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Reviews
Knight and Day (2010)
Less than it could have been
This really an oxymoron of a movie in that I enjoyed it, but I did not really enjoy the main actors as the characters they played in the film. I couldn't tell if they were playing this movie as serious and making this movie a comedy by overacting or if they were playing things for laughs and just not connecting right.
Tom Cruise's character comes off as either unlikeable or just overly smug with himself. Maybe it is just Tom Cruise bias on my part but I really enjoyed his Mission Impossible series so I can buy him as the secret agent, but I just could not buy him as Roy Miller, the part really did not ever seem to be under his control.
As for Cameron Diaz, my problem with her was during the "serious" parts.
For my recommendation
If you are a fan of either actor, it can be a fun romp through the spy world at times, but it also has its moments that just feel wrong. An enjoyable watch, but far less than it could have been in my opinion.
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12 Men of Christmas (2009)
Fun for the season
Cute little Lifetime movie with the cutest little actress Kristin Chenoweth playing a hateable/likable character that finds a little piece of herself when she loses everything. The small town grows on the big city girl who finds herself falling for the town, the rough and tumble guy, and the life that she never knew she could have.
It is a Lifetime movie so don't expect high powered drama or comedy but is a good movie to add to the Christmas time rotation. Heartfelt ideals of saving a small town search and rescue clash with the pushy side of New York life. It is a bit too much of a cookie cutter ending, but it was a fun movie evening with that special someone without too much commitment.
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El delfín: La historia de un soñador (2009)
Never let go of a dream
The Dolphin: Story of a Dreamer is based on Sergio Bambarén's novel, and follows the journey of Daniel, a dolphin who dreams of a better life. Daniel lives in an environment where dreams have died and are forbidden and he yearns for something more.
In this day and age of PG-13 animation that tries to capture the minds of adults as well as children (hoping the jokes go over their head), Daniel is a welcome hero to kids and parents as well. Dreaming of a better world, Daniel goes out to find it rather than just waiting for things to change. And in the process of searching for answers, he actually becomes an inspiration to many and makes a better world by himself.
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Cyrus (2010)
A really messed up, but charming, family story
A man truly down on his luck, upset by the fact that his ex-wife is remarrying has found the woman of his dreams that accepts him for all his quirks, faults, and strengths. But she has a secret, her son Cyrus.
John (John C. Reilly) and Molly (Marisa Tomei) really seem to hit it off in a way that neither of them expected but Molly keeps a side of herself hidden from John. A single mother to an adult son that is a bit different, Molly worries that it might scare John away. Cyrus (Jonah Hill) adds to the messed up mix-ups himself by playing the two lovebirds against themselves in order to get his mom back to himself. The manipulations grow larger by the minute as John and Cyrus play a game around Molly where the winner may never be the same and Molly may end up even worse.
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Leverage: The Bottle Job (2010)
The Bottle Job
Leverage Season Two Episode 11 – The Bottle Job: Air date January 20, 2010 Review by JAM
Aldis Hodge!!! That's right, Hardison (played by Mr. Hodge) takes some center stage time as we make our way to save the neighborhood bar where Nate (Timothy Hutton) spent his youth with his father, and now lives above. By the way, a "recovering" alcoholic living over a bar could have really bad consequences. More on that later.
An Irish loan shark has moved in on the neighborhood and threatens the mourning Cora McRory (Odessa Rae, the future Silver Banshee on Smallville) who has just lost her father and is about to lose his bar. Nate jumps in as Cora is family in his mind and works "the wire". A con that usually takes weeks to prepare and he gives his team less than 2 hours. Enter the Hardison!
All in all, a good episode that gave a back story into Nate's relationship with his father and some insights into how good this team really is.
Apply LEVERAGE every Wednesday!
Jam Movie Reviews
See the full review and more at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com
And more reviews at www.hollywoodteenzine.com
Leverage: The Runway Job (2010)
The Runway Job
Leverage Season Two Episode 10 – The Runway Job: Air date January 13, 2010 Review by JAM
This is my first individual episode review of a show that I consider to be one of the top five shows on television. As I have mentioned in a Leverage Season One review on my site, the modern day Robin Hood feel makes this a fun show to watch and the interpersonal relationships between the team are interesting to say the least. The Runway Job is the return from their midseason break, and the show jumps into the fashion world for this trendy return.
Taking down a sweatshop run by the Triads was a little more than they bargained for when they first took the job, but the team works together in order to accomplish it. The idea of a tough gang of former crooks infiltrating and "stealing" a runway show is a very interesting plot point, and I think it gives Eliot (Christian Kane) a chance to show off a bit, both his suave lady charmer side and his acting chops as a fashion assistant.
Apply LEVERAGE every Wednesday!
Jam Movie Reviews
For my full review, check it out at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com
More movie reviews by JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com
Post Grad (2009)
Current to the times and a strong but weird family make this worth your time
"Ya, this whole post-graduation thing is not exactly turning out the way I planned. I just thought I'd be doing something amazing by now." - Ryden Ryden Malby (played by Alexis Bledel) faces a movie version of our current times as she realizes that the college degree she has long desired and planned for is not always worth its weight in gold. Yet even as things fall apart around her, she begins to discover that all her planning on having control and the world in her hands was not focused on what she really needed in life. Luckily there is family and friends to steer her the right way, whether she wanted it or not.
Carol Burnett, Michael Keaton, and Jane Lynch also star as Ryden's family that keeps her sane, insane, and interesting throughout the movie.
Jam Movie Reviews
Full DVD reviews at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com and http://hollywoodteenzine.com
The Marine 2 (2009)
Afternoon popcorn movie with the guys!
Marine sergeant Joe Linwood (played by Ted DiBiase) and his wife Robin (Lara Cox) take an exotic getaway to a tropical resort where Joe can get away from the stress of his career. But things never end up the way they should in an action-packed movie. The island resort is taken over by fanatic terrorists with an agenda against the resort developer, missing Joe in the ensuing carnage, which was the last mistake they would make. Using his Marine training and a little bit of outside help, Joe is able to save the hostages and his wife while eliminating the terrorists in violent fashion.
Ted DiBiase does come off as a believable killing machine at times during the movie and his character seems to have a tactician's mind during parts of it, yet I did have issues with a trained sniper running through a courtyard taking out terrorists and not taking any visible weapons at the time. Michael Rooker also came off well as an old soldier who was just tired of the career and ready for his downtime on a faraway island, but came through in the end for someone who needed and deserved his help. Lara Cox also came off as a legit service wife, expressing the longing and the understanding when he was on missions, and the live in the moment attitude when he was with her.
Overall, the movie is a good GUY movie, a chance to get together with the buds and watch explosions, gunfire, and a single man save the day. I'd recommend this for the guys' afternoon. Ted DiBiase has a future in roles of this type, and maybe more.
Jam Movie Reviews
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Castle: A Rose for Everafter (2010)
Love is in the air, but who truly knows where???
"He's all yours" Kyra (Alyssa Milano) to Detective Beckett (Stana Katic)
Castle Season Two Episode 12 – A Rose for Everafter: Air date January 11, 2010
This episode finally give the fans a little more of what they were waiting for. Since the beginning of the show's run, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) have played the game at feeling each other out, but not sharing much at the same time. Castle plays the smitten young knight on the quest for the princess' heart and Beckett plays the indifferent princess watching as her knight completes greater and greater challenges in order to prove his worth. Funny thing is, in this episode we finally see Beckett realize some of what she might have before her.
As Castle works on envisioning the escape of Nikki Heat from his next novel, a new case arrives for the Beckett and her team. The death of a bridesmaid threatens to destroy a wedding in which the bride to be shares a deep past with Castle. Sounds like a soap opera! But instead we have a well-woven tale of sex, lies, and videotape (or Flip video to be exact) in which nothing is as it seems.
Kyra (Alyssa Milano) is the bride-to-be and Castle's long ago forbidden love. The on screen chemistry between Alyssa and Nathan was amazing, as you can truly feel that these two may have had something between them, yet Castle is slightly subdued (for him) as he explores the feelings he has for his former flame and his current infatuation, Kate Beckett. For the first time, Beckett seems to see Castle as more than just the annoyance who helps at times, but rather as an actual man with all his pluses and minuses. Subtle camera shots and dialogue show a subtle jealousy in Beckett's voice as she sees Castle fawning over his past. She especially cautions him about getting to close to someone who could be a potential suspect or killer of the dead bridesmaid, but it seems more out of a need to keep him close and under her wing than an actual warning.
She needed not worry as Kyra and Castle share an intimate moment together, but nothing more as each returns to their life as it is. Kyra realizing that she has a man to love her forever, but not completely over Castle informs Beckett that Castle is hers to win or lose. Yet there seems to be that undertone of "Do not mess it up" that helps the viewer see the potential for the two weekly collaborators, Castle and Beckett. Oh yeah, and Beckett catches the bouquet. Subtle
I don't know if the show will ever establish the romance between Castle and Beckett, but this episode led their relationship further than it had been by establishing visions of what might be in both Beckett's and the viewer's eyes. The show itself is fun for the premise, but it will be interesting to see the development of the relationship between two people who may never fall in love, but have a mutual respect and a strong emotional bond to each other.
May the CASTLE stand strong!
Jam Movie Reviews
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Castle: Sucker Punch (2010)
Castle and Beckett and the invisible assassin
"And if you tell anyone what I'm about to say, there's gonna be another shooting, but
I've gotten used to you pulling my pigtails. I have a hard job Castle and having you around makes it a little more fun. " Detective Beckett (Stana Katic) to Castle (Nathan Fillion) Castle Season Two Episode 13 – Sucker Punch: Air date January 18, 2010 After getting a chance to see the soft side of Castle's past last week, this week we get to see a glimpse into the sensitive side of Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) as the case her team is working has ties to her mother's death. The emotions for Beckett ran the gamut from the desire to investigate her mother's death to the abject fear of failure if she chose to do so, and Castle has to play the strong one this episode in order to help Beckett get what she truly wants: a small piece of closure.
The investigation into the death of an Irish mobster brings Beckett and Castle spinning into a web of deceit involving the Irish mob, brotherly love, the FBI, Asian infomercials, heroin smuggling, and an unknown assassin. During this case, we find Beckett visiting Castle at home to get support from him and his family as she steels herself to get into something she's afraid of failing, and Castle promises whatever she wants to do, he will support her every step of the way. It is lucky that he does, because he plays a large part in the demise of her mother's assassin, though he feels like he failed her by causing the assassin's death. This is when we truly see the bond that our favorite odd detective couple shares as she tells him she would have had nothing here without him, and he keeps her going when times are rough. Romance? Not yet, but there is a true kinship these two share.
It's interesting to see that Castle's betrayal of Beckett's confidence previously (by investigating her mother's case) puts Lanie (Tamala Jones) in a hard place as the medical examiner, having shared her findings with Dr. Clark Murray (Robert Picardo), Castle's previous medical source. The two of them had determined that the wounds matched the case that Castle had shown them before, and though Beckett's first instinct was that she had been betrayed again, she realizes she has friends looking out for her. It is a further building block in the interpersonal relationships in this show.
The killer Rathborne almost slips from their fingers through a classic bit of misdirection until our dynamic duo realize the killer knew Beckett's mother had been killed.
May the CASTLE stand strong!
Jam Movie Reviews
http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com
www.hollywoodteenzine.com