Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte, Brandon Soo Hoo, Reggie Lee, Matthew McConnaghy and Tom Cruise.

Written and Directed by: Ben Stiller

I’m glad I went to see this movie first today. I at least got a good laugh out of it before seeing another movie that has 2 reviews on it already. Read more

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, David Straitharn, and the voices of Martin Short and Seth Rogen

Written by: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum and John Sayles based on the books by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Directed by: Mark Waters

I initially dismissed the Spiderwick Chronicles as a kind of Harry Potter rip off.  But in reality it is more of a generic fantasy tale…done exceptionally well.   There is nothing very unique or innovative about the tale.  But it goes to show that there is something to be said for just making the most of the material.
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The Bourne Supremacy

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Karl Uraban, Gabriel Mann, and Joan Allen

Written by: Tony Gilroy and Brian Hegeland based on the novel by Robert Ludlum

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

With sequels to big successful action movies, the adage is to make everything bigger, better, and more exciting.  And usually sequels stumble trying to do just that, and end up forgetting what it was that everyone liked about the original in the first place.

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The Bourne Identity

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles and Clive Owen

Written by: Tony Gilroy and WIlliam Blake Herron based on the novel by Robert Lundlum

Directed by: Doug Liman

I remember the previews for this movie and they left me feeling kind of lukewarm.  I’ve always thought Matt Damon was a decent actor…but as an action star?  That was a harder sell.  In the first twenty minutes, though, I was sold.  Damon’s performance in an action lead is one that makes it seem like it’s all he’s ever done.

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The filmmaker scoffed at the possibility of passing the famed fedora from Ford to Shia LaBeouf, the 22-year-old actor who played Indy’s son Mutt Williams in this summer’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

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Space Herpes?

Ice Pirates (1984)
Starring: Robert Urich, Anjelica Huston, Ron Perlman
Writers: Stewart Raffill and Stanford Sherman
Director: Steward Raffill

Somehow I managed to miss this one growing up. Why they felt the need to make so many good fantasy ideas into cheesy camp back in the 80’s I’ll never know, but I have to say I rather enjoyed this. Read more

Hehe Ferrets

The Beastmaster (1982)

Starring: Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, Rip Torn
Written by: Don Coscarelli, Paul Pepperman, Andre Norton (novel)
Directed by: Don Coscarelli

Beasts. Kodo and Podo. There was a time when a movie could be made about a man who wears a loincloth and travels with a pair of ferrets, a black panther, a hawk, and a stupid hot chick, equally half naked (the chick) and you’d have a huge cult success and everyone would love you. Come to think of it, that’s just a damn fine premise. Read more

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