Ken & Len's Movie review

November Movies 2008

2008-11-17T13:13:00.003-05:00

Hello and welcome to our Movie Blog.
We have been remiss in updating our Blog during the last month. We have been busy with our Halloween Party, Len's Birthday Party, and planning our Thanksgiving Day Feast next week.
Please check the corresponding sections of our Blogs to read up on some of our other activities during the last month.
For now, though, these are the movies we have seen in November and a brief review.

At the Movies -

Pride and Glory - Well done movie. Good acting and thought provoking. John Voight, Colin Farrell and Edward Norton are excellent in this saga about a multi-generational family of police officers in New York City. We give Pride and Glory ...................................3.25 - Stars

Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa - Wonderful animated flick following up as a sequel to the original Madagascar. The voices are from an all star cast of Hollywood notables including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith. Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie mac, Alec Baldwin and others. We loved Madascar 2 and give it......................................3.5 - Stars

Quantum of Solace - The latest in the James Bond franchise is sure to please in this non-stop, action adventure thriller. Daniel Craig is excellent as bond and second only to Sean Connery. This movie picks up exactly where Casino Royale ended with the apprehension of Mr. White. I like the direction that they have taken Bond. A little more time with his clothes on and a bit less cliche-ish dialogue. We thought it was an awesome film and we give Quantum of Solace...............3.75 - Stars.

On DVD -

Shrek the Third - 3.75 - Stars

Basketball Diaries - 3.5 - Stars

Ulysses - 2.5 - Stars

Casino Royale - 4.0 - Stars

Superhero Movie - 2.0 - Stars

88 Minutes - 3.0 - Stars

Made of Honor - 3.0 - Stars

Tortured - 2.5 - Stars

Please come back soon as we bring you the films that may be nominated to win the Academy Awards during their years' end release as we give you our 2-Cents Worth at the Movies.

Last Weekend in October 2008

2008-10-27T07:48:00.003-04:00

The frenzy of summer blockbusters releases has slowed to a trickle now that summer is gone.
The weather has changed for the better giving us cooler nights and less humid days.
Soon the flurry of Academy Award nominated films being released in December will be upon us and we will be right there to bring you the up to date reports on all of the nominated films.
In the mean time, let us share with you the films that we have recently seen.

At the Movies -

Body of Lies - This movie brings us Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe as CIA agents involved in international intrigue and mayhem. Explore what is done in the name of love and war. It is a good movie but the ending was weak.
We give Body of Lies ............................................................................3-Stars.

Max Payne - This action, crime-drama thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges and Chris O'Donnell is action packed and very well done for its genre. The story is interesting and the movie keeps you engaged until the end. Mark Wahlberg plays a DEA agent who has recently lost his family in a conspiracy and is now assigned to the Cold Files Unit, that unwittingly teams up with a professional assassin to who is looking to avenge the death of a sibling. Together they fight the police, the mob and a a ruthless corporation who have done them wrong.
We liked Max Payne and we give it...................................................3.5-Stars

On DVD -

Street Kings - Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie and Forest Whitacher become entangled in the battle between right and wrong in the LAPD cop culture. A very interesting film about trying to do the right thing. We give Street Kings....................................................3.5-Stars

Don't Mess with the Zohan - See review dated June 9th in our Blog..............2.5-Stars

Rails and Ties - A deadly collision between a train and car lead to an unlikely bond between the train engineer and a young boy who escapes the carnage. Starring Kevin Bacon, and Marcia Gay Harden, this movie deals with lives falling apart and about love putting lives back together.
Well done. We give Rails and Ties.................................................................3-Stars.

San Pietro (St. Peter) - Omar Sharif stars as the passionate but reluctant leader of the apostles after the Crucifixion of Christ, in this Italian adaptation. Cast of thousands. Very well done. We give San Pietro..............................................................................3.75-Stars.

Otis - Starring Bostin Christopher, this comedic horror thriller falls short and does not satisfy. Poor acting and an apparent low budget doomed this film from the start.Suburban America gone haywire. In the midst of a serial abductor/killer's rampage, a beautiful young teen, Riley Lawson, goes missing. When her desperate parents, Will and Kate, are contacted by her kidnapper, an insufferable FBI Special Agent takes charge of the case.But, from deep within the psychopathic subterranean world created by Otis, Riley turns the tables on her tormentor, manages to escape and to contact her parents. And, fed up with the tragi-comic inability of the FBI to find their girl, Will, Kate, and Riley's brother, Reed decide to take matters - and justice - into their own hands
We give Otis...................................................................................................1-Star.

Leatherheads - George Clooney and Renee Zellweger star in this romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s football, where the owner of a professional team drafts a strait-laced college sensation, only to watch his new coach fall for his fiancee. The movie is cute. We give Leatherheads................................................................................................2.5-Stars.

Sunshine - Humanity faces a glacial period as the Sun begins to expire on our solar system.
After the first team of astronauts fails in their mission to restart the sun, a second team is sent 7 years later and their actions could be Earth's last hope. Starring a cast of unknowns, the movie is mildly interesting. We give Sunshine.................................................................2-Stars.

88 Minutes - A thriller about a college professor who, while moonlighting as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI, receives a death threat telling him that he has only 88 minutes to live. In narrowing down possible suspects, he frantically seeks to communicate with a problem student, an ex-girlfriend, and a serial killer on death row. The movie is well acted by Al Pacino, Alicia Witt and Leelee Sobieski. We give 88 Minutes.................................3-Stars.

Made of Honor - Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan star in this romantic comedy about a guy in love with an engaged woman and how he tries to win her over aster she has asked him to become her Maid of Honor. Humorous high jinks. We give Made of Honor.............2.5-Stars.

Tracey Fragments - Tracey Berkowitz, 15, a self-described normal girl, loses her 9-year old brother, Sonny. In flashbacks and fragments, we meet her overbearing parents and the sweet, clueless Sonny. We watch Tracey navigate high school, friendless, picked on and teased. She develops a thing for Billy Zero, a new student, imagining he's her boyfriend. We see the day she loses Sonny and we watch her try to find him. In bits and pieces, we see what leads up to her riding in the back of a city bus wrapped in a shower curtain. Coming of age, or just surviving?
Interesting style of film making having multiple frames on screen at the same time.
Ellen Page however is a good actress. The movie is a little slow to get going and a bit dark.
We give The Tracey Fragments..........2.5-Stars.

First Weekend in October, 2008

2008-10-09T09:53:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another installment of Our Two-Cents Worth at the Movies.
We have several movies to share with you this week, so without any delay.......

At the Movies -
Eagle Eye (IMAX) - Our local movie theater is now offering movies in an IMAX format and this was the first movie we saw there in the new IMAX surround sound and larger screen. It was great. You could feel the vibrations of the action depicted on the screen, under your seat.
Eagle Eye was a great film to see in this new format.
This film about two strangers that are brought together by a voice on the phone from a woman they have never met, who threatens their lives and family if they do not comply with "her" instructions. This action-mystery-thriller starring Shia LaBeouf, Michael Chiklis Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton is a non-stop, in your face, drama, about an experiment dealing with tracking human beings from every angle in their everyday lives. It is well acted and directed with excellent editing and sound. You can go wrong with a movie produced by Steven Spielberg. We liked Eagle Eye and we let it soar with................................................3.5-Stars.

On DVD -

War Dance - This is an Oscar nominated Documentary about three children in Uganda who have lost everything due to war; except for their music.
This was an excellent heartfelt documentary showing the will to live and improve one's present condition, in the face of every obstacle no matter how insurmountable those obstacles may seem.
We loved the story in War Dance and we sing out it's praise...................................3.75-Stars.

Hair - The Musical - This timeless movie version of the Tony Award winning musical on Broadway about the freedom of the youth- subculture in New York City in the 1970's is inspiring to this day. Starring John Savage, Treat Williams and Beverly D'Angelo the music is fun, and alive and it makes you feel like dancing. We loved Hair and we give it..........3.5-Stars.

Birthrite - This low-budget thriller about a crazy mother and son who kidnap wayward women travelers in the East swamps of Arkansas in search for a bride for the son; someone to take care of him due to his numerous handicaps before the mother dies of old age.
The movie was mildly. We give Birthrite....................................1.5-Stars.

Sleepwalking - This B-movie drama starring Charlize Theron, Woddy Harrelson, and Dennis Hopper, deals primarily with an 11 year old girl's resentment for having been abandoned by her mother. The brother/uncle tries to take care of the young girl while the mom's away but this proves to be futile for a slacker in his mid twenties sleepwalking through life in a Midwestern town. He tries to find some answers in his childhood but that proves to be the source of all of the problems. Sleepwalking was interesting but not engrossing. We give it................2.5-Stars.

Starshiptroopers 3 - Marauder - The most recent in the saga of humanity being attacked by killer insects brings back Rico from the original episode. Not even he could save this sequel.
A federation star ship crash-lands on the distant alien planet OM-1, stranding a group of citizens.
Rico is called in to arrange a rescue mission a decade after he was the hero on Planet P.
In this sequel, the citizens find religion.
I hope they put this series to rest. We give Marauder...............................2-Stars.

The List - A sudden death tied to a list from the past leads tremendous evil. Just out of law school, Renny Jacobson is stunned by his father's sudden death--and then by the terms of the will: the elder Jacobson has left the bulk of his estate to charity. For his only son, he has left nothing more than the contents of a deposit box and interest in a company no one has heard of--the Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.
The movie is a suspenseful thriller starring Malcolm McDowell and others. It is interesting and worth watching, but it drags a little at the end. We give The List.............................2.5-Stars .

Definitely Maybe - This dramatic, romantic-comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Kevin Kline, is very well acted and interesting to watch.
The premise revolves around a political consultant, who tries explaining to his 11 year old daughter the reason he is getting divorced and his previous failed relationships.
We love Abigail so we give Definitely Maybe..............................................3-Stars.

Stop-Loss - A veteran soldier returns from his completed tour of duty in Iraq, only to find his life turned upside down when he is arbitrarily ordered to return to field duty by the Army.
Starring Ryan Phillippe, this war-time drama merits special consideration due to the fact that it is happening to thousands of our troops in Iraq and other places.
The acting was good but the movie itself however was tedious and slow moving at times.
We give Stop-Loss.......................................2.5-Stars.

On Cable -

Choose Me - Several lost-soul night-owls, including a nightclub owner, a talk back radio relationships counsellor, and an itinerant stranger have encounters that expose their contradictions and anxieties about love and acceptance.
Love is the true adventure of this romantic comedy. Starring an ensemble cast including
Genevieve Bujold, Keith Carradine, Lesley Ann Warren, Patrick Bauchau, Rae Dawn Chong, and John Larroquette was a dated look at love in the mid 80's.
Some what anachronistic it was funny at times and boring at others. We give Choose Me.................2-Stars.

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit is soon as we bring you Our thoughts: Our take; Our Two-Cents-Worth at the Movies.

Movies over Ken's Birthday Weekend Sept 19-21

2008-09-22T12:02:00.006-04:00

Welcome to this week's review of movies.
We saw one new and 2 on DVD. It was Ken's Birthday weekend and we had a fairly full agenda so movies were not at the fore front of our activities.

At the Movies -

Lakeview Terrace - This drama-thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington and Ron Glass is somewhat suspenseful but it falls short of being a satisfying movie.
An emotionally scarred, self absorbed, egotistical Afro-American police officer will stop at nothing to make his new interracial neighbors miserable. The plot of this movie is weak and predictable and the acting is mediocre at best. The cop's psychotic behaviour is not acceptable under any circumstance.
We give Lakeview Terrace........................................2.5-stars

On DVD -

Insanitorium 2008 -

Starring Jesse Metcalfe this comedic horror-thriller is terrible. Jesse was Eva Langoria's teen aged on screen adulterous lover on Desperate Housewives. That was a more realistic role for him than that of Jack in this demented tale of a scientist who is turning his patients into flesh eating zombies after some medical trials with some sort of nanotechnology.
Jack has himself committed into a mental institution in order to save his sister who has been unjustly labeled criminally insane. The movie deals with his manipulation of the system in order to save himself and his sister. The problem is that all of the cast turn into flesh eating zombies and/or is killed and this seems to hamper the escape of the good guys.
The funniest part is at the end.
We give Insanitorium 2008 a deservedly............................................1.5-Stars

Stormship Troopers 2 -

This second installment of the franchise Stormship Troopers is tittled Hero of the Federation.
Starring a cast of unknowns with one possible exception, this sci-fi, horror thriller is not as good as the original upon which it is based.
The Hero is Captain V. J. Dax played by Richard Burgi. Most recently he has had a recurring role in Desperate Housewives (another DH alumnus). He has also appeared in many made for TV movies and TV series like 24, Judging Amy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The District and many others. However he couldn't save this movie single handedly.
The movie was OK but I can not recommended it. I like the first one a lot better.
We give Stormship Troopers - Hero of the Federation................................2-Stars

That is all of the movies for this week.

We celebrated Ken's Birthday on Friday at Del Frisco's Steakhouse and at Disney's Pleasure Island. (Please see Restaurant Review and Trip sections in this Blog)
Sunday we had Bill and Russell over for a little party and food from Babalou's Bodacious B-B-Q and an afternoon of Settlers of Catan and Dominoes.

Thank you for visiting our little bit of cyberspace. Please come back soon so we can give you more of Our 2-Cents Worth at The Movies.

Movies During September 12th-14th, 2008

2008-09-16T15:41:00.005-04:00

We did not make it to the movies this weekend but please visit us again during the next few weeks as we endeavour to catch up At the Movies.

We did however see several movies on DVD so without any more delay, we bring you ...........Our Two-cents Worth at the Movies.

On DVD -

Doomsday - Great Britain, 2007. A deadly plague, known as the "Reaper Virus," has broken out, killing hundreds of thousands in its wake. In desperation, the British Government evacuates as many survivors as it can out of the infected area, and then builds a wall, preventing the remainder from escaping. Thirty years later, with the wall still up and the victims all but forgotten, the virus breaks out again. The Government decides to send a crack team of operatives, led by Major Eden Sinclair, into the hot zone to investigate the possibility of a cure.

This a a low budget English Sci-fi drama that borrows from every other "virus on the loose" movies. It has interesting scenes but most are confusing, dark and not well staged. It was hard to follow and understand.

We give Doomsday........2.25-Stars

Storm Trooper - This film is not only bad it is terrible. But, this one is so bad, you have to see it. I love really bad movies that are trying to be good. The acting is bad, the lighting is bad, the direction is bad, the plot stinks............, oh, well, you get the picture. When you have an afternoon free watch this classic. While you are laughing, please try to remember, this is not a comedy.

Starring Carol Alt, John Laughlin and ....yes folks, Corey Feldman, this movie's only redeeming value was they they have spared us from the sequel.

A couple of runaway bionic drones are fighting for their survival, while the scientists that created them, with some mercenaries, are trying to apprehend and neutralize them.

Awful........We give Storm Troopers.............1.5-Stars

Deathsport - Just when you thought that things had to be better for this one, you thought wrong. This is is even worse, and the actors knew it. Picture a really bad episode of Lost in Space, then picture it with even less special effects.

Starring David Carridine and Claudia Jennings this want-to-be action-sci-fi thriller is plain ol' boring and bad. They did have a handy gadget to get rid of people and "destructocycles" as they battle in a sport to the death. We are so happy we never have to see it again. We give Deathsport..................................1-Star.

The Air I Breath - This was a much better film than the others so far.
This crime-drama, romance, thriller is based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life and how it all was inter-related as life comes full circle.
This all star cast including; Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Geller, Emile Hirsch and Forest Whitaker deliver a solid performance in a powerful movie. Definetely worth seeing. We give The Air I Breath..............................3.25-Stars.

Starship Trooper - This 1997 classic was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Special Effects category.
This sci-fi thriller deals with a militaristic future where a "brainwashed" youth battles intelligent life in the form of giant alien bugs in a struggle for survival. It is interesting movie in a simple sort of way.
Starring Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Muldoon and Rue McClanahan the movie has enough star power to raise it above the ordinary cheap sci-fi movies that fight alien bugs. We give Starship Troopers..............2.75-Stars.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay - John Cho and Kal Penn reprise their roles as Harold and Kumar in another wacky adventure of the pot-smoking duo. The tittle describes the plot of the movie and all of the related hijinks.. Also starring Neil Patrick Harris, we liked this movie better that we thought we would. We give this installment of Harold and Kumar....................................2.5-Tokes err....-Stars.

The Upside of Anger - We like Joan Allen so we like to see all of the films she has done.
This one also starring Kevin Costner, deals with a suburban wife and her four daughters as they adjust to having their husband/father leave them and the romantic comedic situations that arise. Also starring Keri Russell, Alicia Witt, Evan Rachel Wood and Mike Binder, the movie is fast paced and funny at times. We liked it and we five The Upside of Anger.............3-Stars.

Thank you for your visit to our little bit of cyberspace. Please come back soon for more of Our Two-cents Worth at the Movies.

First Weekend in September, 2008

2008-09-08T07:03:00.004-04:00

We are back with another weekend review of the movies we saw during the last couple of days.
This weekend was the slowest weekend at the Movies in the last 5 years, where the #1 movie only raked in $7.8 million. Here is what we thought......

At The Movies -

Bangkok Dangerous -

This action, crime-thriller starring Nicholas Cage was interesting and well done. Cage plays a hit man, with very strict criminal ethics. There is plenty of violence so you may want to think twice if you are squeamish. The movie is worth seeing although in our opinion it falls short at the end. Bangkok Dangerous merits...............................3-Stars.

On DVD -

Into the Wild - This screenplay written by Sean Penn plays better than one would first think.
Starring a good cast including Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Hal Holbrook, and Vince Vaughn, the movie deals with a young man's desire to escape from everyday life and to buck all societal expectations. It is based on a true story and can be touching but slow moving at times.
We give Into the Wild................................................2.75-Stars.

Shopgirl -

This romantic drama starring Steve Martin and Claire Danes is an adaptation of Steve Martin's novel about the love triangle between a wealthy older man, a young woman looking for affection, and a spacey young man without much ambition. The movie is well done although it can be predictable and slow going. We give Shopgirl.................................2.5-Stars.

I am Not There -

This was an interesting movie about the life of Bob Dylan who is portrayed by 6 different actors who depict him as an actor, a folk singer, a rocker, Billy the Kid, Woody Guthrie and an author/poet.
The all-star cast helps in maintaining ones interest in this somewhat confusing tale. His music is the back drop to the story that is told in varying degrees of success by Cate Blanchette, Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin and Heath Ledger. Also starring is Kris Kristofferson, Julianne Moore, and Bruce Greenwood.
This is an Artsy type film that is thought provoking but not visually exciting.
Overall it is very well done and Cate Blanchette was excellent.
We give I Am Not There..............................................................3.25-Stars.

Labor Day Weekend 2008 Movies

2008-09-03T06:44:00.003-04:00

We hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend 2008.
We spent the weekend at Flagler Beach but had several day trips to nearby locations including Palm Coast, St. Augustine, Ormond Beach and Jacksonville.
While we were in St. Augustine we decided to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon at the movies. We found a quaint little theater at The Ponce de Leon Mall; The Regal 6 Cinema.
Since we were more interested in timing and not content, we went to see Tropic Thunder.

At the Movies:

Tropic Thunder - Yeap. This is the movie that has been number one for the last three weekends. While it was mildly amusing it is NOT, #1 material.
The cast of comedic giants and cameos of Hollywood A-Lister's is not enough to save the script which is sophomoric at best. Farting jokes, sexual innuendos, and gratuitous gore were funny in high school. Perhaps that was the target audience.
Tropic Thunder starring Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Steve Coogan and Ben Stiller is about a group of Hollywood B-Lister's ( type casting perhaps???) making a big budget War movie who get caught up in a real war against a quasi-military heroine production cartel called the Dragons.
The premise then becomes that these actors now must ACT like soldiers to save their own lives.
While the premise is a good one, this movie took a more casual approach to the problem and got lost in the jungles of Viet Nam. (Filmed in Hawaii)

Robert Downey Jr. makes his debut as a surgically induced African American. Why not right?
Cameos by Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, John Voight, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Lance Bass, Alicia Silverstone, Tobey Maguire and Mickey Rooney add interest and texture to the movie but not enough to save it.
We hope and pray there is no sequel. We give Tropic Thunder........................2.5-Stars

On DVD -

In the Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale -

A simple family man and farmer, named Farmer (Jason Statham) sets out to rescue his wife and avenge the deaths of his son and wife's family against a race of animal warriors called the Krugs.

The premise of the movie is simple. Perhaps to simple. The movie is predictable and we found ourselves fast forwarding through scenes that added no substance to the plot.
Also starring Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds, Ron Pearlman and Leelee Sobieski the movie was obviously low budget and it showed in every way.
We always enjoy Jason Statham movies but we will pass on this one; probably his worse.
We give In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale...........................1.75-Stars

In Bruges -

A couple of hit men are sent to the peaceful historic city of Bruges to cool off and lay low, after their last hit in London goes awry. The interaction between the older and younger murderer is an interesting repartee of words and culture.
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farell and Brendan Gleeson, this dark comedy is brainy and thought provoking. Is there honor among murderers? Watch for yourself.
We liked In Bruges and we give it...............................................3.0-Stars

On Cable -

Derailed -

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen and Vincent Cassel, this crime, action thriller is a story of blackmail and double cross. It is difficult to speak of the plot without giving the suspense away.
We saw this at the theater in 2005 and saw it again this weekend and it was still fresh and engaging. We liked Derailed and we give it....................................3.0-Stars

Thank you for visiting with us.
Please come back soon as we bring you another installment of Our 2-cents Worth at the Movies.

Death Race 2008 and more 8-23-08

2008-08-25T06:40:00.002-04:00

This weekend we went to see the opening of Death Race 2008 with Jason Stathan and Joan Allen. We like both of these actors so we thought the movie would be half way descent. It was indeed.
This action-adventure, sci-fi thriller is a non stop rush of adrenalin.

The premise of this movie deals with Stathan's character being falsely accused of a staged murder by the warden of the Prison, (Joan Allen's character), so that she can "encourage" him to take part in a Death Race; a car race where the inmates must kill each other in order to be the last man standing to win.
Stathan does most of his own stunts giving the movie tremendous reality.
The movie is very well done and keeps your interest throughout.
We like Death Race 2008 and we give it...............................................................3.25-Stars.

On DVD -

Meet Bill - This romantic drama about a man fed-up with his life and his cheating wife is a common real life story but in this instance, Bill decides to do something about it.
Starring Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba and Elizabeth Banks, the cast makes the movie interesting and well acted. I am not an Aaron Eckhart fan and I liked him in this movie.
We liked Meet Bill and we give it ...............................................3.0-Stars.

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green - This movie was dead on arrival.
It is the story of the social life of a gay young man and it fails to deliver its comedic intent.
Poorly acted by a group of unknowns, this story was better as a syndicated cartoon feature in alternative newspapers decades ago. This movie makes Shallow Hal seem like a humanitarian.
We didn't care for this film and regret that part of our life we spent watching it.
We give it" ..............Ethan Green"............................................................1.5-Stars.

The Other Boleyn Girl - We liked this movie. It was very well done and acted by three great actors: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Banna.
Two sisters compete for the love of King Henry VIII. The rest is history.
We liked this movie and we give The Other Boleyn Girl...................................3.25-Stars.

P.S. I Love You - This romantic drama was beautifully acted by a considerable cast of stars;
Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Harry Connick Jr., and Kathy Bates. The story is a very sad but uplifting one, where a husband who knew his days were numbered, leaves his wife a series of letters to help her deal with her loss of him.
It is very touching, specially if you have lost someone close to you, in your life.
It is hard to be objective with a movie whose story you love. We loved P.S. I Love You and we give it............................................4-Stars.

On Cable-

First Snow - Good movie dealing with repressed guilt and how one's mind can make one crazy.
Starring Guy Pearce, Steven Michael Quezada and J.K. Simmons, this drama thriller is a psychological study of one man's dealing with his past, and how guilt plays a huge part.
The movie is slow going at times but it packs a punch.
We liked First Snow and we give it.........................................2.75 Stars.

Thank you for visiting our little piece of cyberspace. Please come back soon as we bring you Our 2-Cents Worth in movie reviews.

Slow Weekend at the Movies 8-15-08

2008-08-19T06:39:00.005-04:00

Hello and welcome to Ken and Len's Movie Review.
This week we skipped the movie theater for the first time in months because we had chores to do and it was very slim pickings at the movie theater.
But we do have a handful DVD reviews so without much more ado here are this week's reviews.

DVD's -

Rambo - This 1980's classic returns with a new episode of a crime action thriller written, directed and starring Sylvester Stallone.
This time our hero is in Thailand where he joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-ravaged Burma to rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by ruthless paramilitary locals.
The action is non stop and the computer graphics depict vivid violence and gore.
We liked Rambo and give it.....................................................3.25-Stars

Cloverfield - This action-mystery-sci-fi-thriller was much anticipated but packed very little punch.
The plot revolves around a Godzilla-type monster attack on New York city as told by a group of friends wielding a video cam after their going away party was interrupted.
Starring a bunch of unknowns, this movie lacked the star power and the writing required for an interesting Hollywood film.
Cloverfield was so-so and we give it.............................................................2.5 Stars

The Spiderwick Chronicles -

Upon moving into the deserted Spiderwick Mansion with their mother, twin brothers and their sister find themselves pulled into a parallel world full of faeries and other creatures.
Starring Freddie Highmore as the twins, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and voices by Seth Rogen and Martin Short, this family adventure-fantasy pleases on all levels. The writing is good, the action is better and the computer generated graphics are excellent.
We enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles and we give it ...................................3-Stars

Saw -4 -

Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw in this crime-horror-thriller that is likely to affect your nightmares for a few days following your screening of it.
In this latest installment, Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead, but somehow his legacy carries on. Talk about creative writing.......
But the movie does what it means to do and that is to horrify you with unspeakable blood and guts and related mayhem. If you like horror movies you will like Saw-4. We give it.................3.25 -Stars

King of California -

This wacky comedy starring Michael Douglas is very well done even though his character can be infuriating at times.
Playing an unreliable dad recently released from a mental institution, he tries to convince his daughter that there is Spanish gold buried under the suburbs in California.
The movie is very well done and it can be heartfelt at times. What do you do with an unstable parent?
It was very enjoyable and has a good ending. We liked King of California and we give it..............................3-Stars.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford -

Well, so much for plot development and a surprise ending. The movie tittle says it all. No much room for interest in the movie when you know the ending. And so is the case with TAOJJBTCRF; the fact that it was a western, poorly made, didn't help its cause either; the fact that Casey Affleck is not our idea of a good actor even when you can understand what he is saying; and that Brad Pitt is not much better, add up to terrible cinematic experience.
The total sum of its part add up to a not so enjoyable, too long movie. We gave this disaster...........................................................2-Stars.

Please come back soon as we hope to bring more movie reviews so that we can share Our 2-cents worth at the movies.

WEEKEND OF 08-08-08

2008-08-11T07:19:00.004-04:00

Hello and welcome back to our Movie Blog.

Before we tell you about the movies we saw this week, we would like to make mention of the incredible Opening Ceremonies for the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. These ceremonies have to be by far the very best ever produced. They were like nothing else ever produced. It had the largest television audience to ever watch a single event in the history of the world.

If you didn't see them we recommend that you buy the video because you are not likely another spectacle like this in your life time. We give the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing...............................................................5-Stars

At the Movies:

Pineapple Express - A pothead and his dealer are forced to go on the run after the pothead witnesses a police officer commit a murder.

Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Ed Begley, Jr., Rosie Perez and Nora Dunn, this light hearted comedy, action-drama is entertaining and thoughtless fun, and it has more violence than a World War II movie. (or so it seemed at the time)

Pineapple Express is a modern day Cheech and Chong Movie. We liked it. We give Pineapple Express............................................................................................3-Stars

The X-Files - I want to Believe - David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back as agents Mulder and Scully when the FBI calls them back to duty when a defrocked priest claims to be receiving visions of a missing FBI agent.

Also starring Amanda Peet, this feature length episode is good but we were hoping for more.

The premise that human organ transplantation had achieved new heights was interesting but not enough to make this movie what it could have been. Nevertheless we enjoyed it and we give The X-Files: I Want to Believe......................................................3.25-Stars.

On DVD -

The Walker -

This Washington DC based story about a male escort of wealthy high society ladies and their shared appetite for gossip and scandal is a very good drama mystery.

This all star cast including Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Becall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin and Willem Dafoe is excellent as the murder mystery unfolds.

We liked this movie very well and we give The Walker.................................3.25-Stars

The Savages -

Starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymore Hoffman, The Savages, is an excellent study into the sibling relationship when life dictates that they need to take care of their ailing father.

This comedy-drama was very well done and it made you laugh and cry.

We loved The Savages and we give it............................................................3.5-Stars

The Time Machine -

This sci-fi action-adventure, based on a novel by H.G. Wells, is clever in its premise, but the story is not interesting enough to command unrestricted interest.
The cast of relative unknowns including Guy Pearce, Mark Addy, and Jeremy Irons, are not charismatic enough to take control of the audience and carry the movie through.
Hoping to change the past, a 19th century inventor travels 800 000 years into the future to find the humanity has been reduced into two warring factions.
It was mildly interesting and we give The Time Machine........................................2.75-Stars

The Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-04T06:46:00.004-04:00

In what is likely to be the last of Summer of 2008 blockbusters, The Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, did not disappoint. With an opening weekend of over 42 million dollars, it did very well at the box office, although it came in second behind the new Batman movie- The Dark Knight.

The Mummy 3 is the latest installment in the Brendan Fraser led saga about bringing back to life, evil doers from centuries past. This version has Jet Li in the role of the Dragon Emperor; a shape shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago for killing the love of her life.

This action-adventure fantasy thriller is visually stunning with images of China in the 1940's.
It is fast moving and interesting to watch and the computer generated images are very well done.

Don't be surprise if the sequel is filmed in Peru.

We liked The Mummy 3 and we think it merits....................................3.25-Stars.

Also seen on DVD -

Charlie Barlett
The premise is simple: Rich kid becomes self appointed psychologist to the students of his new high school. However Charlie Barlett is also about most humans' innate desire to be popular and to be liked.
Staring Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr., this movie is funny and sad as needed.
Anton Yelchin is terrific as Charlie Bartlett and Robert Downey Jr, plays an alcoholic high school principal, which he does very well. (hehe)
It was easy to watch and very enjoyable. Keep an eye out for Anton; He is likely to be a huge star.
We loved Charlie Bartlett and we give it..................................................3.5-Stars

Lost Horizon - The Musical
Although it was not highly regarded by the masses in 1973, this story about Shangri La was very well done by its all-star cast, including notables as: Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Sally Kellerman, George Kennedy, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Bobby Van, Charles Boyer and Sir John Gielgud.

The music was written and composed by Burt Bacharach and it was very appropriate for the telling of this classic tale from James Hilton's Utopian lost world.
While we have to agree that the choreography was a bit lame, and the singing could have been of higher caliber, we thought the movie deserved better than what has been said about it.
We enjoyed this version very much and we give Lost Horizon............................3-Stars

Take a Chance on MAMA MIA

2008-07-28T06:54:00.006-04:00

We had just picked up Len's family home movies from the early 70's in East Orlando and had decided in advance that we would go to Cocoa Beach for the weekend since we were already half way there. We had located the movie theater where we would view The X-Files series new movie, I Want to Believe. We had movie times in hand and ready for a paranormal experience. When we get to the box office, we realize that the movie times were different from those published on-line, and we would have to wait 1 hour and ten minutes for our first choice movie for the weekend. Since we were eager to get to our final destination at the hotel, we chose a different movie, and MAMA MIA, was it good!

For years I had never given a second thought to the musical on Broadway of the same name. After all, who wants to go to a theater to see people sing songs from the 70's and 80's. Well, if the Broadway show is as good as the movie, then I have been missing out all of this time. MAMA MIA, the movie, is a beautifully crafted musical with the story of a bride to be, Sophie, (Amanda Seyfried) and her quest to find her father so he can walk her down the isle on her wedding day. This story is told, in part, with music from the Swedish group ABBA and the characters are portrayed by a wonderful cast. Merryl Streep is wonderful as Sophie's mother, who has struggled to make ends meet all of these years raising Sophie on her own, as the owner of a bed-and-breakfast type establishment in the hills of the Greek Isles. (Ms. Streep was also in a movie called Sophie's Choice, no relation to this one)

In an effort not to give the movie away I will just mention the rest of the notable cast but not their roles: Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski.
The music from ABBA is so very well arranged and appropriately delivered to tell the story in music through out the film.

MAMA MIA, makes you laugh out loud, sing-along, dance in your seat, and cry, but it does so in a manner where you don't suffer too much of any one emotion for too long. Look for this movie to be a contender for Best Musical at Oscar time.

We loved MAMA MIA; here we go again, my, my how can we resist giving you anything less than...... 4-Stars

BATMAN, THE DARK KNIGHT

2008-07-25T13:08:00.006-04:00

Well, what can be said about this summer's Mega Blockbuster Action-Crime-Drama-Mystery-Thriller-Fantasy Superhero Adventure Motion Picture? Excellent, comes to mind.

The Dark Knight is indeed all of what is has been hyped to be. It is a great movie. It is a suspenseful, action packed 2.5 hour movie that is beautifully acted by Christian Bale, as millionaire Bruce Wayne/Batman, Heath Ledger as the psychotic Joker, Michael Caine as Alfred the Butler,Gary Oldman as Lt James Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox,who runs Wayne Enterprises.

Other notables are Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent/Two Faced and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, Batman's romantic interest.
I (Len) will say that I had never been a fan of Heath Ledger, God bless his soul, but he was outstanding in this character. We don't disagree that his was an Oscar worthy performance.

Aaron Eckhart was unimpressive as Harvey Dent and Maggie Gyllenhaal is not pretty enough to be a Superhero's love interest but the rest of the cast was excellent in their roles. Eric Roberts (Julia's brother) also has a small part in this movie. The smaller the better where Eric is concerned, we say.

Violence abounds in this latest Batman epic as does treachery and double cross.
The cinematography is stunning as is the editing, costumes and screenplay.
We wish all movies were this good, but that is not going to happen.
Batman, The Dark Knight had a 200 million dollar budget. It has made all of its money back in the first week in wide release.
We give The Dark Knight a spectacular....................4.25-Stars

Journey to the Center of The Earth and others, July 12th-13th, 2008

2008-07-14T06:03:00.006-04:00

Welcome to another installment of Our Two Cents Worth at the Movies.

This weekend we had Journey to the Center of the Earth starring Brendan Fraser as a scientist, looking for his missing brother, who discovers an incredible and fantastic dangerous world deep in the center of the Earth.
While it doesn't score many points for originality since this movie has been made numerous times from the original book by Jules Vernes in 1864, this action-adventure, sci-fi-fantasy, probably packs the best special effects and graphics of any of its predecessors.
At 92 minutes it is barely feature film length. Hollywood is getting lazy charging more for less.
Remember when most movies were over two hours long and admission was a fraction of what it is today? Now we pay through the nose to see a 90 minute remake. Is creativity dead in America?
We love Jules Verne so we enjoyed seeing this latest adaptation. We give Journey to the Center of the Earth 2008..............................................3-Stars

ON DVD -

Mad Money - This comedy starring Diane Keaton, Ted Danson, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Christopher McDonald is entertaining and fun to watch.
The premise involves three female employees of the Federal Reserve Bank who decide to steal money scheduled to be destroyed. Diane Keaton was at her criminal best and Katie Holmes plays ditsy, very well.
If some light comedic entertainment is for you, then we recommend this movie to you.
We give Mad Money..................................................2.75-Stars

Lars and the Real Girl - Nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay written directly for the screen, this movie did not disappoint.
Ryan Gosling triumphs in this role as a delusional young man who finds love and friendship with a mail-order doll bought through the Internet.
But even more bizarre than that, is the townspeople willingness to go along with the acceptance of the doll as real in order to help this young man who they have known and loved since he was a kid.
The movie is funny, warm, poignant, interesting and entertaining.
We loved Lars and the Real Girl and we give it.............................................3.5-Stars.

Cleaner - This straight-to-DVD crime drama is actually very good.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris and Eva Mendes, this movie is well acted, suspenseful and easy to watch.
Jackson, a former police officer who now has his own business as a Cleaner of crime scenes and other bio hazards, is unknowingly involved in a cover-up.
It was interesting and fun to watch. We give Cleaner...........................................3-Stars.

Revolver - We must say that this was one of the toughest movie to watch in a long time. Not because of the gore and violence of which there is plenty, but because of the way the story is told; using the character's inner voice and flashbacks.
Not even Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, who wears very little clothing in this movie, and
Vincent Pastore can save the story telling. And much to our dismay this movie was written and directed by Guy Ritchie. (No wonder there are rumors of Madonna divorcing him; I would too if he makes movies like this.)
The movie could have been more interesting if the viewer were allowed to understand what is happening at any given time.
We give Revolver..........................................2.5-Stars.

Movies Reviewed Over 4th of July Weekend

2008-07-09T06:21:00.003-04:00

We traveled to South Florida for the 4th of July weekend to spend it with my family and these are the movies we shared:

At The Movies:

Hancock: This much anticipated action/adventure movie starring Will Smith, the king of the 4th of July weekend blockbusters, falls way short of being a satisfying film under any circumstance. Even Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron could not save this mediocre movie.
Hancock tries to reinvent the superhero movie, but it looses interest in its own story.
Even the special effects seemed like an afterthought and contrived.
Interesting premise but poor execution. It almost feels like the movie was not complete. Like they forgot to show a reel halfway through the movie.
Don't let the box-office numbers mislead you. If you want to see a superhero movie, see Iron Man and the Hulk. This is by far the most disappointing Will Smith outing in his successful movie career. I sure hope there is no sequel planned.
The best part about the movie was that we took my sister to see it with us and she liked it.(Or was polite enough to say she did)
Hancock gets a not very Super........................................................2.5-Stars

On DVD:

Flawless - Demi Moore and Michael Caine star in this 1960's crime drama set in London, about a retiring janitor bitter at the circumstances surrounding his wife's death, and an American woman executive under appreciated in the London Diamond Corporation. Together they plan to steal a handful of diamonds, but then the plan changes.
It was well done; slow at times, but interesting and entertaining nevertheless.
Flawless carves out...............................2.5-Stars

Vantage Point - This Dramatic thriller is very interesting in its story telling.
The attempted assassination of the American President is told and re-told from several different perspectives. Starring, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker and Matthew Fox. The movie is suspenseful, well acted and entertaining.
We give Vantage Point .................................................................3.0-Stars

Astronaut Farmer - A former NASA astronaut forced to early retirement so he could save the family farm, never gives up his goal of space travel, and builds his own rocket against all odds.
Starring Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen, this movie while slow at times, is entertaining and engaging.
We give Astronaut Farmer a solid......................................................................2.75-Stars

Bone Dry - Luke Goss and Lance Henriksen star in this psychological thriller about a man (Eddie) being chased at gun point through an unforgiving Mojave desert by an unknown and mostly unseen assailant(Jimmy). The movie is compelling and engrossing. If you don't like theatrical violence, this movie is not for you.
Bone Dry comes up with.......................................................................................3.0-Stars

Reservation Road - Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly, this movie is about one man's battle with revenge and justice and another man's battle with guilt and remorse, after the accidental death of a ten year old boy. The movie is moving and heartfelt; overall very well done.
We give Reservation Road.......................................................................................3.25-Stars

Thank you once again for visiting our little piece of cyberspace.
We hope you join us again next week as we bring you Our Two-Cents-Worth at the Movies.

Last of the June Releases both start with a W. 6-28-08

2008-07-02T06:51:00.005-04:00

This weekend at the movies did not disappoint. There were two solid movies grossing over $110 million combined. Both were excellent in their own genre. Here is Our 2-Cents Worth:

Wanted - This action thriller starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angeline Jolie was a non-stop-edge-of-your-seat drama. The premise of the movie involves the conversion of an everyday neurotic account manager into an enforcer of perceived justice: an assassin.
The movie is very well done and it is not predictable in any way. We want Wanted to get......................3.5-Stars

Wall-E - This cartoon adventure set in the distant future involves a waste collecting robot (WALL-E) who has resigned himself to a lonely life on an abandoned planet earth. But one day a probe robot is sent to investigate the planet (EVE) for new life. This precipitates a space journey that will decide the future of humanity.
But the secondary premise of this movie is what wins your heart and that is that even robots can desire and fall in love. The animation was spectacular, but we have come to expect that from Pixar Films.
The voices are by relative unknowns with the exception of the ships computer, done by Sigourney Weaver and one of the ship's crew, John, voiced by John Ratzenberger.
WALL-E is an EntErtaining, hEart warming animatEd film and wE think it dEsErvEs............................................................................. 3.75-Stars

On Video (They both start with T)

27 Dresses - Catherine Heigl stars in this romantic comedy about a young woman who has been a bridesmaid 27 times. The road to her 28th bridesmaid experience is for her own sister's wedding. This is full of comedic resentment. When will it be her turn? Tune in to see.
We give 27 Dresses - 2.5-Stars.

10,000 BC - This prehistoric epic highlight's the life of a young mammoth hunter in his quest for answers about his father and the future of his tribe. But what he really wants is his childhood sweetheart and will go to extremes to get her.
With a cast of relative unknowns, the movie is interesting and worth watching.
We give 10,000 BC.............................................2.75-Stars.

Thanks again for checking us out. Please come back next week as we bring you Our 2-Cents Worth at the Movies on Hancock.

"Get Smart" is always good advise 6-21-08

2008-06-23T06:33:00.008-04:00

Another great weekend At the movies with Get Smart making its debut.
Maxwell Smart is back as CONTROL Agent 86 battling the forces of KAOS with his partner agent 99.
Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway lead this all star cast in this action packed crime-action comedy.
It is interesting and satisfying through out and as good if not better that the original TV series with updated gadgets and mayhem.
Other cast notables include: James Caan, Bill Murray, Alan Arkin and Dwayne Johnson.
It has received mixed reviews but we feel Get Smart is worthy of..............................3.25-Stars.

As a side note, we couldn't bring ourselves to watch the Love Guru. That looked painful.

ON DVD

License to Wed - A charming romantic comedy starring Robin Williams as a pre-marriage advisor to a couple doomed to his help. Slow at times but has a happy ending. License to Wed merits............................................................................................................2.5-Stars

Before the Devil Knows You are Dead - When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelery store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife hurtling towards a shattering climax.
This crime-drama thriller although relatively unknown has an all star cast including; Philip Seymore Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, and Rosemary Harris. Although the story telling is tedious and repetitive at times, the premise is interesting and riveting and the twists and turns make the last half more bearable. We give Before the Devil Knows You are Dead.......................................................2.75 stars.

Lions for Lambs - This relatively simple movie with a complex message was very well acted by Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Tom Cruise.
Circumstances involving two Army rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman, a journalist and a professor. It is certainly worth watching.
Lions for Lambs deserves..............................................................................................3.25-Stars

The Bucket List - Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. Wonderfully acted by Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson, and Sean Hayes this movie was as funny as it was touching. A must see,
The Bucket List carries every bit of................................................................................3.75-Stars

On Cable

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - This oldie but goody Sci-fi flick has suffered a bit from lack of new technology but it has an interesting story line. Made in 1961, it has an star studded cast including; Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, Peter Lorre, Robert Sterling, Michael Ansara, and Frankie Avalon.
The action happens on a brand new nuclear submarine when it is discovered that The Van Allen Radiation belt has caught on fire and life on this planet would cease to exist unless something is done before the air temperature reaches 175 degrees.
Certainly worth watching on a rainy day, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea sails on with.................................................................................2.75-Stars

ALSO ON DVD

The Last Legion - This action-adventure, war period-piece is set in 467 AD as the Roman empire crumbles, and the last Caesar, young Romulus Augustus, flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to Britain to track down a legion of supporters. Staring Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley this movie is very well done and it is highly recommended.
The Last Legion hails.................................................................................................3.75-stars

Thanks again for checking us out this week to get Our Two-Cents Worth at The Movies.

Join us For June Movies 6-14-08

2008-06-16T06:35:00.006-04:00

So far this summer's block busters have been very good movies that have satisfied most of the movie going public. Here are the movies for 6-14-08 as we continue through a blockbuster filled month.

At the Theaters:

The Incredible Hulk - The computer generated graphics were incredible. This movie, starring Ed Norton, Liv Tyler and William Hurt was very well done with excellent action sequences that had us on the edge of our seats. We all know the story, but I am looking forward to more of this green monster in the sequels to follow. Is there a surprise coming from Marvel Comics? Stay tuned. We give The Incredible Hulk..........3.75-Stars

The Happening - Starring Mark Wahlberg, John Leguizamo and Betty Buckley, is a paranoid thriller by M. Night Shyamalan, but it was very well done. The premise that humanity is under terrorist attack is quickly rejected as we find that there is something much more sinister at work. It was interesting and suspenseful. We give
The Happening..................................3.5- Stars.

On DVD:

Jumper: The premise is very interesting. A young man finds that he can teleport himself anywhere due to a genetic anomaly. But all of this comes with a price as he has to fight the forces that are sworn to kill him and people like him. Starring Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson and Diane Lane, Jumper is a fun and fascinating movie to watch. We give Jumper..............3- Stars

Meet the Spartans - A goofy parody on 300, this movie, starring Carmen Electra and Sean Maguire, has very few funny lines, and it is difficult to watch because it is so dumb.
We give Meet the Spartans a resounding........................................1-Star.

Conspiracy - A wounded, disabled marine comes back from war in Iraq to find that things here are home are not as rosy as they should be. Val Kilmer stars in this mystery, action-drama, which is slow to get going but ends with a bang.
We give Conspiracy...............................2.5-Stars

John Q - A down-on-his luck father, whose insurance won't cover his son's heart transplant, takes the hospital's emergency room hostage until the doctors agree to perform the operation.
Another excellent movie by Denzel Washington, this crime-drama thriller is packed with suspense and excitement. John Q deserves ........................................3.75-Stars

Come back soon, because the summer is just heating up, and see how we distribute Our 2-Cents Worth at the Movies. Thanks for visiting.

June Movies

2008-06-09T06:48:00.005-04:00

At the Movies:

1) Kung Fu Panda was a fun movie to watch and better than we had expected. The premise that the secret to one's success can be found within one's self was well delivered.The animation is excellent, the story line somewhat interesting, and the Star Studded Celebrity voices of, Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Ian McShane and Michael Clarke Duncan make this movie, a cartoon for adults, very enjoyable. We recommend Kung Fu Panda with....................................................................................................... 3.5-Stars

2) Don't Mess with the Zohan. Adam Sandler delivers another amusing comedic farce which is entertaining although it does drag towards the end. Sandler plays a former Israeli counter terrorist who's dream it is to cut and style hair while seducing all of his elderly clientele along the way. The movie is packed with celebrities including John Turturro, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider, Dave Matthews, Charlotte Rae, Kevin Nealon, Chris Rock, Mariah Carey, John McEnroe, George Takei and Henry Winkler. It is worth watching for the comic relief. We give The Zohan..................................................................................... 2.5 Stars

On DVD:

The Contract - A dramatic crime thriller starring John Cusack and Morgan Freeman. Suspenseful and unpredictable we give The Contract -................................. 3-Stars

Untraceable - Diane Lane and Billy Burke star in this thriller where the bad guy is using the Internet to kill his victims. Interesting premise and study of the human psyche. We liked this movie. It was interesting and fast paced. Untraceable merits............................................3-Stars

Along Came A Spider - Another Morgan Freeman movie, this one involves a congressman's daughter under Secret Service protection who is kidnapped from a private school by an insider who calls Det. Alex Cross, (Freeman) sucking him into the case even though he's recovering from the loss of his partner. Very good movie. Along Came a Spider spins...........................3.5-Stars

Lost Horizon - This 1937 classic directed by Frank Capra was very good. A plane crash delivers a group of people to the secluded land of Shangri-La -- but is it the miraculous utopia that it appears to be? Starring Ronald Coleman, Jane Wyatt, Ed Everett Horton and John Howard this movie was stunning considering when it was made. We give Lost Horizons a strong ........................................................................4-Stars.

Naked Boys Singing - The novelty of this comedic musical wears off during the first 5 minutes of the production. Once you realize that they are naked and can not really sing all that well, you are over it. Naked Boys Singing gets a bare................................................1.5-Stars.

On Pay-per-View:

Ring of Death - This action crime drama starring Stacey Keach was shallow and too violent to be entertaining. This movie deals with corruption in the penal system of California and how one obsessed corrupt warden manipulates the inmates for his financial gain. Not even the occasional gratuitous nudity can save this flick. Ring of Death is barely alive with 2.5-Stars.

On HBO:

The Breach - This mystery thriller starring Chris Cooper, Brian Phillippe and Lauray Linney is very good. It is a suspenseful espionage drama that is sure to please. Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill (Phillippe) enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, (Cooper) an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.
We feel The Breach deserves............................................................... 3.5-Stars.

Come back soon and see what else we review to give you Our 2-Cents Worth.

Movies Reviewed Over Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-28T06:48:00.003-04:00

Good day to you and thank you for visiting our little blog in cyberspace.
We enjoy watching movies and like to provide you with our thoughts, to steer you in the right direction if you are unsure about a particular movie which we may have seen.

This week we bring you our thoughts on one current movie, 2 recent releases, and one from the archives.

At The Movies:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - In this 4th installment, of one of the greatest franchises in movie history, Steven Spielberg pulls out all of the stops and brings us Indiana Jones in a digital format. This allows for the first time, the use of computer generated graphics, which add an incredible dimension to the film.
The movie is very well done, it is action packed, and the cinematography is stunning.
Harrison Ford brings back the Action Hero, Indiana Jones, with the alacrity of a much younger man. (He will be 66 yo on July 13th)
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is sure to please audiences of all ages.
Ken and Len give this Summer Blockbuster 4.25 stars

On DVD:

The Reaping - Hilary Swank stars in this drama about a small town in the bayous of Louisiana that appears to be facing the 10 Biblical plagues. Hilary's character, a former Catholic Missionary, who has lost her faith by events in her life, has made a career of debunking religious phenomena, by finding scientific causes for the events.
The movie is a low budget thriller, but it keeps you interested in the events that are haunting this old town. The movie is hard to follow at times, due to the style of story telling mixing the present, with flash backs and dream sequences that make you question the time line of the events.
The Reaping is certainly worth seeing and deserves...................................... 2.5 stars.

Made for TV Movie:

Recount - This movie relives the chaos created by the State of Florida results of the 2000 elections. Kevin Spacey and Laura Dern star in this HBO made for TV movie, and it is surely the front runner to win the Best TV Movie Emmy for 2008. Spacey and Dern will also receive nominations for best TV actor/actress for their roles.
We give Recount........................................................................................................3.0 Stars.

From The Archives:

The Naked Prey - This 1966 South African movie deals with a hunting Safari that goes terribly wrong. Staring and Directed by Cornel Wilde, the movie turns into the hunt for a human being who has offended a local tribe. This movies was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Screenplay Written directly for the Screen. (Clint Johnson and Don Peters)
Also in the cast are Ken Gampu and Gert Van der Bergh, notable South African actors.
The Naked Prey suffers from 1966 technology or lack thereof. It can drag on at times but overall it is entertaining and gives us a view into many of the South African animal habitats.
We however hated the scene depicting the slaughter of elephants for their tusks.
The Naked Prey merits...................................................................................2.5 stars.

Thank you for your time and we hope you check some of these movies out for yourselves.
Please come back and visit us soon and check out Our 2 Cents Worth.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend 2008

2008-05-23T06:17:00.003-04:00

Hello to old and new friends and to our families. Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Memorial Day:

Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, since many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.

So in keeping with the sentiment of the Day, let us remember solemnly and give thanks to all of the men and women who have given their lives so that we can enjoy this weekend with all of the freedoms that we have as Americans.

Now on to the reviews:

At the Theater:

Speed Racer - Even though this movie was canned by the critics, we both enjoyed it very much. We like the cast including, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Christina Ricci. While their roles were light hearted and hollow, we have to remember that this is a cartoon people. It is a fantasy. It is meant to be a diversion and not a documentary.
The computer generated graphics were stunning and visually exciting.
This movie was special for me because I used to watch this cartoon as a child before going to grammar school everyday,(Yes we had TVs then), and it was nice to see it on the big screen 40 years later.
We don't care what the over priced, over rated critics say....
Ken and Len give Speed Racer.....3.25 Stars

Home Video Reviews:

Love in the Time of Cholera - Adapted from the novel by Nobel prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the time of Cholera is an excellent story of postponed, inevitable love. Academy award winner Javier Bardem stars in this period movie, set in Columbia in the late 1800's. Love in the Time of Cholera merits ............4 stars.

The Order - Starring Heath Ledger, this is a film noir about the Catholic Church and the battle against evil. Not spectacular, The Order gets........2.5 Stars.

War - Stars Jet Li and Jason Statham. Any time you have Statham in the mix you are going to have an action/adventure flick. This is no exemption. War gets.........3 Stars

3:10 to Yuma - Starring bad boy Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Peter Fonda is a surprisingly well made and poignant western. 3:10 to Yuma deserves.......... 3.75 Stars

Gay Deceivers - This is a funny little romp that reminds me of Love American Style but with a gay theme. Made in 1969, it stars a bunch of unknowns, who remained unknown after this movie. It is what you would call an ensemble piece. We liked it; it was funny and amusing to see gay life styles in the late 60's Gay Deceivers merits........ 2.25 Stars

The Forgotten - Starring Julieanne Moore is based on an interesting premise. Can't say more without spoiling the movie. We liked it.
The Forgotten gets.......3 Stars

Crazy in Alabama - This is a period piece from the 1950's starring, Melanie Griffin, Rod Steiger and Meat Loaf and is directed by Antonio Banderas. It won't win any academy awards but is a solid little film with several relevant social commentaries.
Crazy in Alabama garners..........2.75 Stars

Resident Evil - Starring Milla Jovovich is an interesting fictional depiction of scientific research run amok. Interesting and entertaining trilogy (so far).
Resident Evil..........2.75 Stars
Resident Evil - Apocalypse........2.5 Stars
Resident Evil - Extinction........2.75 Stars
We strongly recommend that you view them in order. lol

There Will Be Blood - Starring Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis, is an excellent movie dealing with the then American Dream of striking oil and making it big, at the turn of the century. This is a notch above.
There Will Be Blood deserves.........4.25 Stars

Please come back and vist us soon as we will endevour to bring you Our Two Cents Worth at the Movies. (and at home too)

Happy May Day 5-01-08

2008-05-01T19:54:00.003-04:00

Hello to new and old friends and and to all of our fantastic family.

We have not updated the Movie Review Page as often as we used to because we have been watching more movies at home. Ken has nearly 600 movies and active memberships in two CD rental sites, and we both have pay per view options in our homes, that make movie watching, more comfortable and hot dogs are only 50 cents and not $4.00. (Although we have to admit we love the Big Screen)
Add to that the privilege of paying 33% more for gas than we did in the last quarter of 2007, (thank you Exxon, Shell, BP, and others that shall remain nameless but you know who they are)and the increase in price for even matinee shows at the movie theater ($15 for two between noon time and 4 PM), we have decided that we are going to do all that is needed to protect ourselves during these horrible financial times.(Please raise your hand if you are republican, but enjoyed the Bill Clinton Administration better). We hope that the future will bankrupt those who are raping us financially while they are riding the high tide. We(the American people) will have our say and they will not be happy when we do.( Unprecedented Profits every reporting period for the last year for the big oil companies?) Exxon reported billions of dollars. It is disgusting how this fleecing of Americans is allowed to occur.

However, we do have some reviews to share with you.

At the Theater:

21 - We always like Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth but the others were excellent as well.

The movie was very fast paced, entertaining, not predictable and interesting, (and love math, statistics and odds.) We didn't know story until the move publicized the event. Certainly worth seeing.
Ken and Len's two cents worth says 3.50 Stars.

Nim's Island - Very nice, family movie with a wonderful cast. Jodie Foster (old favorite), Gerard Butler(new favorite), and Abigail Breslin (America's darling child-actress since Little Miss Sunshine, are charming and endearing. We are suckers for happy endings. It is worth seeing.

Our 2 cents worth says.....3.50 Stars

Iron Man - The summer blockbusters are HERE.This movie was excellent, even for people like us who didn't care much for Robert Downy, Jr.. It is a classic comic book story brought to life by excellent actors such as Gweneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrance Howard. The special effects are stunning and we can not wait till the sequel.
Iron Man is a solid.........4 Stars

Home Videos:

These are movies we have seen at home in the last few weeks.

Gone Baby Gone - Excellent screen play. While Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris deliver excellent performances, Casey Afleck is not a very good actor. However the movie is poignant and moving. Ken and Len say..........3.75 Stars

Ratatouille - A beautiful animated film with a great story line. 4.25 Stars

30 Days of Night - A weak suspense thriller. 2.5 Stars

Chaos - An edge of your seat thriller with Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes and Ryan Phillippe. 2.75 Stars

Skin Walkers - Mildly Suspenseful .....2 Stars

Final Destination 1, 2 and 3. As a series we give it..... 3 Stars

The Mist......1.5 Stars

Three ......... 3 Stars

The Covenant......2.5 Stars

The Hitman........ 3 Stars

American Gangster......3.75 Stars

Dan in Real Life........... 3.75 Stars

Movies Seen : Catching Up After the Holidays

2008-01-17T09:28:00.000-05:00

Hello to all of our old friends, family, and new friends.

We have been remiss in updating our Blog since our trip to New York in October.
The last 2 months of the year are usually very hectic. Starting with the Halloween Party at our Friend's Russell's place, (by the way we took first place for most original pumpkin carving), we then have my Birthday month, which Ken was so nice to make sure was a special month; Our trip to Savannah in November; Thanksgiving in South Florida with my family; Our brand new hobby of Slot Cars Racing. These are not your granddad's Slot Cars. These are SCX Digital and they have been a blast to race on our ever evolving and expanding track since we started it on Thanksgiving weekend.
Then came Christmas in South Florida, and then New Year's celebrations at Ken's home.
Well we just haven't had a chance to update our Blog until now.
So in an effort to catch up, we are going to list the films we saw and provide a grade based on what we thought of the films in lieu of our more lengthy review.

Beowulf ................................................ 3.0 Stars
Hitman.................................................. 2.5 Stars
I am Legend..............................................3.5 Stars
National Treasure - The Book of Secrets..................3.5 Stars
Charlie Wilson's War.....................................3.0 Stars
Alien vs Predator - Requiem..............................2.5 Stars
Atonement................................................4.5 Stars
The Great Debaters.......................................4.0 Stars
Sweeny Todd - The Demon Baber of Fleet Street............4.0 Stars
The Golden Compass.......................................3.5 Stars

We hope to be back to normal now that the Holidays are done. Please come back again often as we bring you Our Two Cents Worth at the Movies.

No Country for Old Men; Disturbingly Excellent

2007-10-19T08:06:00.000-04:00

Ken and I were in New York over the Columbus Day weekend and we saw No Country for Old Men. It was the centerpiece presentation of the 45th Annual New York Film Festival at the new Rose Theater at Lincoln Center.

In a nut shell, No Country for Old Men is a familiar tale of a drug deal gone bad and the struggles of a man who attempts to make off with something that is not his own. It is set in 1980 West Texas and the violence that is depicted in this period makes the Wild West of the 19th Century seem like a walk in the park in comparison.
The book is wonderfully written by Cormac McCarthy (which we both read after we saw the movie) and the movie is directed by the Cohen brothers who have a nack for the crime genre movies (ie Blood Simple, Fargo and Miller's Crossing. In fact some of the sequences were so very well done it was nothing short of shocking.

I was happy to see the this terrific novel make such a graceful transition to the screen. For the most part the movie was true to the book. The exemptions being the elimination of one character, another characters' philosophical soul searching was not expanded, and the ending was appreciatively and hastily conceived for the movie.
However, the movie does honor the topics and characters that McCarthy illustrates in his book.

The main characters in this movie are Tommy Lee Jones (Ed Tom Bell)as the sheriff of a small town; Josh Brolin (Llewelyn Moss) as the average man at the wrong place, at the wrong time; Woody Harrelson as a the hired hand; and introducing Javier Bardem who plays the memorable villain, Anton Chigurh with ruthless audacity. It is our opinion that this movie will become a cult classic, where fans will learn the words to the more memorable scenes.

The cinematography is excellent and startling. Viewers not having read the book will be captured by the situations on screen which are often hard to predict and will be afraid to look what they fear will happen next.
Tommy Lee Jones was excellent in his role as the Sheriff. And so was Bardem as the diabolical Chigurh.
The film editing is stunning; the score is discreet and foreboding; making No Country for Old Men pleasant to watch and listen to.
No Country for Old Men is an excellent movie. Please look for it at a theater near you sometime this fall. Ken and Len give No Country for Old Men 4-Stars.
Please visit us soon as we bring you Our Two Cents Worth at the Movies.

We Own the Night; an Intense Period Piece

2007-10-15T06:59:00.000-04:00

We Own the Night, is a gritty, well made, well acted film.
This is a period piece set in New York City during the 1980's when the NYPD waged a bloody battle with the Russian Mafia.
Joaquin Phoenix is excellent as Bobby Green; the manager of a popular night club in the Bronx, who struggles to keep his family's ties (Robert Duval and Mark Walberg) to local law enforcement, secret from everyone except his his devoted girl friend Amanda.(Eva Mendes)
The movie tells of the blatant criminal activities that occurs at the club to which Bobby turns a blind eye.
Police raid the club one night and a Russian Mafia boss's nephew kills himself rather than be questioned by the police which leads to the Russian Mafia declaring war on all New York Police.
Now Bobby has to choose between the glamorous life of the night club circuit, or the life of his father and brother as police officers.
Duval and Walberg are good too but this is Joaquin's movie.
We Own the Night was non-stop, non-hip, drama and suspense with a strong cast and a great performance from Phoenix. We give this movie 3.5 stars
Please check back soon as Ken and Len continue to bring you Our Two Cents Worth at the Movies

THE KINGDOM (2007) - Snipets of the Evening News

2007-10-01T14:14:00.000-04:00

America is at war in Afghanistan and in Iraq. The world is at war against terrorism; but Hollywood feels that Americans and the world, have not have their fill of war in the last 4 years so they have given us, The Kingdom (2007).

Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner are certainly good in their roles. However their stories are such a part of today's evening news broadcast from Iraq, that we found it difficult to find the subject matter interesting enough for a feature film movie while there are existing conflicts to consider.

The one review I had seen before I saw this movie was..." More brawn than brains....". I tend to agree with that thumbnail assessment.
The movie is action and violence packed, but in the end fiction can only imitate reality. The action scenes tended to be chaotic and difficult to follow. The plot weak and undefined. Sounds like the real thing if you ask me.

At least in the movie, the Americans gave the impression that they were fighting the battle to win. That was about the only fiction in the movie. In present day America, war has become a business. The winner is the government contractor that makes the most money. The loss of life has become inconsequential to those that promote these senseless conflicts.

The Kingdom (2007) may have a better audience in 50 years once the pain and the embarrassment of this conflict has been soothed by the passing of time.
Ken and Len give The Kingdom (2007) 2.5-STARS.

Please check back with us soon as we will be the first one in our zip code with "Our Two-Cents Worth" review of No Country for Old Men. We are traveling to New York for the NYC 47Th Annual Film Festival and we have tickets for the premier film of the festival. See you when we come back.

"The Brave One" Rises to the Top

2007-09-19T13:28:00.000-04:00

Last weekend's number one top grossing movie at the Box Office was The Brave One. We saw it Saturday afternoon matinee and it was more full than usual for the time of day.
Jody Foster and Terrance Howard were very compelling in their performances. She as a woman engaged to be married dealing with the loss of her fiance to a senseless episode of gang violence and the subsequent indignities of being a victim of a crime. He, as a New York City cop, who has become disenchanted with the imperfections of our justice system, which sometimes seems to protect the criminals and persecute the victims.
This moody toned and carefully balanced drama, deals with the grubby concept of revenge and retribution. But in the end it was the elegance of the human spirit that prevailed when the "law", without the benefit of any judice prudence, is dispensed in unusual measures.
Granted, the concept was awkward and the movie was slow moving at times. But the acting was exceptional by its two protagonists and the direction was superb by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game). Ken and Len give The Brave One 3.5 Stars
Please come back soon so we can share with you Our Two Cents Worth
at the movies.

BOURNE ULTIMATUM - Thrills like No Other

2007-08-06T06:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another installment of Our 2-Cents Worth.

This week we bring you our thoughts on, The Bourne Ultimatum.

We were hoping that this movie was going to be a good "threequel" in a summer that has brought us several "threequels" with varying degrees of success. We did not hope in vain.
This movie is by far this summer's best sequel (or threequel). In fact it may just be this year's best movie in this genre.
From the beginning, The Bourne Ultimatum, is relentless with its masterfully shot, breathtaking, heart pounding, chase sequences. The movie delivers almost two hours of non stop, in-your-face, excitement under the superb direction of Paul Greengrass.(United 93) A two hour adrenalin rush with such sustained energy and tension that it made us feel exhausted when it was done.
The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent screenplay, beautifully written and brilliantly executed by its ensemble cast.

Matt Damon has grown into this role perfectly and he is excellent in this contemporary spy tale of deceit and government corruption.
It may not have been entirely apparent at first, but Bourne is unquestionably Damon's signature role, the one in which a viewer becomes most complicit in the actor's identification with a character. The subjective camerawork merely increases the degree to which one is completely with him in the series, and if this is indeed his last "Bourne," as he has said, then this is a performance to be savored all the more.

Joan Allen returns as the CIA investigator who has slowly come to see that Jason might be the real deal. And Julia Stiles as an in-over-her-head agent again shows up for no credible reason other than the producers want her back. (They're right.)

The movie swings through Moscow and Paris; Turin, Italy; London; Madrid; Tangiers, Morocco; and New York as Jason hones in on who did this to him. Beautiful location shots.

The Bourne Series, has been an incredible box office success with over $500 million in box office receipts from the first two installments alone. Ultimatum opened this weekend as the #1 movie with an additional $70.2 million. (The biggest opening for a film in August EVER) We hope they can talk Robert Ludlum into extending the series because it has become one of the best movie franchises in history. ( The latest in the series is The Bourne Legacy, yet to be filmed)

Matt Damon must return as Jason Bourne.
I hope there is a "fourquel" with the Bourne Legacy; Here are some names that come to mind for future installments:"Bourne Reborn"; "Bourne Again"; "Bourne to Run"; or even" Bourne to be Wild"
We recommend, The Bourne Ultimatum, as the best film of the summer. We give it 4-Stars.
Please stop by again soon, and see what else has received, Our 2-Cents Worth.

Blades of Glory - Comedic Farce on Amateur Skating

2007-08-02T11:54:00.000-04:00

We saw Blades of Glory in-flight from Salt Lake City to Orlando on our return flight from our wonderful summer vacation on July 7th, but had forgotten to include it in our movie reviews. (See our ODDS and ENDS page for a full pictorial and narrative account of our trip as well as our EATING AROUND TOWN and BEYOND for reviews of the Bars and Restaurants we visited)

First I will say, that we are not Will Ferrell nor Jon Heder fans. The last thing we remember seeing Ferrell in was Stranger than Fiction, which, had we been reviewing movies at the time, we would have given, at best, a 1.5-Star rating. In fact that was not just our opinion, but my sister and her husband, my two nieces and my nephew and his lover, which we had taken to see this movie over the Christmas Holidays, all canned it.

The last thing we remember Heder in, of any note, was Napoleon Dynamite. While it enjoyed commercial success, Napoleon Dynamite, was also not one of our favorites movies and Heder not one of our favorite actors.

All that being said, Blades of Glory, was funny, in spite of, Farrell and Heder.

Blades.... is about the world of competitive skating and this movie made fun of many of the rituals, customs, and music used by skaters during competition.

The movie is at its funniest and most original when zinging the sometimes pretentious world of competitive figure skating. Whatever combination of choreography, camera angles and special effects were required to render unbelievable, hyper-real skate numbers, they're executed with wit and originality. We found the movie to be frequently funny because of it. The fact that it was two men, competing in the pairs competition, added some humor but not enough to carry the entire movie with out the fun made at skating in general.

Blades of Glory has funny moves even when its characters can barely move. It has its moments of loopy ingenuity.

This blissfully silly movie is one of those rare comedies that puts a goofy smile on your face with the premise alone. We give it 2.5-Stars.

Please check back soon to see what else we have seen and given Our 2-Cents Worth.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. (You May Kiss the Groom)

2007-07-24T08:37:00.000-04:00

.......Chuck and Larry, managed to pull off the unexpected. It was the top grossing movie in the country for the weekend that brought us the 5th installment of Harry Potter and Hairspray starring John Travolta in Drag. That was a surprise to me too. Even though the showing we attended was 80% full on Saturday afternoon, I never expected Chuck and Larry to beat the competition.

The critics panned .........Chuck and Larry, with an average rating of 48/100. Comments ranged from, "USA Today Claudia Puig
A movie that gives marriage, homosexuality, friendship, firefighters, children and nearly everything else a bad name." to "Rolling Stone Peter Travers
No comedy this year can beat this dud for mealy-mouthed hypocrisy. OK, where were we? Oh, that's right, the number one movie in America for the weekend.

This movie was a simple, low budget, situation comedy with somewhat stale material that has been presented in other sit-coms before. However, anything with Adam Sandler is likely to do well. Add to that the appeal that Kevin James generated with his now retired show, King of Queens, and you have a winning box office formula. Jessica Biel is just the cherry on top.

Are the critics wrong? No. The movie is irreverent, shallow and politically incorrect. The movie is as they say it is, but it made America laugh. Sometimes critics carry the weight of the world's social moral order on their shoulders and feel that "laughs" obtained under "irreverent" circumstances should not be encouraged. Where were they when they reviewed Borat?

......Chuck and Larry, is a funny little comedy with Adam Sandler. It made us laugh. We are tired of political correctness. We were not insulted in any way. We give this movie 3-Stars.

Please check back with us soon when we bring you another installment of Our 2-Cents Worth.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ? Perhaps not

2007-05-30T09:10:00.000-04:00

(Len)
Pirates, "At World's End", is a lavish spectacle of swash-buckling fun. It offers wonderfully scenic and impressive action sequences. Some of which are so lengthy and elaborate, that remembering what came before becomes a test on mental focus. The last hour of the movie was some of the best "Pirates" I have seen. The first 90 minutes, not so much.
Johnny Depp's swishing pirate captain illuminates this movie but it is not enough to carry almost 3 hours worth of Pirate fun.
And you can bet your "peg-leg", "Pirates" will be back. I hope #4 is re-energized and not just resuscitated.
Spider-man 3 was a better movie.

I give this film 3.25 stars.
Please check us out again soon as we continue to bring you "Our 2-cents Worth"

Ken and Len

Spider-Man 3 Spins a Terrific Sequel

2007-05-17T08:16:00.000-04:00

(Len)
The summer movie season is officially here with the release of Spider-Man 3. This mega-block buster, has broken all sorts of records pertaining to opening weekend grosses, etc.
I enjoyed it very well. It had great special effects, good action sequences and an interesting story line. And yes, it had the requisite romantic scenes. The most fictional account on this movie however, is the singing and dancing. I can believe that he (Tobey) is a spider-man sooner than I can believe that he is a dancer. (or Kirsten Dunst a singer). However this is the best of the three in the franchise, in my opinion.

I give this film and Superhero 3.5 stars out of 5-stars.

I reserve the 5-stars ranking for my very own superhero, Superman (aka Ken), because he is my hero and is a Super Man to me.

Have fun at the movies this weekend as Shrek the Third, comes to a theater near you. Please check back soon for that review and others when we give you once again "Our Two Cents Worth"

FRACTURE, but certainly not broken

2007-04-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

(Len)
FRACTURE, is a moody and suspenseful, psychological thriller that is brilliantly acted by Sir Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gossling.
Watching a veteran like Hopkins verbally joust with Gossling is worth the price of admission.
It was a treat to watch both actors in this compelling and surprisingly funny thriller.
The cinematography is stunning at times; the script was clever and original; and the supporting cast was strong and first rate.
I enjoyed this movie very much. Partly because I love Hopkins as an actor, and because FRACTURE was well done. I give this cinematic treat 3.75 STARS.
Please stop by again soon when we will give you "Our 2-Cents Worth" on this summer's 1st Blockbuster, Spiderman Three.

Meet the Robinsons (in 3-D) - An Amuzing Invention

2007-04-16T07:33:00.000-04:00

(Len)

This Walt Disney Studios' animated feature film (Meet the Robinsons in 3-D) pleases in every regard. It is state of the art animation; it is a good story; it is touching; and it is entertaining and fun.
This story of an orphaned brainiac child, takes us through his search for the family he so desperately desires. Introduce a little science fiction, and VOILA!, The search becomes assisted by a little time travel to the Future.
The innate feelings of belonging are tenderly explored as Lewis hopes to become adopted.
The movie unfolds at a surprisingly rapid pace and never looses it focus.
I am a big kid at heart and I give this beautiful and hilarious animated sci-fi-ish-cartoon 3.5 Stars.
While on the subject of animated films, I saw Happy Feet this weekend. This won the Academy Award for best Animated film from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I enjoyed it and it was well done, but it my humble opinion Cars should have taken the Oscar.

(Ken)

I agree with Len on this movie. (Meet the Robinsons) It was a good animated movie; the 3D effects were great; the story line was simple and the plot predictable. However I did enjoy it and it held my interest the entire time. It was cute and amusing, even though I do not normally go to this type of movie.
I would give it a middle of the road ranking of 2.5 stars.

For Happy Feet, I thought the dancing animation was excellent and think it probably got the Oscar for that, however, like Len, I enjoyed Cars a lot more."

That is this week's installment of "Our 2-Cents Worth". Please check back soon and see what else is UP at the movies.
Until then, "Keep Moving Forward" (Walt Disney)

2007-04-04T20:19:00.000-04:00

(Ken)
Now I cannot express myself as well as Len, but this movie had me staying awake the whole way through, which is very unusual. Not disregarding the fact that I really enjoy "action". This movie delivered, Mark Wahlberg played an excellent role, and kept me interested and wanting more. Shall I go into the story line? ........ You need to go and see this one for yourself.

I give this movie a SOLID 4 stars out of 5. Great cast, good story line. What more can I say????

"Shooter" hits the Mark

2007-03-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

(Len)
The "Shooter" delivers with Accuracy.
Mark Wahlberg stars in this non-stop action/adventure, edge-of-your-seat story of a former Marine Sargent who retires from the service after a mission goes bad, only to be re-recruited a few years later as a consultant for the government on an assassination attempt. What unfolds after that, is a suspenseful series of events that make the movie's running time, fly by.(124 minutes)
Wahlberg is excellent in this role as he was in "The Departed". I have never been a "Marky Mark" fan, but Wahlberg has proven that he can be successful as an actor and not just as an underwear model for Calvin Klein.
The "Shooter" makes the audience care for the "rogue" characters. I found myself cheering when corrupt politicians in the movie, were left out of the sequel.(if you know what I mean, wink, wink)
I liked this movie very well. I give it 3.5 Stars.
Please drop in again next week, when we hope to bring you another installment of "Our 2-Cents Worth" at the movies.

2007-03-19T14:06:00.000-04:00

(Ken)
"Zodiac" had me thinking along with the Jake Gyllenhaal character. I enjoyed the movie but did not think much of Robert Downey Jr. However Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo played good parts.

I would give this movie 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

(Len)
I enjoyed the movie "Zodiac". It was a very interesting tale of a still unsolved case. The movie keeps you involved with its sustained suspense and its dark humor. The story is really about the people looking for the killer and not really about the killer himself. Jake Gyllenhaal was good is his character as the cartoonist for a San Francisco Newspaper, where the action takes place.
I have never been a Robert Downey Jr. fan (although he was OK in "Less than Zero" where he may have been type-cast)and I am still not.
However the movie is worth seeing.
I agree with Ken, and give this movie 3.5 stars
Stop by next week when we hope to bring you our "2-Cents Worth" on "The Shooter"

"300" - Classical and Modern - Entertainment for All

2007-03-15T07:34:00.000-04:00

(Len)
First, please keep in mind that "300" is an adaptation of a graphic novel. To me, a graphic novel is a cartoon for adults. This movie is a cartoon brought to life by director Zack Snyder. Some reviewers are forgetting this essential fact.
I found the movie to be entertaining,beautiful to look at and very well done. The characters have a subtle humanity that transcends the almost 2,500 years since the battle of Thermopylae.
Gerard Butler is excellent as king Leonidas. He is funny and warm, but a warrior to his last breath.
The stylized decapitation and slashing scenes are not as gory as you might expect. The blend of Hollywood and CGI ( Computer Generated Imagery) works very well in this "epic".
Not your typical"war movie", my "2-Cents Worth" on "300" is 4.25-stars.

2007-03-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

(Ken)
"Wild Hogs" surprised me by being a pleasant comedy and I am glad that I did not go into it expecting anything more from John Travolta and William H. Macy. But with Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen being in the cast, this can only be a comedy. I enjoyed the antics of the group, who worked well together and I am sure a lot of fun was had by all of them. Marisa Tomei played a good supporting role, as did Ray Liotta. And, of course, what is a "biker" movie without a presence by Peter Fonda.

To sum it all up - this movie is both entertaining and light-hearted and I give it 3 stars.

(Len)
I think Ken said it all.
It is a light hearted comedy, that wants to be dumb, but can not hide that there are some intelligent folks involved. The homophobic humor was anachronistic for the 21st century but I must admit I laughed too. While it will not be nominated for any awards, I found the movie to be "fun" enough to give it 3 stars.
Look for "Our 2-Cents Worth" again next week when we hope to bring you our thoughts on "300".

Our "2-Cents Worth" February 28th, 2007

2007-02-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

(Ken)
The awards have just been handed out, new movies have already started being distributed for the upcoming year and yet another reviewer (us), has something to add. Congratulations to The Departed, Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren, all of which were excellent choices, and follow along with my own predictions. Len disagreed with me on the movie, he wanted Letters from Iwo Jima to win, but he had to bow to superior knowledge this time - lol.....

But that is all in the past now, and 2007 has loomed with new movies to review. We missed out on some of the movies released in January and February, but we will continue with some of the newer ones.

Currently 2 movies seem to be standing out, these are Breach and Amazing Grace (trailer: http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/ ). These are on my list of "must see in the theater", some of the others will remain on my list of "rentals".

(Len)
My back is still sore from "bow"ing to Ken's "superior knowledge" on the winning film. I agree that The Departed was a deserving winner. However I was touched by the subject matter and the "humanization" of the enemy, from an American perpective, in Letters from Iwo Jima.
Politicians make war. Regular people fight in them. Regular people with families, friends, hopes, dreams and fears, no matter your nationality. Letters..... brought that message home and for that, it will always be a winner in my heart.

Moving on though, to 2007, we can't wait till the arrival of this summer's Block Busters which begin in May with the release of Spider Man 3, followed by Shrek the Third, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End; (JUNE) Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer; (JULY)Transformers, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the Simpsons Movie.

We have missed out on the new movies in January and February, but as a professional movie reviewer (Tom Charity) said: "Epic Movie," "The Hitcher," "Smokin' Aces," "Codename: The Cleaner," "Because I Said So," "Hannibal Rising," "Norbit"... every week brings another dismal low". So we really have not missed very much.

I would like to add Zodiac ( http://www.zodiacmovie.com/) to Ken's list of "must see in the theaters", which opens this weekend.

We will be back soon to share with you Our "2-Cents Worth"