Letters To Juliet

This film was good. It's a love story starring Amanda Seyfried as Sophie, a girl who discovers a wall in Italy in which women write letters to Shakespeare's Juliet in hopes to help them out with their love lives. She discovers that a group of 4 ladies respond to each letter. While Sophie is helping them out, she discovers a hidden letter written over 50 years ago by Claire--a girl at the time who lost a boy, Lorenzo, and never saw him again. She responds to the letter and Claire comes to find Sophie and Sophie goes with her on a search for the man she lost years ago.

The movie is very predictable and has weak dialogue throughout. But there are some good lines here and there. The story is unique, however, and it may get you tearing up at the end. It makes you feel good. The story was a little longer than it needed to be, but there were a couple of substories, which kept the film from running out of subject matter. Sophie's fiance was very unrealistically oblivious--which got annoying at times. It was never laugh out loud funny that much. However, I think I would watch it again, simply because of the idea that it makes me feel good.

In my opinion, it was kinda like Leap Year (to the 13 people who saw that movie), but a million times better!

Overall Grade: B


-Ethan Brehm

Sex And The City 2

Ok, I'm changing the date of this blog to June because that's when I should have posted it, but know that the actual date is July 18, 2010. Wow! It's been forever since my last blog! Sorry! I've been caught up with so much stuff this summer. Anyway...Seriously?? I can't believe that movies like this exist sometimes. It's a sequel at par with the first film--which doesn't say much because the first film was just as lousy. With the first one ending with nothing left unresolved, this second film was a huge stretch of unnecessary plot. In this movie, the girls take a trip to Abu Dhabi without their significant others. There's a bunch of subplots throughout this film.

I literally hate this film, along with the first film. But honestly, this one was more humorous than the first one, along with having more intricate character development. However, the first film had a way better plot. The thing that i dislike so much about these films is that they're full of a bunch of self-centered, selfish, overly-materialistic girls who put their friends before their spouses. They talk about men like meat and would probably not have as many relationship problems if they would just stop talking to their friends about their problems instead of actually talking to their spouses about their problems! These women are really stupid and live their lives by making idiotic decisions. I didn't agree with 90% of the advice that they give each other. And parts of this film that were supposed to be "heartwarming" were just left with me scrunching my eyebrows.

For once, I really don't feel bad giving a film a bad review. The only cool thing about this film is the upscale awe of the ritzy Abu Dhabi hotel and airplane. But if that is the best part of a movie, it's not really going anywhere. Not to mention that there is no reason for this movie to be 2 and a half hours long. But overall, these women take themselves way too seriously and need to get real about their priorities.

Overall Grade: D-


-Ethan Brehm

Robin Hood

Hmm...I'm a little confused as to how I should feel about this movie. I wanted to love it, I really did, but I'm not sure that I can say that I loved it after watching it. It's not a typical story about Robin Hood being the man that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. But who knows? Maybe the sequel (if there is one) will have more to do with that. However, I thought that they could have at least alluded to it a little bit in this film. The film was how Robin Hood became Robin Hood, but the only problem is that the viewer doesn't really see him become Robin Hood--they only see him become an outlaw (which may be the point, but they should have stressed this more).

This film was, I think, a little longer than it should have been. Some scenes could have been omitted or changed to be shorter. Also, the accents were very hard to understand. I had the hardest time comprehending some parts--which may have been why I was bored from time to time.

I found it interesting that little CGI was used in the making of this film and that all of the sets were actually built for the film or borrowed from an actual location. Also, Russell Crowe, who plays Mr. Hood, did an excellent job of portraying the part.

As for the film, I would like to watch it again in hopes to get something that I missed, but by the looks of many people, they were confused about the same thing as me. Maybe it's just me? I mean, I DID enjoy the story very much, it's just that I was expecting something different. However, the story that WAS told was actually very good--just kinda long. I think I WANTED to like the movie way more than I actually LIKED it though.

Overall Grade: B


-Ethan Brehm

MacGruber

I love Saturday Night Live, however, this sketch has never been one of my favorites. However, I do have to say that I liked the movie better than the sketch. It had one or two scenes that were really hysterical. It's about a bombs expert (or something) who makes weapons and tools out of nothing (like MacGyver). Except he's really not all that good, but he gets the job done--kind of like a Jacques Clouseau type of character. In other words, it was an action comedy.

It was great seeing Will Forte (MacGruber) as a leading role because he is really funny, and I've always admired his ability to never break character. Also, Kristen Wiig plays Vicki St. Elmo, who is MacGruber's partner, and I she is one of my favorite all-time cast members on SNL.

But anyway, amidst the hilarious situations and antics, you find some very awkward scenes that make you feel a bit uncomfortable (at least for me). The comedic talent is tremendous in this movie. The type of humor in this film is sort of an acquired taste, and definitely a product of the time that we're living in (much like Animal House or Caddyshack). There are some good one-liners in this film, and it definitely serves the purpose that it was aiming for, however, it may be good, but I just wouldn't find myself buying it on DVD. Although, I would watch it again anytime. I think it would grow on me.

Overall Grade: B


-Ethan Brehm

Shrek Forever After

Everyone knows and loves Shrek--at least the first one. Now onto its fourth installment, the Shrek franchise brings their story to a close. The story goes that Shrek is feeling that he has lost his touch and has gone soft. He thinks that he is a sideshow attraction and that everyone is no longer scared of him. Rumpelstiltskin meets Shrek and says that he can give him a day to be a real ogre again in exchange for a day from Shrek's childhood. With Rumpelstiltskin's hidden agenda, Shrek now has 24 hours before his existence is wiped off the face of the earth to break the contract--he has to find true love's kiss. The catch is that his wife, Fiona, nor anybody else knows who he is.

There are a few slow minutes towards the beginning, but it quickly picks up its pace and never slows down. This is the best Shrek movie since the first one. It is hysterical and extremely clever. Rumpelstiltskin is as creepy as ever, in a Joker-from-Batman type of way--you can't get enough of him. The film is full of great messages and enough heartfelt lines that will make you smile without thinking of them as too cheesy.

Let me tell you that you do not have to had seen the 2nd or 3rd films in order to see this one--actually, you don't really even need to have seen the first one (but who hasn't?). I am not giving a grade for this movie based on how well it compares to the ones before it, because it is its own movie. And although it is not quite as good as the first Shrek film, it is the absolute perfect way to close the series.

Overall Grade: A


-Ethan Brehm

A Nightmare On Elm Street

I...Hate...Scary...Movies! I don't know if I can even write a review for this one cause my eyes were behind my hand half the time. Basically, Freddy Kreuger haunts a group of teenagers whenever they fall asleep and if they die in their sleep, they die in real life. The kids spend the movie trying to figure out why its happening and how to stop it.

Freddy looks creepier than before. I can't even look at him now. The acting wasn't all that great, except for one of the kids, Quentin (Kyle Gallner). The storyline was alright. It was creepy and mysterious. Having not seen the original, I do not know if it is the same or not. This movie was really predictable as far as when Freddy was gonna show up. You catch on quick, and they don't even try to fool you with the music. And it was drawn out way too long that it needed to be. **Spoiler Alert** It is also unbelievable how the kids would forget a memory that happened to them when they were 4-years-old. I mean, I remember tons of stuff that happened when I was 4! **End Of Spoiler**

I mean, I guess the story was good considering that you can't always make up a great storyline for these types of films. However, the point of the movie WAS to scare, but honestly, I was good after the first night or two. A REALLY scary movie will keep me freaking out for a week or more!

Overall Grade: C+ (maybe C)


-Ethan Brehm

Just Wright

Those who know me know that basketball has been a huge part of my life since I was basically born. What goes along with that is that I have a soft-spot for basketball movies. There are not really any that I do not like. With that said, I find that this film would have made me like it even if it were not a basketball film. It stars Queen Latifah as Leslie, a physical therapist who isn't stereotypically what men find attractive. However, her best friend, Morgan (Paula Patton), is symmetric enough to be every guys heartbreak. Morgan wants one thing--to date an NBA player. Scott McKnight (Common), one of the best players in the league meets Leslie at the gas station, and invites her to her party. She brings Morgan and Scott McKnight falls for her (Morgan). Then he gets a career-threatening injury and asks Leslie to be his therapist and get him better again before playoffs. You might think that you see what comes next, but I don't wanna say anything.

It was a good movie that made me laugh and smile a lot. Though, once the film gets going, it gets somewhat predictable (ok, maybe that's an understatement). Also, Morgan makes you really angry throughout the film, to the point that you could slap her silly.

It was nice seeing Phylicia Rashad in this film as Scott's mother because The Cosby Show is one of my favorite shows of all time. The film is definitely a formula film, but as one of my favorite critics, Roger Ebert said, "A formula that works reminds us of why it became a formula."

Overall Grade: B+


-Ethan Brehm