Just a couple (J)

The Messengers - I was scared for a while but then I spent a lot of time thinking about if the director had ever been to North Dakota because this didn't look like ND. Josh spent a lot of time thinking, out loud, about if the director had ever been on a farm because you don't use tools and machinery like that to grow sunflowers. The ending pissed me off. 2 crows out of 5 only because of "fast face" and startling moments. Fast face is ALWAYS scary.

300 - Art! Pure cinematographic art. Beautiful. Even the battle scenes are stunning. This movie probably would not have interested me much but it was just so visually pleasing. Oh, and 300 men with the best abs in the world and a marked lack of chest hair doesn't hurt either. Every shot could have been used as a promo poster for the movie. Great use of slow motion. I'm not sure if this story is from a famous work but it is the typical Greek story. Hero, "Judas", strong queen. Nothing surprising but just a pleasure to view. 5 perfect-abs-sweaty-never-tiring-good-looking-Spartan-men out of.... I'm sorry, what was I talking about? Mmmmm.

Zodiac --A

WAY TOO LONG, almost 3 hours! Jake Gyllenhottie and Mark Ruffalo and cameos. About the San Fran killer. They included way too much, names got confusing at the end trying to remember who was who. Acting was good. 3 puzzles

Vacancy --A

Scary movie. Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale. Couple checks into the motel but will they check out. You will have to watch to find out. Good premise I guess. Short, 90 minutes, so that was attractive. 3 roach motels

Hot Fuzz ---A

So so so so disappointed! Same people who did Shaun of the Dead (which in my book is shear brilliance). Big time cop is transferred to the quiet little town to uncover..... won't tell you. Movie was too long, should have edited it better. 2 pints of stout.

Smoking Aces ---A

Won't list anyone in it because everyone was in this dang movie. Jeremy Piven was the main character. Vegas magician want-to-be gangsta turns witness and the race is on for a million dollar bounty on his head. We didn't watch the whole thing, was way to Hollywood scripted. 1.5 drug references

The Messengers --A

Scary movie, but not real scary. Dylan McDermott and John Corbett. City folk move to the country due to their troubled teen. What a great old, dilapidated, overgrown, vacant for years old barn...we'll take it! They were asking for it. Sean guessed the ending, I didn't. 3.5 water stained walls.

Night at the Museum ---A

This was fun, could see older kids get a kick out of it. Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. The whole, everything comes alive once the lights go out. Has a very good, the moral of the story theme running in a bunch of sub plots. 4 wild west action figures.

Little Fish ---A

Haven't posted movies in awhile due to lack of time so the reviews will be short and sweet. Love Cate Blanchett so she is the reason I rented this. Story about recovered drug addict trying to do good. Kind of predictable but it was OK. I give it 3 deals gone bad.

The Astronaut Farmer (R)

I'll cut right to the chase: 1 homemade rocket out of 5 ... and that's being generous because I love J.K. Simmons and am always happy to see him in something besides Spider-Man. My brother thought he'd heard good things about it so I blame him for bringing it home. I got a few good laughs at Billy Bob Thornton's makeup (tone it down, girlfriend) and an hour-long nap but that's about it.