The Prestige

Bordering on absolute brilliance, this movie could have been in my top ten had a few elements of it been re-written. It was everything that The Illusionist was not: intriguing, strong of story, and well-acted. Christopher Nolan is one of the great new directors for this decade.

The acting is superb. Bale and Jackman plays a very convincing roles of obsession. They both do a great job of creating the tension between the two characters. The story is also superb, though I would have re-written key parts of the movie to make the ending stronger. But it all comes down to the direction. Nolan is a master at bringing emotion and psychology into his films. If it wasn't for the escalating emotion that fueled each of the characters this film would have been more hollow than the plot to any Lindsey Lohan film.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Flicka

How many more of these little girl with horse movies do I have to sit through? Dreamer, Black Beauty, Racing Stripes, etc. This movie had very similar themes to all those movies. Stubborn child won't let the untamed creature go because they are so alike in spirit. So the little girl bonds with the horse, tames the wild spirit, and they become close. The father disapproves and wants to either sell the horse or put it down. In the end, the horse helps the little girl grow up emotionally and then they win a race or rodeo together.

Although it didn't work well for me, the movie is good enough to hold the attention of a little kid. The story moves along a good pace and the director throws in enough crazy horse scenes to keep the kiddo entertained. All the male actors need more lessons and all of the female actresses are ready for bigger and better things. The direction is mediocre and has no style of its own.

Rating: 3.5 out of 10

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

Well, I didn't go to this movie expecting a romantic comedy or an Oscar-worthy drama, I went in expecting a lower-budget, more-disappointing sequel to the remake of the remake of the remake. This movie has been remade more than Joan River's face (come to think of it, Joan River's face and Leatherface are starting to strike an amazing resemblance to one another). It was surprising to see that this movie wasn't a poorly made sequel: it had the budget, the acting, and heavy-hitting direction that made the last TCM memorable.

I guess I should throw a warning out there that this movie is not for the faint of heart (Dick Cheney). Nor is for those with weak stomachs (Houdini, more a stretch than the Cheney reference, but some of you will get it). The movie's only real talent is in its foley sound work (post-production sound effects). Stadium-style surround-sound speakers really enhance the bone-crushing hammer blows and the whirring shrill of chainsaw blades severing through a dense bone. Highly disturbing? Yes. Entertaining? Questionable, but like a car wreck you'll probably find yourself either rubber-necking the accident or immediately leaving the theater.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Open Season

They have been cracking out animated features like a Pez dispenser; one right after another, all nearly identical, and sweet at first but quickly getting old. That about sums up Open Season. If you have a short term memory like my son, then it will seem fresh and exciting. But if you are a jaded movie goer who has had to sit through the same film/different title hundreds of times like I have then you start to lose the oohs and awes of films long since passed.

Not to say that the film is bad. Martin Lawerence is great as usual, adding his own unique humor and personality to the main character. And even though I detest him like the plague, Ashton Kutcher does an admirable job as a comic relief side-kick. That's all Ashton will side-kick, standing in the shadow of Demi Moore. The closest he'll get to an Oscar is if he makes a guest appearance on Sesame Street (you'll get it on the way home).

The animation is impressive in the movie. There is a very surreal, rich dimension to the environment that makes it more whimsical and fun. The story is strong enough to keep the movie going. The characters for the most part are lovable and funny. It's just the same thing we've seen again and again.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Flyboys

The movie soars with dazzling special effects, but it didn't fly high enough to avoid crashing its budget into the ground in a blazing inferno. This is yet another example that shows that no matter how much money you set aside for stunning special effects, you've still got to have a good story, good acting, and good direction or your movie's going to flop like a sumo wrestler off a high dive.

Let's start with the dialogue: cheesy, corny, predictable, fake, hollow, meaningless, wasted, cliche. The acting is mediocre, but not nearly strong enough to balance the sucking power of the weak story and flat characters. Everytime they flew into battle I never once thought "Boy, I hope he doesn't die". I felt so little emotion for each of the characters that they could have just as well have been cardboard cutouts flying planes (and the dimension of their acting about the same).

The movie was drawn out far too long. You had a fleeting romance that didn't connect with the heart of the film. You had more time spent on the worthless characters that you didn't care about then the characters that might have had a story to tell. Basically, you spend most of your time sitting patiently through the dramatic elements just waiting for the next dog fight. And I have to admit, the dog fights were very well done. Wait for DVD and just skip to the action.

Rating: 4 out of 10