National Treasures N-Z

Another classic comedy. This movie mocks Lethal Weapon and involves no thinking. It will keep you laughing to the end.

Don't let the fact that this is a Disney movie fool you into thinking that this is some childish movie. Disney can produce some really good movies. A couple including Cool Runnings and Rocketman. This film is another one of Disney's hits. The heist in the beginning is as complex as The Italian Job or even Ocean's Eleven. The rest of the movie will keep you glued to the screen to see where the next clue will lead our treasure hunters. The characters are well played and the story is very interesting. Keep your eyes open for this flick.

Director, Shawn Levy steps away from TV, and fresh off of The Pink Panther, brings a fun family adventure to the big screen.

While this film is just flat out fun, there is enough to the story to keep this picture from feeling boring and random. The first 15 minutes is a tad slow as it develops Ben Stiller's character, but once he hits the Museum of Natural History, all h*** breaks loose. All the different characters help to keep things fresh and there is never a huge slow down in between the nights at the museum either.

This may not be the funniest film out there, but it doesn't have to, or try to be for that matter. This is a good thing. The comedy is not forced and the typical outrageous comedic acting is held in check.

The CG is good and, quite frankly, it doesn't need to be perfect. All the animals and non humans lift the entertainment factor that much more.

The cast is full of familiar faces. Ben Stiller puts on a good performance and so does Robin Williams, who has more of a serious role than a comedic one. It is also nice to see Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs with integral parts in the story. Carla Cugino and Mizuo Peck are the female leads to be on the lookout for.

Night at the Museum is a film to not take too seriously. In return it is a great 1 hour 45 minute watch.

Shawn Levy gets it right again, with a sequel that is just as entertaining as the first. Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian is a family film to remember.

Is this movie watchable without having seen the first? Absolutely. The only thing that will be missing, if not watched, is the knowledge of the characters from the previous installment.

The story has a nice pace to it and it is good enough to setup all the fun that happens. The opening 10 minutes also does a decent job at explaining the tablet, which is why everything in the museum comes to life

The entertainment factor is through the roof. There are so much characters to keep this film from becoming boring and there are clever ideas popping up all over the place.

The cast is loaded, and why shouldn't it be with so much characters. Ben Stiller may be the star of the show, but Amy Adams is without question, the STAR of the show. Her performance is so good that one can't get enough of her. Hank Azaria not only pulls off the villain, but provides voices for some of the other non-human characters as well. Both he and Amy Adams have great lines of dialogue.

This 1 hour 45 minute film is just one good time for the entire family and fans of the first film will enjoy this.

Here we have the Coens doing what they do best. They take a seemingly simple plot and turn it into something really interesting. This film is a little overrated in my opinion, but still a great movie if you are a fan of previous Coen brother films. I would also say that if you really liked Fargo, you will most likely find this enjoyable.

Not surprisingly, this film moves really slowly and has a little bit of a film noir feeling to it. Don't let the slow pace fool you into thinking that this film is boring. If you know what you are getting into, it shouldn't be. The one thing about this film is that you really need to pay attention, otherwise you may get lost. There are a good number of characters and the Coens do a nice job at giving a few of them a ton of airtime. Like Fargo, it is hard to picture who is the lead of the film. Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, or even Javier Bardem.

There isn't a lot of action in this film, but there are a bunch of killings. Other than this movie, you probably won't see anybody using a silencer on a shotgun. Now when there is killings, there is blood. This film is quite bloody, but not on the level that it will make you quesy or want to turn away like some horror films. Speaking of horror films, there is quite a bit of suspense that is delivered, but this isn't a scary movie by any means.

The acting is great. All actors deliver their well written lines nicely and they portray their characters as best as they can. One of my only complaints is that Stephen Root has too little airtime.

No Country for Old Men is not for everybody, but for those that know what to expect out of a Coen borthers movie, this will be more than your average film.

A classic Rat Pack movie. Not as high-tech as Soderberghs, but still very good. Unlike Soderbergh's version where they rob 1 vault which belongs to three casinos, the gang robs 5 different casino vaults at once.

Leave it to Steven Soderbergh to direct a great sequel to a film that didn't even need one.

Ocean's Twelve is watchable without having seen its predecessor, however that isn't a wise decision. Ocean's Eleven sets up the premise for this film, while also building up the major characters.

The pacing of this 2 hour 5 minute picture is quite fast and the story involves 2 major heists, which is somewhat of a disappointment since the planning stages for each heist lack sufficient detail. Still, this lack of detail keeps things in the dark, and it makes the execution more of a blast to watch, as the heists themselves are quite complex with turns along the way.

The cast returns for all the major characters and this is a plus. All the actors know what they have to do and they do it. Tack on a major character for Catherine Zeta Jones and a cameo from Bruce Willis and the pay for the actors should make up a good portion of this movie's budget.

Ocean's Twelve is similar to Ocean's Eleven, and then again, it isn't. The heists, soundtrack, characters, and dialogue all make this a film worth checking out.

Being a fan of the first two Oceans, as well as the rat pack original, there was no way I wasn't going to see this. Once again Soderbergh has another great film on his hands.

The story is well written and thought out like usual and there really is not a part that felt boring. The story itself felt a little closer to Ocean's Eleven rather than Ocean's 12. Most likely because not only does it take place in Vegas again, but most of the movie deals with the actual preparation and planning of the job at hand. Whereas Ocean's Twelve focused less on the planning and more on the job itself. This film doesn't come close to topping the first in the series, but it is definitely the funniest of the three. There are a ton of comedic lines throughout that will keep you chuckling and glued to the screen. David Holmes does an excellent job with the soundtrack once again, but it falls short compared with the first two. It sounded like he took some of the earlier songs and remixed them to get this soundtrack.

Fans of the Ocean's series shouldn't be disappointed by this film and will most likely watch it multiple times.

"Get ready to root for the bad guy." That is one of the tag lines of this film and it explains exactly what you are doing while watching this.

The story is great and well told. It is told, partially, in the style of a film noir/self-narration and you would think that would turn this into a bore fest, but this movie has such an entertaining story along with interesting characters that you won't become bored at all. Besides, it isn't a full on film noir. The movie moves at a nice pace as well. There are very few parts, if any, where the film seemed it was dragging.

The acting is pretty superb. Mel Gibson plays the part of the merciless robber nicely and all the supporting characters are also played well. I only wished that Lucy Liu and Bill Duke would have had more airtime. Even with the minimal airtime, this is one of my favorite and memorable characters from Lucy Liu.

There is a moderate amount of action in here, but there are killings across the board. So, if you consider that action then there is a lot of it. There is nothing really fancy about the gun-play either. Just good old fashion quick shootings that fit nicely into this film. Yet, with all the killings going around, this film isn't all that gory, so if you're afraid of gore then don't be afraid of watching this.

If you are in the mood for a good crime drama, give this a movie a chance.

When you first watch this movie you are expecting a full on Arnold action flick, but instead you get a kick-ass science fiction action flick.

The story was original and the special effects were out of this world, at least when this movie was released. Although the face-off part of the movie doesn't occur until the last third of the film the suspense from the first part keeps you glued to the screen. There are a good variety of different characters each with their own personalities and they are well played by excellent actors. Bill Duke was great. The dialogue was well written for the characters and some lines even get you to chuckle in this suspenseful film.

There is a good amount of action and guns in this film, but I only wished that Jesse Ventura would have used his chain gun more. The cat and mouse face-off at the end is also a blast to watch.

This movie is probably Arnold's best along with Terminator 2, so if your a fan of Arnold you must see this film. "I'm gonna have me some fun. I'm gonna have me some fun."

Great Tarantino flick. Memorable dialogue and characters make for an interesting and enjoyable movie. Multiple storylines all intertwined with each other.

There is no question that Indiana Jones is one of Harrison Ford's best characters. Steven Spielberg takes this character and directs a great movie that is the start of a great trilogy.

The story, along with the Indiana Jones character, are a perfect combo for an action adventure movie. Right from the get go you are thrown right into one of Indy's adventures. A perfect way to get to know the character. Yes, this movie has a nice amount of action, but it is still the story that drives this film. The way that Indiana Jones is able to go about his work while in the vicinity of his rival is ingenious. Not only is this interesting, but this raises the suspense level even more.

The action comes in all varieties. Whether it is a fist fight, a car chase, or a good old shootout, Indy is putting on a show. The usage of blood is also well done for its time. Besides the action, this film has many memorable scenes. The sandbag switch, the giant boulder, shooting the guy with the sword, the folding hanger, getting shredded by a propeller, the small jacket, and the melting faces at the end are kept in your memory forever. While we are on the subject of memorable, the theme song is classic. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The acting is good. As said before, Harrison Ford makes a great Dr. Jones. Karen Allen is a sexy co-star and John Rhys-Davies has a good supporting part. Be on the lookout for a really early role by Alfred Molina too.

Fans of Harrison Ford and action/adventure movies need to see this before they die. Enough said.

This is one of those movies where you don't expect much, but you expect to love it because of that. This movie is just that.

The story for this film is, as expected, thin. You can't get much simpler than that, so there is nothing else to say about it.

The pace of this film varies. Of course, when the action is going on it is fast and entertaining, but at the points between the action, the film is slow and a bit tedious. Lucky for us, there is a bunch of action. Where this movie lacks in plot, it more than makes up for in violence.

The action. This should be what you are all waiting for. If not, then why watch this? First off, let me say that Stallone does the right thing with not holding back, unlike some other films that go for the PG-13 rating. This is rated R and you will know why when you see this. There are various explosive points in the film and while it isn't anything fancy, it is realistic and bloody. What this film does well is make you hate the villains. The way they shoot children, which they show, execute hostages by making them walk through mines, which they show with bloody explosions, and the way they feed hostages to their pigs, which they show. Did I mention that they also rape women? When watching this you feel no remorse when Stallone rips out a guys throat with his bare hands, which they show.

The ending of this film is probably the highlight where people will be cheering. They have the perfect buildup right before the blood starts splattering. This has to be one of the more enjoyable endings in a movie that I've seen in a long time. All I have to say is "Heavy Machine Gun."

There is nothing else really to say about this film. Watch it if you want to see a violent-bloody action film.

Pixar creates another masterpiece here. Still, it wasn't enough to overtake my all-time favorite Finding Nemo. It gave it a run for it's money though.

Why is it that Pixar is able to create films that are so much more better than many other movies out there? Its all in the story. The story in this film is outstanding and it is this that keeps the audience entertained. You always want to know what will happen next to the characters that they have created.

What else makes this movie so special is the animation and CG. They really have stepped up upon the already spectacular graphics and rendering that they have produced in the past. Other than the characters themselves, most things are starting to look real. The water makes you feel wet and the fire looks as if it can really burn. There was one scene where one character was talking while holding a piece of bread and the whole time I was just staring at the bread since it looked so real. I wanted to eat it.

The voice overs worked very well in this movie too. The voices matched each character nicely and none of them sounded out of place. Ian Holm and Janeane Garofalo did such a good job that if I hadn't known it was them beforehand I would have never guessed that it was them. Excellent work.

This is a great film and my only complaints about it where that the story seemed to drag in a few places and the characters aren't as memorable as past Pixar films. With that said, gather the entire family and enjoy this entertaining family film.

This is basically City On Fire with a Tarantino twist. The characters are well played and the jumping around within the story keeps you watching. The usual Tarantino dialogue and soundtrack is a plus.

Michael Bay has a winner on his hands with The Rock.

The story is pretty simple, however it is good enough for an action thriller. Besides, it is the characters that make this a great film. The movie wastes no time at setting things up for what is to come, before shying away for some main character buildup. A lot of time does past before the film returns to the meat of the story, which is probably why the film is 10 minutes past 2 hours. However, during this time, Bay actually gives some meaning to his characters. He even finds the time to throw in a decent car chase through the streets of San Francisco.

There is a large quantity of action. Nothing special. It is just typical Hollywood style explosions and shootouts to entertain the eyes.

It may be difficult to picture Sean Connery carrying this high octane action movie, but that is exactly what he does. He, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris work together to make this a fun watch. Cage's character seems a little corny at times, but his dialogue, along with the others', can be memorable.

In the end, good characters and a creative setting make The Rock a must see for fans of action adventures.

Warning: Do not take this movie seriously. If you keep this in mind, this will be one of the greatest comedies to come out of Disney's hands.

The story is unbelievably stupid, but for a movie like this it does wonders. It also allows for the great comedic elements to find its place without overdoing it. Unlike other movies that try to force the gags on you, this film leaves most of the comedy in the hands of the actors. "Hes got the whole damn world, in his hands." I'm pretty sure your not laughing right now, but in the context of this film and the tone of voice used by William Sadler you can't help but laugh when you hear this. This is how comedy should be done. This is possibly the only film that I remember tears of laughter filling my eyes in the theater. Even more so than Jackass. Now that is saying something.

The acting is nicely done for this type of film. Harland Williams puts on the comedic performance of his life with his ridiculous acting and his hilarious impressions. I don't think he will ever top this role. William Sadler also does an excellent job at bringing in some laughs with his character as well.

This is probably one of the most ridiculous space stories ever made, but it is also one of funniest. This is a must see for fans of comedy and Harland Williams. Just remember if you make a mistake. "It wasn't me."

John Frankenheimer's resume may not look that impressive, but in 1998, a gem of a film known as Ronin shines out to the public.

The pacing for this 2 hour movie is a tad slow, however the characters and story make it worth the watch. Stealing a case sounds really simple, and it is, but the double crossing keeps things interesting and entertaining.

There is a decent amount of action, which comes in the form of gun fights and car chases. Let's talk about these car chases; the second one to be more specific. Absolutely superb. There is no slow motion or constant carnage and explosions. Just a little of the latter. It is just pure real time adrenaline. Everything ranging from the camerawork, to the editing, and to the driving is just fantastic, and this makes both car chases, but more the second, some of the greatest chases ever caught on film.

The casting is also nicely done. Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, and everyone else fit perfectly into this story and style of film. Michael Lonsdale and the ice skating phenom, Katarina Witt, also show up for some small roles.

Ronin is one intriguing crime thriller with great characters and car chases. Watch it and ask yourself "What's in the case?"

This is one of my favorite pre-80s films. 5 groups of people set out on a scavenger hunt to win $200 million dollars. Now that's entertainment.

The story for this film is absolutely entertaining. The scavenger hunt is only a few hours so the pace of this film moves rather quickly. Not only that, but there are more than enough characters to follow so the film never gets boring, although it is a little difficult to remember everybody's names. You can't help but laugh at some of the items that these groups of people have to get, without purchasing them. That is the rule. You have some usual everyday stuff, but there are other unique items which this film focuses on. A toilet, a suit of armor, a wedding dress, a beehive, and a live OSTRICH, just to name a few. Did I mention that there are bonus points awarded to the team that gets the heaviest person? Well there is that as well. Not only are the items laughable, but so are the ridiculous events that take place while getting them. It is hard to see anybody getting bored with this flick.

The acting for the most part is great. There are a few performers that get irritating after a while, but the others are enjoyable. Richard Benjamin and Cleavon Little put on great performances. It was also funny to see cameos from Meat Loaf, Vincent Price, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

You probably won't see this film around too often, so if you get the chance to see it, I would highly recommend it. There is nothing like teamwork.

I grew up watching Sesame Street and when they made this movie, I was blown away. I watched this many times when I was growing up and I could never get tired of it.

I really enjoyed how many of the characters had their own modes of transporation when searching for Big Bird. Supergrover flew, Oscar had his Sloppy Jalopy, Count had his dracula car, Bert and Ernie had their plane, and how can you forget that little yellow Volkswagon Beetle.

If you grew up loving Sesame Street you will definitely enjoy this movie.

I'm not really a huge fan of drama movies, but there are some that I can come to enjoy. This movie is one of them.

The story is well written and it is told in a way that makes you want to keep watching. The characters are all played well by their respected actors and the ending is as memorable as can be. Morgan Freeman does a great job with the narration as well.

This is a must see movie for almost everybody. You don't have to be a fan of dramas at all to find this movie moving and enjoyable.

"Spider pig, spider pig, doing whatever a spider pig does." Its the Simpsons on the big screen and they deserve to be after all these years of entertainment.

The story is really stupid if you think about it, but its the Simpsons so any story should suffice. Thanks to this ridiculous story we are allowed to indulge in a world of great comedy. The comedy comes at you from all directions and all I could hear throughout the theater was laughter. If felt like I was watching Jackass all over again. This is what great comedy is all about. Sitting back with a ton of people and letting the jokes come to you. This movie involves no thinking and concentration at all. One thing that I was hoping for was to get an opening like the TV series, but it didn't happen. Only a minor let down though.

The animation isn't anything spectacular, but, as mentioned before, this is the Simpsons. This is what we've grown to love about this yellow family and we'd expect nothing more and nothing less from the animation.

This can definitely be a family movie, but this movie can also offend many people. You get sexist, religious, and racist jokes among other things. You have been warned. Nonetheless, young children can still enjoy this movie to a point.

You don't have to be a Simpsons fan or let alone know who the Simpsons are to enjoy this film. Fans may get a few more laughs though. Watch this if you are in the mood for some quick laughter and entertainment. Oh, if you want some extra fun feel free to watch the credits.

Spaceballs-The Review:

Spaceballs has got to be one of Mel Brooks' finest movie parodies.

At a tad short, but appropriate 90 minutes, Spaceballs consistently entertains with its quirky and slapstick comedy. What makes this picture funny is the fact that it isn't all about sex jokes or mimicking other films over and over, although there is some of that in here. And yes, this is a parody of Star Wars.

"LUDICROUS SPEED! GO!" Th............1987............P!

"Well, are we stopped?" "We're stopped, Sir." "Good. Well why don't we take a five minute break?"

Sorry, let's try that again in regular speed. The effects are a bit cheesy, however they are tolerable for a 1987 comedy. The dialogue and comedic antics are also highly memorable. This is what makes this film a classic. "Stop this thing! I order you, STOP!"

There are many recognizable faces in this picture, including Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, John Candy, and Mel Brooks, who casts himself in 2 roles. John Hurt even steps in for an Alien cameo.

Fans of comedic parodies will want to check out and then pick up a copy of this. Heck, the instant cassette was out before the film was finished. "May the schwartz be with you!"

This is one of my favorite superhero movies of all time, maybe even the greatest. The acting and the special effects are superb and the soundtrack fits this "dark" movie nicely. John Leguizamo does an excellent job playing one of my favorite villains, the violator.

I was blown away when I watched this for the first time. The interesting plot is what makes this movie as suspenseful as it is. You are at the edge of your seat pretty much through the whole movie wondering how the characters will get out of the mess that they are in.

The acting is pretty good and Dennis Hopper does play an excellent villain. Many people would think that Keanu Reeves wouldn't match in a suspense/action movie like this, but he actually does a good job with the help of Sandra Bullock.

The only thing that I didn't care for was the ending with the train, but other than that, buckle up and get ready for the bus ride of your life.

In these times where sci-fi fantasy films are popping up in bunches, you really need to bring your A-Game to stand out. This film does just that.

The setting for this film may not be as detailed or far-reaching as other films of this genre, but it doesn't have to be. About 90% of this film takes place at a single house and its surrounding woods, but the rest of the film is entertaining enough to make you forget about that. Unlike other films of this genre, the story has no feeling of being rushed. It moves at a good pace and gives enough decent explanations for everything involved in the plot. The character buildup is also nicely done. What makes it even better is that is done rather quickly and successfully at the same time.

This film is also not shy about using the CG. Not only is it good, but it comes in bunches throughout the entire film. There aren't as many variations in creatures, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing here. The creatures that exist in this film are enough to fill the story. There is no need to load the film with unnecessary characters and waste screen time.

The acting is also a good aspect of this film. Freddie Highmore does a nice job as both Grace brothers. This film makes it seem that twins actually played the 2 brothers. The voice work is also nicely done. Nick Nolte got very little airtime, but his voice does wonders for the evil Mulgarath.

There are many books out there that make you want to see the movie. This is a movie that makes you want to read the books.

One of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Great voice acting and memorable characters. If your a fan of the TV series you will definitely love this movie. Also, I can honestly say that you will still find this movie hilarious even if you haven't seen the TV show.

J.J. Abrams, who at this point in time, hasn't worked on a ton of films from the director's chair, comes through with a science fiction adventure to talk about.

This film tells the beginning of James Kirk's career, so having seen the original Star Trek episodes are not necessary.

At just over 2 hours, the pacing is good and the story never gets boring. The plot is very interesting, as time travel usually is, and the character buildup is more than decent. The earlier parts of the film, with the build up for the Kirk character is a bit excessive, however the rest of the film makes up for this.

There is a moderate amount of action, and to be quite honest, it isn't anything spectacular, although the CG and the sound effects are top notch. This is OK, since the action doesn't carry this picture.

The casting is a positive. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, etc. all have their own personalities and are easily identifiable. It is nice to see Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, show up for an integral role in the story.

Star Trek is an all around good time for science fiction fans alike. This includes non Star Trek people.

When I was growing up, I thought the walkers were the greatest things ever.

Although Stardust hasn't received great reviews from the critics and it didn't have the best opening weekend, that is no reason to pass this baby up. This is actually a very good and entertaining movie.

The story is great for a fantasy adventure movie and it flows pretty nicely with the exception of the beginning, which I feel is pretty slow. Nonetheless, once the movie starts to take off in the land of Stormhold its a great adventure until the end. Oh, and before I forget, there is a good amount of humor in here as well.

I have to say that the acting is much better than I thought. Charlie Cox does a decent job as the main character Tristan, while Claire Danes worked well with her accent. This is also probably one of the better performances I've seen from Michelle Pfeiffer as well, although I haven't seen a whole bunch of her movies. The real star of the show is actually Robert De Niro. His first few scenes aren't that great, but once his "real" character is unveiled, De Niro puts on quite a performance. He will provide you with a ton of laughs. I highly suggest giving this film a glance if you're a De Niro fan.

The CG wasn't all that spectacular, but it was still pretty good. Better than average in my opinion. There is quite a bit of action in this movie with the bulk of it being at the end. They even find the time to include a good old sword fight as well.

This movie definitely caters to fans of the fantasy genre, but others may still find this film entertaining as well as funny. This is well worth 2 hours of your time.

Director, Roland Emmerich is no stranger when it comes to science fiction. His resume shows impressive films (Independence Day) and not so impressive films (Godzilla). Stargate is an impressive film.

When I say impressive, I don't mean it in the way of flashy CG and futuristic cities. In fact, this film takes place in the modern day, albeit it is on another planet with a historical setting. What really makes this film stick out so much is the story, which is a great science fiction tale with a lot of potential. There is nothing like the fact of being able to transport instantly to another world.

Stargate isn't about the action, but the run time is just over 2 hours and it goes by pretty quickly. You become engrossed in the story that even the slow parts actually mean something.

The CG is great, especially for an early 90s film. It doesn't overdue it either. David Arnold does a wonderful job with the score, leaving a memorable theme, and the sound effects are also a strong part of this movie. The sound of the teleportation devices are really enjoyable and it is a shame they don't use them more.

There is a good cast of characters. James Spader fits the role of Daniel Jackson, while Kurt Russell, sporting the flat top, delivers as Colonel Jack O' Neil. It is also interesting to see French Stewart in a serious military role. As for the villain, Jaye Davidson is a good Ra.

It is true that Stargate may not be for everyone, but we do owe it to this movie for paving way for a great television series in Stargate: SG-1.

Stargate SG-1 may be a defunct television series, but its legacy lives on in Stargate: The Ark of Truth. This adventure is the first film after the ending of the series and it provides a nice continuation to where the series left off.

Do you need to be a fan of the series to enjoy this movie? No. Do you need to be a fan of the series for this to make sense? H*** yes! There is a 9-10 minute prelude before the film, but even that won't help you if you haven't followed the series. As much as I want to recommend this to all science fiction fans, I can really only suggest this film to people that follow, at least, the latter seasons of the show. At the time of this viewing, I have seen less than 50% of the episodes, but I know enough about the story to easily follow this film.

The story isn't as complex as the TV series and that is a little bit of a disappointment. It does bring some nice closure to some elements while still leaving others open for future installments.

The story may be lacking, but the action sure isn't. There is a lot going on action wise and that makes the hour 40 minute picture fly by. The CG is great as usual and the same can be said about the sound effects.

All the major actors return to reprise their roles. Unfortunately, Don Davis and Richard Dean Anderson don't show up. The return of Morena Baccarin is candy for the eyes.

This is a must see for Stargate SG-1 fans. For others, I recommend checking out some of the series first.

Pierre Morel has little on his directing resume at this time, however he has worked with Luc Besson on a lot of other films. Taken is quite the enjoyable ride when combining the writing of Luc Besson and the directing of Pierre Morel.

There isn't anything extraordinary about the plot. A daughter is kidnapped and the father needs to get her back. The thing about the father is that ... wait, let him explain it. "But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you."

The first 20 minutes are uneventful, but it does have great character buildup for what is to come. The rest of this 90 minute picture is just thrilling suspense and action. Watching Liam Neeson's character go to work is fantastic and there is no remorse for anything that he does.

The blood may not spurt all over the place, but the violence is still brutal and intense. It is very James Bond like.

Liam Neeson is able to successfully lead this picture, despite his age, and Maggie Grace is the typical teenage daughter.

Taken, may not sound like anything sensational, but most will be taken by surprise with this one.

This is an example of a sequel that I enjoyed over the original. It isn't a whole lot better, but since the first one was awesome, I guess you could say that this one is better than awesome.

The story isn't as deep or strong as the first one, but it is definitely more fun and entertaining. There isn't the need to really build up the turtles since it was done in the first film, so they had the room to play around with the turtles by giving them more comedic dialogue. Way funnier than the first film, although I did miss the funny antics of Casey Jones. You also get Vanilla Ice at the ending of this film. The highlight of his career in my opinion.

The acting is just as good as the first and the same goes for the animatronics. Once again the turtles did have their own distinct personalities and great voice over work. As I mentioned above, I did miss Casey Jones and I also thought Judith Hoag did a better job as April O'Neil from the first film. Paige Turco did a nice job though.

There is much more action in this film as well as better choreography. The film does a nice job at distributing the fights throughout the film as well. Not only do the turtles fight, but Ernie Reyes Jr. gets to display some nice moves in this film too. My only real complaint is that there should have been more usage of the turtle's weapons in the fights, maybe even during the movie.

Fans of the first film will most likely enjoy this and children will fall in love the turtles. A great family film with a good soundtrack, which was also better than the first.

What can I say? James Cameron takes advantage of some great CG and a big budget to create a sci-fi masterpiece. Seriously, this will be a classic forever.

The story is great. Two terminators from the future go head to head. This is enough to create many a movie, but this film actually gives the story depth and meaning along with the clashing of the terminators. I guess this is the reason why the film runs over 2 hours.

Right from the get go, you are thrown into the future where machines are fighting robots. The lasers blasts are good and the sound effects are even better. It's too bad that the rest of the film takes place in the present day. This film has its share of action, but it does have some slow parts too. Fortunately, the characters and story are good enough to keep the film interesting.

You like action? This is the right movie for you. A winchester shotgun, mini-gatling gun, grenade launcher, and multiple vehicle chases will get you through the movie. The T-1000 is a brilliant villain as well. It may be a little too powerful, but that just makes the action that much more intense. When the T-1000 morphs its head into its hands you have to think that nothing can stop it.

The acting is superb. Arnold plays a part that he really matches and Robert Patrick pulls off one of his most memorable roles. Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong round out a good supporting cast. Don't forget to be on the lookout for Budnick.

There is no question that any fan of sci-fi NEEDS to see this before they die. No question at all.

While many feel that this film is a disappointment to the series, it truly isn't that bad. It is not as good as number 2, but it is still a great movie.

As you have probably read in many places, the plot isn't that deep. The film does give a bunch of background information about the characters and their future, but the story as a whole is nothing really spectacular. There could have been more background on the character of Sarah Connor.

The flow of this film is basically like its predecessor. A quick glimpse of the future in the beginning and then the entrance of the terminator and the terminatrix into the present day. From here on out it is the terminatrix doing the hunting with the terminator doing the protecting.

Although this film falls short to T2 in the plot department, it is up to par with the action and even better with the CG. There is no winchester shotgun in this film, but there are still some big guns. Heavy machine guns to be exact. There is also a great car chase with plenty of destruction. Of course you can't have a terminator film without the terminator fights. The brawl in the bathroom is pretty entertaining.

The acting isn't too bad. Kristanna Loken is a perfect choice for the terminatrix and Arnold pulls off the terminator once again. Nick Stahl and Claire Danes do a nice job, but they aren't as good as Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong from number 2.

Fans of this series will want to give this a watch. If you like the flow of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, you should enjoy this one.

I am usually not a fan of the horror genre but this is one of my favorite movies. This is definitely John Carpenter's best work. The special effects were ahead of its time and they had interesting characters. Even the dialogue was well written. Not to mention that oh-so simple theme would get stuck in your head.

Don Bluth is no stranger when it comes to animation films. He already has titles like The Secret of NIMH, An American Tale, and Anastasia under his belt and he shows he still has it in him with Titan A.E..

There are quotes and comments out there that compare this to Star Wars. This is not Star Wars, but it really is one of the closer films to it. You will recognize some of the concepts in here.

Mr. Bluth is able to create a great sci-fi film with a pretty good story. Planet Earth is no more and you have a crew made up of various species looking for a missing ship that will save humanity. The plot alone is enough for me to give this a watch. The run time is only 90 minutes and it will fly by rather quickly. The quick pace, action scenes, and a couple plot twists in the second half will keep you in the film.

Visually, this isn't close to a Pixar animation, but it sure as h*** isn't bad. The characters are nothing spectacular, but the spacecraft and settings are nicely done. What would a sci-fi movie be without an enemy alien race? In here, they are known as the Drej and their leader looks fantastic.

The sound effects are another great element of this film. The laser shots and the ship's engines all make the surround sound worth hearing. The soundtrack isn't too shabby either. The original score is nice and so are most of the songs done by the recognizable artists.

The voice work isn't the greatest, but it is still OK. John Leguizamo is the only one that really shines.

Titan A.E. may seem like a typical science fiction cartoon, but there is more to it than meets the eye. This is a great film for sci-fi fans.

One of the greatest westerns of all time. Val Kilmer does an excellent job portraying Doc Holliday.

At this time, Stuart Baird has quite a record when it comes to editing, but when it comes to directing, other than Executive Decision, his resume isn't that impressive. Luckily he doesn't drop the ball with this one.

The character known as Chief Marshal Samuel Gerard from The Fugitive returns in this follow up known as U.S. Marshals. Many consider this a sequel, but it truly is stand alone from The Fugitive. The only connection is Samuel Gerard and his deputy marshal team. Wesley Snipes replaces Harrison Ford as the fugitive and Robert Downey Jr. joins the marshal team. You are now set to watch U.S. Marshals.

The plot seems simple, but there is some depth to it to carry it out past the 2 hour mark. There are also a few twists and turns to spice up this flick and it is just great to watch Gerard figure things out with his confident attitude and commendable dialogue. The action sequences come in moderate amounts and they are all nicely done, especially the graveyard scene.

Wesley Snipes is a little disappointing, but everyone else is on there game. Tommy Lee Jones matches well as Samuel Gerard and Robert Downey Jr. is a nice addition to the cast. Irène Jacob is the leading lady and she is just lovely to look at it. She can act too.

U.S. Marshals is not an explosive action picture, but rather a mystery thriller with sequences of action. If you enjoyed The Fugitive, then this is worth checking out and vice-versa.

Geoff Murphy's directing credits may not look all that impressive, but Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is a pretty good action thriller.

This movie does serve as a sequel to Under Siege, but the story stands alone and this makes this picture completely watchable without having seen the first.

A bunch of terrorists want money, so they hijack a train and setup some fancy equipment to cause mass destruction around the globe. Luckily, Casey F****** Ryback is here to save the day.

Most of this 90+ minute film takes place on a train and it does serve as a nice setting for a hostage rescue situation. The action is a plenty and this is all that is expected with the usual shootings, beatings, explosions, and a decent knife fight near the end.

Steven Seagal is Steven Seagal. Katherine Heigl is beautiful. Morris Chestnut is partially entertaining and partially annoying. As for the villains, they are the stars of the show. Eric Bogosian is a delight to watch as the clever Travis Dane and Everett McGill makes a good foe for Steven Seagal.

There is nothing out of the ordinary with Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, but it is an entertaining film for those that want to see Seagal whooping some butt. "Chance favors the prepared mind."

Up, like Pixar movies before this one, is an instant classic. Directed by Pete Docter with the help from Bob Peterson, it is no surprise at how amusing this film is. Both have worked on Pixar films before.

Leave it to Pixar to get a story about a 78 year old man floating his house away with tons of balloons right. There is nothing explosive about this 96 minute film. It isn't about the humor. It isn't about the CG. It isn't even about the 3D elements. All of these are consistently good by the way. It is about the characters.

The introduction of the film does a wonderful job, without overdoing it, at setting up the story while also building up the main characters. After this, it is all cake walk. Let the story unfold in its own creative way. The heros are likable and the villains are not. What more is there to ask for?

Visually, the CG is stunning and the characters are given that adorable look. The playful 3D elements are nearly non-existent, as it is there to just provide depth to the screen. This film is just as good without it.

The voice work of the characters are spot on. There is no need to hit a grand slam by getting well known actors and actresses to provide their voices. Edward Asner and Jordan Nagai have no problems at carrying this picture as the voices of Carl Fredricksen and Russell respectively.

Up. A great family film. Watch it. "Are you in need of any assistance today, sir?"

James McTeigue can be considered a rookie director on this film, but with a great screenplay from the Wachowskis and the graphic novel from David Lloyd to base it off of, he shows he can direct with the best of them.

"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November ..." The film starts out with a bang, and ends with one too. Despite the fact that there is politics, which is not for everybody, in this story, it is no doubt interesting and creative. The pacing is moderate and it is a little draggy at times, which is why the film ends up past the 2 hour mark. Still, all the lines of dialogue and good camerawork all make this film a great watch.

There isn't a whole lot of action, however, when it does appear it is more than adequate. The violence is bloody, the fights are nicely choreographed, and it leaves the viewer wanting more.

Natalie Portman is as beautiful as ever, even when she shaves her head. Oh yeah, her acting is just as good as her beauty. Hugo Weaving's voice for V is perfect and his dialogue is written just for him. John Hurt also pulls off a good villain.

V for Vendetta is a graphic novel adaptation done right. Fans of action science fiction thrillers will find this amusing.

Based off of a true story and the final assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, Valkyrie is one intriguing film from Bryan Singer.

The story is a good one, even though the outcome is already set and given away. It is everything leading to this conclusion that still makes this an entertaining watch. The mediocre introduction of this 110 minute film takes place in Africa and it provides a quick introduction to Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. It is everything after this that is more than just mediocre.

For a military film, there is very little in the way of action, besides the introduction. That doesn't really matter because it doesn't need it. All the recruiting, planning, and execution of the assassination are all interesting enough to carry this picture.

Tom Cruise may seem like the wrong guy to lead this film, however he does find a way to get the job done. The rest of the supporting cast, on the other hand, is great. Names like Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Eddie Izzard all find themselves with integral roles in the film.

Valkyrie works out well as a thriller and many people will find this to be pretty enjoyable. Now if only the plan worked.

At the time of this release, there is only 1 Pixar film that tops this. It is Finding Nemo and the director for that film is Andrew Stanton. Low and behold, he is the director for this film as well. Once again, the combination of Stanton and Pixar put together an entertaining film for all.

WALL-E is all about story. How can you tell? Well, this film has very little dialogue, especially the first 30 minutes or so. Other than the 2 robots and visuals, it has to be the story that carries this movie. It's amazing how the directing and storytelling can make you fall in love with a character who has no lines of dialogue, except for 1 word phrases here and there.

Visually, this film is spectacular. It just boggles the mind at how Pixar is able to create films that just get visually better and better with each one that comes out. If you think Ratatouille is nicely done, WALL-E will take your breath away. The dents and dirt marks on WALL-E are all there and visible to the human eye.

So, how does a film stay interesting without that much dialogue? The answer is sound effects and background music. The sound effects and the voice work are great. No matter how often you hear Eve say WALL-E's name, it sounds fresh every time. It doesn't get old. Thomas Newman creates original background music that matches the film and the use of other classical music is another enhancement.

This is a G-Rated film that isn't just for kids. Pixar's films are for everybody, which means everybody should see this.

Based off of Alan Moore's graphic novel, by the same name, Zack Snyder brings Watchmen to the big screen in spectacular fashion.

The story is deep and long. We are talking almost 3 hours long. Fortunately, even with only a moderate pace, the film never feels like it is more than 2 hours. There are a good variety of characters and each has their own subplot going, which is more than enough to fill this movie from beginning to end. The nice thing is that it isn't all that hard to follow either.

Zack Snyder's directing is fantastic, despite the pretty bad soundtrack. This is a huge letdown. It's not that the songs are bad, they are just out of place and ruin the scenes.

The action is nicely done with the trademark slow motion segments thrown in. There is just too much of them. Snyder uses them effectively at times, but there are others where these bullet time scenes are unnecessary. The violence is also very bloody. Combine this with the nudity, sex, and language and you have an appropriate r-rating.

As far as the CG goes, there isn't anything else to say, except that it is spectacular.

The cast isn't perfect, however it isn't bad. Patrick Wilson and Matthew Goode are a little disppointing for the Nite Owl II and Ozymandias characters. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian, Jackie Earle Haley as Rorscach, and the beauty of Malin Akerman as the Silk Spectre II make up for this though. I will note that everything regarding Rorschach is just fantastic.

Watchmen isn't a perfect movie and reading the graphic novel isn't a requirement, but both are highly recommended just because they are that d*** good.

The Wizard is, quite frankly, one of the best films from the 80s. We are talking about a movie that revolves around the original Nintendo system. Wonderful memories.

When viewing the first 10 minutes or so, this film doesn't seem like it will be about video games, but once "The Wizard" takes a stab at Double Dragon all bets are off and the quarters become important. David Chisholm is able to come up with a nicely written story and some pretty memorable dialogue. "California."

While most of the film revolves around 3 kids making their way to California for a video game tournament, the 100 minute story still finds the time for laughs by using the antics of Will Seltzer and Beau Bridges in between the kids' scenes.

The video games shown in here are classic. Double Dragon, Ninja Gaiden, and Super Mario Bros. 2 are just a few. There is also the introduction of Super Mario Bros. 3. Ingenious on Nintendo's part. I can't forget to mention some airtime of the power glove. My only huge complaint is how "The Wizard" knows the shortcut in Super Mario Bros. 3 when it is the first appearance of the game.

The rating for this picture is PG, but that is being generous, considering that the "B" and "S" words appear in here. Multiple times, by the way. Maybe PG-13 is a better rating for this.

Fred Savage, Jenny Lewis, and Luke Edwards are able to carry this movie to it's end. Beau Bridges and Will Seltzer provide the laughs, while Christian Slater is Christian Slater.

The Wizard is a great family film and is a must see for classic Nintendo fans.

The X-Files series is tops when it comes to science fiction. Science fiction with a good hint of realism to it. This movie is no exception.

It is possible to watch this film without being a fan of the show or watching the TV episodes, but it REALLY helps. The story and the characters will all make much more sense if you have some understanding of the series, especially the episodes that tie into the "black ooze" storyline.

The plot for this movie is everything a science fiction lover will enjoy. A bit more as well. The flow of the movie is moderate with little action, although there are some intense scenes. That is the way the X-Files is meant to be. It does feel a little different from the TV episodes and my guess is that this film tries to cater to people who don't watch the series.

There isn't a whole lot of CG in this film, but that helps to keep the realism factor that I mentioned earlier in check. If you are expecting alien versus human fights and shootings, this isn't the film for you.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have the same great chemistry together as they've shown throughout the series. Other intricate characters pop up as well, including Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis as the cancer man. Armin Mueller-Stahl even finds himself with an important part. Oh yes, I can't forget to mention the small role from the Lone Gunmen.

The X-Files: Fight the Future is a good movie, which stems from a TV series. It also has a fantastic ending. Don't be afraid to watch this.

Rule #2: Get A Director - Ruben Fleischer's directing resume may not look all that impressive before this, but Zombieland will put him on the map.

Rule #1: Have A Story - Not surprisingly, this brief 80 minute picture's plot is paper thin. Zombie apocalypse. Check. Guy trying to get to Ohio. Check. Girls looking to get to a theme park. Check. Guy looking for Twinkies. Check. This film does what it sets out to do. Entertain.

Rule #16: Bloody Up the Screen - The zombie carnage is quite gory, with most of it coming in the beginning and ending. While the middle may lack the constant zombie mayhem, it doesn't lack the comedy.

Rule #10: Make the Audience Laugh - The humor is excellent and easy to pick up on. It isn't only the kills, but the dialogue and directing as well. It's just a barrel of fun when rules keep popping up on the screen.

Rule #3: Get Actors - Look to Woody Harrelson for the comedy. Look to Emma Stone for the beauty. Look to Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin for the acting. Enough said.

Rule #32: Leave It Open for More - At the end of the night, Zombieland is one film to just kick back and have a good time with. Are there more zombies to come?