Guest Blogger: Alex G2

Friday Night Lights is a movie that shows what high school football in Texas is really about. It gives you a good idea on how the players, coaches, and fans are…. crazy. The Permian Panthers of Odessa are predicted and expected by everyone in Odessa to win state, and its all on the back of star running back Boobie Miles (Derek Luke). Every one knows that he is the team, the coaches, the fans, and even he knows it. It would be hard not to realize that you’re the team when there are scouts from every major college in the country at the first practice of the season. But one tragic thing happens the first game of the season. He tears his knee. Everyone was in shock. His part of the movie shows how he tries to do everything in his power to play the rest of the season but us as an audience knows he wont be able to come back. Eventually the team realizes they can win with out him and that’s what the movie is somewhat about. This movie is great for this reason: it gives the viewpoint of many of the characters. Director Peter Burg does an amazing job of showing us the audience what football and life is like for many of the stars on the team. Mike Winchell (Lucas Black) the quarterback for the team is a perfect example how Peter Burg shows us how his life really is. Mikes mom is really sick and can’t even go watch the games at the stadium. Mikes main focus is his mom and he shows that when scouts tell him there interested in him but the first thing he’s asks is how far away is the school from home. Mike is a real quiet hard working kinda guy but the coaches love him. He does have some ups and downs during the games but he still is a great quarterback. The main purpose of this movie is just to tell the story of the Permian Panthers and their players and coaches. It’s a really touching and inspiring story. Roger Ebert gives this movie and overall good review but he slams some of the coaches saying but I think he just has to be negative. I personally believe that this was an awesome movie and it is defiantly worth your time and money.

Guest Blogger: Patrick C2

21 jump streets is a comedy movie where a division called 21 jump street that young police officers go undercover with as high school teens taking down crime that goes inside the schools. The two main characters in this movie are Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Jonah hill plays a cop named Schmidt. Throughout his high school he was a nerd. A straight “A” student, which helps him through police education but he’s not so good on the police action part. Now his partner is Channing Tatum, who plays Jenko is the exact opposite of that. He is the muscle in this partnership but not so the intelligent one on this team but knows all the tactic take-downs. He was a bulling throughout his high school days which kind of helped him with his physical endurance. In my opinion, both of these actors were the ones I would have chosen if I were the director. I don’t think anyone else would be better to play these rolls in this movie. They both go undercover in a local high school as Brad and Dough Miquaid. On this journey they undo go a lot of problems this movie is supposed to be very funny, very action packed, and very suspenseful. Critics loved the movie but did not like the fact they turned an old television show into a comedy. In my opinion, I loved the movie because I never watched the original 21st Jump Street television show and so I just thought it was great. Also its modernized so its kind of what things happen in school but the total opposite of what really happens. I would rate this movie a 5 out of 5. I hope many other movies that are like this one in the near future.

Guest Blogger: Emilee K2

The movie Colombiana was made in 2011, starring Zoe Saldana. This film is about a young girl named Cataleya, growing up in Columbia. At a very young age she sees both of her parents murdered in front of her. The people that killed her parents are now after her, so she runs away and gets on a train and goes to America to live with her uncle. While in America, her uncle asks her what she wants to be when she grows up, and she said “a killer”. At first he thought she was just kidding and that this was just a phase, but it wasn’t. When she grew up her mission in life was to kill everyone that had anything to do with her parent’s murder. She does some crazy things just so she can get to, and kill the people she wants. For example she pretends to be drunk get in a car accident so she can go to jail, and kill a guy that is in the specific jail. She is very sneaky and tricky, she always is in costume so then people never know it’s her. What she sometimes does is would kill someone’s family member or a close friend first, and then kill the person that she was really going after. So then the real person she was after could feel the pain of how she felt when her parents were killed. Some of the reviews that I read were just kind of so-so. They had compared it to “Man on Fire” but a female version. Which I kind of agree with but it is a lot better. I didn’t go see this movie in theaters, but after I had watched it at home I really wished I had! I loved it; it was so good that I watched it twice in one day. It’s full of action, drama, a little humor and yes of course a little bit of romance. So yes of course, I think that is worth your time and money because it has a little of everything for everyone.

Guest Blogger: Amy C2

Roald Dahl is the mastermind behind many adventurous and outstanding stories about young heroes and heroines. Composing classics stories such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, Dahl’s work immerses the reader into a tantalizing world booming with wonder. However Dahl’s astounding world is not just limited to books. Through his film adaption of Dahl’s book Matilda, noted director Danny DeVito brings Dahl’s outrageous world to life in the movie Matilda. Produced in 1996, Matilda is a film adaption recreated by Danny DeVito and cinematographer Stefen Czapsky. The movie revolves around Matilda Wormwood (played by Mara Wilson), an extremely brilliant and precocious elementary schooler. While Matilda is a natural genius, she is, unfortunately, surrounded by a scummy family as well as a horrible educational system. Her father, played by director Danny DeVito himself, is a burly car salesman who bitterly despises education as well as spending meaningful quality time with his family. Contributing to the dysfunctional Wormwood family, Matilda’s mother (played by Rhea Pearlman), is absorbed in her own world of gossip and mindless chatter. Though school is the only place where she can satisfy her natural desire to learn, Matilda is further plagued by misfortune due to a strict superintendent named Miss Trunchbull (played by Pam Ferris), who actively seeks to destroy any type of fun in school. However Matilda is not alone when facing these terrible circumstances. With the help of the delightful Miss Honey (played by Embeth Davidtz), Matilda courageously overcomes her treacherous adversities. Matilda, a young, intelligent and daring elementary student, is portrayed through Mara Wilson. Though Mara Wilson was still a young actor during the production of the film, her professionalism was obviously apparent in Matilda. Wilson actively consumed the role of an ambitious and dedicated student by exhibiting heartbreaking emotions. By doing so, Wilson convinces the audience of Matilda’s precocious character. Contrasting Wilson’s adorable role as Matilda, Pam Ferris assumes the role of a nasty heartless superintendent named Miss Trunchbull. Pam Ferris’s character is disgustingly horrid, as she openly reveals her putrid attitude toward children by initiating acts such as tossing them out of windows and forcing them to devour cake in front of the whole class. Pam Ferris’s character is an extremely important character in regards to the theme of Matilda. The vicious opposition between Matilda and Miss Trunchbull reveals the movie’s theme that despite the negative opinions and actions of others, one should always strive to embrace his/her unique capabilities. Matilda, by Roald Dahl, was adapted into a film by director Danny DeVito. Though it was produced in 1996, Matilda remains a favorite among many critics as well as myself. While it may seem like a sad and cruel story, Matilda is a charmingly sweet story about a brave young girl. I would highly recommend this movie not only because of its remarkable storyline, but also because of the innocent atmosphere induced by the movie. Overall, Matilda is astonishing, cute and, of course, “much too good for children!”

Guest Blogger: Arop M2

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, an adventure film recently released 2011, considered to be the top 100 films between five years. The role of the main character, Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp is a famous captain around the waters that circle the lands of this film. The story goes as Cpt. Jack Sparrow embarks on a journey to the fountain of youth. He meets Unfortunately he is not the only pirate on the seas. Captain Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush is also hot on the tail representing the British, but in earlier times he was a former captain. Cpt. Jack Sparrow runs into an old girlfriend Angelica played by Penelope Cruz. He later realizes that she is the daughter of Black Beard himself. Soon Sparrow is captured and enslaved on black beards ship “The Queen Anne’s Revenge”. So throughout the movie the three captains are in search for the mystical and elusive fountain of youth. A type of theme this film would be fit for is adventurous, or going after what you believe in. As Cpt. Jack Sparrow the audience has grown to know what type of person he is. In the movie critics rave that though it was an exponential film I lacked time, it was the shortest compared to all the other sequels, says Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. It’s probably because of the new director that replaced Jerry Bruckheimer with new director Rob Marshall. I agree that it was shorter but overall it was a great movie filled with almost everything that was in its past films. My overall opinion on the movie is that it was great, spectacular, and memorable in many ways. I saw it in 3D so it made it a lot better. It’s one of those films where you can just sit back and know what to expect without knowing what to expect. So of course it’s worth your time and money if you want to remember one great movie experience.

Guest Blogger: Nuy T2

The Pursuit of Happiness is a memorable movie. It’s a movie that will literally make the girls cry and most likely get the guys to tear up. This is because it’s based on a true story. The Pursuit of Happiness is about a man who has invested a device that’s called “Bone Density Scanner.” It turns out that this technology doesn’t sell. He then tries to find ways to sell it, but can’t seem to do anything about it. He thought he would have a starting life with his wife and child. Suddenly everything starts to go downhill and change. He starts to lose his wife, then his house, and his credit cards. Now he’s looking for the “pursuit of happiness.” Will Smith takes the role as the main character in this movie. In my opinion, every movie that Will has starred in, I would have to say that The Pursuit of Happiness has been beyond his greatest. The appearance that he shows makes us feel like he’s actually telling his very own life story. He makes everything feel as if it was all real, and that he takes the acting role to a whole new level. Jaden Smith (Will Smith’s actual son) plays as the son in this movie. He also does an amazing job. Even with his lack of childish behavior behind the scenes, he sets it aside and allows his acting talents to do the talking for him while the camera is rolling. He effectively persuades people to feel the compassion and pain his character felt. Will Smith’s character was a hard-worker; he is a dedicated man and father. He was so determined to have a better life for his son that nothing would stop him to achieve his goal. One scene in particular is when he shows his dedication where he would constantly try to sell these hospital machines but no one would buy it. Even after many rejections from multiple doctors, he knew it was one of the only ways to support his son. Will continued to go forward even if he got rejections. Jaden plays the role as the son and is just a normal kid. Since he was really young, he didn’t really have a full understanding about what was going on. So all he did was what any other kid would do and just try to goof around. A theme that can be taken from this movie is that whatever life throws at you, you’re still entitled to choose your own path of enlightenment. Sometimes you just have to keep going forward with the events that may be road bumps in your life. Critics say that he did an amazing job with the role of Chris Gardner. I agree with the critics that describe Smith’s acting turned out to be an amazing performance. He was able to role-play a difficult character. His performance turned out to be tremendous and a heart warming, memorable movie for all to see. After watching this movie I absolutely think that this movie is definitely worth our time and money. If you are a person who enjoys a movie that makes you laugh, tear up and be happy, then this is the right movie for you. The Pursuit of Happiness allows viewers to get “caught up” in the moment. It helps ease life because it portrays that life for one person could be more difficult than for another person.

Guest Blogger: Matt P2

Once again, Tom Hanks refuses to be dismissed as one of the great actors, as he comes back with a highly-praised movie in Castaway. Hanks starts off the movie as a high-strung manager of FedEx, living his life by the clock, but he develops in different ways as he is ripped out of his solace and into a survival situation as his plane crashes and he is forced to live off of an island in the middle of the ocean alone. He can adapt and survive as best as he can, but will he be able to make it? With his best friend being a volleyball named Wilson (due to the brand name) he lives off of fishing and gathering, while utilizing whatever scattered packages from the crashed plane to help him along. With a dental infection slowly eating away at his mouth and the island inevitably running out of resources, how long can he live? Tom Hanks plays Chuck, and does an excellent job at portraying a desperate/changed role from high-maintenance to reticent and retreated, but not yet defeated. He dreams of returning home to his significant other Kelly (played by Helen hunt), who also plays a pivotal and successful role in the movie. Hunt brings to life the struggles of those who have lost lovers to crashes and natural disasters. A great theme to be taken away from this movie is one based on having to give up a certain lifestyle to adapt to whatever life throws at you, from something as dramatic as a crash, to something as trivial as a new class in school; swim and you might survive. Critics adored this movie and it is still fairly renowned even today, so I have to agree with every positive aspect of it. This film is worth all money I have ever invested in it, and would be for anyone looking for a great flick to sit down and watch over and over again.

Guest Blogger: Mohamud S2

Will Smith is most definitely my favorite actor, and I have seen almost all of his movies. The one I enjoy watching most are Bad Boys I and Bad Boys II, Independent Day, and also The Pursuit of Happiness. Especially the movie I am a Legend, which is a fiction story based on a man named Dr. Robert Neville (Will smith) who is the only human survivor left in Manhattan, NY, due to a deadly virus spread. The story of this movie is adapted from previous sci-fi novel called The Last Man on Earth, and Omega Man. At the start of movie, it shows Dr. Neville and his wife and child being evacuated along with other people whom some are infected and some are not. Dr. Neville is a U.S army so his duty is to stay back and make sure everybody is being evacuated. But he also wants to stay because he doesn’t want to leave that area, which he calls it ground-zero. The only thing that keeps Dr. Neville Company is his dog Samantha. They are both alone but not exactly because at sunset, the infected people who turned into zombies come out to look for food. So the only thing that keeps them save is their house. The house is protected by heavy steel shutters. They only go out during day time when the sun is high, and they have to come back before sunsets, so the zombie’s don’t track them down. But one day Dr. Neville runs into a trouble when he falls into a trap that the zombies made, which blacked him out for hours before he heard Sam’s barking and woke up. The only problem is that he is hanging upside down with a rope. Later he manages to free himself. Soon after that two infected dogs attacked because the sun was going down. Sam was bite by one of them. So I really think that this is movie is a must see movie if you haven’t seen already. Will Smith is the perfect character to play this movie along with his dog Sam. There is humor in this movie and it is very tense. A lot of critics have mixed feelings about the end. Some may think it was a bad ending, while I say it was great ending, but recommend you see it for yourself and see how you feel it about it. And I can assure you that you will leave the movie theater somewhat satisfied if not fully, so go and see it ASAP!

Guest Blogger: Rachel L2

The Notebook is debatably one of the best romantic films of all time, following closely to the Titanic and even the Romeo and Juliet classic. This romance is a movie based off one of Nicholas Spark’s bestselling novels. The whole story is about an elderly man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home whose memory is quickly slipping away from her. The story he reads everyday focuses on two young lovers named Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) who meet one evening at a carnival and instantly fall in love. Set in the 1940s, the story is told through flashbacks. At first Allie is skeptic about Noah, but finally agrees to go on a date with the poor peasant working boy. Despite coming from two different worlds, Allie and Noah spend the summer together and unconsciously fall in love. Allie and Noah’s love faced many challenges; Allie’s parents were not fond of Noah due to their different social classes. After the summer, Allie got shipped off to school very far away and Noah was left heartbroken. While Allie is away, Noah is persistent about writing her letters until she finally returns with a new handsome, rich finance. The film is a story about growing love, challenges, and fate. Critics have been raving about this romance for years, calling it one of the best love stories of all time. McAdams and Gosling bring a unique and fresh twist to their roles. The love portrayed onscreen makes you feel some type of connection with the characters. One of the letters from Noah while Allie was in school shows that his love for her will never die, he stated “the best love is the kind that weakens the soul, and makes us reach for more, puts pints of fire in our hearts and rings peace to our minds.” Some critics label The Notebook as a “chick flick”, but I’d have to disagree. The Notebook is for men and women of all ages. I highly recommend watching this movie. It’s a great movie for anyone who wants to get lost in a beautiful story. The Notebook is an intense romantic drama that will lure you in minute by minute and leave you pleading for more.

Guest Blogger: Kenneth K2

John Constantine a demon hunter/exorcist is trying to help a girl he met in Los Angeles who is Angela Dodson. He is trying to help find out how Angela’s sister really killed herself or who killed her. Then at the same time while he is trying to solve Angela’s sisters case he is trying to kill and send as much demons back to hell so he can buy his way back into heaven, but its not so easy cause he is only doing it for himself and it makes it even harder for John cause he is also dying of lung cancer so he doesn’t have much time left to live. It also doesn’t make things easier for him knowing that the devil wants him in hell with him cause he thinks John is a valuable soul to have in hell. The actors are Keanu Reeves who plays as John Constantine, he does a spectacular job as acting like a demon slayer. Second we have Rachel Weisz who plays as two characters which is Angela Dodson and Isabel Dodson, she does a remarkable job acting as twin sisters. Then a third actor is Shia LaBeouf who plays as Chas Kramer and he does a great job as acting as John Constantine apprentice. John’s motivation is trying to get in to heaven so he slays demon trying to get back into heaven. Then Angela’s motivation is her sisters death. Then last Chas motivation is to become just like John Constantine and become a demon slayer. The theme for this movie is that even though the odds are against you, you should never give up and quit. I agree with critics on this movie. According to A Nut Shell Review “However, without background knowledge, this is one excellent movie, with great characterization of biblical characters like Archangel Gabriel, Balthazar and even Lucifer himself, plot and subplots, special effects and music. The movie starts literally with a bang, and it never lets up after that with its even pacing. “ I would say this movie is worth the time and money cause this movie is action packed and suspenseful.

Guest Blogger: Danh V2

Military action movies are action orientated; very few are characters driven such as Saving Private Ryan or The Guardian. The guardian in particular is less of an action movie, but rather a drama that focus on the emotions and self-development of the main characters. The Guardian starts out with a Coast Guard rescue mission gone wrong, as the sole survivor, Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) has to develop and train the next generations of rescue swimmers and hope that one will replace him. Jake Fisher (Ashston Kutcher), a hot shot swimming champ in high school is one of the candidates that are lucky enough to be trained by Randall. Fisher thinks he’s the best, but Randall has many challenges in store for the young and naïve candidate. Ashton Kutcher’s role as Jake Fisher was anything but normal; he embedded himself into the character without any flaws. From the first point to the last, viewers could see Jake Fisher evolves from a hot head person into a quite professional who put others before himself. As for Ben Randall, played by Kevin Costner, he sees training Fisher as a way to redeem himself for what he has lost; Randall is the opposite of Fisher in terms of character development, he degrades his personalities as the plot goes on. One of the main themes of The Guardian is to never hang on to anything too tight for you will inevitably lose it, and when that day comes, it will be a great shock to you. I do agree with this theme, because that is the reality of life, people and objects come and go, otherwise, there would be no reason for living. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie did and o.k. job, nothing more and nothing less. I somewhat agrees with this critic’s statement, because the movie wasn’t extraordinary like Saving Private Ryan but it has its moments. Overall, this is a must see if you want to know more about the Coast Guard, or if you are interested in the lesson it teaches.

Guest Blogger: Hannah S2

Picking up someone that you don’t even know is something that most people don’t do. But in the movie the Blindside, Sandra Bullock who plays Leigh Tuohy does just that. She see Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) walking home in the rain one night. She brings him home to the family, no one takes that well to him at first, but as the time goes on, he becomes part of the family. Michal and S.J become really good friends, almost like brothers. Once Michael is accepted into the school that Collins (played by Lily Collins) and S.J are at, he is asked to join the team. With knowing this, Michael is taught how to protect the football team like they were family. That is also in help to S. J though. During this time, Michael is having some issues in school when his teachers realize that he is unteachable. He has a different way of learning that many wouldn’t think of. When Michael asked to get a driver’s license, it’s a difficult process for them. He does end up getting one, but then an accident happens when S.J is hurt and the truck is totaled. Michael saved S.J by using his arm as a cushion. Michael overcomes a lot in this movie. When it’s time to graduate, many scouts have their eyes on him. He comes down to choose between Tennessee and Mississippi. What one dose he go with? The acting done by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw are both loving parents who defend their kids when they are targeted and both did an amazing job in the movie. Jae and Lily were both open at having to be different then they had been in the past probably. Jae also did a really great job becoming best friends with Quinton. The audience should understand that people do things that are out of the norm, just so people are able to be better off. “But put your skepticism aside, embrace The Blind Side and you’ll be in for a feel-good time, “said by Perri Nemiroff. I agree with what he is saying because the movie is really something different than the other movies. I believe that you will like the movie a lot. You’re able to watch a movie with a happy ending, sports and people making life decisions that have to be made all the time.

Guest Blogger: Garrett A2

Dumb and Dumber is an instant classic that involves plenty of laughs throughout the movie! This film is about how two best friends are living in the bad part of a neighborhood and make just enough money to get by. Lloyd Christmas, played by Jim Carrey, plays the role of a limousine driver that transports passengers to the airport. One day a woman forgot her briefcase and they have to return it, but not without a few roadblocks of course! Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) is just a riot, and he is definitely in his prime in this production! Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) plays his counterpart and is always optimistic, but Lloyd has a way that always gets on his nerves, until they find out that they have the same goals, and look on how to take down this briefcase mission. Lauren Holly (Mary Swanson) is the woman who left her briefcase and is a little shy and quiet, but very appreciative throughout the film. All of these characters are very good at their role and fit the stereotype that they really are ‘dumb’. Except for Mary of course! Harry and Lloyd’s motivations are off the charts. They both strive to make it to Aspen, Colorado where Mary is located, but you will have to find out if they make it or not! Every single thing that happens to them, they see a way past that and continue on. The smarts that they do have are very dry humor, though. Some scenes tend to be a bit dry and dull, but the humor still gets you, because yes, it is just that dumb. The theme in this movie would have to be will power and do not lose your sense of humor. The way that they think everything is funny and nothing can really get them down as the film goes on, you have to just laugh through hard times, because in the end everything will be OK. The Audience will take away that friendship, hard work, and determination will go a long way! I disagree HUGELY with Robert Ebert. He only gave this film a two star. Come on now, let’s be real, this movie has everyone laughing! I mean who doesn’t like Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as a team and how they work their way through it?! My opinion is I would give this movie a 4.5/5* rating because like I said, some was dry and predictable of what they would do, but I can watch this over and over and it never really gets old! Go see it, and it you have, see it again!

Guest Blogger: Austin M2

Black Hawk Down retells the story of a raid by the U.S. military that went wrong in Somalia in 1993. The troops were supposed to help humanitarian relief to provide food to thousands of Somalians and instead they ended up having to pull out because of the events to come. The mission was never supposed to be any longer than a couple hours but instead it ended up being a lot longer than any of them had packed or planned for. The actors chosen are hard to follow simply because there’s so much destruction going on throughout the movie, but Josh Hartnett is a Staff Sergeant leading the raid and portrays the part very well. He is a stern leader and always wants to move further to gain the edge on the enemy. The movie is an accurate display of the mayhem that went on as the U.S. went to rescue the men still alive on the Black Hawk helicopter that went down after being fired on, it displays the drive and caring nature that the military has for every man in it. It shows the side that no one else gets to see in the line of battle where no matter if they are dead or alive, no soldier is left behind. Roger Ebert said it perfectly when he said, “They help audiences understand and sympathize with the actual experiences of combat troops, instead of trivializing them into entertainments.” (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020118/REVIEWS/201180301/1023) Its not a movie simply for the entertainment it, for many, is a touching story that many civilians will realize what the military life is all about, the man to the right and left of you.

Guest Blogger: Jared K2

Cast Away is a drama/adventure that was released in 2000. In the movie Cast Away, the main character Chuck (played by Tom Hanks) is a FedEx worker who survives a plane crash. He is the only one to survive the plane crash and is stranded on a tropical island. Chuck builds a raft and leaves the island until he is found, four years after he went missing. Tom Hanks did a great job playing this role especially since he is the only actor on screen for more than half of the movie. Some of Chuck’s character traits include being hopeful and determined. He managed to survive on an island and had the determination to build a raft and float on the Pacific Ocean. He shows he’s hopeful by always looking at the picture of his girlfriend and making the decision not to commit suicide. Another notable actress is Helen Hunt. She does a good job playing the role of the girlfriend. Cinemablend.com says that Tom Hanks did a fine job acting and has a great soundtrack which I agree with because the soundtrack is great and important because there isn’t a lot of talking that goes on when Hanks’ character is stuck on the island. Filmcritic.com states that Hanks’ performance is the strength of the movie. A also agree with this because so much time is spent observing him and the decisions he makes while stuck on the island. I think that Cast Away is definitely worth the time and money to watch. It is unique from all other movies and I highly recommend seeing it.

Guest Blogger: Jack H2

Paul Blart Mall Cop is a movie about a brave and optimistic dad working as a Mall Cop at the Burlington Mall. Its right after the biggest black Friday sale of the year and the mall gets broken into by thieves. Now only Paul can stop the thieves because he turns out to be the only security guard on duty. The thieves have taken a few hostages captive including Paul’s new love Amy, a young sales clerk. Kevin James stars as Paul Blart, who shows to be a particularly funny actor with his proud fatness. Paul’s character suffers from hypoglycemia an occasional need for sugar. With Paul trying to be a hero and save his one love, only his need for sugar could possibly stop him. Keir O’Donnell plays as Veck Sims the thief leader. Kier does a good job playing an ignorant wise-guy, but his acting didn’t seem frightening enough to me because of his poor acting experience. Veck plants motion sensors over all the main entrances of the mall so he can tell whether the police are trying to get in or not. Veck is motivated to use the hostages as bait for getting ransom. The movie is supposed to make the audience laugh and have an enjoyable adventure with this funny cop. The main theme present in this film is to never stop fighting for your pride and love. Roger Ebert from rogererbert.com raves that this movie is an all-around great comedy with new techniques in filming that really make the movie interesting. Roger also states that the use of camera angles and lighting near the end of the movie contrasted the way Paul Blart looked in the movie at the beginning. I noticed in the beginning of the movie he looked fat and like a slob, but indeed near the end of the movie the filmmakers made Paul look strong and manly. Paul Blart Mall Cop is a great family movie. It gives you all the laughs of the average rated-R comedy, but packs it into a rated-PG movie that any family should love. Paul Blart Mall Cop is definitely one movie you want sitting on your shelf at home.

Guest Blogger: Anna P2

Kate is suffering from cancer, and she needs a kidney transplant. Her sister was medically altered to have the same DNA as her sister so she can save her life. When Kate needs a kidney transplant, her parents expect her little sister Anna to give her kidney to Kate, but they soon find out that Anna got a lawyer and wants to be medically emancipated from her parents. Abigail Breslin plays Anna in the movie; she plays her part very well. Anna is caring when around her sister and tough enough to stand up to her parents, Abigail plays both very well. Sofia Vassilieva plays Kate in the movie, she has to play a person who is sick, and does it extremely well. Sofia plays that role very well but in some parts of the movie she also has to be strong, but she is very caring to her little sister. There are many actors that are main parts in the movie and they all do very well portraying the roles. Anna is a girl that knows what she wants, and she also is caring, she watches out for her sister and her brother. Kate is dying of cancer but she doesn’t let that stop her she is still outgoing and she loves her family. This movie has many themes but I think one of the more important ones is live life. Even though she is dying she still lives life and doesn’t look at the end. Another theme is don’t take life for granted; these are just a couple of many themes. A.O. Scott says that the movie is insightful, good, but also heart- wrenching, which I agree with. My Sister’s Keeper is a very good movie but it makes you think about your own life; it puts your life into perspective. My opinion is that the movie is worth your time and money, you eill gain something from the movie, it is well written and also is well acted.

Guest Blogger: Micahel K2

In 2001, General Manager Billy Beane's Oakland A's lose to the Yankees in the playoffs then lose their top three all-stars to free agency. Beane’s team is crippled with a low salary cap and can’t afford many good players. Beane hires and listens to Peter Brand, Yale grad who evaluates players using Bill James' statistical approach. Everyone on his staff doesn’t believe this will work including the manager Art Howe. Beane signs a bunch of no names from the free agency list that everyone doesn’t want, but on paper, can get on base and score runs. Howe won't use the players as Beane wants. Can Billy put a playoff team on the field after losing his all-stars? Well find out and watch it. Brad Pitt who plays Billy jeane did a terrific job on this movie for many reasons. I like his performance because he portrays the character on the spot. He was very humble and knew what he was talking about and I just like the guy too. Art Howe who is played by Philip Seymour Hoffman did a great job also because Art had that attitude where he didn’t care and wanted to rebel against Billy. I like his attitude in the movie it portrayed him very well. The theme in this movie is a very important one. The MLB has a lot of holes and managers won’t sign you unless you are the same as everyone else. Kevin Ukaliss from Boston didn’t even get drafted because he walked like a duck. Boston gave him a chance and now he is an all-star in the league. So to conclude this theme the theme is the MLB is very biased. Another theme is, money can’t buy you wins in the MLB. It just buys you players. Money is not everything in the MLB. I agree with the critics 100%. In my overall opinion of this movie is a great movie and it was outstanding. It is definitely worth my money and time because I like baseball and true stories.

Guest blogger: Megan B2

The movie My Sister’s Keeper is an incredibly touching story based on well-known author Jodi Picoult’s novel. The movie came out in 2009, starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, and Alec Baldwin. The story line is revolved around Kate Fitzgerald. Kate has leukemia, and in order to keep her alive, her parents had Anna. They didn’t have her at luck; they made her in a petri dish to be an exact genetic match for her older sister. When Kate turned fifteen, she went into renal failure. Eleven year old Anna knows she will be forced to donate one of her kidneys to her sister by her parents. She also realizes then that she may not be able to live the life she wants, giving up so much for her older sister, and taking risky side effects with her donations. So Anna decides to tell her parents that she doesn’t want to do it anymore and they can’t make her because she wants to sue them for medical emancipation and the rights to her own body. Kate and Anna’s mother, Sara, is extremely protective of Kate and her illness and goes to extreme measures to keep her alive and well. Sara is furious with Anna and her decision. The family has done so much in supporting and keeping Kate alive, but Anna is the one giving her the right organs and blood work she needs. Attorney Campbell agrees to work for Anna in the process of suing for partial termination of parental rights. The film goes on to tell the story and includes many flashbacks of Kate and Anna growing up and the progressiveness of Kate’s disease. The story line not only includes views from Anna, and Sara, but Kate’s dad, Brian, and brother, Jesse, as well, explaining how the illness affected their lives and their relationships. Anna Breslin played Anna Ftizgerald, and did a great job portraying the strong little girl we all read about in the novel. Cameron Diaz stared as Sara Fitzgerald, and also did an amazing job playing the role of an overbearing, overprotective, but loving mother. Some of the Anna’s traits incorporated in the book and the movie are strength, courage, and a big heart. Anna has a huge amount of strength, especially at age eleven, to stand up to her parents, and declare her right to say no. She also has a lot of courage and a big heart supporting her sister with the life-threatening illness. There are many themes that are shown in this movie. One theme would be the difference between right and wrong. Anna decided that she didn’t want to help her sister anymore, that she wanted to live the life she owns. Some people may agree with that decision, others may not. The movie also incorporates the meaning of sisterhood and the importance of family. According to New Orleans Times-Picayune, Mike Scott said, “There’s no point mincing words: My Sister’s Keeper is a difficult film to watch. That’s not to say it isn’t well-assembled, well-cast, or well-acted.” I agree with this critic’s opinion. The movie is not a light, warm, happy movie. It is a very deep and meaningful movie, dealing with very touchy topics. It was a very emotional movie, but also very eye opening. This movie is well worth your time and money. If you have read the book, there are some major and minor differences portrayed in the movie. But even if you haven’t read the book, it is definitely a great story line to follow along with.

Guest blogger: Trevor T2

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. The movie was actually filmed in Italy, with the tree staring characters Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. The rest of the cast was actually Italian peasants who worked as extras. The plot of the movie fades in and out as the movie goes on, during the (movie length) long movie multiple smaller short stories emerge and at the end come back together to mad an unforgettable ending. Clint Eastwood is portrayed as “The Good” in the movie while Lee Van Cleef is portrayed as “The Bad” which is ironic because his name in the movie is angle eyes and Eli Wallach is portrayed as “The Ugly” in reality all three of the characters are criminals. Clint plays as a greedy criminal saver who turns Eli in for a bounty and then saves him over and over just to get half of the bounty. Eli is portrayed as a dirty, grimy, and conscious less murderer. He always calls Clint “Blondie”. The main plot of the movie is that all tree characters hear about a large amount of gold that is buried in a civil war grave and they all want it but only Clint knows where it is. The whole movie is full of deceit and betrayal. Roger Ebert wrote a review on the Good the Bad and the Ugly and he said that it was a “pretty good movie”; I think he underestimated the movie; it was a GREAT movie for being filmed on a very small budget in Italy. Overall I think this movie is one of the best I have ever seen and completely suggest watching it.

Guest Blogger: Kendal K2

Driving Lessons is a British film that was released in 2006. The movie is about a boy named Ben Marshall who is told to get a job by his mother and ends up working for a retired actress named Evie Walton. Ben, who is from a strict Christian family starts as a pretty naïve school boy without a lot of real world experience. Evie takes it upon herself to give him many new life experiences, despite Ben’s mother’s disapproval. Throughout the movie, we see these two characters develop a close friendship and realize just how much of an influence they are to each other. Rupert Grint, who plays Ben Marshalls, does a great job of stepping into a new type of role in comparison to the role he had previous. He seems to really understand his character and the emotions Ben must be feeling. Julie Walters, who plays Evie Walton, has once again done a very good job. As an experienced actor she knew just how to act as the eccentric, lovable retired-actress, Evie. Within the movie, both Evie and Ben grow up with the assistance of each other. Evie helps Ben experience life and find out who he really is because he has been so sheltered by his mother. Ben helps Evie move on from her past career and become happy with the life she has now. I feel a major theme in this movie is growth. Throughout the movie you see a lot of growth and development. People must grow up and become the person they want to be if they want to be successful in life. In Stephen Holdens, New York Times movie review, he said: “Since any connections between “Driving Lessons” and the real world are tangential at best, it’s a faux liberation: the easiest kind.” I would have to disagree with this review because I believe that even though the themes in this movie were subtle, it doesn’t make them any less realistic. A movie isn’t necessarily supposed to be based on reality because it is a fictional world. I would definitely say that Driving Lessons is worth your time. Rupert Grint and Julie Walters portray their characters extremely well and you end up really caring for the characters and where they end up in life.

Guest Blogger: Loretta R2

The Sitter is a comedy movie based on a college dropout who is lured into a babysitting job babysitting 3 kids, in which he is in for way more than what he expected. Jonah Hill who plays the babysitter Noah in the movie, plays the role very well. Noah is a much laid back guy, but has his way with words, throughout the movie there are many people that are after them, or do something to them. Jonah is good at using his humor, but in a very serious and laidback way. Ari Graynor, who plays the role of Marisa Lewis, Noah’s Girlfriend, in the movie The Sitter. Marisa is a very needy girl, who uses Noah, and the only way she will have sex with him is if he brings her drugs to a party. Ari plays this role very well, in expressing Marisa’s feelings very dramatically. Max records plays the role of Slater Pedulla, the oldest of the three kids Noah is babysitting. Slater claims he has anxiety, and has clung onto these pills, and takes them “as needed”, Later on during the movie, Noah teaches Slater that he doesn’t need the pills because Slater is perfect the way he is. Max plays the role of Slater very well in a sense of the “addictive” traits that Slater has to his pills. Landry bender who plays the role of Blithe Pedulla. Now Blithe is not what you would expect out of a 9 year old. She is very mature, and likes to manipulate people into doing what she wants to do. Blithe likes to dress up, wear a lot of makeup, and is a big attention seeker throughout the movie. Landry plays this role very well in a sense that she uses her voice a lot, so that people will get her attention. Kevin Hernandez plays the role of Rodrigo Pedulla in the movie. Rodrigo is mad at the world, and doesn’t think anyone likes him, so he lashes out at everyone else who is trying to be nice to him. As the kids and Noah go through all this trouble getting drugs to his girlfriend, Rodrigo learns the values of family, and friendship and that people only want to be there for him, and be his friend. Kevin plays the role of Rodrigo very well by using a lot of facial expressions to show Rodrigo’s feelings. There are many themes in the movie The Sitter. One theme would have to be, don’t let anyone take advantage of you, because in the end nobody wins, and it just turns into a bad situation. Another theme would be that you shouldn’t put young kid’s lives in danger especially when you are delivering drugs to someone. Critics say that the movie is too raunchy, and inappropriate. It’s a movie with kids, but not for kids so this has been getting mixed views from many critics. I think that the movie is raunchy, but you have to have a sense of humor to actually understand what is going on during the movie. I think that this movie is 100% worth your time and money especially if you are looking for a good laugh, this is the type of movie for you.

Guest Blogger: Michaela D2

The movie, Sweeney Todd, is based off of the famous Broadway musical. It is a story of a man, Benjamin Barker, who was sent away to an Australian prison colony after the evil Judge Turpin convicts Barker of a trumped- up charge because of his infatuation with Barker’s wife. Years later, Benjamin Barker returns with a vengeance as Sweeney Todd. He learns that Lucy, his wife, had been raped by Turpin and went mad driving her to swallow poison. He also finds out that the Judge had adopted his daughter Johanna and plans to marry her. As he teams up with Mrs. Lovett, the maker of meat pies, they create a plan to take revenge and make her meat pies famous again. Being that this is a Tim Burton film, it isn’t hard to believe that Johnny Depp is the main character. Depp brings life to this gruesome character as he always does. His performance that shows revenge, evil, sadness, and much more gives great dynamic to the character making you feel sorry and bad for someone doing something so terrible. He does an amazing job at creating a character that you want to win and be happy again. He brings a great darkness to the mournful Sweeney Todd which makes him even more intriguing. Because this film is also a musical, Johnny Depp was required to sing. This film really shows that Depp has the entire package when it comes to performing. His vocals were fantastic which did not surprise me one bit. In the movie, Sweeney Todd (Benjamin Barker) is a man seeking revenge. After years of being sent away, he returns with the intentions of getting back at Judge Turpin for ruining his life. He is very smart, witty, and clever which are many of Burton’s main characters. Mrs. Lovett, played by the amazing Helena Bonham Carter, is a lonely meat pie maker who developed a crush on barker years ago. She is a dark twisted lady but also shows her caring side throughout the film. One of the main themes of the movie is revenge and what kind of toll it can take on your life. I agree with many of the great reviews of this movie. With many of Tim Burton’s movies, you will either love it or hate it. This film is dark and witty with much humor. The musical effect which was new for Burton attracts a different audience as well. Overall, this movie is fantastic. If you like Tim Burton, then I believe you will enjoy this movie a lot. It is definitely worth the time and money as always.

Guest Blogger: Taryn H2

The Harry Potter series is a very popular series around the world. The movies in this series are based on the seven Harry Potter novels written by J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter is an orphaned boy who finds out he is a wizard and decides to attend Hogwarts School. Harry Potter meets two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, in his first year at Hogwarts and continues to be best friends with them throughout the rest of the series. Each year at Hogwarts, Harry and his friends face a new problem and continually run into Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry’s parents and is now trying to kill Harry. The movies/books in this series are: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). The main actors and actresses in these films are Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. I think each of the actors and actresses were the perfect people for each of their roles. I don’t think there could have been anyone better to do the job. Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is a brave, courageous, but kind-hearted young man who is very determined to continually save the day. Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint, is a dim-witted, humorous young man who seems to accidentally help save the day several times. He acts as Harry’s “sidekick.” Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, is an extremely intelligent, witty girl who is the brains of the operation in the films. I don’t think there are any main themes in this series, but it focuses on magical power and being determined to do what you think is right and help others. Many critics have also fallen in love with these movies, and I couldn’t agree more. Several critics may have not been in favor of these movies, but almost all of the other critics were positive in their reviews of these movies. Overall, I definitely think the films in the Harry Potter series are worth our time and money because they have an interesting plot, will keep anyone and everyone entertained, and will continue to be popular for years to come.

Guest Blogger: Jason M2

The Fast and the Furious is about an undercover agent trying to infiltrate a Los Angeles street racing crew. Paul Walker is the agent trying to figure whose hijacking semis full of expensive electronic equipment. Vin Diesel is the leader of this gang and the mastermind behind their operations. They sell the equipment to produce fast cars. The street teams use racing as a means of establishing power. As Paul Walker is in his mission, he starts to fall for Vin Diesels sister, Mia. Now stuck in the middle of his case, he either has to decide to take the gang down, or prove them innocent so he can keep Mia. Paul Walker is the main character and I think he does a great job. As you watch the movie he does a good job around the crew as not acting like a cop, but when he’s around his federal agents he’s a different character. He does a good job of distinguishing the difference. Vin Diesel also does a good job of acting in this movie. He does a good job of portraying as a leader. Paul Walker is a very sly character. While undercover he has to make quick decisions to keep his cover. Vin Diesel is a driven character. He will do whatever means to accomplish what he wants. He risks his life multiple time robbing semis to pay for his street racing car. The theme I take away from this movie is that friends go farther than anything else. No matter what you do or what happens in life, your friends will always be behind you. I agree with other critics review. They say that it’s good thrill movie. I also thought it was a good movie that kept my attention. I wish this movie would have more street racing scene. This movie is a great movie and worth watching. If this movie would have had some more action, it would have been a better movie.

Guest Blogger: Abdi H2

One movie I always enjoyed watching was Takers. Takers is a movie about a group of guys who made a living off robbing banks and armored trucks. They make one major heist each month, and are good at what they do. Police detective have no idea who they are because they complete each heist in less than 10 minutes. One of the main characters is Ghost. He was just released from prison because he was captured in a previous heist. He meets up with the rest of the gang, and fills them in on what would be the biggest heist yet. They plan to rob an armored truck, but have a little trouble along the way when a dedicated detective is on their trail. They all don’t trust Ghost at first. They had some problems with him in the past. He just got out of prison and wants revenge on the crew because they owed him money. But they decided to put the past behind them. The Actor who plays Ghost is Clifford Harris otherwise known as T.I. This was his second major role in film. He played an excellent role as Ghost and made the movie great. Ghost is a greedy person he only cares about himself, and could care less about what happens to the rest. He does some things throughout the movie that are looked down upon on the rest. His only goal is to make the most money he can in each heist, and would do anything to get it. This movie was a great movie filled with action, and cop chases. It also has tons of shooting scenes. All the actors in the movie play an excellent role from Clifford Harris to the detective. I give this movie 5 out of 5. It is worth your time, and money.

Guest Blogger: Drew M2

The movie Shooter directed by Antoine Fuqua is about a retired U.S. marine that tells his story of him being on a co-op mission with his buddy and how they got stranded in enemy territory, after losing his buddy he fights his way back home. Living out in the deep woods Bob Lee Swagger get to shoot whatever and whenever so he is able to maintain a good shot. One day a group from the federal government visit bob lee swagger, and asked him a favor of national importance. They told him that there is a threat on the U.S. president and they asked him to plan that shot for that they can prepare what to look for. Bob Lee swagger is delayed on his decision but he decided to help them and started visiting many spots around the area where the president was going to be. He reports back to the group of guys, on the day it supposed to take place the group of guys and bob lee swagger are all in a room below where bob lee swagger thinks it’s going to take place. Then there was a shot fired killing the arch bishops of Africa, bob lee swagger turns around and has a gun pointed to at him. It was a setup they used him to kill the president but then are trying to kill him now to but the shot misses, swagger jumps from the window with a gunshot to the shoulder. The news breaks out that it was bob lee swagger and he became public enemy number one. The rest of the movie is about him running and trying to back at this conspiracy and clear his name well he’s at it. Mark Wahlberg who plays bob lee swagger has a great performance in the movie Shooter; he really made the character come alive. Bob lee swagger is a honest hard working American that server our country then lost one of his best friends, well on the run bob lee swagger visits his buddy’s widowed wife, who is a nurse. Marks role in this movie is to show that he is innocent man but well doing this he falls in love with his buddy’s widowed wife. What you should take away from this movie is that even though you are falsely accused doesn’t mean your guilty find people to believe in you and fight you’re hardest to clear your name. I greatly recommend this movie it is a good action based with a lot of American pride.

Guest Blogger: Bree B2

Beastly is a movie about what is really important in a person. The main character Kyle Kingson has to learn lifes valuable lessons. Kyle is a young, wealthy, and intelligent guy who thinks of himself as better than his less attractive classmates. One of those classmates is Kendra, who is Goth. When Kyle invites her to an event, then blows her off and made it a joke, she got back at him by casting a spell on him. The spell made him look extremely unattractive and can only be broken if he can find someone that loves him for who he is. Kyle sees this as impossible because he thinks looks are everything. Kyle’s dad is repulsed by his new looks and sends Kyle to Brooklyn to live with a tutor and a housekeeper. While in Brooklyn, Kyle comes across a drug dealer in trouble and is confronted with the opportunity to offer the drug dealer’s daughter safety by living in his house. Even though Lindy is opposed at first, the drug dealer wants to keep her safe. Then he was faced with working towards breaking the curse. The main character who plays Kyle is Alex Pettyfer. He is a very good actor for this movie. He played the part well. The other main character in the movie was Lindy played by Vanessa Hudgens. She also played her character very well. The two characters seemed to have a good relationship on set together. Lindy’s character is just trying to survive and get back to her house with her dad. While Kyle is simply preoccupied with doing whatever is necessary to break the curse. The theme of the movie would be that beauty is not only skin deep, it is what is on the inside that really matters. I thought the movie was pretty good. According to other reviews this movie was way off from the book. Others said the ending completely changed, names changed, important parts were omitted, and a weak plot. Because I did not read the book I can’t completely agree or disagree with the reviews. I liked the movie however, and believe it is worth your time and money to go watch it if you like romances. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to others.

Guest Blogger: Matt F2

The movie Game Plan begins with Joe Kingman, quarterback of the Boston Rebels, winning his final regular season game with one of his trademark touchdown scrambles. Following the game, Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) attends a party. In this and the following scenes, the audience learns that Kingman is single and definitely rich. He lives in a very fancy apartment, with every kind of electronic gadget that you could imagine. His home is decorated with pictures of himself during great moments of his sports career. Kingman seems to care about nothing, except for himself. The next morning, the doorbell rings and 8-year old Peyton Kelly (Madison Pettis) is standing outside the door. Figuring she wants an autograph or is selling Girl Scout cookies, Kingman tries to quickly get rid of her. But Peyton starts to display persistence, one of her major character traits. She manages to get inside the house by chasing after the dog, Spike. She announces to Kingman that she is his daughter. He does not believe her, even though she claims to have proof. She pretends that her mother is away and he has to watch her for a month. This begins a series of funny episodes where Kingman learns that taking care of someone else is not easy. The audience wonders if he will accept her as his daughter, and if she will survive the process. Dwayne Johnson does a great job playing the self-centered quarterback. Matt Zoller Seitz of the New York Times says Johnson’s acting is “committed to every moment.” Johnson’s character undergoes a change from a football player to caring father and he does a good job portraying this. The other main character, Peyton, is a typical cute girl in the movie. Madison Pettis plays her convincingly. Seitz says the movie is “likable”, despite “its many plot holes.” I would agree with him because I really like the movie, even though it is unbelievable at times. EW critic Scott Brown says the movie’s lesson is you can “have it all”, but I think the movie is really about the relationship that grows between a father and a daughter. I think Game Plan is worth your time and money if you just want to laugh and be entertained for a couple of hours.

Guest blogger: Leeanna F2

Soul Surfer is a film based on a real life story about a girl, Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a shark while out surfing one day. She lived in Hawaii and began surfing at a very early age in life and had become and everyday event. Around a month after her shark attack, she was back on her board out in the wave trying to surf again. Bethany is played by actor AnnaSofia Robb in the film and portrays a young girl making her dream come true despite the circumstances she came across. Bethany’s goal is to try and become a professional surfer and Robb plays very well of a girl attempting at making this goal a reality. Bethany’s character in the film shows a lot of determination and she never stops trying to accomplish what she wants. Her family is very supportive in her times on need due to the attack. A lot of the other characters’ actions in the film only motivate Bethany even further in her pursuit of becoming a champion surfer. Some common themes in the movie are never give up and finding good in horrific situations. Bethany never gives up in her surfing life and this is seen throughout the film. Also, although a horrible thing happened to Bethany, she still can find good in the situation. The situation only made her try harder and see life from a new perspective. Movie critic Robert Ebert says, “AnnaSophia Robb is a convincing, cheerful heroine.” I agree with this because I think she does do a great job in the movie. Overall, I think that this film is very inspirational and tells a great story about a real girl who was attacked by a shark. Her determination was seen in the film which was a great influence on those who saw the film. It was a great movie and is definitely worth your time and money to go see it.

Guest Blogger: Sadiya J2

In Safe House Denzel Washington plays Tobin Frost a brilliant ex-CIA agent who at one point changed course by betraying the agency and selling military codes to top secret enemies that invaded the U.S. After many years in which the CIA had lost track of him, Frost reappears in South Africa where he was captured and brought to the Safe (a secret location used by the CIA to hide the witnesses) by the CIA for questioning. Shortly after the beginning of the interrogation, a group of violent armed force broke into the protected area trying to kill the dangerous spy, who manages to escape with his guardian (Ryan Reynolds). The two must stay alive, long enough to find out who wants them dead. In safe House, Ryan Reynolds is charismatic and unusual; on the other hand Denzel Washington was sensational. Reynolds is honest and determined, firmly anchored to the values on which he was educated, Denzel on the other hand is the more compelling and smart, he plays someone who can be both mentor and executioner. Denzel Washington gave a wonderful performance, he succeeded in the difficult task of impersonating a character full of contradictions, but at the same time fascinating. There was great chemistry between the two actors. One theme of this film is; Trust, in the film there was a lot of betrayal. Towards the end Denzel Washington’s character understood that deep down there is someone to trust and not all trust is necessarily lost. I agree with most critics that the plot of Safe house is generic and is based on all the most classic films such as Bourne Ultimatum, they have many points in common like; repetitive violent chase scenes, shootouts, espionage, and political mysteries to hide. Since it is too late to watch it in theater it is definitely worth purchasing it on DVD. Safe House is a film honest, enjoyable, and unpretentious.

Guest Blogger: Tyler S2

Ace Ventura Pet Detective is a comedic film about a guy named Ace Ventura (played by Jim Carrey) that tries to find lost or stolen pets. After saving a dog he goes on a hunt for a missing dolphin that was stolen from the Miami Dolphins football team just before the super bowl. He is on the hunt to find this dolphin because many of the players are superstitious and need the dolphin there to win the game. This film is one of the funniest movies I have ever watched. Jim Carrey plays the pet detective flawless in my eyes, he is absolutely hilarious and completely makes the film as good as it is. Courtney Cox (who plays Melissa Robinson) played her part very well, the only thing I would change about her is she is smiling and trying not to laugh at Jim Carrey during the film. Another actor in the film was Dan Marino. I thought it was really cool to add a celebrity to the movie, also he played a very good part for not being an actual actor. According to one movie review he quotes that “between the funny moments of mirth, there's a lot of dead screen time. After the initial amusement of watching Carrey's face twist into numerous odd expressions has worn off, the best way to pass the time is keeping an eye on Courtney Cox as she tries vainly to hold a straight face in the midst of her co-star's antics. My thoughts are that the film is very unprofessional.” In this movie there is really nothing the audience is supposed to take away from it, it is more just an entertainment film. This film to me is 100% worth the money you will put into it. I laughed almost the entire film. I would also recommend Ace Ventura When Nature Calls which is the second film that follows up this one.

Guest Blogger: Kadri P2

One character-driven movie that particularly appeals to me is Jarhead. A Jarhead is referred to as a United States Marine because of their cut hair that remains constant with a marine which symbolizes a jar and the head which of course symbolizes the head of the marine. This movie takes place during Operation Desert Storm which was during the war on Iraq. It explains the story of Tony Swofford, the main character, and his journey through the hellish desert and the harsh realities that are faced day-to-day with being a Jarhead. Enduing things such a hot desert sun, missing family members, and knowing you could die any day at any time. One of the characters in the film that I mention earlier is Tony Swofford and his part is played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake Gyllenhaal is an amazing actor and has shot in previous award winning movies such as October Sky and The Day After Tomorrow. Other characters in the film include Troy, played by Peter Sarsgaard, and Staff Sgt. Sykes, played by Jamie Foxx. Troy is an important character in the film because he is Swofford’s “spotter”, and aids him in shooting the target when sniping. Troy becomes a very important character throughout the movie and is later revealed with a dark secret that has haunted him for many years. Staff Sgt. Sykes is an important character because he’s the leader of Swofford and Troy’s group and helps get them through the hellish things they endure throughout the movie and plays the leader figure. The primary theme in this movie to me is to learn that things aren’t always as they are perceived in life. For example, people see war as just a fight, but really don’t know the harsh realities of war beyond the fighting and killing that goes on. Roger Ebert argues that this movie is “lacking”, but I would have to disagree with his critic for this movie is one of the best character driven movies and emotional movies I have ever seen. Overall I would give this movie a five out of five, it is definitely worth full price buying. This movie will give you a whole new understand on the harsh realities of war and at the same time provide a good character-driven movie.

Guest blogger: Elias M2

In the Alps a red Lamborghini Miura running at over 200 km / h gets in an accident inside the tunnel. The pilot, English, has not had an accident, he was murdered and his killers launched the car down the ravine, just before it rolls on its own path even a funeral wreath. A few days after Charlie Croker, a clever thief just came out of prison, he is being offered to complete the shot that the pilot, Beckerman, was planning: go to Turin and paralyze the city, blocking all the traffic and allowing only one way to escape, that they will use after stealing the 4 million that Beijing is moving to Fiat to build a factory in the Chinese capital. Written by Troy Kennedy-Martin Scot from his novel, "The Italian Job" is a film by British production directed by Peter Collinson that his own Britishness is the main strength of the movie. The irony, dialogue, action, narrative developments, the choice of actors and all the details- they always aim to carry high the flag of the country’s origin of the film. There are also cons, such as the use of the character Lorna, some avoidable little things, or, above all, the whole first part that is kind of slow - ok it is useful to introduce the many characters (although in reality the main ones can be counted on fingers hand) and the theft to be done - but it gets boring in preparation for the story of when the stroke is then put in place, what essentially would be the climax of the last half hour narrated. From here, fortunately, the film recovers and it reveals to be adequately free and very suspenseful in staging the robbery and the chase. The film’s icon is the three colors of Great Britain on the BMC Mini that they zigzag through the city of Turin, on the roof of the Fiat plant on the banks of the Po, always with the police in hot pursuit, until Charlie and his gang end up refuging in the Alps, where the story began and where it will end. The final was in consequence left open to make room for a possible sequel, but it has never been made. In return, in the 2003 Americans have made a remake; but it is not even close to the quality of the original one in my opinion.

Guest Blogger: Yasmin M1

My Name Is Khan is not your typical Bollywood movie in fact it’s nothing like it. Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan) is a middle class kid who has Asperger’s syndrome who ends up leaving his family to live in the United States. Despite his syndrome Mandira (Kajol) a Hindu woman falls in love and marries a Muslim man Rizwan Khan. Everything is going well until the 911 attack and the Khan family faces prejudice in the community. Mandira’s son gets killed after trying to stop a fight. Mandira blames Rizwan for Sam's death and she tells him to leave her alone. He asks Mandira what he has to do to get back together and she cynically tells him to tell the President that his name is Khan and that he is not a terrorist. Rizwan takes the request seriously and later on meets with the President and tells him that his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist. The actor who played Rizwan Khan is named Shahrukh Khan and the actress who played Mandira is names Kajol. I thought their performances were authentic and the characters were fully developed. In 2011 Karan Johar won the best director, Shahrukh Khan won the best actor, and Kajol won the best female actress.Rizwan Khan has Asperger’s and he is not able to communicate well with others. Rizwan is very intelligent, a hard worker and lives in San Francisco. Rizwan is committed to his faith (Islam) and wants a better life for himself in the US. Mandira is a single mother who has a Hindu background. Mandira works at a salon and together with Rizwan and her son Sam they form a family. Mandira is motivated for providing for her family especially her son. The theme of this movie is how the Western and the Eastern world changed after the 911 attack. There are good people and bad people .Religion is not the criterion, human race is. Not everyone’s religion defines who they truly are. I liked what some of the critic had to say about the movie but I don’t agree with the ratting. This movie should’ve gotten a higher than 3.7.My name is Khan is an epic, mind-blowing, and heartwarming movie that anyone will enjoy watching. I highly recommend it because it’s really changes what people think about one another. Everyone should learn to ignore the racial stereotypes because in the end we all live in one planet.

Guest blogger: Trevor T1

One movie that I saw recently was True Grit. True grit was made twice the original stared John Wayne, playing as Rooster Cogburn, a mean and grouchy Marshal who has a bad reputation of bringing in criminals more dead than alive. Accepts a contract to bring in a Tom Chaney (played by Jeff Corey) who killed Mattie Ross’s (played by Kim Darby) father and stole everything they had then ran away into the “Indian territory”. In the newer version of this movie Rooster is played by Jeff Bridges, and Mattie is played by Hailee Steinfeld, and don’t forget the criminal Tom Chaney who is played by Josh Brolin. In both versions of True Grit Mattie plays a young woman who speaks her mind very and does not take no for an answer. Her knowledge of the law both saves her and gets her in allot of trouble. Never the less she will not give up and turns out to be both a valuable asset and a pain in Roosters side. Both versions of True Grit are great and I completely recommend watching them both versions. I would give the original a 4 out of 4 and the remake a 3 out of 4. It is completely worth your time and money.

Guest Blogger: Tedd R1

The Harry Potter saga comes to an end with the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. The trio of kids Harry, Ron, and Hermione are grown up now and ready to face there toughest task yet. In this thriller full of twists Harry has his final show down with Lord Voldemort. Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter and does an excellent job as well as Rupert Grint who plays Ron and Emma Watson who plays Hermione. They all have played there characters since the first movie and have really come into character throughout the saga. If you have watched all of the movies you really get to know Harry Potter as a person. He certainly has his own personality, he is a very caring person, and he has to be considering he has the fate of all humanity resting in his hands. There are many themes that could be taken away from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 but the theme that I took away from the movie is that life has challenges and we all have to step up and face these challenges. The critics’ all agreed that this movie is an excellent watch. I would have to agree with the critics’ about this movie, I suggest that anyone go watch this movie. With all of the twists and action I believe it is worth any persons time and money to go see this movie.

Guest Blogger: Taryn H1

The Blind Side is one of my absolute favorite movies. This movie came out in 2009 and was very popular soon after its release. It is a sports drama film. This movie is a story of a large, African-American teenage boy, Michael Oher, who grows up in poverty and doesn’t have a very good life. He grew up being neglected by his mother and never got an education. On the other side of town, there is a very wealthy white family, who drives past Michael, walking alone in the rain at night. The family pulls over and invites Michael into their home to help him out for the night. The family soon becomes very attached to Michael and gives him an education, his own bedroom, clothes, and a car for his birthday. They sign him up for the football team, and eventually find that he is a very talented player. The family ends up adopting Michael and becoming a real family. They help him through school and picking out a college. The main characters are Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Lily Collins, Jae Head, and Quinton Aaron. I definitely think that this is one of Sandra Bullock’s best movies she’s acted in, and she won several awards for her performance. The character of Michael Oher is a very shy, polite young man. He always uses good manners, doesn’t expect anything from others, and is a hard worker. Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother of the family, is a straightforward woman, who doesn’t take orders from anyone. She is motherly and loving, but she’s still somewhat stern. She always works for the good of others and puts others first. I think the theme of this movie is to be happy with what you have. There are so many other people in the world whose lives are so much harder than ours, so we need to be thankful for how lucky and blessed we are. I would agree with Joe Leydon’s critique that The Blind Side is an uplifting, feel-good movie that will entertain the whole family. I 100% think this movie is worth our time and money. It’s a movie your whole family will love, and who doesn’t love a movie with a happy ending? This movie is very entertaining and fact-based, with an intriguing plot and great actors.

Guest Blogger: Loretta R1

Forrest Gump is a movie based on the novel Forrest Gump by Winston Groom. The Movie shows the life of the naïve and slow minded but clever Forrest Gump; starting in his young years on a bus ride to school he begins telling his story. This movie portrays comedy, romance, and action. Throughout the movie he witnesses and influences many of the important events of the second half of the 20th Century. Tom Hanks takes the lead role in playing Forrest Gump, and he also narrates the story as well. While he actually acting, he really knows how to key into the simple and unintelligent personality of Forrest Gump. Robin Wright who plays jenny in the movie Forrest Gump, her performance in the film is very romantic and caring, and you can really feel the emotions that are portrayed in her roles. Gary Sinise is Forrest’s Commanding officer Dan Taylor when Forrest gets drafted into the war, Forrest helps save his life, and Dan falls into deep depression, but later on realizes life is precious and forgives Forrest. Gary didn’t make me feel his emotions, but he helped me understand Forrest Gump more, and his motivations. Mykelti Williamson plays the role of Bubba in the film, which is Forrest’s War buddy and he wore a lip attachment to create Bubba’s protruding lip. The last main Character is Forrest’s mother played by Sally Field, she does an amazing job of playing the motherly role for a special kid like Forrest. There are many themes to the Film Forrest Gump. The main theme is that you shouldn’t take life for granted and appreciate the littler things in life because you never know when it could be ripped right from you. Another theme would have to be that you should always follow your dreams, and to never listen to anyone if they are trying to let you down or tell you can’t do something. Forrest Gump was one of the biggest hits of the late 90s and early 2000s, and a critic Roger Erebert says that “And yet this is not a heartwarming story about a mentally retarded man. That cubbyhole is much too small and limiting for Forrest Gump.” I have to absolutely agree with roger because Forrest may be Mentally Challenged, but he uses each and every experience and learns from it, and is influenced by these experiences, and gains knowledge for his own life, and by that he influenced others. This movie is definitely worth your time and money. If you haven’t seen this movie already, check it out and see for yourself what an inspirational movie this is.

Guest Blogger: Nuy T1

The Vow is one of my favorite romance and drama movies. It was released in theaters on February of 2012. Rachel McAdams (Paige) and Channing Tatum (Leo) are the main characters. This movie is about a newlywed couple. One night as the husband (Tatum) was driving with his wife (McAdams), they came across a tragic accident. The accident that occurred left the wife to lose her memory. The husband does whatever he can to get his wife’s memory back and win her heart. McAdams and Tatum showed a great performance throughout the film. Their emotions were just beyond amazing and with a sad movie like this; the characters were able to put their feelings into the movie very well. The trait that the wife has is that she cares. Her husband tries his hardest to get his wife to remember him and everything that they’ve had together. Paige sees her husband sad and hurt because she can’t gain her memory back so she does whatever he says and relives the past they had. Tatum’s trait in this movie would have to be a fighter. He will do whatever it takes to get his wife to love him again. The theme of this movie would be to never give up on the one you love, even if you end up with bump in the road during your relationship with your significant other. This shows that when you really love someone you would fight till the end no matter what happens. I strongly agree with the movie critics. They give the movie thumbs up and also recommend it to the audiences. There were a lot more good sayings to the movie than bad. Betsy Sharkey from the Los Angeles Times said, “This is a movie that leaves you wanting more. To care more, to cry more, to love more.” As for Michael Phillips he says this movie is “puddin’-headed,” but it’s not soul crushing. I couldn’t disagree with either of these critics. I would have to say my overall opinion on the movie The Vow is definitely our time and money. I say this because this moving has a good story and it’s based on a true story. Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum did a well done job throughout the movie which made me love it even more. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves romance and drama.

Guest blogger: Megan B1

The movie Soul Surfer is an incredible story about the life of surfer, Bethany Hamilton. When Bethany was 13 she lost her arm to a shark attack. This movie replays the horrific events and shows her triumphant comeback. Bethany has the perfect life in Hawaii, lives with her dad, mom and two brothers. They have all grown up with a passion for surfing and competing. Her best friend Alana Blanchard also joins them in surfing every day and does a lot of competitions with Bethany. They practically live in the water. One day, Bethany was out surfing with Alana and Alana’s dad and brother. After surfing for a while, Bethany dangled her left arm in the water and a tiger shark appears and takes a bite right up to her shoulder. When they finally get her to the hospital, the doctors said she had lost her left arm and about 60% of her blood. If she lived, it would be miracle. The movie then goes on to tell her story as she tries to recover from the attack and get back in the water and do what she loves. AnnaSophia Robb plays Bethany Hamilton in the film. I think she did a great job portraying Bethany and her life story. AnnaSophia got to work personally with Bethany Hamilton to learn how to surf and to get to more about her life, which I think helped her tremendously in staring as Bethany. Bethany shows the audience her courage and strength throughout this movie. Her drive to want to get back to what she loves and what she is so good at is inspiring to the viewers. The theme of this movie is to never give up. Bethany Hamilton lost her arm to a shark, which is a prime need for a surfer. She did not quit; she was not going to let that stop her. She had to work twice as hard to get back up on the board but she learned how to surf again and adapted to her situation. According to the Orlando Sentinel Roger Moore, on April 6, 2011, they said, “The best faith-based film ever made, an uplifting, entertaining and wonderfully-acted account of surfer Bethany Hamilton’s life before and after a shark bit her arm off in the waters of her favorite Hawaiian beach.” Some reviews say that is wasn’t as well portrayed as they would have like to seen, but it is impossible to nail a movie based on a true story. I think this movie is well worth your time and money. It is an inspiring story and an incredible film based on the true events of Bethany Hamilton.

Guest blogger: Matt F1

The Blind Side is a true story about current Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron). Oher is a homeless Memphis teenager who gets a chance to attend a private Christian school, where most of the students are rich and white. Here, he is noticed for his athletic ability. One cool November night after a school event, Michael is walking down the street wearing a T-Shirt and shorts. The Touhy family drives by him and Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) instinctively figures out he has nowhere to stay and invites him to their home. According to A.O. Scott of The New York Times, what happens after this is a “live-action, reality-based version of a Disney cartoon: …[a] tale of a foundling taken in by strangers, who accept …and treat him as one of their own.” There are also serious issues about race, drugs, and most importantly, family life covered in the movie. All of this, mixed in with the story of Michael becoming a star football player, is enough to make the movie worthwhile. The Blind Side was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Lead actress Sandra Bullock, won an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Touhy. In his first lead role, Quinton Aaron received several award nominations. Leigh Anne’s character is “an energetic, multitasking woman of the New South, who knows her own mind and usually gets her own way,” says A. O. Scott. She is caring, independent, and dedicated to helping Michael and her own children succeed. Michael, on the other hand, is a complex character. We learn about his past through flashbacks in the movie. He is quiet and shy, but also has a strong desire to succeed. According to Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post, The Blind Side is “a story about the authentic, compassionate response to vulnerability and need. It's a story about family.” I think this is a good statement about the theme of the movie, which tells us about the importance of family. Though critics have said the movie is too sweet or a “Hollywood” version, I would disagree. I think The Blind Side is a movie that the entire family can enjoy, whether or not they like sports. I think it is definitely worth your time and money. You might also enjoy the book of the same title, written by Michael Lewis.

Guest blogger: Michaela D1

The movie Sleepy Hollow is Tim Burton’s great, dark rendition of Washington Irving’s story. It takes place in 1799, when the main character, Ichabod Crane is sent to the small, quiet town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate some murders that have been taking place. The creepy thing is that all the people murdered were found decapitated with their heads nowhere to be found. As Ichabod investigates the murders, he comes to find secrets about the not so quiet town and the people in it. He also learns that the murders may not be by human but by the Headless Horseman. Johnny Depp does a fabulous job as always, playing the role of the weird and eccentric Ichabod Crane. He captures his curiosities and all around good character for justice in the film. Christopher Walken, who plays The Headless Horseman, does an amazing job at revealing an almost barbaric side to his crazy killer of a character. Ichabod Crane is a New York City detective who, unlike his colleagues, prefers to find reason behind murders and use special tools, rather than assumptions and mid-evil tortures that are still being used. He is sent to Sleepy Hollow to use his techniques in finding the murderer behind the headless victims. Ichabod, who is a rather timid man, uses bravery and determination to solve this dark mystery. Katrina Van Tassel, who is played by Christina Ricci, is a local of Sleepy Hollow and also the daughter of rich man Baltus Van Tassel, who becomes Ichabod’s love interest. She is very quiet and keeps to herself while using good magic secretly to protect Ichabod who she cares for. The theme of the movie is to pretty much trust your instinct and learn that things aren’t always as they might appear. I agree with Roger Ebert who had a good review on the movie. It is a fantastic movie to watch if you love Tim Burton (which you should :P) and if you love dark, creepy humor. It is definitely worth the time and money, which all of Tim’s movies are.

Guest Blogger: Kendal K1

The 2010 movie The Runaways is based upon a real life story of the first successful rock band with all women members. Despite the fact that this movie is based upon this band’s journey to success, the two main characters in this story are Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. Throughout the movie we see these two characters experience a roller coaster of emotions together and see where life leads them. Kristen Stewart, who plays Joan Jett, did an amazing job. She realized how important this character was to her and changed her appearance for the role by cutting her hair to be similar to how the character’s was at the point in time. Dakota Fanning, who played Cherie Currie, also did a really great job. Even though her character had a very different lifestyle in comparison to her own, she was able to pull off the emotions that her character must have felt and reenacted difficult scenes that are mostly likely not similar to her own experiences. Joan Jett is played as a determined young teenager who wants to start an all-girl rock band. She is the person who talks to the agent Kim Fowley to get the band started and tries her hardest to keep them together despite the difficulties they must face. Cherie Currie starts as a somewhat naïve teenager who is made the singer in the band. She ends up falling onto the wrong side of the industry and has to pull herself out despite the hard addictions she got herself into. I believe the theme in this movie is that you should follow your dreams even if it a difficult path. In Roger Ebert’s review of The Runaways he talks about how the script itself isn’t what makes the movie good and then says: “Its interest comes from Shannon's fierce and sadistic training scenes as Kim Fowley, and from the intrinsic qualities of the performances by Stewart and Fanning, who bring more to their characters than the script provides.” I would have to agree because I feel each actor brought their character to life. Having not known much about Joan Jett or Cherie Currie I felt Kristen and Dakota did an amazing job portraying their character’s past personality. Also, the other characters, despite being minor, had a major part in the story telling because of their acting. Overall, I believe that The Runaways is definitely worth the time because its actors are able to tell the story well.

Guest Blogger: Kenneth K1

Brian O’Connor he used to be a former cop but now he is partners with ex-convict Dom Torreto. Then also Brian O’Conner is dating Dom Torreto’s sister Mia Torreto and then Brian and Mia broke Dom out of custody. So now they are avoiding authorities all over Rio de Janeiro. Then Brian and Dom thought about trying to pull off on last job before they call it quits for good. The reason why they are wanted is because of a corrupted businessman/drug lord Hernan Reyes caught them trying to steel what belongs to him so now they have FBI agent Luke Hobbs ripping and tearing through Brazil with his team chasing after Brian and Dom. Performance wise of the actors of Mia, Dom, Brian, and Luke I think they all did an outstanding job of acting out their characters in Fast Five. Brian O’Conner traits are he is driven to get what he is told done and is caring of others who are dear to him. Then for Dom he cares strongly for his sister Mia and likes to do quick and easy jobs that get him quick cash. Then Mia she is a young caring girl who is just driven to get out of the danger they are in so she can start her little family with Brian. Then last Luke he is a guy who likes to get his job done and when he says he’s going to get it done he really is going to get it done. The theme of this movie is that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I agree with what the critics say cause I saw the movie and it was pumped full of action so I would recommend this movie to everyone. According to Los Angeles Times “Who knew that the best place to put Vin Diesel would be between the Rock and a hard place? The spot has never been tighter, or righter, and the testosterone never higher than in the hot jacking action of Fast Five." My overall opinion of this movie is that it’s a must see movie and it 100% worth your money and time because this is the best movie they came out so far for the Fast and the Furious set edition.

Guest Blogger: Jared K1

The movie John Q. is a drama/thriller that was released in 2002. John Q. is about a man named John Quincy Archibald, played by Denzel Washington, whose insurance won’t pay for his son’s heart transplant. John and his wife Denise, played by Kimberly Wise, try as hard as they can to raise money for their ten year old son’s heart transplant but still don’t have enough. John seems to run out of options so he holds the hospital hostage until the doctors agree to perform his son’s heart transplant. Denzel Washington does a great job playing this role and I couldn’t think of anyone that could do better. Some of John’s traits include that he’s determined and caring. He’s so determined to get his son on the list to be operated on that he goes to something extreme by holding the hospital hostage. He is obviously caring towards his son but makes sure everyone in the emergency room is getting the care they need while he’s holding the place hostage. The movie has other notable actors like Robert Duvall and James Woods. The theme of the movie is going to extremes for somebody that you care about. Roger Ebert’s review says that John Q. is an intense movie that will keep you waiting to see what happens next. I agree with Roger Ebert’s review because that is exactly how I felt. I was anxious to see what other obstacles would get in John’s way and how it would end. Filmcritic.com says that the movie runs on a little long and pushes a bit too much but there’s no denying Washington’s complete power as he plays the role. I disagree with the first part because I never lost interest or got bored of watching and never thought too much was going on. I do agree that Washington does a great job as the lead role, which he always does to me. I think that John Q. is definitely worth the time and money to watch. If you are into drama/thriller with a great cast of actors, then you need to get your hands on this movie.

Guest Blogger: Jack H1

One of my most favorite movies of all time is the movie The Transporter. The Transporter is a movie about Frank Martin, a self-employed package delivery man whom gets tied up in a mess with a girl. The girl is an Asian woman named Lai and she was found in the back of Frank’s car during a suspicious delivery. Frank decides that he doesn’t want to deliver “her” because it seems morally wrong to him. The man who was supposed to get the girl delivered to him gets mad, really mad and sends out a gang of thugs to take out Frank and get the girl back. Frank Martin and Lai together must survive the onslaught of enemies. Lai also tells Frank she needs help saving 2 semi-trucks loads of Chinese slaves from being put to slave work by her father. Thus, Frank Martin and Lai both go on an incredible adventure that includes lots of love, action, and deep struggles. Jason Statham plays as Frank Martin in the movie and he is all out amazing. Jason Statham did all his own stunts in the movie and even all the fight scenes. Qi Shu plays as Lai and she wasn’t very good of an actor. Frank Martin is a very self-determined man with his own set of unbreakable rules. No names, no changing the deal, and no opening the package. Lai is a lonely Asian girl whose father is the leader of an evil slavery organization. She wants to do everything she can to stop her father. The main theme I got from the movie is when someone is in need of help, you can be their angel. The critic Roger Ebert says that the movie has too much action and it leaves a repetitive story with minimal dialogue. I disagree with what Roger says because all the action in the movie is some of the best I’ve ever seen and the story is constantly changing. Dave Kehr from the New York Times says the movie isn’t very violent for so much action. I agree with this statement because in the movie Frank only uses hand-weapons and his fists, which means no guns and blood. If the viewer enjoys romance or action The Transporter is definitely a recommended movie. The Transporter is actually a trilogy too, so it’s definitely worth checking out since each movie gets better.

Guest blogger: Haris M1

Adam Sandler plays a character named Paul Crewe. Paul Crewe is an ex-football player. Crewe Gets arrested for a traffic accident and is shipped to Allenville Penitentiary. The warden of the penitentiary is a big football fan. The warden’s football team consists of the guards at the Penitentiary. The warden suggests that Crewe sets up a football team with Crewe’s fellow inmates to play against the guards. Adam Sandler is the main character in the film and his performance is great he makes the film funny and action packed. Chris rock is the other main character in the movie and he also does a good job in the movie without him the movie wouldn’t be as funny as it is. In the beginning of the movie Paul Crewe is hated by the entire jail but throughout the whole movie he makes new friends and try’s to motivate them to get a football team started. A theme in the movie is never give up even if you’re in jail and try your best. Critics say it’s a good funny movie and its worth people’s time. My opinion I would say to see this movie it has lots of comedy in it and makes you laugh throughout the movie.

Guest blogger: Hannah S1

Soul Surfer is a movie that shows how one girl can overcome a huge accident and accomplish the impossible. Bethany is a girl who spend a majority of her time in the water surfing. Bethany is played by Anna Sophia Robb who does an amazing job of acting in the movie. She is determined to get back on the board and doesn’t give up until she is positive it’s pointless. But one day when she is out surfing with her friend Alana and her family, a shark came up and got ahold of Bethany’s arm and a piece of her board. This doesn’t hit Bethany until she is in the hospital. When she wakes up next, she is at the hospital with her armed wrapped up. She is hit with the challenge that she wants to get back into the water and once again learn how to surf. However she isn’t able to grab onto the board to get out. Her dad is able to adjust the boards to have a handle on it to help her. She still isn’t able to learn right off the bat. During that time she goes on a mission trip with the church. When she’s there, she realizes that everyone is afraid of the water because it destroyed their homes. She is able to get the boy in the water and on a surf board. By getting the little boy in the water, she is able to show everyone that they water isn’t as scary as it seems. When she gets back home, she decided to take up surfing again and give it her all. Will she still go on to win the big competition? Her parents Cheri and Tom are played by Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. Both of them are really into helping Bethany get back on the board and are always encouraging them. Her best friend Alana is played by Lorraine Nicholson, Alana believes that this whole accident is her fault. When she goes and see’s Bethany, she is in complete shock. The theme of the movie is that no matter what happens, you are able to change what people think and make a difference in the world. Critics have said that they movie, “Soul Surfer” is most inspiring when it exalts faith in one’s self,” was said by Andy Webster at the New York Times. Matthew Huntley said that, “Soul Surfer is the kind of film you want your kids to see. It is bursting with heart, inspiration and positivity, and it evokes a message about faith (not necessarily the religious kind) that anyone - child or adult - would be wise to heed.” I agree that this is an amazing movie; you will want to see this one. It’s one that you can’t believe that it actually happened.