Narnia & Company: Best of the Last for 2010

TRON: LEGACY
SCI-FI/ACTION

If you are a true fan of Tron my review will not mean much, because to me, it is like the first one, visual arresting but dull. The sequel is about the same, but I love the music by Daft Punk. It is an amazing film for the fans. The story is about Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) who finds out his father Kevin Flynn,(Jeff Bridges) his father might not be missing but locked in a computer game and he plays the games to find out what happened to his father.

Acting really not a major reason to see this movie, but Jeff Bridges is very good. It is beautiful eye candy and action. Should you see it? If you are a loyal fan of this franchise, yes. If you love special effects and not much else, see it. If neither of this interests you, wait for Blu Ray or DVD.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARINA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
FAMILY/FANTASY

I gotta tell you this movie is cheerful and hopeful compared to ”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.” Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) are living with their annoying cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) as they are summoned back to Narnia, on a new adventure which concerns seven magical swords. The human cast is good but it is Reepicheep, voiced by Simon Pegg (Scotty from Star Trek 2009) is outstanding!!!

The special effects are wonderful and the story is very good. It is not doing well in the US, but booming overseas, and I can’t understand why. Maybe Americans were waiting for “Tron: Legacy,” but if you are into fantasy movies, this is one the one to watch!!!

WARRIOR’S WAY
ACTION/FANTASY/WESTERN

This movie wasn’t marketed very well. No one knows it is out there, but it is martial arts western!!! It is about Yang (Korean star Dong-gun Jang) who is an expert swordsman. He has to kill a baby girl of a rival clan, but doesn’t. Instead, he takes care of her and joins a bizarre circus, where the people have stories of their own. His clan comes to kill him. You have heard this story a gazillion times but the movie is so stylish, and the action is just amazing!!

I don’t know why Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush is in this, but he is good as a drunk but skilled shooter. Danny Huston (Edge of Darkness) is excellent as the evil Colonel. He is very good at being bad. Your best bet is to wait for Blu-Ray or DVD, unless you are an action hound and you have got to see it!!!

UNSTOPPABLE
THRILLER

It has been said that when an actor wins an Oscar bad luck follows but that is not the case with Denzel Washington. He won his Oscar for best actor in Training Day in 2001. He has been making hits every since. This movie is about a runaway train with toxic chemicals on board and it is Denzel and Chris Pine (Star Trek--2009) must save the day. The movie is short, yet very, very exciting!! It is not just action packed, but it tells a great back story about the two leads. Yes, you should see it either in the theater, on DVD and/or Blu Ray, for it is great!!!

Hair, Race & Revenge: Late Fall Film Wrap-up

TANGLED
ANIMATED

Disney has done it again!!! It is a fun, entertaining spin on the fairy tale, Rapunzel. Mandy Moore (pop singer) is great as the spunky princess who is trapped in a castle and wants to see the real world. Zachary Levi (TV show Chuck) is good as the prince Flynn Rider, and Donna Murphy as the vain, creepy witch who kidnaps Rapunzel. The movie will make a fantastic Broadway musical. Should you see it? Young girls will love it!!!

NIGHT CATCHES US
DRAMA

This movie has so much going for it, but it has so much going against it as well. The film has the most talented, upcoming black actor and actress in Hollywood Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker), and Kerry Washington (Fantastic Four, For Color Girls). The director is a black woman, Tanya Hamilton, who took ten years to make it. The rest of the cast is equally good and it is not about drug addicts, pimps or crime---it's REAL, and they are treated like real people.

What it’s got against it, it is not a big budget Hollywood movie, not a comedy, and not a subject average movie fans talks about. The story is about Marcus, who comes back to his home town in 1976. He once belonged to The Black Panthers, and the remaining people left from the group think he snitched on a fellow Panther and was killed by police. Patricia also was a member and her feelings for him complicate things. Should you see it? It is not playing at too many theaters but it is a very good drama. You can also see it on MOVIES ON DEMAND.

FASTER
CRIME DRAMA

ACTION HOUNDS REJOICE!!! Dwayne Johnson is back and bad-ass as ever in this film!!! It is a predictable revenge movie, but Johnson is no wise-cracking guy---he's just angry and ready to kill all the men who killed the brother that he loved. The rest of the cast is good but Johnson shows he can get back in the action genre with no problem. He takes no prisoners. When he gets out of prison he becomes a killing machine!!! I don’t know why this flick is not making money. Last year at Thanksgiving Hollywood gave us ‘Ninja Assassin,’ which was a good action movie but didn’t make any money. I don’t know why Hollywood puts the bloodiest stuff out around the holidays. Should you see it? If you like the Dwayne Johnson and action, yeah, but if not, wait for Blu-ray and DVD.