COLD SOULS

Her:  A John Malcovich wanna be.  Cold Souls explores the trafficking of souls.  Paul Giamatti plays Paul Giamatti who's soul needs to go on a vacation after reading in the paper that there is a company that can extract and warehouse souls.  With no "word of mouth", he runs over and has the procedure done.  The plot thickens...his soul is lost and the race begins.  This movie has no soul.  1 point.

HIS:  Okay, Paul Giamatti has finally done his John Malcovich/Schenectady film.  Let's move on.  1 point

SHORTS

Hers:  Whimsical, charming and imaginative.  I have never understood why all childrens' mystical movies have to be set in ancient times.  This film is contemporary.  The Corporate Mogul pits his employees against each other to work harder, faster and longer to make the "Black Box" more efficient.  Meanwhile, the kids in town are dealing with a rainbow rock, boogers, and flying alligators.  The "Rock" can grant any wish.  In the hands of kids, anything can happen and does.  It just goes to show you what kids wish for.  A shout out to Wm H Macy, a brilliant actor that plays comedy, drama and, here, utter insanity. Very cleaver things happen and I would not miss this movie if I had access to a kid.  2 Points

HIS: Director Rodriquez has given us "Sin City" & "Spy Kids". While these film are for two different audiences, they both reflect the directors love of the world of imagination.  In shorts, he updates the "little Rascal" concept and illustrates the world thru the eyes of a 10 year old.  The special effects are cartoon like but reflect what would come out of the mind of a 10 year old.  James Spader plays the mean & detached boss while William Macy turns in a excellent performance as Dr. Noseworthy.  While is a great family fun, I think it lacked the depth of "Spy Kids". You can take your children or grandchildren to this, they can learn a few moral lessons and you won't be too bored.           1 point

ADAM

Her:  Adam is one of the most sensitive and realistic love stories I have seen in years.  Hugh Dancy & Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher & Amy Irving are the star filled cast in a story about a young man trying to manage life with Asperger's Syndrome.  Very bright he lacks the social skills, he doesn't know when people are jesting, he only knows the truth.  3 Points

HIS: I love independent movies. They dare to make a thoughtful movie & hope for financial success.  I don't consider this a true love story.  Rather it is the story of two people, lost in their own worlds who discover who they are by helping someone else find themselves.  It is a tender yet realistic story and the performances are exactly where they should be.  While we see over 200 movies a year, it is a film like Adam that we hope will be just around the corner.  You will have to look for this film, but it is worth the search.  As a "Reel Boomer", this is a film I long for.  3 points

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE

Her:  What was she thinking?  A man that unexpectedly disappears, and can't hold a job.  Life is tough enough without stacking the deck against you.  Eric Bana (not my favorite) and Rachael McAdams (Notebook) bring a wonderful, traditional LOVE story to the screen.  I was surprisingly unimpressed.  I guess I needed to know that he went somewhere for a reason.  Patrick was way more excited than I because  he understands time travel.  I clearly don't.     1 Point.

HIS:  Here's a date movie for you. Women will enjoy the story of life long love.  Men, we find everything about time travel fascinating.  Eric Bana surprisingly tender at the right times play the traveler.  Two problems make his travel difficult. One, he can't control where or when he goes (disappearing on the wedding is not fun).  Two, unlike Hulk, he arrives totally naked.  As least the Hulk always had pants.  This was a good summer movie and worth the admission price.  2 points

JULIE & JULIA

Her:  Amy Adams & Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci.  Anything that Nora Ephron puts her name on is a thrill.  Story:  The story of how Julia Child changed all of us and became the first person to have a cooking show on television. Julia, married to a diplomat was moved to Paris.  No one loved Paris as much as Julia.  She had worked for the government and that is how she met her wonderful husband.  Unhappy to be dormant in such a vibrant community, she went to cooking school.  Not just any school, Le Cordon Bleu.  
Julie is a young gal, working for the government, moved to Queens and terribly unhappy with her life and career.  The two women's lives parallelled each other and Julie thought, "Why not cook every recipe in Julia Childs cookbook and do a blog"?  She didn't just do a blog, she did a smart, sassy and insightful blog, in fact, she fell in love with Julia Child.  This movie is Perfection.  One of the best movies I have seen in years. 3 out of 3 stars, if I could give it a 10 I would.

HIS:   Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci were magic together.  Yes Meryl "was" Julia Childs by Tucci was a master as the supportive & sensitive husband. They were a real & delightful couple.
Who casted Chris Messina as Julie's husband?  This man had no emotional range at all. We they fought and he walked out, I said "good riddens".  Amy Adams was her bubbly self but she was constantly banging into the "husband wall". He sucked the life out of Adams & any scene they shared.
The concept of the 2 parallel stories was great, but the perfection of the Childs story destroyed the half-baked Julie story.  Should there be a sequel?  Yes, but give us "The Life & Times of Julia Childs starring Streep & Tucci.  Still this movie rates a Big 3 points

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Her  Inglourious Basterds - Saw a screening of it today.  Who raised Quentin Tarintino?  A pack of wolves. What a horrible piece of S#!&.  He owes me money for my time.  Ladies, as "Her" of "His & Her Movie View" see this at your own peril. Horrible...I walked out and felt like I had to take a bath, YUGS. Less that 0 Points

HIS: It's Tarintino, Sam, take it for what it is.  It's not as bloody as his previous movies.  It actually has some tense moments and clever detective work by the SS.  In fact, I think Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa the Nazi "Jew Hunter" stole the movie. That said, I see the movie as a Spaghetti Western meets a cartoon.  The music, narration & stage is like a Spaghetti western.  Brad Pitt as the Tennessee leader with Indian blood (the Apache) is too much of a cartoon.  His need to stick out his lower jaw to get a southern accent makes him more like "Sling Blade" then the descendant of a mountain man.  By the way, I don't think the Apaches made it to Tennessee, perhaps the Cherokees should protest.  It will do well at the box office but it may be an indication that Quentin has past his peak.  2 point

FUNNY PEOPLE

Her:  Imagine a LONG movie with every comedian you have enjoyed over the years.  The story:  A very successful comedy star (Adam Sandler) has a short while to live and starts a relationship with his assistant that is almost as close as a friend, oh, he is a friend until the comedian doesn't like something the assistant says and he is right back to the assistant slot.  All of Sandler's friends gather round and he realizes what the value of friends is.  His one true love shows up and a whole new movie begins.  We get to see the same scene over and over until you realize this is going to go on 2 and 1/2 hours and you go to the bathroom.  Everyone that walked out of the theater was talking about how long it was.  It had the makings of a really good movie, one I was looking forward to and it missed. Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana 1 Point

HIS: If you want to see a good movie about comedians and their struggle to succeed while balancing their personal life,  rent---"Punchline" with Tom Hanks & Sally Fields.  If you want to see a film about comedians that is too long (2.5 hrs.), one joke told 100 ways and an attempted at a true love story that didn't ring true but added an extra hour to the movie, see Funny People.  Adam Sandler has done much better work.  1point

THE UGLY TRUTH

Her:  The Ugly Truth is an odd movie to describe.  More swear words and edgier than I am used to in a chic flick.  There is one brilliant scene where Kathryn Heigl is wearing electric panties at a business meeting...great.  I like Gerard Butler but he was lit wrong.  He seemed thick and dirty.  He played a crude, rude cable television star that the networks picked up and Kathryn inherited him.  Of course, he straightens up her love life (predictable) and implausibly gets together with Heigl...I didn't believe it.  1 Point

HIS: In a romantic comedy you usually say, " Aren't they cute together, I hope it works out".  In all these films,. the couple starts outs hating each other followed by conflicts, love realized, moment of appeared betrayal and finally the reconcilation and love forever.  In the Ugly Truth, the conflict have too much of an edge, the love realized is questioned and after the reconcilation, forever love is overshadowed by continued one-up-manship. The softness of a summer romantic is missing and I don't believe the marriage will last.  1 point

HARRY POTTER

Her:  Daniel Radcliffe reprizes his role as Harry Potter the wizard boy.  They are dragging out this last book into 2 movies so you won't be surprised when this movie abruptly ends without satisfaction.  In this CGI world of big bangs and made up fights that last all too long, this movie had very little of that.  Instead it set-up all scenarios that, I assume will take place in the final movie, and this movie is better for it.  I loved learning about all the potions, characters, and unusual made-up things that were fascinating.  One bathroom trip and I avoided the fight.  So ladies, give your man this one, you will enjoy it and you can let him see the last one, with all the fights, himself.  Jim Broadbent and Alan Rickman are players that should be recognized as they had pivotal parts in this episode.  2 Surprising Points

HIS: The kids are getting older, the special effects are getting repetitous, the formula is wearing out.  but it will still make millions.  We love magic and wish we had such powers.  In attempt to refesh the story line, teenage love is introduced but is the same old stuff.  i guess wizards are only human when it comes to the affairs of the heart.  i agree with Sam, Broadbent & Rickman are always enjoyable to watch.  Harry seems to be getting more wooden.  I think there is only one more left---I hope.  2 points

500 DAYS OF SUMMER

Her:  Zooey Deschanel is mesmerizing in this lite love tale of the ups and downs of falling in love.  Joseph Gordon Leavitt is wonderful as the soulful loving puppy dancing to attract Summer's attention.  She wants to be friends because the magic did not happen for her, it did for him.  There is a narrator and they skip back and forth because if they told the story straight it would take 20 minutes but it did not distract me from following along and hoping that these two would "make it".  It has a good deal of "artsy fartsy" mechanics that young people like but I really liked this "love lite" summer film.  2 Points 

His:  Those eyes of Zooey are more magical than Harry Potter.  A somewhat boring film kept my interest if only to see those eyes.  Joseph Gordon Leavitt (loved him in "3rd Rock") is perfect for the milk toast role.  Actually, if it wasn't for her eyes, I would cast Zooey as the villan in this film. It is a typical summer love story with a few change ups that keep your interest, but I'd wait for the video.  No, those eyes have to be seen on the big screen.  1 point.

THE HURT LOCKER

Her:  Let your husband drag you to this film.  It is more cerebral than bombs going off.  A good study of the type of people that go into war to defend our lifestyle, values and livelihood, defend our FREEDOM.  Jeremy Renner has a rap sheet as long as your arm but I have never seen him before.  He is the whole movie.  His attitude is amazing.  My husband took me to a GREAT dinner to pay for the pain I would endure, seeing this film.  Don't tell him that I liked it.  2 Points

HIS:  A summer man's movie.  What could be worst than being in the middle of a war zone?  How about being in the middle of a war zone while you try to defuse a large bomb!  That's what Jeremy Renner does in this film and he is very good at it.  The tension is alway there.  Not only may he get blown up, but his 3 man squad has to make sure snipers don't shoot him while he is at the bomb. This a a quiet film of the summer, but it should not be missed.  2 points.

MOON

Her:  Sam Rockwell is an agent, alone at an outpost on the Moon.  His 3 year gig is ending and soon he will be home, thank God, cause he is starting to talk to himself, literally.  Of course, he has an accident in his lunar vehicle and the story unfolds when he actually meets himself and the story unfolds.  His companion for all this time is a computer that talks with the voice of Kevin Spacey and is amazingly gentle and kind.  I liked this movie because it was kind.  Nobody's head exploded, bugs didn't eat anyone and the bad guys were much like our everyday businessman.  Hey, a movie that provided entertainment, what a novel idea.  Slightly slow.  2 Points

HIS: Solitary man mining on the moon, working for a big bad company.  Then they bring in the "clone" thing.  Sam Rockwell p-lays the miner and he is perfect for the role.  Kevin Spacy is the voice of the computer and rivals "Hal" in 2001 Space Odyssey.  The ending was not expected but it totally changed my feelings about the main character.  Beware it is as slow moving as 2001 Space Odyssey.  why does everything have to be in monotone.  My GPS voice has more life.  2 points

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE Dinosaurs

Her:  3-D and a HIGH ticket price do not make for a good movie.  This is a wait for netflix kinda picture.  They missed the mark.  Each scene seemed longer than it should have been.  Ray Ramano, Queen Latifa, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary reprise their roles.  They add a few new characters this time while going to save Sid.  And the squirrel that we always saw much too little of had a huge part...there was a reason we saw less of him than we wanted to; it made us yearn for him instead of wishing it would stop.  1 point

HIS: I waited so long for this.  I felt, it would give "UP" a run for it money.  But sadly it fell short.  The third "Ice Age" did not hold up against the first two, let alone against "UP".    What happen, everyone was back?  I think it was 3D.  When you start designing the movie for the special effects,especially when one special effect is the ability to charge $3 more to see it in 3D), the story gets lost.  As Sam said, they took the squirrel who was a great side story and focused on it till we got sick of it.  I wanted to see him continue his eternal quest for the acorn, not fall in love.  I wanted more interaction with the main characters, not separate stories that only came together in the last ten minutes.  Their a unique herd, keep them together with one quest.  "One for all & all for one!"  1 point

Her:  Michelle Pfeifer, Kathy Bates and Rupert Friend tell a tale of cortisone falling in and out of lust with this one and that "Rich Man".  Michelle falls for Bates's neer-do-well son, Cheri, half her age.  He falls in love with her and spends 6 years with her but not enough to marry her.  No, he marries the girl mother sets up for her.  Miserable, Pfeifer goes to the shore hoping to replace him.  When she returns Cheri is delighted and believes he can have his cake and eat it too.  I did not find anything funny about this.  The most delightful parts were the costumes, although Cheri needed a haircut.  1 Point

HIS: Another period piece about the power, tragedy,and self-absorbed of the "Professional Ladies" of the court.  Just shoot me in the head with one of those old muskets so it leaves a real mess.  I am sick of wimpy men, calculating women, over the top fashions and boring sex.  Where is a good invasion of the Huns when you need it.  Hollywood must do one or two period pieces a year, but let's move out of Britain, France & Italy and give us some stronger characters. 1 point (mainly for the home decorations.)

Her:  Sam Mendes didn't disappoint this time.  John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph depict a couple that is exploring their options in life before giving birth to their first child.  We see how couples across the Northern Hemisphere operate, mostly the type of people we don't want to be.  John and Maya are not over the top and exhibit some real chemistry.  I gave it 2 big points.

HIS: Okay, I get it,"parents to be" are afraid they are too dysfunctional to be good parents.  Therefore, they set out to find a new location that has friends or family to help them not screw up their child's life.  What they find is that everyone else is screwed up and dealing with underlining problems.  Along the way we get to laugh at the screw-ups while being sad that their lives are so bad.  It makes us feel good about our own lives. Good summer fare!
So in the last two minutes of the film, we see their decision.  "Build our own future based on our beliefs and not on the troubled past of everyone else".  The comfortable place they found was not that great Southern home but the comfort that comes with understanding who you are and that in doing your best, you can make a real contribution to the growth of your child.  I wish they had cut out one screwup scenario and even me 15 minutes on that final realization. 1 point

Her:  What could be wrong when you spend 2 hours with cutie Johnny Depp?  I would do it over and over.  I hate when I talk to the other critics because they make me see what I might not have seen on my own.  I walked out of this film having enjoyed the experience. Period. Even nostalgic to remember that on horribly hot days of the summer in Chicago, we would go to the movie show to experience "Air Conditioning".  What a thrill.   However, the handheld style used today was applied to this period piece and seemed out of place.  Most shots were closeup which I found distracting. The film seemed to be like TV film, like Playhouse 90 in the '50's. Maybe they intended it to look that way but I found it confused my minds eye.  Those were my observations but one critic said there was no character development, they gave us little reason to care if anything bad happened to these people...I fear they were right.  You all know, if you have been listening, that I hate Christian Bale and he played a part where he couldn't catch a thief if it rolled over him.  Marion Cotilliard was beautiful in her close-ups but again, how could a girl go with a guy that would change her life to that degree in such a short time.  They gave us such little emotion.  I gave it 2 weak points.

HIS: What American male doesn't like a good gangster movie?  As Dillinger, John Depp is perfect casting.  He under plays the part and we seem to see him as more lucky than smart.  His major crime career was only 4 years.  Would he had been that famous if Hoover wasn't trying to the to build the FBI rep. They say you measure your stature by the stature of your enemies. Call him Public Enemy #1 and when you catch him, you'll number one!
The movie had a lot of very loud shooting and many soft & quite conversations.  Christian Bale as Purvis was a good chose because they wanted us to dislike the character and I'm half way there with Bale's wooden face & low voice approach to all his roles. This is an okay gangster movie for the summer but it's no Road to Perdition. 2 points

Her: A wildly entertaining date film.  This is not rocket science. Betty White is so charmingly funny as the 90 year old dowager of the family.  Sandra Bullock is an overbearing boss that steam-roller over everybody to get ahead.  Ryan Reynolds is her executive assistant hoping to break into the publishing business.  When Bullock is told she would be deported to Canada she grabs Reynolds and blackmails him into saying he would marry.  The Feds wanting to be sure this is legit plan to question them thoroughly.  The couple goes to Alaska for White's 90th Birthday party.  I thought it was funny...a BIG 2 points.

HIS:  Now we're talking.  Summer comedy love story.  We can take our girl to this, win some points and have a good time.  For a romantic comedy to work we have to like the couple and believe they should be together.  Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, pull that off.  The chemistry is there and we enjoy watching them.  Betty White is an additional treat as the grandmother. these 3 actors carry the movie forward even though the rest of the cast is only thin window dressing.  Funny and not too long, what more could we want.  2 points.

Her:  Denzel and Travolta are magnificent in this up-date of a movie based on a movie based on a true story (this is just a shoot-em-up and what a great one).  Tony Scott is at the helm of this thing he does best, action films. A nut boards a train with a plan, in order to take $10 Million from the evil City of New York.  His liaison with the city is a subway worker that is a simple man that has worked his way up but was demoted due to being accused of a crime and he gets the task of working diligently with this nut. Gandolfini plays the Mayor that takes $1 a year in salary but looks a lot like Giuliani who actually figures something out.  The conversations between Washington and Travolta is the best part of the movie, the back and forth is great. The last frame of the movie is cheezy but on a lighter note, why not. I liked this movie.  By the way, notice that it doesn't stop subway traffic in New York, just that line. 2 Huge Points 

HIS: This is not a remake of the early(it should be) but rather an update(which is should be).  Old guys talking about how great the first was, makes no sense to the movie going public of today.  If the old one was so geat, re-release it.  Denzel & Travolta are the men for this version.  They are exactly the personalities I want to watch.    In a post 911 world, the cold violence is expected (sadly).  While I find the loud sound, quick cuts & dark tone bothersome,  you have to do it, to win the video game crowd and that who summer movies are after. Lucky in doing so, they did not sacrifice the story nor lose the drama between the two men.  2 Points

Her:  There is nothing fun about this movie.  Carmen Diaz acts so well that I hated her every minute.  Abigail Breslin is beautiful and unwilling to give any more body parts to save her sisters life.  She hires a lawyer, Alec Baldwin.  From there the story moves in slow motion.  We see a sweet girl dying, a mother protecting her daughter a father on standby.  Everybody is left out, all the focus is on the dying girl.  I hated this film.  Nicholas Sparks has something to do with this although my research tells me he is invisible but the name was on the screen.  Nick Casavettes directed this knee slapper.  Lots of talent, and to respect people who go through this horrible ordeal, this is a raw truth that most of us want to avoid.  Avoid this movie...1 Point.

HIS: Okay, I don't want to pay $10 for a melodrama that I can see on TV for free.  Cameron Diaz plays her part well and we all hate her.  Abigail Breslin is as cute as ever and Alec Baldwin is becoming the master of small roles.Jason Patric continues to rival Christian Bale for the most wooden actor in the world.  But the movie is heavy with sad scenes rehashing the fact that a young girl is dying of cancer.  The scene drag and we are constantly beat over the head with the tragedy of it all. There could have been some serious discussions on the subject of using body parts of one child to prolong the life of another.  But no,we are buried in an emotional blanket so thick, we can not gain any clarity.  1 point.

HER:  Bradley Cooper heads this cleaver comedy that captures the dark side and makes you laugh and laugh.  We begin and the end and have to unwind the mystery all done on a time table with getting the groom to the wedding being the prize.  We start with a $4,500 a night suite, trashed.  A baby, a tiger and a missing front tooth and a mystery.  The journey is the fun. Male frontal nudity.  Indulge your guilty pleasure and see this film.  2 Huge Points

HIS: If you have ever found yourself in the morning worshipping the "porcine god" you can relate to this movie.  Three guys awake after a bachelor party night in Vegas to discover they have lost their memories of the night and more importunately the groom. The rest of the movies show them piecing together what happened and finding the groom.  It is actually comical mystery.  It could have been goss but it was clever.  It could have been silly but is was actually logical.  It could have been same old same old boring but it continued to be surprising.  It is my surprise movie of the summer and I think we will be laughing at it for years.  2 Big Points.

Her:  Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, and Kristen Scott Thomas lead this cast in a period piece that is anything but dry British drama.  In fact it is a dramady.  A spirited American cougar joins forces with British Aristocracy.  She has been through a lot and is looking for the freshness of her new husband and finds moldy in-laws.  Her biggest nemesis is her mother-in-law play by Thomas, a dry, controlling matriarch.  Biel trys, Firth, her father-in-law has so little to offer he is not much help, she is on her own.  A lovely film, I encourage you to see.  2 Huge Points

HER:  Nia Vardalos is back.  I love her.  She plays a similar role to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", a young gal looking for love and fulfillment, this time in Greece.  She seems to be looking at the negatives instead of the magic in life.  The men that surround, her teach her how to be open to opportunity and actually see things for their true value.  We board a hot bus filled with ugly Americans, Brits and Canadians and disembark friends.  This is a date movie.  The critics were wrong...never believe them.  2 Big points

HER:  Brilliant!  Ed Asner is Carl.  We meet Carl as a boy who falls in love with a tomboy and the first 30 minutes of the movie not a word is spoken yet it takes us through young adventures, love, marriage and a life full of UPs and downs.  Absolutely the most fascinating thing I have seen on the Screen.  GO PIXAR.  Even the kids were quiet.  And for the boy who takes the journey, to befriend a huge bird and name him/her Kevin...awsome.  See it in 3-D.  I can't wait to see it again.  3 Points

HIS: Disney and Pixar, definitely a marriage made in summer.  They continue to give of great animation, story lines and perfect casting.  No one else could play Carl like Ed Asner.  Only he can scare a kid, dismiss a villain, blow off the world and in the middle of it all, melt our hearts with his everlasting love & tenderness for his wif's dreams.  the kids will love the character, action and story, we Boomer will love the first 5 minutes as Carl's life is told without any dialogue.  It was beautiful.  We can only hope our life story can be told that way.  3points.

HER:  Every young person is having a ball with all of the exhibits in the Smithsonian coming alive.  I imagine if you have a child, this would be tolerable.  I don't have a child.  There were funny moments but they took those moments and beat them to death.  I love Hank Azaria but his villan beat a dead horse.  I tried to let enough time go by where I would lose my memory.  I don't think they care, I am sure there will be more movies on the way.  1 Point

Terminator Salvation 

Story:  The year is 2018. Judgment Day has come and gone, leveling modern civilization. An army of Terminators roams the post-apocalyptic landscape, killing or collecting humans where they hide in the desolate cities and deserts. But small groups of survivors have organized into a Resistance, hiding in underground bunkers and striking when they can against an enemy force that vastly outnumbers them.

Controlling the Terminators is the artificial intelligence network Skynet, which became self-aware 14 years earlier and, in the blink of an eye, turned on its creators, unleashing nuclear annihilation on an unsuspecting world.   Only one man saw Judgment Day coming. One man, whose destiny has always been intertwined with the fate of human existence: John Connor (Christian Bale).

Her:  Christian Bale deepens his voice and almost whispers something that some people might like, not me.  He must think it makes him powerful or sexy, not to me.  Bale meets & saves his father who is a youngster; everything else is CG.  Fast paced, computer generated action that means nothing to me and does not create an emotion.  I don't care about anyone or anything in this film.  Ladies, if he drags you to this black hole of a movie, make sure you make him do something for you.   0 Points

 

Story:  Romantic comedy in which a notorious photographer who has a bad boy reputation of loving beautiful women and dumping them when they fall in love with him spends the night before his brother wedding in 3 nightmares dealing with his past, present and future mistakes.

Her:  Not even an attempt to mask the original author (Dickens) in fact they played with it.  Updated brilliantly Jon Lucas & Scott Moore with Matthew McConaughey (Connor Mead), Jennifer Garner (great match) and Michael Douglas.  Douglas raised Conner to be a womanizer extraordinare when all the while (he, Connor, didn't know it) he loved Jenny.  Mead returns home to be Best Man at his brothers wedding.  With his bigger than life, famous photographer, personality, he detracts everyone attention and proceeds to interfere with the wedding.  His Uncle sends spirits to illuminate the errors of his ways.  A Great date film, a tight story. everything made sense, I highly recommend it.  This is a movie I will play over and over once it gets to the small screen.  I give it  3 Points

HIS: As I entered the theater, I could heard Dickens rolling over in his grave as another hollow Hollywood remake of his novel hit the big screen.  But I'll be darned, "it was as cute as the dicken' ".  Matthew McConaughey was adorable. Brilliant casting put Michael Douglas as the ghost of his mentor.  Douglas enjoyed every minute he was on the screen and so did I. Oscar work no. Summer fun, you bet your dickie.  Not all films must be art, some are best when they are just plain entertaining and this one will entertain you.  A summer joy.  3 Points.

Her:  Beyonce Knowels, Idris Alba, Ali Larter give us a very exciting movie that was so realistic there were several times where I wanted to leave...NOT because the film was bad but because the gal was so MEAN.  Relentless, just like a snake, you could throw something her way and she took it in a totally different direction.  I thought Beyonce did well convincing us that she was common.  But Idris was brilliant as the faithful husband.  2 Big Points

Her:  Another Aging story but taken from a different perspective.  A British family makes their money by taking in the elderly and treating them just fine.  Michael Caine is one of the last to join the group.  He observes that the young lad, Bill Milner is obsessed with what happens after death.  He records the sounds they make in their death bed.  The pair become great friends.  This is a nice, not to overly sweet story.  2 Points

Her:  Earth is a truly ELEGANT film produced by Greenlight Media AG and distributed by Disney. The story of families of birds and animals in nature doing what they do and the fun and dangers they encounter.  I wouldn't bring a young one, they don't show the food chain devouring their prey but they do bring you to the moment in a few cases.  James Earl Jones narrates this spectacularly beautiful movie that you should not miss on the big screen.  3 Points 

HIS:  Nature Docrumentaries can be cold and factual or warm and caring.  Disney makes it up close and personal as we watch parents, in nature, teach, protect and enable their young to survive.  Isn't that what all parents should be doing. While not getting on a soap box, they also point out, we should be using the same tack with mother earth, if we want our young to survive and prosper.  Add the voice of James Earl Jones and grand photograph and what you get to enjoy is "majestic! 3 Point

THE SOLOIST:
STORY:  Based on true story, a Los Angeles Journalist, befriends a schizophrenic homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.  Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), is the homeless musician from Skid Row, Los Angeles who dreams of playing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Through "chance," he meets a journalist, Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.), who tries to help this mentally disturbed man get "back on his feet". 
 
HER:  A troubled man is found by a reporter (Lopez) who, I'm sorry to say, in my estimation, exploited this man, got caught up in Nathanial's the story.  Since there was never going to be any change in the musician, the story was actually about Lopez's journey (again exploiting). The AH HA moment we see in the trailer NEVER happens.  I was so looking forward to this movie and walked away under whelmed.  I expected more of a relationship, more chemistry. Like two movies in one.  A documentary about the homeless and Lopez's story.  There is no happy ending.  The haunting piece of music used in the trailer, was not in the final cut.  1 POINT

HIS: Great expectations ruined this movie for me.  The performances of both Foxx and Downey were on the money.  But, while they nailed the characters, they didn't nail the relationship.  If these men to have the long and close relationship they have in life, something had to be missing in the movie.  While Downey's character said the words I didn't feel the meaning. I expected to be wowed, but I was only intrigued. 2 Points

A crusty, well seasoned journalist (Russell Crowe) who cares more about his craft than the way he looks is good friends with a politician (Ben Affleck), very hot.  Affleck is caught up in a hearing exposing a huge companies corruption is cought up in more than he knows.  That said, of course, the cheeky little girl is the newspaper blogger who is taken under the wing of the grumpy Crowe.  Helen Mirran is the Ben Bradley character that can't hold the paper...or does she?  Good twists and turns and a lot of good characters to look at.  2 Points

HER:  A cross between Mall Cop and Borat, this movie takes the worst from both.  A movie that beats the Police, in the head with a night stick, dropping them one by one then chasing a full frontal nude fat man, for what seemed like forever (and I like male frontal nudity) and then shot  him with an illegal gun and was rewarded with the beautiful girl and his job back...sends the wrong message.  Add to that, if they took out all the FBombs there would be 10 words spoken in the entire movie.  Seth Rogan plays a bi-polar security guard with delusions of grandeur. He wants to be a cop to be able to shoot people.  What is Ray Liota doing in this trash.  His face no longer moves and for me that is so sad.  I have never given less than a 0, take it from me this deserves a Double 0. 00 Points  See this at your own peril.

HIS:  Oh, look another mall cop movie with a guy who wants to be a real cop. But no, Kevin James was a caring & sensitive man wanting to help people and wishing for the respect he deserved.  Seth Rogan is a pill popping self-centered man demanding respect and not doing anything to earn it.  They make bi-polar as a joke, create a film where he goes off his meds, assaults a dozen cops, and shoots a pervert and is rewarded with hero status and gets his job back.  "Gross" is not always funny.  We may smile & says, "God that's gross", but is that comedy?  there are many gross scenes in this film hence it is a gross film, not "the funniest movie this year."  0 points.

HER:  There is a pace and an attitude that take this from a silly teenage comedy to a sensitive look at that awkward age.  Jesse Eisenberg, who would have thunk, is the heart throb.  I  have never thought of Jesse as a leading man but I do believe that this casting made the film more real. That and the fact that he did not hesitate to take advantage of a gift his friend gave him to gain popularity.  A mistake keeps him from his Graduation trip and puts him to work.   Kelsey Ford, who always seems droll, shines in this film.  2 Small Points 

HIS: Okay, I get it.  It's 1987 therefore these college students are clueless and have the social skills of a 5 year old.  I was there in the 80s and I don't remember them being that stupid.  Self-centered & lazy yes but not that clueless.  Wile it was light entertainment, this a way for the video film.  1 point

MONSTERS vs ALIENS 
HIS:  For some reason Dreamworks Animation is again, "Close but no cigar".  The animation is good, the story line interesting BUT.... it's slow and we never really feel close to the characters (well maybe Bob).  Hence, we don't care if they win or survive.  I smiled everytime the dog in Bolt cocked his head but here, the big ugly moth turned into a big ugly butterfly.  Their characters need more warmth not skills.  1 Point.

HER:  Forgetable.  Who cares about monsters with no stories.  They don't spend time telling us about the monsters so why should we care.  When the gal grew her dress tore away but the top stayed on?  When she got small her outfit got small.  Nothing made sense.  The only memorable part was when Bob fell in love with the Jello.  1 Point

HER: Nicholas Cage stars in this film that does not know what it wants to be.  It starts dry and boring.  When I woke up it became a horror film and then a sci-fi film, and finally a religious statement.  Terrible.  1 point

HIS: I hate to say it, but Sam said it all.  This film did not know what it want to be.  There was not enough mystery to hold our interest nor enough real drama to create true fear.  1 point

Her:  I walked out of the theater thinking that my career was over and that I hated movies.  This was boring 2/3's thru then it pepped up and became fun.  1 Point

HIS: A man's chick flick?  If you never had a best friend, how does a man find one in one month to be his Best Man at his wedding?  As deep as this question might be, perhaps we should have never asked.  Just pick your fiance's brother and spare us the whirlwind seach followed by the high school bonding & college antics all in 45 minutes.  A few cute moments followed by long "same old,same old" seasons.  Enjoy the Trailer!  1 point

HER:  As boring as the poster.  Julia Roberts is not aging well and Clive Owens...what can I say, I don't care for him.  They kept saying the same thing over and over.  1 Point

HIS:  In his last four movies, Clive Owens , never shaved, changed clothes or slept.  For Julia Roberts, her did all three.  Still there was no chemsitry.  Is he too wooden or has Julia lost her "I am the girl next store with a need to be naughty".  Either way, they did not carry the picture.  1 Point

HER:  Duane Johnson has become a favorite in Disney films.  This was pretty good.  Two kids from another planet crashed are trying to get something to bring back to their planet and the US Government covets their ship for research and they must get it and go home.  Cleaver ways they go about getting it back.  2 Points

HER: I love the way Disney can produce a family movie that I and my grandchildren to enjoy.  I care about the children, enjoy the hero and there is just enough action to keep the kids interested but not so much that I think i'm in the middle of a video game.  2 Point

Her:  There is nothing redeeming about this film  If you liked 300 you might like this film.  I am sorry I didn't.  0 Points

HIS: I gave comic books a long time ago.  Great special effects can't make of for a story that does nothing for me.  I don't remember the past that dark and if it was, why relive it.  1 point