helicopter is shot down. Still, this is an entertaining and well-crafted thriller.

Friends With Money

*** Stars
Friends with Money gets one thing perfectly right. When you are not with your friends, you talk about them. You mock, question, and discuss their acts with someone else. Very sad, but very true.

Four life-long friends (Olivia, Christine, Jane, and Franny) are all grown, and three of them are married and rich. The other (Olivia played by Jennifer Aniston) is single and scrubbing toilets for a living. Christine, Jane, and Franny begin to realize that their money is slowly tearing away their friendship with Olivia as they all begin to experience the hard-aches and troubles of growing up. This is Jennifer Aniston's best film since The Good Girl. I really hope she turns in an awarding winning performance sometime in the not so distant future. Thankfully, she is one her way with Friends with Money.

Scary Movie 4

*1/2 Star

This is the fourth installment of the Scary Movie Franchise and by far the worst. With an 80 minute or so run-time, it began to struggle from the very beginning. What the hell is Dr. Phil doing in a movie?

Thank You for Smoking

***1/2 Stars This satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor (Eackhart), who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son. Aaron Eackhart is a smoking hit has Naylor. He is at the top of his game.

The Weather Man

*** Stars
Nicholas Cage is very good at playing down-on-his-luck characters and he ads another credit with The Weather Man. He may be at the top for his professional career, but he is rock bottom with his personal life. He's divorced, he barely knows his kids, and his father is dying from Lymphoma (Michael Caine). He regrets the decisions he made about his marriage and doesn't seem to care that his career has made him famous (even though many people throw fast food at him for wrongly predicting the weather).

This is a depressing and emotional story of one man suffering from his mistakes. Nicholas Cage is dynamite for this role. He covers the plot holes and brings his character into focus. This is a very underrated performance.

The Inside Man

*** Stars

The Libertine

**1/2 Stars

For what it is, it's well done. There is two reasons to see this movie: 1. If you enjoy the study of hedonism and 2. Johnny Depp. His performance is deeply disturbing, yet surprisingly touching. He plays John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, in London of the 17th century. He has a passionate romance with a young actress, Elizabeth Barry, and he writes a rebellious play which lampoons the monarch who commissioned it, Charles II, leading to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall. It's a total blast to watch Depp, especially in an opening dialogue where he explains that you will not like him throughout the entire film. Well done Johnny.

V for Vendetta

***1/2 Stars

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

It's an action adventure, it's controversial, its a political thriller and much more. From the creators of the Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta is the first big hit of 2006. Based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd's ground-breaking comic books from the late 1980's V for Vendetta tells of a totalitarian Britain in a futuristic setting. A young woman named Evey (a bald Natalie Portman for half the movie) is rescued from a rape and beating by a masked vigilante known only as "V" (Hugo Weaving who is perfectly cast). V is mysterious character who is skilled in the art of combat and deception. He urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about who this man is, she also discovers the truth about herself and that spirals into who she becomes.

This is an action thriller that refuses to let you have a moments breath. It requires incentive, concentration, and an open mind. Do not look at this as an attack on our government. Look at it as a "what if" situation. America is in their 2nd Civil War, the world is falling apart, and Civil Liberties have been taken completely (taken more than what's morally right). If you aren't ready to see explosions in London then stay away, but go to this movie and expect a damn good time.

The Hills Have Eyes

** Stars

The Hills Have Eyes is no classic to the horror genre, but manages to rise to the level to satisfactory if what you are expecting is torture porn.

16 Blocks

**1/2

There is a purpose to 16 blocks. What that is I cannot tell you. It's basically another movie of the Bruce Willis assembly line. Of course there's nothing wrong with that.

The Pink Panther

**1/2 Stars

Starring: Steve Martin

I can't recommend it, but I wouldn't discourage you from seeing it...that much.

Oscar Results

Best Picture: Crash
Best Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Best Original Screenplay: Crash
Best Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Best Cinematography: Memoirs of a Geisha
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Editing: Crash
Foreign Language: Tsotsi
Sound Editing: King Kong
Best Song: It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Best Sound Mixing: King Kong
Original Score: Brokeback Mountain
Art Direction: Memoirs of a Geisha
Documentary Feature: March of the Penguins
Documentary Short: A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Makeup: Chronicles of Narnia
Costumes: Memoirs of a Geisha
Animated Short: The Moon and the Son
Live Action Short: Six Shooter
Best Animated Feature: Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Best Visual Effects: King Kong
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney, Syriana


CRASH UPSETS BROKEBACK! This is the second greatest upset in the history of the Academy Awards...the 1st: Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan.

Capote

**** Stars

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Truman Capote (Which one is which?) This performance will haunt you, shock you, and blow you away. This is the year for Hoffman.