The Eastern Eagle
Summer movie reviewsFriday, August 28, 2009 By Landon Shull and Ashley Schwandt
This summer the cinemas were filled with romantic comedies, big budget action blockbusters and sequels. Some good, some not so good. Here is a wrap up of the films that you may or may have not seen this summer. Year One The summer started with a comedy that went back all the way to, you guessed it, the year one. The film starring Jack Black and Michael Cera is about two friends expelled from their village on “the first ever road trip”. This film was exactly what you expected and nothing more. Gross out humor, slapstick comedy and bad acting. If you went to the theatres to see this I’m sorry you wasted your money. If you have not seen it yet, do not even bother. Coming to DVD October 6th. 1/5 My Sister’s Keeper The tear jerker award for the summer definitely goes to My Sister’s Keeper starring Cameron Diaz and based on Jodi Picoult’s best selling novel. The film is about the Fitzgerald family and their struggle due to the eldest daughter, Kate, and her battle with cancer. Anna Fitzgerald (portrayed beautifully by Abigail Breslin) is the youngest child who was conceived by means of in vitro fertilization. In layman terms, she was made just to use her body parts for her sister. Anna decides she is fed up being used just for her body parts; she decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation. Full of tears, hope, betrayal, and love, My Sister’s Keeper will make you cry, laugh and learn to love. Look for it on DVD sometime this October. 4.5/5 The Proposal The first romantic comedy to come out this summer was The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. If you saw the trailer, you saw the movie. It is just another unoriginal “comedy” to hit theatres in the last couple of years. The acting was exactly what you’d expect for a movie like this: average. Funny at times, predictable the rest, The Proposal did not quite deliver. The Proposal arrives on DVD October 13th. 2/5 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince The sixth film in the extremely popular Harry Potter franchise arrived in July and had all of America buzzing. It had the largest film opening ever and I can understand why. Full of action, romance and nonstop thrills this is the best Harry Potter yet! Sure, it did spend a lot of time preparing you for the final film(s) but it never stopped being entertaining. Die hard Harry Potter fans either loved it or they hated it. I was in the group that loved it. Harry Potter is still in theatres and will be available this November. 5/5 The Collector You probably have not heard about The Collector , which is a shame considering how good it actually was. This low budget horror film starring unknown actor Josh Stewart was not only extremely gory, scary, and disgusting; it was also very, very entertaining. The Collector was written by the guys that wrote the 82 Saw films, so you can imagine how bloody it may be. The basic premise of the story is a guy (Stewart) who breaks into a house to rob it only to find out there is already someone inside. I recommend this for any hardcore horror film fanatic or to anyone looking for a good scare. Unfortunately this movie won’t be available on DVD until January 2010. 4.5/5 G.I. Joe The highly anticipated movie based on the popular Hasbro toy and television series arrived in early August. I would explain the plot of the film, but sadly there was not much of one. It is full of explosions and disaster, which always makes up a good popcorn flick. If you are looking for Oscar worthy performances or a film that makes you think, Joe is not for you. If you are, on the other hand, looking for a film that will be enjoyable and cool to see on the big screen this movie is right up your alley. G.I. Joe is still in theatres. 3/5 Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen One of this year’s most anticipated movies, Transformers 2 , disappointed crowds everywhere. It started with Shia LaBeouf’s character (Sam) entering his first day of college. He quickly discovers he knows the language of the Decepticons. Not only does he know their language, he has ancient knowledge that can be used by the Decepticons to rule the world. From this point on, there is not an ounce of plot or direction that can be soaked in from this film. Megan Fox performed to the best of her mediocre abilities (by standing around and looking good — that’s all). On a positive note, it was full of great special effects and action. But I absolutely do not recommend this movie. If you must see it, it will be on DVD this October. 1.5/5 500 Days of Summer One word: original. This movie has taken the romantic comedy genre to an entire new level. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls in hopelessly in love with the beautiful Summer (Zooey Deschanel). After several months in an uncommitted relationship, Summer ends it. Tom is devastated, yet Summer is perfectly fine with just being friends (ouch!). Tom is determined to win Summer’s heart back. Throughout the movie, you see from their first meeting to their break up to the post break up stage, all out of order. There is one scene in particular where Tom goes to a party Summer is throwing for a few friends. On one side of the screen, you see Tom’s expectations of the night, and on the other side you see the reality of the night. All I have to say is it was brilliant. If there were ever a “must see” movie in theaters, this would be it. But caution, it really isn’t your typical “date movie.” 500 Days of Summer is still in theaters. 5/5 |