April 24

Obsessed

Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Idris Elba

A successful business man with a smokin' hot wife becomes the target of a very obsessive and also smokin' hot stalker. It must be really tough to be that guy.  

Seeing a Beyonce movie that doesn't involve her singing is like seeing a John Travolta movie with no dancing. And no one wants to see that now do they? But we must admit that the thought of Beyonce and Ali having a catfight makes us hoping for an unrated sequel!

My guess: C-

Directed by: Steve Shill (Dexter, tv)

Genre: Thriller, Drama 

Fighting

Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Luiz Guzman

Set in N.Y., a man is introduced to the world of bare knuckle street brawling by a con man who becomes his manager. 

Every ounce of my inner being wants to hate this movie and make fun of it. The presence of Channing 'Step Up" Tatum could have easily made me tune out during the trailers but then I saw Terrence Howard... then Luiz Guzman and realized that those two could make Tatum not seem like the douchebag that he probably is and might just make him seem like a likeable underdog.

Boy those Step Up movies are shit. Sorry I had to make fun of something.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints)

Genre: Action, Drama

The Soloist

Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener

While out looking for his next story, an L.A. journalist befriends a homeless Juliard trained musician with some mental issues and believes that by fixing him, he can give his own life meaning and help him fix his own problems. But his new friend doesn't want to be fixed. All he really wants is the man's friendship and the two discover that sometimes that's enough.

This film reminds me of Reign Over Me with Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler from a few years ago which I liked. The biggest difference is that this one will get Oscar buzz because the Academy loves Jamie Foxx. Well, that and the fact that this one will probably be a better movie. 

My guess: A- 

Directed by: Joe Wright (Atonement)

Genre: Drama, Music, Biography 

April 22

Earth

James Earl Jones

Earth is a the feature length version of the British TV documentary series "Planet Earth" about the lives and migration paths of four animal families. Expect some breath-taking cinematography (which includes the first ever aerial footage of Mount Everest thanks to a Nepalese spyplane), some dead on narration by James Earl Jones, and animals that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer all in one sitting.   

My guess: B+

Directed by: Alastair Fothergill (Deep Blue) & Mark Linfield (debut)

Genre: Nature, Documentary, Science 

April 17

State of Play

Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams

When a member of Congress' research assistant is killed, an investigation begins that uncovers some very disturbing information about him. Did we mention that his assistant was also his side-ho? 

Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams play the reporters who keep digging into the life of the Congressman in spite of the fact that Crowe's character has a friendship and feeling of obligation to the Congressman. 

Great cast and solid director; should be a great movie and probably should have been released later in the year.  

My guess: A- 

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland)

Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller 

17 Again

Zac Effron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann

A 37 year-old man thinks that his life was at its best when he was 17 so he magically wills himself into being a 17 year-old again. Now he gets a chance  to be in high school and correct the course that his life took to get him to a place where he could be 37 and bitching about how great it was to be 17. 

Remember all of the other movies with this exact same plot? Effron appears to be giving it his all as he tries to capture the quirkiness of the brilliantly funny Matt Perry. High School Musical fans will love it. I'd rather watch Big again.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down)

Genre: Comedy, Zac Effron Vehicle

Crank: High Voltage 

Jason Statham, Amy Smart. Corey Haim

Crank was a really silly movie. Jason Statham played a man who would die if he didn't keep his adrenaline level high enough so he ran around doing insane things to make sure that he didn't die.

Now (after surviving a fall out of an airplane and landing on pavement??) he has had his heart stolen and replaced with an electrical one that must regularly get high jolts of electricity to continue to work.

This series doesn't even pretend to make any sense but they do deliver 90 minutes of mindless balls-to-the-wall action... and a role for Corey Haim! Get ready for Crank 3 where his spleen will be replaced with a rabid wolverine.

My guess: C

Directed by:  Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor (Crank)

Genre: Action, Sequel

April 10

Observe and Report

Seth Rogen, Anna Farris, Ray Liotta

A bi-polar security guard is asked to track down and stop the flasher who repeatedly assaults shoppers at his mall. But when he's not able  to get the job done, a police detective is called in to save the day.

Seth Rogen is on the verge of becoming over-exposed. But truthfully, he can make as many movies as he wants as long as  they are all funny. This one looks like Paul Blart except a lot meaner... and probably funnier. 

My guess: B+

Directed by; Jody Hill (East Bound and Down - TV)

Genre: Comedy

Hannah Montana: The Movie

Myley Ray Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Vanessa Williams

As Hannah Montana gets more and more famous, her real life persona Myley Stewart takes a trip home to get some perspective on what matters the most.

I'm not sure the producers of the Hannah Montana show and movies know that Hannah Montana isn't a real person. I don't think I have ever seen a DVD or movie poster for the show or one of her movies that didn't have two pictures of her.

Okay, with that said, this is probably a good family movie with lots for the 7-15 year-olds to enjoy. And the older perverts. I mean she is dating a 40 year-old guy right?

My guess: B+

Directed by: Peter Chelsom (Serendipity)

Genre: Comedy, Family, Music

Dragonball: Evolution

Justin Chatwin, Yun-Fat Chow, Emmy Rossum

A humanoid alien sets out to fulfill his dying grandfather's wish to stop evil alien forces from collecting seven mystical artifacts that would allow them to take over the planet.

Early reviews and overseas box office results are not looking good for this anime-to-the-big-screen film. I'm thinking they may have been a little premature to plan the sequels so far in advance. 

My guess: D-

Directed by: James Wong (Final Destination 3)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

April 3

Adventureland

Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader

In 1987, a recent college graduate takes a throw away job at a local amusement park and discovers that it may be more than just a nothing job, but instead the perfect preparation for life in the real world.

From the guys who brought us Superbad, it's another wacky comedy featuring Bill Hader. Hilarous.   

My guess: B-

Directed by: Greg Mottola (Superbad)

Genre: Comedy, Coming of Age

Fast & Furious

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster

After being released from prison, Brian O'Conner teams upw ith the police to bring down a heroin importer by going undercover... in shitty foreign cars with spoilers and no mufflers. Oh and  they will probably be painted to look like fishing lures.

I can't believe they have now made four of these fucking movies. Don't go and maybe we won't have to hear about "Episode V: Faster and Furiouser".

My guess: D-

Directed by: Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Drama

March 27

Monsters Vs. Aliens

Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Rainn Wilson

After being hit by a mereorite on her wedding day, a woman is transformed into a monster named Ginormica and captured by the government and taken to a compound where other monsters are being held. But when aliens attack Earth, it's only Ginormica and the monsters who can save the day.

Dreamworks is doing their best to make a Pixar-type film with some cool effects, a good story, and a great cast. Looks like  asolid hit to me.  

Maybe up next we can see Monsters Vs. Predator. It couldn't be worse than when the aliens tried to fight them.  

And wouldn't Ginormica and the Monsters be a great name for a band?

My guess: A

Directed by: Rob Letterman (Shark Tale) & Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2)

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family

The Haunting in Connecticut

Virginia Madsen, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas 

After the death of their son, a family moves to Northern Connecticut. Once they settle into their new Victorian home, they quickly relize that the house has a spooky history and some pretty evil shit is going on. 

Sound like Amityville Horror? It should. Well, at least these jackasses aren't trying to pass this off as a true story in spite of the fact that they made it up. In this case, they say it's loosely based on a true story. It's still gonna stink, though.

My guess: F

Directed by: Peter Cornwell (Ward 13)

Genre: Horror, Action 

12 Rounds

John Cena, Ashley Scott, Aidan Gillen

A detective discovers that someone connected t o his past has kidnapped his girlfriend and now he must complete twelve dangerous tasks to attain her release.

Cena continues his dream to become The Rock with another big action movie. How long before Cena ends up playing a babysitter to a set of triplets that he must protect while also coaching a band of misfit football players?   

My guess: D+

Directed by: renny Harlin (Deep Blue Sea) 

Genre: Action, Suspense 

March 20

I Love You, Man

Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones

A guy with no male friends is in need of a best man for his upcoming wedding. When he makes a new friend, his relationship is strained in a way that we haven't seen since You, Me, and Dupree.  

This is the movie that is supposed to make "bromance" a household word. I hope not. Because it's so stupid.

My guess: B+

Directed by: John Hamburg (Along Came Polly)

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Knowing

Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne

A teacher opens a time capsule that's been dug up at his son's elementary school. In the capsule, he finds predictions of events that have occurred since it's burial and some that have not come true yet... many of the disasterous. The more he digs, the more he believes that his family is somehow tied to the events to come.

What happened to Nic Cage? All of his movies aren't great but a once major A list actor is now on a very depressing string of really shitty films. Who knew we'd hit a point where we long the days when Cage was making Con Air and Face Off?

My guess: D-

Directed by: Alex Proyas (I, Robot)

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Thriller

Duplicity 

Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti 

A pair of corporate spies with a romantic past team up to con their bosses out of millions... or do they? The two aren't sure who to trust and where the con begins and ends.

Tony Gilroy wrote and directed Michael Clayton and it was fantastic. There's no reason to think he can't take this cast and pull off another near-masterpiece.

My guess: A-

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Romance

Directed by: Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

March 13

Miss March

Zach Cregger, Craig Robinson, Molly Stanton

From the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids In the Hall or whatever the hell they are, this is a comedy about a guy who has a prom date with a hot girl and he misses his chance to get some from her when he is knocked into a coma. 

Four years later, he wakes up and discovers that his angel is a centerfold... his angel is a centerfold. He decides that he must reunite with her and try to get some again and he begins a wild crazy adventure unlike anything we have ever seen on film... unless you count either Harold and Kumar movie... or any of those other teen sex romp comedies that no one saw like Sex Drive or Fired Up, or College. Okay, so it's not really original at all. Now if only someone would make a movie that is based on the song Freeze Frame.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Road Trip

Race to Witch Mountain

Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Guigino

A UFO expert enlists the help of a cab driver to protect two kids with special abilities that are being hunted by an orginization that wants to exploit them.

The Rock re-teams with director Andy Fickman for another family friendly comedy. You can say what you want about The Rock, but he's establishing himself in family films and having some success with it. This one looks like fun.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Andy Fickman (The Game Plan)

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family

Last House on the Left

Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Sara Paxton

After kidnapping, assaulting, and leaving two young girls for dead, a group of crazy people unknowingly end up borrowing the guest house of the parents of one of the girls. When their daughter shows up on their doorstep, barely alive, her parents realize that they must do whatever is necessary to deal with the evil staying in the guest house if they are going  to survive.

After Saw and Hostel, it's nice to see a "the shoe is on  the other foot" torture movie. And with the success of Taken (about a dad on a rampage to get his kidnapped daughter back), we could see a pattern forming here. 

My guess: C-

Directed by: Dennis Iliadis (Hardcore)

Genre: Horror, Thriller

March 6

Watchmen

Jackie Earle Haley, Carla Gugino, Patrick Wilson

In an alternate version of our world, set in the 80's, the United States and the Soviet Union are on the verge of nuclear war. Costumed superheroes have been outlawed but with the world preparing for nuclear disaster, some heroes will rise to do whatever is necessary to save the world and some will try to stop them. 

Based on the greatest graphic novel of all time (so popular in fact that most circles recognize it as a true novel in spite of the fact that it is a comic book), Watchmen finally hits the big screen after years of obstacles and legal issues. 

This is not your typical superhero story so be prepared for anything... and a whole lot of awesome.

My guess: A

Directed by: Zack Snyder (300)

Genre: Action, Drama, Based on a Graphic Novel 

February 27

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Experience

Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas

The Jonas Brothers come to the big screen for this "live" concert experience that features performances from the band as well as behind the scenes footage of the brothers that allows fans to see what they get up to when they aren't on stage.

Bruce Hendricks is in charge of this after doing a great job with the Hannah Montana's 3D show last year. If you can't get to a major city where the brothers are playing, this is the next best thing. And if your teenage daughter drools over Nick, Joe, and Kevin, they will want to see this no matter what.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Bruce Hendricks (Hannah Montana: Best of Both Worlds Tour)

Genre: Music, Concert, 3D

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Kristen Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Michael Clark Duncan 

Chun-Li enters into an underground world of fighting while on the hunt for the man who killed her father. She hopes to kick some ass, and avenge his death. 

Kristen Kreuk should help this series pick up a few fanboys who still pine for her from her Smallville days but the hardcore fans of Street Fighter wonder how a half Chinese woman can play a sacred all-Chinese character. 

We know she can kick ass, give her a chance... and maybe, just maybe, this franchise will continue on.   

My guess: C-

Directed by: Andrzej Bartkowiak (Doom)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Based on a Video Game

The Velveteen Rabbit 

Jane Seymore, Tom Skerritt, Ellen Burstyn

A lonely boy wins the approval of his distant father and grandmother with the help of a velveteen rabbit who wants to be a real rabbit some day.

This film is getting a lot of buzz but not in a good way. The producers have drawn a lot of fire for marketing this film with a direct phone campaign that involves calls to your home and a promise that if you don't like the film, the producers will send you a free copy of the DVD for your personal collection. Why would you want the DVD if you didn't like the film?  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Michael Landon, Jr. (Saving Sarah Cain)

Genre: Family

February 20

Fired Up!

Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer

The two most popular football players in a high school decide to ditch football camp to go to cheerleading camp so that they can be surrounded by hot girls.

The premise doesn't sound terrible but this looks to be nothing more than Bring It On 4 (or whatever number  they are on now)... and now with extra man junk. The two stars are old enough to have kids in high school. Olsen is 31 and D'Agosto is 28. I think it's time we found some different actors to play high school kids (and I include Jonah Hill in this group also).

Oh and the movie looks like a 30 year old pile of shit.    

My guess: D-

Directed by: Will Gluck (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Crude, Sports 

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry is back in this latest installment of his world conquest. We've now stooped into the world of Paulie Shore or Ernest P. Worrell stories as we send Madea to jail or camp or the army or whereever she's going now.

What a shitty weekend for movies.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Tyler Perry (The Family That Preys)

Genre: Comedy 

February 13

Friday the 13th

Derek Mears, Willa Ford, Jared Padalecki

A group of thrill-seeking, attractive, horny young adults stumble into an abandoned camp at Crystal Lake. While there, they all get hacked to hell by Jason with a machete or whetever else he can get his hands on. 

Seriously, if you need a plot synopsis for this one, you should go for a swim at Crystal Lake and wait for it.

This "remake" of the classic horror film is more of a tribute or additional chapter than it is a reboot or re-make the way Rob Zombie re-did Halloween. Should make for a great opening weekend with a Friday the 13th opening and for some reason horror does well as a date movie for Valentine's Day. 

My guess: C

Directed by: Marcus Nipsel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003)

Genre: Horror, Remake, Thriller

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Isla Fisher, Joan Cusack, John Goodman

A college graduate gets a job in New York to support her shopaholic tendencies. The problem is that she gets the job as a financial planner in spite of having no clue what that means. While there, she falls in loved with a wealthy entrepreneur. 

Based on the novel with the same name, I don't expect this to have ths success of the novel however, it may do well with an opening weekend that features Valentine's Day. And if women are going to drag their men to see a chick flick, it doesn't hurt that men will get to stare at the very smokin' hot Isla Fisher.

My guess: C-

Directed by: P.J. Hogan (Peter Pan) 

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Family

The International

Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Meuller-Stahl

An interpol agent tracks down a connection between international banking and funding for illegal arms dealing.

At this stage, does it even matter what the plot is for a Clive Owen movie? He's done drama, action, and even brilliant action-comedy. Word is that this one isn't as good as it should be, but that doesn't mean we aren't looking forward to it.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Tom Tykwer (True)

Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama

February 6

Coraline 3D

Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David

From the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas (no, Tim Burton didn't direct that but he was involved every step of the way) Coraline is an animated film about a girl who discovers a door in her family home that opens into a parallel world.

Most theaters will be showing this in 3D which should make for a fun film for the family... assuming that young boys will let their parents drag them to see a movie with a girl's name in the title.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Henry Selick (James and the Giant Peach)

Genre: Animation, Family, 3D 

Push

Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou  

In Hong Kong, a group of young people with special abilities are pursued by a group of U.S. agents who want them to work for them.

There is a TV show that you may have heard of called Heroes. Sound a little like that?

Hopefully this movie is better than the end of season 1 up until the end of last season of the show. Then again, how could it not be? 

My guess: C+

My guess:

Directed by: Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin)

Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Thriller

Pink Panther 2

Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Andy Garcia 

Inspector Jacques Clouseau returns to team up with a special international team of investigators who are just as idiotic as he is. They must combine their limited individual brainpower to try to stop an international thief who is an expert on stealing historical items.

Fans of the series (assuming they enjoyed Martin's reinvention of it) will enjoy this, but for everyone else, it's hit or miss.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Harold Zwart (Agent Cody Banks)

Genre: Comedy, Sequel

He's Just Not That Into You

Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Ben Affleck

With ties to the best selling book, this film is about a group of people in Baltimore who share drama when it comes to their love lives. They discuss and debate age-old relationship questions like "how soon is too soon to call?" and "is a Myspace hookup a real hookup?" and "why was Drew Barrymore fooling around with the Mac guy?"

The cast is made up of various hipsters who may or may not have enough gas in their collective tanks to carry this. I predict a sputter.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Ken Kwapis (License to Wed)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Hipster

The Wrestler 

Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Ernest "the Cat" Miller

The Wrestler is a fantastic film about a professional wrestler who is long past his prime but trying to regain some of his past glory in the ring. His personal life is as broken down as his aged and battle-worn body and he tries to put th pieces back together.

Rourke is almost unrecognizable as he seems to channel The Macho Man Randy Savage and Tomei takes a bold step playing a stripper who doesn't wear a whole lot to take off. You don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this, but you will only appreciate it more if you have been around smaller wrestling circuits.

My guess: A+

Directed by: Daniel Aronfsky (Requiem for a Dream) 

Genre: Drama, Sports, Action

January 30

Taken

Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

A former spy must use his skills to rescue his daughter when she is kidnapped by slave traders while she is vacationing in Paris.

Normally, we see Liam Neeson in an action film training someone else to be a bad ass and then dying (The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins) so it will be nice to see him finally get to be an action hero and kick someone's ass... especially when it's the collective ass of some bastard slave traders. Sons of bitches.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Pierre Morel (District B13)

Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime

New In Town 

Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., Nathan Fillion

A Miami-based consultant is shipped out to small-town Minnesota for her newest project: supervising the restructuring of a local manufacturing plant. After a frosty reception, she warms to the townspeople (and vice versa), though a tough business mandate causes her to reconsider her personal and professional objectives.

I'm not sure that even the very "lady friendly" cast is enough to make this one a success. But I can understand why a movie with Connick and Fillion  was green lit, but it's not Zellweger or the "hunks" that's getting the bozz on this one, but Siobhan Fallon who steals every scene she's in.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Jonas Elmer (Nynne)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Chick Flick

The Uninvited

Elizabeth Banks, Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel

After the death of their mother in the hospital, a girl and her sister return home with their father and find out that his new girlfriend is the nurse who was taking care of their mother. But when the ghost of their mother shows up to warn  them about the new girlfriend, things get out of hand and a catfight is sure to follow.

This type of horror thriller has become the norm and we can only hope that the always fantastic Elizabeth Banks will make this one more memorable than some of the recent ones... like um... I can't remember.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Charles Guard & Thomas Guard (Inside-Out) 

Genre: Horror, Thriller

January 23

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Rhona Mitra, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy

This is the origins story of the centuries-old feud between the vampires and the Lycans. We'll learn how Lycans freed themselves from slavery from the vampires and how well this franchise can do without Kate Beckinsale. We'll also continue to wonder how Rhona Mitra can be so hot and not have any real success. 

My guess: C-

Directed by: Patrick Tatopoulos (Bird of Passage)

Genre: Action Fantasy, Prequel

Revolutionary Road

Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslett, Michael Shannon

Based on the Robert Yates novel, Revolutionary Road is about a young couple in the 1950's who struggle to raise their children and overcome their problems... which include a husband who doesn't know his place in life and a wife who wants to move to Paris.

It's DiCaprio and Winslet teaming up again in a film that finally got her some award hardware for her mantle. Might I suggest to the couple that when they move to France, don't take a boat.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Sam Mendes (American Beauty)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Excuse to see DiCaprio and Winslet do it again

Slumdog Millionaire

Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla

Slumdog follows the life of a teenage boy who gets on the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in India and wins, only to be accused of cheating.

Slumdog rolled through the Golden Globes and was nominated for 10 Oscars. Don't underestimate this little movie, it should be taking home many of those Oscars.

My guess: A

Directed by: Danny Boyle (Sunshine) & Loveleen Tandan (debut)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime

Inkheart

Brandan Fraser, Sienna Guillory, Paul Bettany

A young girl discovers that her father has the ability to bring characters out of their books. But when he frees a bad guy, they have to figure out how to stop him, with a little help from the book's hero.

Fraser is getting very comfortable in these family fantasy films. I suppose eventually one of them will be a big hit.

My guess: C

Directed by: Iain Softley (The Skeleton Key)

Genre: Fantasy, Family, Adventure

January 16

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 

Kevin James, Shirley Knight, Adam Ferrara

A gang of criminals overtakes a shopping mall and the only person who can save the day is the security guard who is stuck inside with the crooks. Paul Blart must overcome his underdog ways and find the real cop in him to save the day... and the mall he is sworn to protect. 

Kevin James is a funny guy but this film looks like a very funny 3 minute SNL skit, or a very long and drawn out not-so-funny movie.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Steve Carr (Daddy Day Care)

Genre: Comedy

My Bloody Valentine 3-D

Jensen Ackles, Jamie King, Kerr Smith

Tom returns home on the 10th anniversary of the murders of 22 people. Instead of a warm welcome home, he discovers that he's suspected of committing the murders and it's only his old girlfriend who believes his innocence. 

The film industry's quest to make more 3-D programming to draw in bigger audiences to theaters continues and branches into the horror genre. This should make for a fun theater experience, even if the movie stinks.  

My guess: C

Directed by: Patrick Lussier (Scream 3)

Genre: Horror, 3-D, Remake

Notorious

Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett 

Notorious is the story of the life and death of Christopher Wallace aka the Notorious BIG. Tupac has had several film projects about him and it's about time Biggie got some love. 

Jamal Woolard is getting some major buzz about his performance as Biggie and Derek Luke and Angela Bassett are solid as Puffy and Biggie's mom.  

My guess: C+

Directed by: George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food)

Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

Hotel for Dogs

Emma Roberts, Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow 

Two kids take in stray dogs and take care of them in an abandoned building. They find the challenges of taking care of so many dogs in secret to be difficult... and hilarious... if you are between the ages of 4 and 12. 

Julia Roberts' niece stars with Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle in this family film that should enjoy a nice opening box office weekend.  

My guess: B-

Directed by: Thor Freudenthal (Minkey Business)

Genre: Dogs, Comedy, Kids

January 9

Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood, Brian Haley, Bee Vang

Eastwood's latest film has him playing a disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski who sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino. Gangs and violence overtake the neighborhood and the only person who can protect the teen's family is Walt, in spite of the fact that he doesn't get alongw ith them... or anyone for that matter.

Nominated for a Golden Globe, expect this one to be solid. Of course, Clint could film himself taking a dump in a paper bag and he would get a few awards nominations.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven) 

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Action

The Unborn

Gary Oldman, Odette Yustman, Cam Gigandet

Haunted by strange dreams and recurring ghostly visions, Casey Beldon (Yustman) turns to a spiritual advisor (Oldman) for help. Together, they learn that Casey had a twin brother who never made it to term, and that her intended sibling is tied to a curse that requires Casey's death in order to manifest itself in our world.

There's nothing especially new or interesting going on here. Just another creepy and very dark horror movie that looks like every other creepy dark horror movie... except for that really weird dog.

My guess: D+

Directed by: David S. Goyer (Blade: Trinity)

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Not Easily Broken

Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, T.D. Jakes

A car accident threatens the already fragile marriage of a couple, especially when t hey begin to have feelings for other people. 

Writer T.D. Jakes is hardly Tyler Perry but his first attempt at a book adaptation to film (Woman Thou Art Loosed) was a hit a few years ago and Bill Duke is an excellent director. This should have some success. Then perhaps, someone will cast Chestnut to play the John Stewart Green Lantern in a film.  

My guess: C

Directed by: Bill Duke (Hoodlum)

Genre: Romance, Spiritual, Drama

Bride Wars 

Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen

Twp best friends become bitter enemies when a clerical error results in both of their weddings being held at the same venue on the same day. It's just too bad they don't settle  this by wrestling in their underwear in Jello.

Hathaway has done well with films in New York (where the venue is) but Hudson has not. I'd bet on Hathaway's good fortune  to win out and help Hudson's NY bad streak end.  

My guess: B-

Directed by: Gary Winick (13 Going on 30)

Genre: Comedy, Buddy

January 2

The Reader

Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Jeanette Hain

In Post World War II Germany, a teenager is nursed back to health from Scarlet Fever by a woman twice his age. After he recovers, they begin a love affair that includes him reading to her. He reads classics like The Odyssey and Huck Finn to her and then they get freaky and then go their seperate ways.

Eight years later, now a law student studying and working on war crimes from the Holocaust, the man encounters his older woman lover again in the court room. She is now a defendant and he learns of her past and the relationship they shared changes forever.

A great cast (with lots of naked Kate Winslet) and a holocaust story translates into Oscar buzz.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot)

Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance 

December 25

The Spirit

Samuel L. Jackson, Gabriel Macht, Scarlett Johansson

A rookie cop returns from the dead to fight crime in the shadows of Central City. He must battle The Octopus, an evil mastermind who knows the secrets behind The Spirit. 

Things started to look good for this one when its release date was moved forward from January to December. The expectations have certainly been raised with a Christmas Day release in the midst of a lot of competition. It looks as artsy and fun as Sin City and it appears director Frank Miller took notes from robert Rodriguez while working beside him on Sin City. Let's hope this one delivers.

My guess: B

Directed by: Frank Miller (Sin City)

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Based on a Comic Book

Valkyrie

Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Carice van Houten

Near the end of WWII, Claus von Stauffenberg leads to group of fellow German army colonels in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. After several release date changes, Valkyrie finally sees the inside of a theater. Thankfully, it was production issues that held it up and not re-shoots or fear of the summer schedule. Tom Cruise began his "come back" with Tropic Thunder of the summer and a big draw from the Baby Boomers to this one could re-establish his image.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Bryan Singer (Superman Returns)

Genre: War, Historical, Drama

Marley & Me

Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston, Alan Arkin

An impossibly cute, but impossible-to-live-with yellow Labrador retriever named Marley teaches his newlywed owners a thing or two about patience and parenthood. There's no new ground being broken here but this one still looks like a great family film for Christmas. And fans of the book are excited about the movie.

My guess: B

Directed by: David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada)

Genre: Family, Based on a Book, Comedy 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett 

Benjamin Button was born under unusual circumstances. As everyone around him grew older, he aged backwards, making the challenges of life such as creating friendships, finding a job and falling in love all the more difficult and heartbreaking.

This one sounds a lot like a Tim Burton movie, full of weird effects and lots of drama. Brad Pitt is getting rave reviews for playing Button and continues to prove he's the real deal as an actor and not just a pretty boy movie star.

My guess: A-

Directed by: David Fincher (Fight Club)

Genre: Fantasy, Drama

Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler, Courtney Cox, Keri Russell 

Somehow, someway, the lavish bedtime stories that a hotel handyman (Sandler) tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.

Sandler follows in the footsteps of Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Eddie Murphy into family films. We'll see how well Sandler can do without booger and fart jokes... at least we assume that there won't be many of them in this Disney film. But then again...

My guess: C-

Directed by: Adam Shankman (The Pacifier)

Genre: Family, Fantasy, Comedy 

December 19

Yes Man

Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, John Michael Higgins

Jim Carrey plays a man who is normally far too negative. In attempt to make his life better, he agrees to say yes to everyone about everything for one full year. His newfound life plan leads him to do many things he never would have considered, some good and some bad. But he learns his lesson that sometimes you have to try new things, which apparently includes making a movie that seems an aweful lot like Liar Liar. I mean really.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Peyton Reed (The Break-Up)

Genre: Comedy 

Tale of Despereaux

Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson

Three unlikely heroes (a mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who wants to leave the dungeon, and a servant girl with cauliflower ears) have fates that are all intertwined with the destiny of the castle's princess. Despereaux must use everything he has learned from reading tales of adventure to find the bravery to save the princess from a horrible fate.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Sam Fell (Flushed Away) & Robert Stevenhagen (debut)

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Family

Seven Pounds

Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson

A man feels responsible for a car accident that takes the lives of seven people. He plans his own suicide and a way to try to make some amends for what he has done by trying to do something positive for seven people. In doing so he meets a women who tries to help him with his grief.

Much like The Pursuit of Happyness, be prepared for a lot of pain and then some uplifting. Will Smith is starting to get some Oscar buzz for this one. Maybe the third time is the charm.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness)

Genre: Drama, Grief

December 12

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Keanu Reeves, Kathy Bates, Jennifer Connelly

Aliens arrive on earth to send earthlings a warning in this remake. The 1951 film is pretty much perfect as is, so I have no idea why a remake was necessary. However many great films have been remade, jus not always with Keanu Reeves.

The hype on this one is that there's not much hype. Don't expect the huge weekend that this one should have generated.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

Genre; Sci-fi, Disaster, Remake 

Delgo

Freddie Prinze Jr., Chris Kattan, Jennifer Love Hewitt

In a fantasy world, a boy is wrongly accused of a crime. He makes some new friends who must help him united two groups of creatures who have been divided for years but must learn to work together to save their world.

Delgo has been a work in progress for five years, so I'm not sure how many people were excited about it five years ago and are still excited about it today.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Marc F. Adler & Jason Maurer

Genre: Family. Animation, Fantasy 

Nothing Like the Holidays

John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina

A Puerto Rican family gathers for the holidays. All of their past secrets and issues reveal themselves as the family learns to work hrough their problems and enjoy their Christmas together.

Good cast and story and a built in audience should mean big box office numbers this weekend for this one. Could it take the top spot? It just might.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Alfredo De Villa (Adrift In Manhattan)

Genre: Family, Holidays, Latin

December 5

Punisher: War Zone

Ray Stevenson, Julie Benz, Dominic West

Frank Castle returns to get really pissed off at anyone who deserves some vigilante justice and then serves it up to them. This story is set 6 years after Castle becomes the Punisher and now Frank must face his toughest enemy yet: Jigsaw.

After moderate success from the last Punisher film, a sequel wasn't automatic but after casting and script hassles, Lexi Alexander was brought in to get this one on track and Ray Stevenson from Rome on HBO was cast. Let's hope this one can keep the series alive.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Lexi Alexander (Hooligans)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Adventure

Cadillac Records

Adrien Brody, Beyonce, Jeffrey Wright

Cadillac Records is the story of Chess Records and documents the lives and fame of several legends of music including Etta James, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Leonard Chess, Little Walter and Chuck Berry.

It's late in the movie season and that means it's time for another movie about music legends. Sounds like they are pining for an Oscar. It's worked so far.

My guess: B

Directed by: Darnell Martin (Prison Song)

Genre: Music, Drama

Nobel Son

Alan Rickman, Danny Devito, Mary Steenburgen

A man is struggling with finishing his PhD while living in the shadow of his father. things only get worse when his father wins a Nobel Prize for his work in chemistry. The son is then kidnapped and held for ransome in the form of the $2 million Nobel Prize money. His father has no interest in giving up his money and the family's disfunction only leads to hilarity.

This black comedy has been getting great buzz from film festivals this year and Alan Rickman is always great.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Randall Miller (Houseguest)

Genre: Comedy

November 26

Australia

Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman

Australia is the latest from director Baz Luhrmann about an English Aristocrat and the cattle "drover" she makes a pact with to protect her land. After working a 1,500 cattle drive, they witness the bombing on Darwin, Australia by Japanese forces during World War II.

Jackman's recent promotion to the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People Magazine will only help this epic which promises romance, action, and lots of patriotism... if of course you are an Aussie.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge)

Genre: Drama, War, Historical

Transporter 3

David Statham, Robert Knepper, Natalya Rudakova

Statham is back as the kick-ass driver who always seems to transport the most sought after targets in the world. These films are packed with action and lots of explosions and special effects. I'm not sure if this franchise still has much left in the tank but a 3rd installment should do just fine.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Olivier Megaton (Exit)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sequel

Four Christmases

Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Jon Favreau

A couple, each member with divorced parents, tries to go to see all four parents over one Christmas. Anyone with divorced parents know what a chore it can sometimes by just to spend time with one mom and dad. Throw in your in-laws and it can only lead to hilarity.

I suppose now Vince Vaughn will make a new Christmas movie every year. I guess the important thing is that he keeps making movies.

My guess: C+

Directed by:

Genre: Holiday, Comedy

Novmeber 21

The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas

Asa Butterfield, Zac Mattoon O'Brien, Henry Kingsmill

Set during World War II, this story centers on the eight year-old son of the commandant of a concentration camp. We get to see the war and the concentration camp through his eyes and watch his forbidden friendship with a young Jewish boy.

Take plenty of Kleenex, this one doesn't end with dry eyes.

My guess: A+

Directed by: Mark Herman (Hope Springs)

Genre: Drama, Historic

Bolt in 3-D

John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Malcolm McDowell

Bolt is a dog with super powers, at least he thinks so. Actually he's the star of a sci-fi/action show who begins to believe that his fictional powers are real and heads out on a cross country adventure to save his co-star from a danger that he believes is just as real. 

This 3-D family film is one of the most anticipated animated movies of the year and with Miley Cyrus starring, expect it to be a super cash cow.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Byron Howard and Chris Williams 

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family

Twilight 

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke

Vampires and teen angst, what more do you need? This adaptation of the insanely popular teen novel should be the big movie of the final weeks of 2008. Fans of the series have been rabid anticipating this release.

Pattinson stars as a teenage vampire who falls in love with a girl who isn't a vampire. How edgy! 

Guys expect to be dragged to see this even if your female better half isn't a teenager.  

Early word is that it's not nearly as good as the book. But that shouldn't hurt it.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Horror 

November 14

Quantum of Solace

Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright

Quantum of Solace begins where Casino Royale ends. Bond is still pretty pissed about his lady friend Vesper being forced to betray him and then getting killed. Bond wants to know who the mastermind is and get his revenge while still trying to do his job.

Daniel Craig provided a great reboot of the Bond franchise and it appears that it will continue with another high octane and slightly dark film.  

My guess: B+

Directed by: Marc Forster (The Kite Runner)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Thriller

November 7

House

Michael Madsen, Leslie Easterbrook, Reynaldo Rosales

A couple breaks down on an abandoned road in Alabama and finds a nearby house to look for help. There they discover another couple who are having the exact same experience. They also discover that they are now trapped in the house and part of a game orchestrated by a killer named the Tin Man where they must make choises if they want to survive. And the only way that they can safely escape is to kill one of the four. But who dies? 

House is based on the best selling novel and promises to be a newer fresher take on the Saw films. We shall see. 

My guess: C

Directed by: Robby Henson (Thr3e)

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Based on a Book

Soul Men

Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes

Two legendary soul singers who haven't spoken in twenty years decide to reunite for a tour after a former colleague passes away. Hilarity ensues as they try to put their differences behind them. 

In a very odd twist, two of the stars of this movie passed away before its release. I suppose Samuel L. Jackson got a physical just to be safe. He's also probably having a salad for the occasional meal.  

My guess:  B-

Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee (Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins)

Genre: Comedy, Music 

Role Models

Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Seann William Scott 

Two men are forced into commuinty service after trouble with the law. They join the Big Brother program and become mentors to two kids who need a role model in their lives. Sadly these guys aren't the role model they need. Or are they?

There's a basic formula now for comedy: 

1) Write a script full of toilet humor and dirty words

2) Grab and two of the following actors: Seth Rogen, Pal Rudd, Steve Carell, Jonah Hill, Will Ferrell, Seann William Scott, Romany Malco

3) Cast Elizabeth Banks

4) Get a director who is or seems a lot like Judd Apatow

5) Reap the rewards and cash the check 

My guess: B+

Directed by: David Wain (The Ten)

Genre: Comedy

Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa

Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Sacha Baron Cohen

Madagascar made over $400 million so it was inevitable that a sequel would happen. This time the animals board a plane repaired by their penguin friends only to make an emergency landing in Africa. There they find themselves in the wild and Alex the lion is reuinted with his family.

Kids and adults loved the first one so it's certainly worth a look.  

My guess: B

Directed by: Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath (Madagascar)

Genre: Animation, Sequel, Comedy

October 31

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Jason Mewes

Two platonic friends in desperate need to raise some money quickly, decide that their only option is to make an adult film together. Somewhere in the midst of producing smut for quick cash, they produce some genuine feelings for one another and realize that maybe they should have been together all along. 

Banks and Rogen are two of the busiest actors working in Hollywood this year and this one looks like another amusing film for both of them. Kevin Smith directs so you know it's full of disgusting humor and penis jokes. Sign us up.  

My guess: B+

Directed by: Kevin Smith (Clerks)

Genre: Comedy

Changeling 

Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Michelle Martin

Based on the true story of the Wineville Chicken Murders, a mother's 9 year-old son disappars and her prayers are answered when he returns to her several months later. The problem is, it's not her kid and she knows it. But in the 20's, it's not easy for a woman to stand up and speak her mind about her concerns about whatever it is that really happened to her son.

Clint Eastwood has proven he can direct drama as good as anyone and Angelina Jolie can definitely hold her own.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven)

Genre:Drama, Based on a True Story

Rocknrolla

Gerard Butler, Ludacris, Jeremy Piven

In London, a real estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs as many of the city's most well-known criminals begin to try to get their hands on it. But it's a rock and roller who is believed to be dead that shows up and claims the prize. 

Director Guy Ritchie hopes a big box office haul for this film will help him get the images of Madonna and A-Rod doing the hibbity dibbity out of hi head.  

My guess: C+

Directed by: Guy Richie (Snatch)

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

The Haunting of Molly Hartley

Chace Crawford, Haley Bennett, Jake Weber

Molly Hartley is a typical teenager with a very strange past. She's starting a new year at a new school and hits it off with one of the most popular students. But can she keep her strange past a secret, even as she discovers her horrible fate that awaits her when she turns 18?

Chace Crawford will bring an established audience to this from his Gossip Girl fans but I don't know if this teeny-bopper horror film has the punch to arry it very far this weekend.

My guess: D+

Directed by:

Genre: Horror, Thriller

October 24

Saw V

Tobin Bell, Julie Benz, Betsy Russell

The police begin a new investigation as the Jigsaw murders continue. Agent Straham begins investigating Agent Hoffman when he realizes that he is carrying on the Jigsaw legacy. People will get tested and soeme sill do. And there will be blood. 

Why do I get the felling that this will end in a way that Saw VI will be ready to go by next Halloween?

My guess: C+

Directed by: David Hackl (Saw IV)

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Sequel

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale

It's senior year for the gang from High School Musical. Who knows what is in store for them? Will Danny and Sandy get together? Who is the father of Rizzo's baby? Why hasn't Chris Hanson had a sit down with Craterface? Is the Hand Jive about what I think it's about?

Oh, wrong high school musical?

What the hell is this about then? Same kids singing and dancing about being seniors. Grease is the word.

My guess: C

Directed by: Kenny Ortega (High School Musical)

Genre: Sequel, Musical, Drama 

Pride and Glory

Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight

Pride and Glory is  a drama about a multi-generational family of New York police officers. When one member of the family discovers that another may be involved in some shady activity, the investigation could not only destroy the family, but all of the NYPD.

We like Edward Norton so much that it doesn't bother us that Colin Farrell is in this. And now that we think about it, Farrell has made a few pretty good movies. Looks like this will be another one.  

My guess: B- 

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor (Miracle)

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime 

October 17

W.

Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Thandie Newton

Oliver Stone wanted to make a semi-biographical film about President George W. Bush. He's made semi-biographical films about Rochard Nixon and JFK. In those films though, he claimed that they were true biographies, in spite of the fact that most of the content was made up... probably by Stone himself.

In this film, he's made W. a tragic hero who is desperate to please his dad (played by James Cromwell). This could be decent if Stone can keep his opinions to himself, but we seriously doubt that.

My guess: C

Directed by: Oliver Stone (Any Given Sunday)

Genre: Comedy, Historical

Sex Drive

Josh Zuckerman, Seth Green, James Marsden

A teenager meets the woman of his dreams online by creating a fake online profile that exaggerates his best qualities and portrays him as the guy he wishes he was and not who he really is. He's nervous about meeting this girl so he steals his brother's car and gets his two best friends to go on a road trip with him to meet her. 

It looks pretty funny but doesn't look particularly original. We are loking forward to seeing Seth Green as the street-wise Amish guy.  

My guess: C

Directed by: Sean Anders (Never Been Thawed)

Genre: Comedy

The Secret Life of Bees

Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys

Set in 1964 South Carolina, Bees is the story of a young girl with a toubled relationship with her father and a hunger for a better understanding of her mother. She moves to a South Carolina town with a caregiver to learn more about her mother and there her eyes are opened to a world she didn't know existed. 

I was starting to think that Queen Latifah had died, since we haven't seen her in a new movie in the last 2 weeks.  

My guess: B+

Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball) 

Genre: Adventure, Drama

Max Payne

Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges

Based on the video game, Wahlberg stars as Max Payne, a DEA agent whose entire family is murdered in a huge conspiracy. He must sort through the clues and shoot a lot of people to get to the bottom of it... and get his revenge. Mila Kunis co-stars as an assassin who is also caught up in the conspiracy and teams up with Max to kick some ass. 

This is the kind of movie that Mel Gibson would have once done. It's a revenge cop movie and the main character's name is Max. I do like Mark Wahlberg and this should be a decent action film. 

My guess: B-

Directed by: John Moore (The Omen)

Genre: Action, Thriller, Based on Video Game

October 10

Quarantine

Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Jay Hernandez

A TV news reporter and her camera man enter into an L.A. apartment building covering a story as the police raid the building investigating mysterious screams coming from inside. The building is closed off and no one is ever seem or heard from again. The only clue to what happened inside is the news crew's video that is found later.

It's a remake of the Spanish horror film "Rec" and it seems to be an attempt at the latest "Blair Witch Project" or "Cloverfield". The trailer looks pretty good and this one should be worth checking out.

My guess: C

Directed by: John Erick Dowdle (The Poughkeepsie Tapes)

Genre: Horror, Remake, Thriller

City of Ember

Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Harry Treadaway

In order to survive, the people of Earth have built an underground city. The city was built to maintain itself for two hundred years with power from a generator. As the generator begins to lose power and the lights begin to flicker, the citizens of Ember must figure out a way to keeps the power on, even if it means returning to the surface.

Looks like a decent family film to me and I'm looking forward to Bill Murray as the town's mayor.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Gil Kenan (Monster House)

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

The Express: The Ernie Davis Story

Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton

The Express is based on the real-life story of Ernie Davs, the first ever African-American Heisman Trophy winner. The film gives you some insight and perspective on what Davis had to go through as a black football star who was setting and breaking records in a time when blacks weren't very welcome in the mainstream.

Looks inspiring and worthy of a few cheers to me.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Gary Fleder (Kiss the Girls)

Genre: Biography, Sports, Drama

Body of Lies

Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong

Body of Lies is based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius's 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris, who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. A series of twists and turns promises to make you wonder who is one of  the good guys and who is one of the bad guys. DiCaprio and Crowe? I'm sold.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Ridley Scott (American Gangster)

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Action

October 3 

Appaloosa

Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons

Appaloosa is a straight forward, balls-to-the-wall Western about two men who arrive ino town to clean it up and save the town from a rancher who has les than honorable intentions. Things are going well until a woman arrives and shakes things up.

I'm not a Western fan but this movie looks good. The cast is great and Ed Harris has proven himself a solid director with Pollock. This could be the Tombstone of 2008.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Ed Harris (Pollock)

Genre: Western

An American Carol

Kevin Farley, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer

Former Democrat David Zucker looks finds a few needles in the liberal Hollywood haystack and finds enough conservative actors to make a spoof comedy that takes on Michael Moore and his blow-hard antics.

Chris Farley's brother Kevin plays the Moore charicature who loves America so much that he must destroy it. He sets out to abolish the 4th of July and is visited by the ghosts of 4th of July's past who set him straight.

My guess: C-

Directed by: David Zucker (Airplane)

Genre: Comedy, Spoof

Blindness

Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover

A group of people are stricken with white blindness with no explanation. Blindess is the story of how they interact with one another.

In spite of a lot of hype, this movie did very poorly at all of th film festivals so I don't expect it to do very well this weekend in spite of the great cast.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardner)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Mystery

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox

Simon Pegg plays a British journalist who moves to America to work in the tablid industry in this comedy based on the memoirs of Toby Young.

He struggles to adjust to a completely different much more conservative scene at a new magazine while also struggling to maintain a relationship with a colleague.

Pegg is still a hot commodity in spite of a lackluster showing from Run, Fatboy, Run earlier this year. This should be a funny film.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Robert B. Weide (Lenny Bruce, Swear to Tell the Truth)

Genre: Comedy, Based on a book

Flash of Genius

Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Alan Alda

Flash of Genius is the story of Bob Kearns who claims that Detroit automakers stole his idea for the intermittent windsheild wiper and his fight for the truth and what was rightfully his.

Expect this to play out like a movie of the week and that's where it probably should have landed, not on the big screen.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Marc Abraham (debut)

Genre: Based on a true story, Drama

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Drew Barrymore, George Lopez, Paul Rodriguez 

A Beverly Hills starlet travels to Mexico and loses track of her pampered little dog. The Chihuahua must find her way home with the help of other dogs along the way. It's an update of the classic Benji or Milo and Otis movie. With a lot of movies out this weekend and only one for families, this one should do well.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Raja Gosnell (Scooby Doo) 

Genre: Comedy, Dogs, Family

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Aaron Yoo

A high school student who is in the New York Queercore music scene in his band meets a girl who is college bound when she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for five minutes. This event kicks of a night that neither of them will forget.

Michael Cera and Kat Dennings are two of Hollywood's hot young stars right now and this should be another cult hit for them.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas) 

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Hipster

September 26

Nights In Rodanthe

Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Christopher Meloni

From the ariter who gave us The Notebook, Nights is the story of a doctor who is traveling to see his estranged son. Along the way he befriends and does the hibbity dibbity with an unhappily married woman along the beach at a North Carolina inn. The Notebook was a great film and I assume there will be a lot of the same magic in this one. It remains to be seen if Gere and Lane's on-screen chemisty is everything promised.

My guess: C+

Directed by: George C. Wolf (debut)

Genre: Romance, Drama

Eagle Eye

Shia LaBeouf, Billy Bob Thornton, MIchelle Monaghan

A phone call from a mysterious woman brings two strangers together and puts them in a series of increasingly dangerous situations. The woman gets them to comply by making threats on their lives and the lives of their families and uses technology to make sure that they complete their tasks. The two quickly become the most wanted criminals in t he country with law enforcement agencies tracking them and anxious to put them away.

The two must do what is necessary to survive while trying to solve the mystery of who this woman is and why she's doing what she's doing.

Sounds a little like Die Hard with a Vengeance... and we liked that one a lot.

My guess: B+

Directed by: D.J. Caruso (Disturbia)

Genre: Mystery, Action, Thriller

The Lucky Ones

Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Micahel Pena

Three soldiers return home after receiving injuries in Iraq. They find that life has moved on without them and begin an unexpected road trip to return a guitar to the family of the soldier it belonged to because he saved the life of one of the soldiers. 

Rachel McAdams plays the soldier girlfriend of the hero soldier with the guitar and Tim Robbins plays an older soldier who is anxious to hit the casinos along the road trip to try to pay for his son's college education.

I'm not sure this will find an audience but it has potential to be decent.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Neil Burger (The Illusionist)

Genre:  Comedy, Drama

Miracle At St. Anna

Michael Ealy, John Turturo, John Leguizamo

Set in 1944, Miracle is the story of four black soldiers who get trapped in a village near a Tuscan town in Italy after one of the soldiers risks his life to save an young Italian boy. The story is inspired by the August 1944 Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre perpetrated by the Waffen-SS in retaliation to Italian partisan activity.

Spike Lee can be hit or miss but one thing is for sure, he won't be complaining about the lack of black soldiers represented in his own movie.

My guess: B

Directed by: Spike Lee (Malcolm X)

Genre: War, Mystery, Action 

September 19

Igor

John Cusack, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge

The hunchbacked assistant of an evil scientist causes a major disturbance in the science community when he decides that he doesn't really want to be evil and he aspires to be a full-fledged scientist himself. 

John Cusack stars as the voice of Igor in this family-friendly animated film with a strong moral message: you can grow up to be anything you want to be no matter what everyone else tells you.

Warm, fuzzy, and just in time for Halloween.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Anthony Leondis (Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Clitch)

Genre: Animation, Family, Comedy

Lakeview Terrace

Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington

An inter-racial couple move into a new house in a neighborhood next door to a police officer who isn't very happy to live next to a mixed race couple. The police officer decides that he wants to see the couple move away and does everything he can to discourage them from living there. The couple doesn't know where to turn when they can't call the police to complaiin about the harrassing neighbor.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Neil LaBute (The Wicker Man)

Genre: Drama, Thriller

My Best Friend's Girl

Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs

Dane Cook plays a guy named Tank (if that's not reason enough to not see this...) who is hired by his best friend to date his friend's ex girlfriend and be so obnoxious that she will run back into his friend's arms. Dane Cook playing an obnoxious guy? Talk about stretching as an actor.

Hilarity ensues when Tank falls in love with his best friend's girl and everyone has a decision to make. It's always a good idea to start with a title (especially when it's an old song title) and then think of a premise for a movie. The result is usually a movie that only Dane Cook will star in.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Howard Deutch (The Whole Ten Yards)

Genre: Comedy, Dane Cook Vehicle, Romance

September 12

Righteous Kill

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Carla Gugino

Two veteran New York detectives investigate the mysterious murder of a pimp that appears to be the result of a serial killer. The murder also appears to have a connection to another killer who was locked up years ago. As the two detectives investigate, they must figure out if it's a copycat killer or if they locked up the wrong man years before. 

Remember how awesome Heat was? So do we.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Jon Avnet (88 Minutes) 

Genre: Crime, Action, Drama

The Family That Preys

Tyler Perry, Alfre Woodard, Cole Hauser

Two families struggle with issues of greed, paternity, fidelity, someone shitting in a sock drawer, you know, general Jerry Springer type stuff. (Okay, no one shits in a sock drawer but that would be funny).

Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard play the matriarchs of both families who try to keep things together in their families.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Tyler Perry (Meet the Browns)

Genre: Drama, Comedy 

The Women

Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Eva Mendes 

A wealthy New Yorker leaves her cheating husband and bonds with several socialite women at a resort. Beauty salons and fashion shows are among the settings for these catty women who plot revenge on men and the women they cheat with in this remake of the 1939 film with the same name.

Eva Mendes is hot.

My guess: C

Directed by: Diane English (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Remake

Burn After Reading

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Francis McDormand

Brad Pitt and George Clooney team up again in this wacky comedy from the Coen brothers about the memoirs of a CIA agent that end up in the hands of two gym employees who want to sell it.

The Coen brothers have given us some very funny comedies including one of our all time favorites Raising Arizona. Pitt does comedy very well and he and Clooney have a great chemistry when they have decent jokes to tell.  

My guess: B+

Directed by: Coens (Raising Arizona)

Genre: Comedy, Crime

September 5

Bangkok Dangerous

Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Cherlie Yeung

In this remake of the Thai film with the same name and the same directors, Nicolas Cage joins the cast as the tormented hitman who is in Bangkok to pull off a series of hits. While there, he falls in love with a woman and bonds with his errand boy. 

There's tons of violent action scenes and Nic Cage with a mullet!!! So it's kind of like Con Air 2. And as bad as that movie was, we watch it when it's on TV. 

I'm not sure if there's a need to remake the 1999 Bangkok Dangerous so soon, but I suppose it gives the Pang Brothers a chance to tweak anything that they didn't like in the original.

My guess: C+

Directed by: The Pang Brothers (Bangkok Dangerous)

Genre: Action, Remake, Adventure

August 29

Disaster Movie

Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Carmen Electra

It's another spoof movie that attempts to poke fun at general pop culture in the form of a genre-specific film. In this case, it's supposed to be a disaster movie but it's poking fun at Juno, Sex and the City, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, The Incredible Hulk, and Indiana Jones. Basically, it's just an excuse to tell the same jokes from other movies that we have already thought were funny once... and 12 year olds will find hilarious a second time. Terrible.   

My guess: F- 

Directed by: Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer (It took 2 people to direct this shit?) 

Genre: Comedy, "Spoof", Disaster 

Babylon A.D. 

Vin Diesel,  Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Dedepardieu

A mercenary is hired to transport a woman from Russia to America. He doesn't realize that she's carrying an organism inside her that a cult wants to harvest in order to create a genetically modified Messiah. That genetically modified Messiah is Barack Obama. Okay, maybe not. 

Vin Diesel and Gerard Depar-fuckin-dieu... wow! Oh and Michelle Yeoh is pretty hot. Fans of the novel may like this but the early word is that it's very average and very forgettable.   

My guess: C-

Directed by: Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika) 

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure

College

Drake Bell, Andrew Caldwell, Carolyn Moss

A group of high school seniors visit a college campus as potential freshman. A series of crazy events occur which are sure to gross you out and possibly make you laugh.

There's a definite Superbad rip-off going on here in spite of the fact that this movie is bing compared (by it's own biased marketing department) to Animal House, Porky's, Revenge of the Nerds, and American Pie.

It's Superbad... at college... without all the funny people.

My guess: C

Directed by: Deb Hagan (Pee Shy)

Genre: Comedy, Superbad rip-off 

August 27

Traitor

Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jeff Daniels

A  special operative working with a terrorist group becomes the target of the CIA. Guy Pearce plays the FBI agent who begins to suspect that Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) is not quite what he seems. The more he digs, the more he discovers that nothing is quite what it seems.

Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce? Sounds like a winner to us.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Hollywood Palms) 

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Suspense

Hamlet 2

Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Elisabeth Shue

When a failed actor becomes a high school drama teacher, he stages the most over the top anti-politically correct play ever written when he writes and produces his version of a sequel to Hamlet. 

If you are easily offended, I'd stay far away from the theater while this one is screening. It's sure to offend just about everyone in some capacity, which could make it brilliant. This makes two of these in a row for Steve Coogan who really blew up (literally) in Tropic Thunder. 

My guess: B

Directed by: Andrew Fleming (Dick)

Genre: Comedy  

August 22

The Longshots

Ice Cube, Garrett Morris, Keke Palmer

The Longshots is based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer who became the first girl to play Pop Warner football in its 56 year history. 

How did Ice Cube go from NWA to Eddie Murphy wanna be?  

Let's look at this from a logical standpoint. Ice Cube stars in this and it's not called Boyz N the Hood. Fred Durst is the director. The trailer looks terrible.

Up next for Ice Cube, Daddy Day Karate Class. 

My guess: D+

Directed by: Fred Durst (Yes that fucking Fred Durst)

Genre: Sports, Drama, Based on a True Story

Death Race

Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane

An ex-con is forced to participate in a prison car race that is now the most popular sport in the world. Inmates race for a chance at freedom and other inmates become casualties along the way. Sound like The Running Man? Well, it should. Except no cool cameos from Jim Brown and Jesse Ventura.

Jason Statham has firmly cementer his place as the go-to action guy in movies. In spite of what looks like an insanely silly plot, the car chases and explosions should make it worth seeing if you are into action movies.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson (AVP)

Genre: Action, Racing, Thriller

House Bunny

Anna Faris, Rumor Willis, Colin Hanks 

Anna Faris plays Shelly, a Playboy Bunny who is kicked out of the Mansion. With no where to go, she goes back to school and ends up at a sorority house with seven girls who have no clue how to fit into society. Shelly is exactly what these girls needed as they slowly learn how to fit in and how to be themselves.

This could easily be a terrible movie but there's something about Anna Faris that makes me laugh.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Fred Wolf (Strange Wilderness)

Genre: Comedy 

August 20

The Rocker

Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teddy Geiger

Rainn "Dwight Shrute" Wilson plays a guy who was kicked out of his band when he was in high school just days before they became insanely famous. The experience left him scarred for life. But when his nephew's band loses their drummer right before playing the prom, he's asked to pick up his sticks again and step in. 

Wilson has given us one of the greatest characters in TV history in Dwight on The Office, but he hasn't exactly given us any movies worth watching (ummm... The Last Mimzy, My Super  Ex Girlfriend). Maybe he can break the streak this time.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty)

Genre: Comedy, Music, Rainn Wilson Vehicle

August 15

Vicky Christina Barcelona

Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem 

Two American women on vacation fall in lust with a Spanish artist. His wife, who is less than mentally stable, is not impressed. 

This is said to be Woody Allen's steamiest project since he married his daughter. 

Johansson has a few steamy scenes including a much-talked about scene with Penelope Cruz, who is getting Oscar buzz for her performance as the crazy wife. 

My guess: B- 

Directed by: Woody Allen (Scoop) 

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Samuel L. Jackson, Matt Lanter, Anthony Daniels 

Star Wars is back on the big screen for what George Lucas swears is the last time. This is the animated tale of Anakin Skywalker and his young padawan and all of their adventures, which include saving the kidnapped son of Jabba the Hut.

Critics have bashed this in the weeks leading up to its release, but I feel like it may have something to do with the fact that this cartoon is made mostly for die-hard fans and children. So don't expect The Empire Strikes Back, and you might enjoy this with your kids.

My guess: C+ 

Directed by: Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars TV Series) 

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi, Action 

Mirrors

Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Smart, Paula Patton

An ex-cop and his family are terrorized by the reflections in the mirrors in their home. The reflections are spirits in another dimension that want to escape to our world and kill anyone who has ever been in a movie with Oliver Platt... or something like that. 

All I really know is that the ads for this movie scared the shit out of me and made me really want to see this. But when the studio refused to let critics see this before it opened, I got a little scared for the movie. It's usually not a good sign.  

My guess: D+ 

Directed by: Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes)

Genre: Horror, Remake, Thriller 

August 13

Tropic Thunder

Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.

A group of spoiled actors (an action star, a comedian, and an award winning dramatic actor) are cast in a war film. When the director of the film decides that these actors can't quite pull off the movie that he wants to make, he decides to take them into the jungle for a more realistic experience. BUt when they arrive, they find themselves in real danger, except they think it's all part of the movie. 

My favorite movie of all time is Three Amigos and this premise is pretty close to that. Another funny film with this concept is Galaxy Quest.

If critics are to be believed, Tropic Thunder could be the funniest film of 2008. I'm banking on it. And they say that Tom Cruise's cameo as a fat studio exective is priceless.

My guess: A

Directed by: Ben Stiller (Cable Guy)

Genre: Comedy, War, Action

August 6

Pineapple Express

Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole

The guys who brought us Superbad are back to bring us... hmmmm... well, another Seth Rogen movie. And this time, it's Seth Rogen without that fat kid who shows up in all of his movies. Instead we get James "The New Goblin" Franco as a drug dealer who is selling a drug so unique and incredible that it can only be gotten from the city's most famous drug lord. When Rogen and Franco get mixed up in witnessing a murder, they accidentally leave behind some of this weed (known as the Pineapple Express). Because it can be traced back to the drug lord, Rogen and Franco must run for their lives once they realize that they aren't just having a weed-induced paranoia fit.  

My guess: B

Directed by: David Gordon Green (George Washington)

Genre: Comedy, Action, Stoner

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrara

Our favorite girls who all wear the same pants are back in the sequel to Pants1. This time, the girls are 3 years older and now entering into the next phase of life as they prepare for college and continue to share their hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears... and pants! 

My guess: C

Directed by: Sanaa Hamri (The Adventures of Mimi)

Genre: Sequel, Teenagers, Romance, Pants 

August 1

Swing Vote

Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Madeline Carroll

This ridiculous premise for a film revolves around a man who, by some weird circumstance, has his vote not counted in the preseidetial election. And because the election ends in a tie, his vote will be recast to decide who the next leader of the free world will be. Each party does everything in their power to court his vote.

The idea that the election could end in a tie is not the silly part of this story but the fact that we all know the only people whose votes are not counted are minorities and old people in Florida.

My guess: C+ 

Directed by: Joshua Michael Stern (Neverwas)

Genre: Comedy, Politics 

The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello

Brendan Fraser is back as the mummified ass-kicking adventurer. This time, he and his son must fight off the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin, a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago. 

Rachel Weisz declined the opportunity to return as Fraser's wife because of issues with the script. Maria Bello replaced her.

I had issues with the script myself. But my issue is that this script was ever written.. and filmed. I enjoyed the other Mummy movies, but I must confess I'm over this franchise. And I'm definitely over Jet Li. Seriously.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Fantasy

July 25

X-Files: I Want to Believe

David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet

Six years have passed since the X-Files left the TV airwaves and ten years have passed since the first X-Files movie. This seemed like plenty of time to make everyone miss Mulder and Scully enough to get them both back together again. This one should play out like a longer more detailed episode of the show but with more Mulder and Scully getting up close and personal. The show has a solid fan-base and this should have a pretty decent opening... just not better than The Dark Knight.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Chris Carter (X-Files - TV)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Sequel, Based on a TV Show

Step Brothers

Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen

Two grown ass men who still live at home, one with his single mom and the other with his single dad, must learn to adjust to life when their parents get married. The two new step brothers must learn to get along if they are going to continue their spoiled lives at home. 

After the brilliant pairing of Ferrell and Reilly in Talladega Nights, it was inevitable that the would get paired up again. This one looks like a solid comedy in the midst of several more dramatic blockbusters. 

My guess: B-

Directed by: Adam McKay (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby)

Genre: Comedy, Family

July 18

The Dark Knight

Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger

It's finally here. Batman Begins was the best comic book adaptation to the big screen ever made. Critics are already calling The Dark Knight a vast improvement to an already great film.

I must confess that I was one of the people who made "The Poker" jokes when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker. But when I head how seriously he took this role, I believed that he could get the job done. Now the word Oscar is being thrown around about this performance.

Chris Nolan nailed the Batman origin story and I have very high expecttations for this sequel. This should play out like  amob movie that just happens to have Batman in it. I'll see you there at midnight.

My guess: A++++

Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Awesomeness

Mamma Mia!

Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan  

Amanda Seyfried plays a bride-to-be who wants to have her long-gone father at her wedding. The only problem is that her mom did it with three guys and they don't know who her real dad is. It could be Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson or.... wait wrong movie. 

It's 2 hours of ABBA music with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan singing. I can't say I would rush out to see it, but there's a lot of good buzz around it in a time when most of the buzz is around Batman. 

My guess: B

Directed by: Phyllidia Lloyd (debut)

Genre: Musical, Based on a Play, Drama 

Space Chimps

Andy Samberg, Patrick Warburton, Cheryl Hines

The grandson of the first chimp astronaut is sent into space to lead a mission.  They do lots of chimp-like things like eating bananas and throwing their poop. I don't know maybe they do. Maybe not. Did you see that The Dark Knight is showing?

My guess: D+

Directed by: Kirk De Micco (debut) 

Genre: Comedy, Family, Animation 

July 11

Meet Dave

Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union

Eddie Murphy is back in yet another silly-looking movie where he plays multiple roles. This time, Murphy plays the captain of a crew of mineature aliens aboard a vessel in the from of a human (played by Eddie Murphy). Their mission is jeopardized when "Dave", their ship, becomes smitten with an earth woman (Banks). Who among is isn't smitten with Elizabeth Banks? 

If you have enjoyed Murphy's other fish-out-of-water movies, you should get a few laughs from this one. 

My guess: C-

Directed by: Brian Robbins (Norbit)

Genre: Comedy, Aliens, Romance 

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Brendan Fraser, Seth Myers, Anita Briem

While searching for his missing brother, a scientist and his "team" of explorers accidentally stumble into a giant hole that leads them to the center of the earth. There they encouunter a variety of plants and animals that you could never imagine. This film will be presented in 3-D and should make for a fun family-friendly adventure.

My guess: C+

Directed by: Eric Brevig (debut)

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family 

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones

The mythical world declares war on our world and Hellboy and his team must fight to save the world. This sequel to the 2004 hit Hellboy should have a solid weekend against two family films. Director Guillermo del Toro's brilliant direction certainly hasn't hurt the franchise and has made both of these "comic book" films into brilliant works of art.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy)

Genre: Sequel, Action, Fantasy 

July 2

Hancock

Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman

If you don't know what this movie is about, you must have been hiding under a rock for the past two months. The person marketing this movie is the "Bono of PR". Hancock has been everywhere.

Will Smith plays Hancock, a man with super powers who doesn't remember who he is or where he came from. He uses his powers to fight crime when he's not passed out from drinking too much. The public hates Hancock for all of his collateral damage and his general bad attitude.

After he rescues and befriends a public relations specialist, his new friend must help him find a new image and learn to be what he was meant to be. 

My guess: B

Directed by: Peter Berg (The Great White Hype)

Genre: Comedy, Action, Superhero

June 27

Wanted

Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, James McAvoy

Wanted is the big-screen adaptation of the graphic novel about an apathetic worker who finds out that his father was a very gifted assassin who ran a special group of assassins. When his father is killed, this slacker is recruited into his father's organization and trained to use his unknown skills to become the killer he was meant to be. 

At some stage, someone in the real world will attampt to curve a bullet the way the assassins do in this movie and end up shooting someone in the face. Imagine the media circus that will follow as Nancy Grace spends weeks talking about how evil this movie is. 

On a personal note, I'm just not sure if I will believe Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy) from the Narnia series as a bad-ass assassin. But we shall see.  

My guess: C

Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov (The Arena)

Genre: Action, Based on a Graphic Novel,  Thriller

Wall-E 

Ben Burtt, Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin

Wall-E is a waste collection robot who was accidentally left running and doing his job on Earth after it was abondonded. Wall-E has been doing his job for 700 years but it's not until he meets a search robot named EVE that he realizes that he was created for a much higher purpose on Earth.

Wall-E looks like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. I don't think there is any connection but I wouldn't be surprised if Steve Guttenberg showed up.

This does look like a fun family film and the folks at Pixar rarely disappoint.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo)

Genre: Animated, Family, Sci-Fi 

June 20

Get Smart

Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Duane Johnson

In a long list of TV shows that have been made into movies (Bewitched, The Honeymooners, Leave It to Beaver) that never should have been, we find a film like Get Smart. Originally, I would have said that they never should have even considered it. But when they cast Steve Carell in the lead, I changed my tune. Carell even looks like Don Adams.

This wacky spy comedy should work on a number of levels but sadly it will probably be overshadowed by the very predictable Mike Myers The Love Guru.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Peter Segal (50 First Dates)

Genre: Comedy, Action, Based on a TV show 

The Love Guru

Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer 

Mike Myers is back. He's dipping into the Mike Myers well of "catch-phrase" comedy that only he seems to be able to get away with. This time he plays a man who is raised by New Age gurus and returns to America to get into the self-help business. It is there that he must first help out a hockey player whose wife has left him.

In typical Myers fashion, this is one silly joke after another with Myers periodically looking at the camera and winking to make sure we all heard his joke and acknowledged how funny he is. There's nothing new or original here but fans of Justin Timberlake will appreciate his ability to steal every scene he's in. Oh, and in case you didn't know, Verne Troyer is a midget. Apparently that fact makes for a joke that never gets old. Oh, wait, it does.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Marco Schnabel (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Slapstick, Mike Myers Vehicle

June 13

The Happening

Marky Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo

The Happening is the story of a science teacher who runs for his life with his estranged wife as the world begins to self destruct as plants begin to release a neurotoxin that causes anyone who inhales it will attempt a violent suicide. No one knows why its happening or how to stop it but what is known is that to survive, everyone must avoid it. For some reason, the studio has decided to market the fact that this is an R rated movie very heavily. While Shyamalan has yet to disappoint me personally, some of the general movie audience, has been less than happy with his last few films. This one looks interesting; I'm hoping for another masterpiece.

My guess: B-

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan (Signs)

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi 

The Incredible Hulk

Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth

Dr. Bruce Banner is living as a fugitive from the government. When a former soldier purposely becomes and even more dangerous version of The Hulk, banner must learn to control and utilize his inner rage and use The Hulk to defeat the Abomination. This sequel almost never happened after a disappointing launch of this franchise by Ang Lee. However, Edward Norton brought his unique ability to adjust scripts to make them better to the project and saved it. This re-invention sequel should be amazing and we can expect a lot of green opening weekend.

My guess: B

Directed by: Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2)

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Sequel (sort of)

June 6

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Nick Swardson

Adam Sandler plays a badass Mossad agent who fakes his death so that he can move to New York and work as a hair stylist. Expect this to be very crude and vulgar, but also very funny. Sandler and Rob Schneider playing zany foreigners is always big fun. Throw in Nick Swardson and you have a rockin' good time.  

My guess: B+

Directed by: Dennis Dugan (The Benchwarmers)

Genre: Comedy, Action 

Kung Fu Panda

Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman

Po the Panda is the laziest animal in all the land but when enemies threaten his way of life, he must become a warrior. He realizes that he is the Chosen One and fulfills a prophecy when he trains with the Furious Five and their guru Master Shifu. Jack Black is perfectly cast as Po and this should be full of solid laughs and may be the best animated film of t he year.

My guess: B+ 

Directed by: Mark Osborne (Dropping Out) & John Stevenson (debut)

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Action

May 30

The Strangers

Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Gemma Ward

After attending a wedding, a young couple attempts to sepnd a nice vacation weekend at a remote house. But a group of "strangers" has other plans. The couple is imprisoned and tortured and when asked why they are doing it, the strangers answer chillingly, "Because you were home." That line alone made me want to see this (and pee a little).

My guess: B-

Directed by: Bryan Bertino (debut)

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Crime

Sex and the City

Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis, Chris Noth

Carrie and her moderately slutty friends are back for the wedding event of the century... until the next wedding event of the century. Sex and the City formats to fit a bigger screen and it appears the transition is pretty painless.

Carrie and Mr. Big are planning their wedding and all the girls are giddy with excitement. But will we find out what Mr. Big's real name is or will the minister say, "Do you, Mr. Big take Carrie..."? And which of the ladies will get nude on  the big screen? And will Carrie really get married? The answer to these questions and more awaits in theaters. Or you can just wait for the screen captures of the nude scenes...

My guess: C+

Directed by: Michael Patrick King (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Based on TV Show

May 22

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf

FINALLY! It's the 4th Indiana Jones movie. After years of George Lucas insisting that this film involve an alien invasion and flying saucers, he finally gave in and made a movie a little more similar to what we have seen every other time Ford has put on the hat and cracked the whip. Smart move. 

Does the plot matter? Something mystical happens and there's some rare artifact that could change the world as we know it if Indy doesn't save the day. (OK so expect a little Stargate-esque alien story-line). Karen Allen returns and Shia LaBeouf joins the cast as the adult version of Short Round.

My guess: C+

Directed by Steven Speilberg (Indiana Jones 1-3)

Genre: Action, Sequel, Adventure

 May 16

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Liam Neeson, Ben Barnes, William Moseley

A few years have passed in our world but 1,300 years have passed in Narnia. And now Prince Caspian X needs some help from the former Kings and Queens of Narnia who are sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve. Narnia 1 was a fun family film loaded with good special effects and dripping with religious symbolism. This sequel is loaded with epic battles and even better special effects and should knock Iron Man off the top spot at the box office. But I wouldn't bet on it.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Andrew Adamson (Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)

Genre: Fantasy, Based on a Book, Family  

May 9

Speedracer

Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon

Speedracer is the big screen remake of the Japanese TV Series about a young man who has natural racing instincts and makes it his goal to win The Crucible, a cross-country race that took the life of his brother. The Wachowski Brothers bring their special effects magic to this cartoon that many people claimed to have watched but I don't know anyone who actually really ever watched it. And when I was a kid, the cross-country race was called The Cannonball Run. What's all this Crucible shit? If you're one of the people who pretends you watched the cartoon, you should enjoy this. If you're 5 years old, you will also love it. Everyone else may enjoy the effects, I'll wait for the Blu-ray.   

My guess: C+

Directed by: Andy and Larry Wachowski (The Matrix)

Genre: Action, Based on a Cartoon 

What Happens In Vegas

Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry

After a wild night in Vegas, two strangers discover the next morning that they have gotten married. Their plan to divorce is interrupted when one plays a slot machine with the other's quarter and wins a huge jackpot. Now, they must stay married to get half of the money but they soon discover that they don't really like each other. After several attempts to run the other off, they then discover that maybe they really do love each other. How can anyone love Ashton Kutcher? Not realistic enough for me.   

My guess: D-

Directed by: Tom Vaughan (Starter for 10)

Genre: Comedy, Romance 

Redbelt

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer

A mixed martial arts instructor stumbles his way into a job in the film business by doing a good deed for a Hollywood big shot. His morals won't allow him to fight in MMA competitions but circumstances with his new career in Hollywood force him to consider entering into a competition. David Mamet's twists and turns in his films should keep the pace fun and this film should be good for casual fans of MMA who don't know much about it.

My guess: B-

Directed by: David Mamet (Catastrophe)

Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Drama

May 1

Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges

Summer is officially here with the release of Iron Man. This long-awaited big screen adaptation of one of Marvel's most unique and beloved flawed heroes if the first big release of the 2008. Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as the alcoholic billionare who develops and dons an armored suit to fight crime. Director Jon Favreau was very passionate about the project and went out of his way to get Terrence Howard on board to play War Machine. Don't make the mistake of getting up before the credits end or you will miss the rumored cameo by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. 

My guess: B

Directed by: Jon Favreau (Elf)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Based on a Comic Book 

May 2

Made of Honor 

Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kadeem Hardison

McDreamy (or McSteamy or McGriddle or McRib or whoever he plays on Grey's Anatomy) Patrick Dempsey stars as a man who discovers that he's really in love with his best friend who is about to marry another guy (McNugget). He accepts the invitation from her to be her Maid of Honor with the hopes that he can break up the wedding from the inside. Sounds McHilarious. Detect my McSarcasm. 

I was almost the Maid of Honor in a wedding but my friend eloped. What a gip. I would have looked great in a dress. Thanks, Sarah.   

My guess: C

Directed by: Paul Weiland (Leonard Part 6)

Genre: Romace, Comedy, McNot Something I Will Ever Watch

April 25

Baby Mama

Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear

Tiny Fey plays a 37 year old business executive who wants a baby but isn't having any luck. She decides to hire a working-class surrogate. This surrogate ends up homeless and moves in with the very organized executive forming the ultimate baby-producing odd couple. When I thought this film was written by Tine Fey, I was much more excited about it. Now I know better. Plus Dax Shepard is in this so it can't be great. It should be worth a few laughs.     

My guess: C-

Directed by: Michael McCullers (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Baby, Family

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Kal Penn,  John Cho, Neil Patrick Harris

Harold and Kumar are back for another wild adventure. This time, they are mistaken for terrorists and sent to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because they try to sneak a bong on their plane on a trip to Amsterdam. Apparently these two morons don't realize t hat Amsterdam has plenty of bongs and you don't have to bring your own. Neil Patrick Harris returns as a less gay version of his real self in a sequel that didn't need to be made at all. And here's a thought, let's stop with the use of the song "Cobrastyle" by the Teddy Bears in every "wacky" movie trailer. It's played out and it's usually a sign that the movie is going to suck royal ass... especially if Kal Penn is in it.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Jon Hurwitz (debut) & Hayden Schlossberg (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Sequel

Deception

Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams 

An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist. Jackman and McGregor are usually solid and this should be a nice turn seeing Jackman as a bad guy. Lots of steamy sex scenes and a very complex plot should make this one a must see.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Marcel Langenegger (debut)

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Action 

April 18

88 Minutes

Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski

Pacino plays a forensic psychiatrist whose testimony helps put away a serial killer. But soon before the killer is executed, a possibly copycat killer continues the work of the killer including a threatening phone call to the psychiatrist who put him away. The call tells the doctor that he only has 88 minutes to live. So now he must solve the mystery before he becomes the next victim. One t hing's for sure, Pacino will scream a lot.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Joel Avnet (Freid Green Tomatoes)

Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime 

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Ben Stein, Jason Collett

Ben Stein sets out to get to the bottom of the war between evolutionists and intelligent desgin/creationists. Among the questions he asks, why isn't ID being considered by mainstream science? Are evolutionists stonewalling ID scientists to keep their science out of the mainstream science world? What i st he origin of ID?

Stein can be a very funny man and this documentary is one that needed to be made... at least in my opinion because I have had many of these questions for quite some time. Maybe next, Stein can dig deeper into why global warming scientists bully the scientists who still question it... hmmm....

My guess: C+

Directed by: Nathan Frankowski (debut)

Genre: Documentary 

The Forbidden Kingdom

Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano

Finally Jet Li and Jackie Chan team up to make a movie!!! Who cares what it's about? It's two legends of the Chinese cinema kicking some major ass in the modern fairy tale epic! Oh and there's a Monkey King to be saved. It's gotta be better than The Tuxedo. Doesn't it?

My guess; D

Directed by: Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little)

Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Fantasy

Forgetting Sarah Marshall 

Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis

A devasted man recovering from the break up with his TV star girlfriend decides to take a vacation to Hawaii to get his mind off things. It's not until he arrives at the resort that he discovers that she's also vacationing there with her new boyfriend. Hilarity ensues. Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd join in the fun. Should be very funny... and Kristen Bell walks around in a bikini. Sold.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller (debut)

Genre: Comedy

 April 11

Smart People

Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page

A widowed professor gets two unexpected new people in his life: his adopted brother and a new love. Before the high dollar special effects-filled summer blockbusters roll in next month, this looks like a pretty solid romantic comedy with Quaid playing the same guy he played in In Good Company and Ellen Page playing Juno again. But that's okay, because we love the Juno.  

My guess: B-

Directed by: Noam Murro (debut)

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Prom Night

Brfittany Snow, Scott Porter, Ming-Na

Donna's Senior Prom doesn't go as planned when a crazy killer from her past shows up and she forgot to get a boutonneire. So needless to say the night gets ugly. Donna and her friends must try to survive. I suppose 25 kids chipping in $20 each for a getaway limo is out of the question.

My guess: C-

Directed by: Nelson McCormick (For Which He Stands)

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Street Kings

Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie

Tom Ludlow is a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him. Stellar cast also includes Jay Mohr, Cedric the Entertainer and Chris "The Human Torch" Evans.  Let's just hope Keuanu isn't asked to "act" too much to make it work.

My guess: B

Directed by: David Ayer (Harsh Times)

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

April 4

Leatherheads

George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renee Zellweger

Leatherheads is a romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s football, where the owner of a professional team drafts a strait-laced college sensation, only to watch his new coach fall for his fiancée. Clooney plays the team's captain who convinces a national hero college player to drop out of school and join the team to help get interest in the game to save the league. Zellweger plays the reporter who is hired to get the real story on the new player and prove that he's not the hero everyone thinks he is. Slapstick comedy from George Clooney? I'll hope for  the best.

My guess: B-

Directed by: George Clooney (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Sports 

Nim's Island

Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler

A young girl inhabits an isolated island with her scientist father and communicates with a reclusive author of the novel she's reading. This film is based on the book by Wendy Orr and Kerry Millard. This should be a solid, fmaily-friendly film with humor and solid performances.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Jennifer Flackett (debut) & Mark Levin (Little Manhattan)

Genre: Family, Adventure, Based on a book

The Ruins 

Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Jonathan Tucker 

The Ruins is about a group of friends whose leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they, along with a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins... a giant plant that secrets an acidic poison. I somehow doubt this will come close to Little Shop of Horrors when it comes to movies about conscious plants that kill people.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Carter Smith (Me & Max)

Genre: Horror, Thriller

March 28

21

Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Lawrence Fishburne

21 is based on the true story of six MIT students who learn to count cards to play Blackjack and beat Vegas out of millions to  help pay for college. Kevin Spacey and Larry Fishburne? I'm in.

My guess: B+

Directed by: Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde)

Genre: Drama, Based on a True Story 

Stop Loss

Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant

A celebrated Iraq War hero returns home to Texas to begin his new life post-war only to learn that he is being ordered back to Iraq  to serve another tour. He decides that he shouldn't have to do that because it's not like he signed up to go to war if they tell him to... oh, he did? Well, maybe sometimes you can put a clause in that says that you don't have to go if you just don't want to.... oh, they don'?

In that case, I guess this is an anti-war movie that makes a her o out of an AWOL soldier.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry)

Genre: Drama, War,

Superhero Movie

Drake Bell, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Neilson

Superhero movie spoofs recent superhero movies including Spiderman, Batman Begins, and The Fantastic Four. There hasn't been a good movie of this type since Scary Movie 3. I thope this one is better than the recent Meet the Spartans and Epic Movie. It can't be any worse.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Craig Mazin (The Specials)

Genre: Comedy, Spoof, Action

March 21

Shutter

Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, John Hensley

A newly married couple discovers a ghostly image in photos they developed after a tragic accident. As they investigate, they quickly learn that some mysteries are best left unsolved. It's another remake of an Asian film about a ghost the shows up in photos to creep everyone out. Should be worth seeing for fans of the genre. 

My guess: C-

Directed by: Masayuki Ochiai (The Hypnotist)

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Remake 

Drillbit Taylor

Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile, Beth Littleford

Three kids hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them from a playground bully. Owen Wilson stars as Taylor, who seems to be reprising the scenes from You, Me, and Dupree when he was hanging out with the neighborhood kids. The early reviews don't look good for this one but it's probably worth a look.  

My guess: C-

Directed by: Steven Brill (Mr. Deeds)

Genre: Comedy 

Meet the Browns

Tyler Perry, Angela Bassett, Rick Fox

A single mother takes her family home to Georgia for the funeral of her father, a man she's never met. While there, they are introduced to the Brown family which involves Tyler Perry in drag and all the comedy that comes with that. It will be another smash hit for Perry, I'm sure. I'm looking forward to his next project "Taking the Browns to the Super Bowl".  

My guess: B

Directed by: Tyler Perry (Madea's Family Reunion)

Genre: Comedy, Family, Based on a Play

Look

Tracey McCall, Rhys Coiro, Giuseppe Andrews

On an given day, the average American is tape by hidden security cameras an average of 170 times. Imagine what we would see and what secrets would be uncovered if we could watch all of this footage. This is the premise of Adam Rifkin's film which looks into the lives of many average people through the lens of hidden cameras. It appears to be unscripted but it's not. The genius premise and the pacing of the film will make or break it. I vote "make".  

My guess: A

Directed by: Adam Rifkin (The Chase)

Genre: Drama

March 14

Doomsday

Rhona Mitra, Emma Cleasby, Jeremy Crutchley

Doomsday is a futuristic thriller about a group of people who must band together to prevent a disaster from wiping out the entire human race. This disaster is a virus called the Reaper Virus and it is only with the cure that anyone will survive. This movie looks like any futuristic disaster movie except with Rhona Mitra starring.. and she's smokin' hot. So we'll give it a shot.  

My guess: C+

Directed by: Neil Marshall (The Descent)

Genre: Disaster, Action, Drama 

Never Back Down

Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Djimon Hounsou

A new student at a high school gets sucked into an underground world of mixed martial arts fighting. It's only through a mentor (Hounsou) that he learns the skills he needs to survive. Ever noticed how it's always a new kid at a high school that always gets sucked into trouble? This time it's a fight club rip-off that lures him in. Don't expect much of a plot either. At least it's not a movie about dancing. 

My guess: D+

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf)

Genre: Action, Drama, Sport

Horton Hears a Who 

Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen

Jim Carrey stars as Horton, an elephant who hears the cries for help coming from a microscopic city called Whoville that rests on a speck of dust. Horton agrees to help the citizens of Whoville in spite of the fact that no one else can see or hear them and refuse to belive they even exist. But Horton believes he must help them no matter what because a person is a person "no matter how big or small". This appears to be a very true adaptation to the Dr. Suess book and that is rare these days when it comes to adaptations.

My guess: A-

Directed by: Jimmy Hayward & Steve Martino (debut)

Genre: Animation, Kids, Based on a Book

March 7

10,000 B.C.

Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis

10,000 B.C. is a prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter's journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe. Nothing about this looks remotely good. It’s from the same guys who brought us The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day… but they also are responsible for the very shitty version of Godzilla.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Roland Emmerich (Godzilla)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy  

College Road Trip

Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symone, Brenda Song

When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father also decides to accompany her in order to keep her on the straight and narrow. Martin Lawrence begins his transformation into the next Eddie Murphy with this family film which looks like a G-rated version of “Are We There Yet?”

My guess: C

Directed by: Roger Kumble (Just Friends)

Genre: Family, Road, Comedy  

The Bank Job

Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Daniel Mays

A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine, a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street, Terry recognizes the opportunity of a lifetime. Martine targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don't realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London's criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself. Looks like a solid action film which is based on a true story. Should be worth checking out.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Roger Donaldson (The Getaway)

Genre: Based on a True Story, Action, Crime 

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Amy Adams, Frances McDormand, David Alexander

Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. I’d rather watch paint dry.

My guess: Zzzzzzzzzz

Directed by: Bharat Nulluri (The Crow: Salvation)

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Amy Adams Vehicle

February 14

Jumper

Hayden Christiansen, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane

A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them. It's a rematch between Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker. Maybe this time Mace will win. Don't bet on it.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Doug Liman (Go)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action

Spiderwick Chronicles

Freddie Highmore, Freddie Highmore, Seth Rogan

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. Since when did we start spelling it faeries? Oh well. Freddie Highmore plays dual roles as twins and Seth Rogan even shows up in a part where we don't assume t hat je just put a bong down before beginning the scene.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Mark Waters (Mean Girls)

Genre: Fantasy, Family, Adventure

Definitely, Maybe

Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin

A thirty-something political consultant on the verge of divorce is questioned about his life by his ten year-old daughter. She wants to know everything about his life before she was born. He attempts to PG his life story for her as he re-visits memories of his past relationships. This movie would make a great TV show called “How I Met Your Mother”. With that said, my contempt for Ryans Reynolds would probably be out-weighed by my adoration of Abigail Breslin. On second thought, I don't adore her that much. Give this forced Valentine's Day "comedy" a miss.

My guess: D+

Directed by: Adam Brooks (Almost You)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Family

Step Up 2 the Streets

A Bunch of People You Have Never Heard of

Oh they stepped in it alright.  

My guess: F-

Directed by: Jon Chu (God bless you)

Genre: Dance, Sequel, Someone Kill Me

February 8

Fool’s Gold

Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland

A new clue to the whereabouts of a lost treasure rekindles a married couples sense of adventure and their estranged romance. Great on-screen chemistry and very little on-screen clothing for two of Hollywood’s favorite eye-candy should give this a solid opening weekend. Think of this as an updated “Romancing the Stone”.

My guess: B-

Directed by: Andy Tennant (Hitch)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Action

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Louis C.K.

Roscoe Jenkins is a popular talk show host in L.A. Before he can marry his equally successful talk show host fiancé, he has to take her back home to the deep south to meet his family. Think of it as a re-invention of “Meet the Parents”.

My guess: C

Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother)

Genre: Comedy

Wild West Comedy Show

Vince Vaughn, Ahmed Ahmed, Peter Billingsly

Vince Vaughn and his comedian friends load up a tour bus and hit the road for 30 days to do 30 shows filled with comedy including stand-up, improv and skits. Expect lots of big laughs and off-the-wall humor from Vaughn and his crew. If you liked Comedians of Comedy, you should enjoy this.  

My Guess: A-

Directed by: Ari Sandel (West Bank Story)

Genre: Comedy, Documentary