Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

PG-13
Starring: Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro
2 Hours & 24 Minutes

This movie is the sequel to the original Transformers movie. Directed by the famous action-packed director Michael Bay. Revenge of the Fallen is one of his typical high energy thrill ride movies. The story follows the main character Sam Witwicky (Shia Labeouf) as he sets out to leave his parents and his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox) to attend College. Before he leaves she brings him over a shard of the all-spark (a sharp object from the original movie) and this starts everything in commotion.
Revenge Of The Fallen pits the good robots "the autobots" against the bad robots "the decepticons" and the pandemonium begins.
This movie was long and arduous and the scenes began to run together. There was too much action and it made it difficult to follow.
The target audience is the video-game generation ages 16 and older. Most young men will really enjoy this movie. My son thought it was great.
Be advised that there was a scene with Sam and a female robot that was sexually suggestive when she tries to seduce him.
There is Sci-fi action violence with crude and sexual material and language.

The Proposal

PG-13
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen & Craig T. Nelson
1 Hour & 48 minutes

This movie is a romantic comedy. This is a story about Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) a high-powered self-absorbed book editor whom all of her employees fear. She works for a successful firm in New York and she is about to be deported back to Canada after her Visa has been denied. In order for her to stay working at the firm she declares that she will marry her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds). He is in shock, and in order for him to keep his position, he follows through with her demands.
She takes him with her to meet with an agent working with the Immigration department who informs them both that he will be questioning them and watching over them to make sure that they are really getting married for love and not just for her to be able to stay in the country. He informs Andrew that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if he is not telling the truth.
They fly off to Sitka, Alaska to celebrate his grandmother's (Betty White) 90th birthday. Margaret is shocked to find out that Andrew comes from a very wealthy and famous family and that he is very well thought of. She is thrust into numerous situations that she is uncomfortable with but unable to avoid.
There were many scenes that were very funny. Betty White's character as the grandmother was delightful. There were also some very touching and sentimental scenes as well.
I really enjoyed this movie and left the theater completely entertained. I would highly recommend this movie for a fun night out. Be aware for children that there is some nudity during a comedy scene that actually was very funny. I was not expecting the nudity but she covered herself up enough so that it was not offensive. Also be advised that there is a male stripper named Ramon who likes the women and enjoys dancing for them.
Language, crude and sexual material and nudity.

My Life In Ruins

PG-13
Starring: Nia Vardalos , Alexis Georgoulis & Richard Dreyfuss
1 hour & 38 minutes

I think this movie should have been entitled "My Movie In Ruins". I was sorely disappointed in this movie. Having been a devotee of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", I had high expectations and had been anticipating "My Life In Ruins" for several months. Nia Vardalos stars as Georgia, a tour guide in Greece. She is at the end of her rope as she escorts tourists from different countries in an old dilapidated bus with a bus driver that is in need of a serious makeover. His name just happens to be "Poupi Kakas", which sets up the tone for the entire movie. This story was really lame and silly. She continues to get more and more frustrated with her job and decides to quit. She then finds herself falling for "Poupi Kakas" at the urging of all the tourists. He ends up getting a haircut and a shave and looking very handsome. The tourists on the bus are silly and unbelievable as well. Richard Dreyfuss plays and old widower who is trying to find solace in Greece because his late wife had always dreamed of going there. Georgia finds him in a hotel room alone with TWO young divorcees. There was a strange scene on the bus where Georgia portrays some weird sexual Greek goddess act which causes "Poupi" to crash the bus. Even with the great Greece scenery and the awesome historical sights, the movie was still a flop. There were multiple sexual innuendos as well. The movie was painfully long and very disappointing. Not a movie that I would recommend for any age.
Crude and sexual material.

Up

PG
Featuring the Voices of Edward Asner & Christopher Plummer
1 hour & 36 minutes

Disney Pixar has done it again! This movie is absolutely astonishing! A feast for the senses. The animation is off the chart and the color and clarity are amazing.
The story is undoubtedly one of the most tender and dear that I have ever experienced. The main character is Carl Frederickson, a 78 year old widower who is devastated by the loss of his beloved wife Ellie.
He unexpectedly encounters an eight-year old wilderness explorer named Russell who is desperately trying to get his senior assistance badge, and the adventure begins.
Carl and his wife always had the dream of going to South America to see Paradise Falls. When he finally reaches his breaking point, he fills hundreds of helium balloons and attaches them to his house and thus flies "Up" and away. He was completely unaware that Russell was also at his house when he flies away.The two of them make it to Paradise Falls and things aren't exactly what he had anticipated.
They encounter one of his old heroes, Charles Muntz who actually ends up being the villain. He has many dogs who have special collars that allow them to speak. Therefore you get the dogs perspectives as well. Carl and Russell make friends with a dog named Doug and form a special relationship with him. They also encounter a unique bird that Charles is trying to kidnap. So they go to work to save this poor bird.
This is a smart and touching movie that I would recommend for all ages from young children to grandparents. I strongly endorse this movie!

Terminator: Salvation

PG-13
Starring: Christian Bale & Sam Worthington
1 hour & 54 minutes

Terminator Salvation is a dark, action packed film that takes place in 2018 after the computer program named Skynet launched a Nuclear Holocaust to wipe out the human race. They did not kill everyone and John Connor (Christian Bale) leads the "Human" Resistance against the machines. My Son has been a huge Terminator fan and he loved it while I thought it was an OK movie and would recommend it to youth 15 and older because of the violence and tone. Be advised this is not a movie for younger children.
Sci-fi action violence and language.

17 Again

PG-13
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon & Leslie Mann
1 hour & 42 minutes

I went into this movie not quite knowing what to expect. Zac Efron (from the Disney High School Musical Movies) stars as a 17 year old high school senior. Just prior to the championship basketball game, his girlfriend informed him that she was pregnant, and he left the game against his coach's wishes to console her.
Then comes Matthew Perry who stars as the 35 year old father (who is Zac Efron's character 18 years later). He resents the fact that he left the basketball game and blames his wife for his unhappiness. His wife has filed for divorce and he failed to get a promotion at work, his life is in shambles. By some strange phenomenon the school janitor is able to transform him back to his high school days where he is seventeen again and back in the body of Zac Efron. He attends school with his daughter and his son. As he mingles with the students he helps to get his own children back on track and sets a good example for the other student's to follow.
This movie has some funny and some serious moments. There is some sexual innuendo and a teenage party scene. I would not recommend this movie for anyone under thirteen because of the mature theme.

Star Trek

PG-13
Starring: Chris Pine & Zachary Quinto
2 hours & 6 minutes

Star Trek is an action packed thrill ride that will keep you interested throughout the entire film! It takes place when the main character's are young. The story helps you understand how they become who they are in the original series. I have never been much of a Star Trek fan but this movie is completely different and J.J. Abrams has done a great job re-introducing the story and putting his own creative style into it. The special effects are amazing and well worth it. There is some mild violence but for the most part it is OK for children. This is a great film whether you're familiar with Star Trek or not! I highly recommend this movie!
Sci-fi action violence and some sexual innuendo.