Star Trek

Before even watching this hyped up movie I was extremely skeptical, especially because I have always hated movies about outer space. I was in for a big surprise though, the action, romance, and suspense that was present throughout the entire film was enough to keep my attention and even enough to bring me back for a possible sequel. Chris Pine plays James T. Kirk, a boy who feels like he can't find his purpose in life after his father dies. He decides to join the USS enterprise where he forms a love hate bond with Spock, played by Zachary Quinto, while they battle the Romulans. The fighting scenes are action packed and "out of this world," and the images of the battleships really stretch your imagination. Although the story line from the previous Star Trek shows are similar, the movie is truly unique and the new technology that is now available to movie makers brings the movie into the future! I would give this movie two thumbs up for its twisted plot and the directors use of special effects to keep the viewer intrigued.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Whitney Putnam

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper is a heart wrenching movie based on Jodi Picoult's 2004 book. Abigail Breslin plays Anna Fitzgerald, the younger sister of Kate Fitzgerald, played by Sophia Vassilieva. When the Fitzgerald family discovers that Kate has leukemia and no one else in the family is a match, they make the hard decision to conceive a genetically engineered baby that is a perfect fit and will provide spare parts for Kate. From the minute Anna was born she began donating parts of herself to help save her sister's life. When Anna turns 11 Kate's kidneys fail and Anna knows that she will be forced to donate in order to keep her sister alive. However, for the first time in her life Anna realizes that enough is enough and she is important to. Anna hires a lawyer, played by Alec Baldwin, and decides to sue her parents played by Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric for medical emancipation of her own body. The battle that ensues and the pain that is caused when the truth finally comes out makes for an amazing story line. I give my Sister's Keeper 3 thumbs up for its ability to make viewers realize how precious our lives really are how important it is not to take things for granted.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Whitney Putnam

The Proposal

The Proposal is a new release. The Proposal is focused around two main characters. Margaret Tate played by Sandra Bullock an editor at a New York publisher. And when Margaret, a Canadian, faces deportation for an expired visa, she convinces her assistant Andrew played by Ryan Reynold's to convince everyone they are getting married. Andrew agrees if she'll promise a promotion. When the government investigates, the two are forced to spend the weekend with his parents in Alaska in order to sell the lie. The family suggests they could marry the same weekend, and they reluctantly accept. I assumed from the beginning that this movie was going to be your typical love story and the only funny parts are the ones that are shown in the previews. However, I was rather surprised the movie kept my attention. Ryan Reynold's and Sandra Bullock played their parts perfectly. I thought the movie was hilarious and would definitely watch it again. I give this movie 3 thumbs up.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Maggie McLaughlin

The Ugly Truth

I was originally under the impression that the Ugly Truth was a full blown chick flick. However, the somewhat offensive and perverted insights of Mike Chadway, played by Girard Butler, are more than enough to keep any man interested. Abby, played by Katherine Heigl, is the producer of a family style news channel, that is until horrible ratings forced her boss to hire some new talent. The talent came in the form of Mike, the star of a show called the Ugly Truth that explains what men are really looking for in women and relationships. Abby clearly can not stand working with Mike, so he strikes up a deal in order to win her over. Mike agrees that if his tactics can't score Abby her dream date then he will quit and she will never have to work with him again. Little does Abby know that just when she wins over the man of her dreams, she will end up falling in love with someone she would have never imagined. I give the Ugly Truth 3 thumbs up for its ability to keep both males and females entertained and laughing.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Whitney Putnam

The Holiday

The movie The Holiday is the typical “chick flick” it is in my opinion korny and predictable. However, movies like this still catch my attention and I tend to watch over and over again. The Holiday is about two women (Cameron Diez and Kate Winslet ) troubled with guy-problems and decided to swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy. The local guys are played by Jude Law and Jack Black. I believe Jude Law does a great job living up to his character and was defitnitly my favorite in the movie. I give this movie 2 thumbs up. I enjoyed watching it yet if your looking for a movie with some mystery or keeping you on the edge of your seat, I wouldn’t recommend this one. Yet, great movie for a relaxing movie date.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Maggie McLaughlin

Knocked Up

The movie knocked up has recently been playing on one of my favorite channels the E! network. I saw this movie when it first came to the big screens but have not watched it since then. I was home alone last weekend and decided to watch it. The movie stars Seth Rogan (Ben) his first big movie premiere and Katherine Heigl (Allison). The movie is hilarious but has some crude humor. It revolves around Ben and Allison meeting in a club and having a one night stand which turns into the unexpected for Ben, when Alison announces to him that she is now pregnant with his child. Ben decides that the best thing to do is to get his life sorted so he can care for Alison and his new child, which isn't an easy job for him. I defintitly recommend this movie and give it 3 thumbs up. However, it is for an older audience and is rated R for a reason.

Movie Critic Crew Member: Maggie McLaughlin

Across the Universe

I was a bit skeptic when I went and saw this movie a few years ago (but now I can watch it more then once a day), one because it was a musical and two it used one of my favorite bands The Beatles' songs to help tell the story. After sitting down and going through the first musical score I was blown away, and then when the second score came to tell the story I knew that this movie was great. Across the Universe is a story that involves an upper-class woman, with an poorer English immigrant, who came to America to become a painter. Throw in background stories with friends and families of the two main characters, Jude(Jim Sturgess) and Lucy(Evan Rachel Wood), the Vietnam War, and other events during the time. The visuals are outstanding and go along with the music creating a synergy between the audio and visual. The actors singing voices, are also outstanding.Here is a clip from one of the beginning scenes from Across the Universe with Jude singing "Revolution." The story between Jude and Lucy does not stray from the movie, and is usually in sync though it seems to stray for a bit sometimes. There is some adult language in this movie, and given the time setting of the story, there is some minor drug use, with a little adult graphic, with violence and situations, but nothing too serious. I give Across the Universe Three Thumbs up, if I had more thumbs it would be give more but I don't!
Moive Critic Group Memeber: Tyler Tyzinski

Land of the Lost

If there was ever a hyped movie that didn't impress it was Land of the Lost, starring Will Farrell as Doctor Rick Marshall. The movie which was intended to be funny, only had maybe one or two scenes that made me laugh and the special effects and green screen imagery that they used didn't even come close to making the scenes look realistic. Dr. Marshall is a scientist that has come up with theories about time warps and how there is a parallel dimension that he is able to explore with a so called tachyon amplifier that he built. He is laughed out of science class by his colleagues and students, until another scientist named Holly Cantrel played by Anna Friel rescues him from teaching at an elementary school. They set out to find this so called other dimension and get help from Will Stanton (Danny McBride) and an creature named Chaka (Jorma Taccone). They run into dinosaurs and mystical creatures in their journey to find their tachyon amplifier so that they can return home. The movie becomes more and more bizarre and senseless and the story line diminishes into less then even remotely funny jokes. I give Land of the Lost two thumbs down, for a comedy it left me less then tickeled!

Movie Critic Crew Member: Adam Danch

Green Street Hooligans

If you ever wanted to see how crazy futbol is over in England, you have to watch this movie. Elijah Wood (Matt Buckner) stars as a kid that gets kicked out of school for his friend dealing drugs. He travels over to spend time with his cousin in England. He never knew how crazy people were about futbol over in England and would soon find out that it's not just about the game. Throughout the movie his cousin's firm Green Street Elite have encounters with other firms that represent other futbol teams from around England. Buckner (Wood) starts to develop a different aspect on life and how he handles it becomes even better. He finds out how to deal with people who try to push him around. The firm tries to protect their turf and travels with the team when they go out of town to away games. They have become a hated firm and Buckner's older cousin used to be the captain of the firm until he quit because of personal reasons. This is a great movie if you want to know what really goes on during futbol games over in England. It shows a whole different aspect of the world's game and brings the passion of why people enjoy futbol.

Movie Crew Member: Adam Danch

Homecoming

Talk about a psycho girlfirend, Shelby, played by Mischa Barton fits the role perfectly in what I would consider to be one of her best movies yet. When the love of her life, Mike, (played by Matt Long) returns home from college with his new girlfirend Elizabeth (played by 90210's Jessica Stroup), Shelby loses it. After severly injuring Elizabeth by hitting her with her car, Shelby decides to keep her locked up in her basement all the while convincing Matt that Elizabeth has left him and returned home. Shelby goes to the extremes of drugging and re-injuring Elizabeth to keep her quite while she trys to seduce Matt. What Shelby soon comes to realize is that Matt wants nothing to do with her and is actually in love with Elizabeth. The movie becomes increasingly dramatic as it goes on and it ends with a huge twist. Will Shelby get her revenge against Matt and Elizabeth or will their new relationship prevail. I give Homecoming 1 thumb up for its sick and twisted plot, but somewhat dragging story line.
Movie Critic Crew Member: Whitney Putnam

Trainspotting

This 1990's classic delves into the lives of a group of young Scottish friends and their troubles involving heroin. Warning: if you are totally offended by movies that do involve drug use I would strongly advise to pass on this unless you watch the movie with an open mind. The movie is not just about heroin but how Rents, played by Ewan McGregor in his first mainstream movie copes with his friends, addictions, family, and his views on life. Trainspotting reminded me of the movie "Requiem for a Dream" but it is much more up lifting. If you feel like enjoying a film that goes against the morals of modern society but has morals throughout the movie, I highly recommended this to those over the ages of 18. Trainspotting gets three thumbs up!

Movie Critic Crew Member: Tyler Tyzinski