Movie Reviews

by Karin Leonard & Daniel Robin

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Sahara

With Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy

Entertainment: 3 Message: 3.5

Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) takes on more than anyone should when he embarks on a treasure hunt through some of the most dangerous regions of North Africa. Searching for what locals call "The Ship of Death", a long lost Civil War battleship filled with coins, Pitt and his wisecracking sidekick (Steve Zahn) use their wits and clever heroics to help Doctor Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz), as they investigate the mysterious deaths in the same area and attempt to “do good” while searching for the monetary goodies. Though not as good or original as the Indiana Jones series, this adventurous tromp has plenty of fun and suspense to keep you entertained – as long as you leave your “believability-meter” at home (2 hrs 7 min).

Scary Movie 4

With Molly Shannon, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Craig Bierko, Leslie Nielsen

Entertainment: 3 Message: 3

Recognizable parody of War of the Worlds, Saw, The Village, and even Million Dollar Baby with crude, slapstick, grotesque and irreverent humor throughout, actually has some good laughs. By now, the whole program is quite predictable (unlike the freak-shows that it intends to bash), but still fun if you like this sort of bizarre comedy-horror. This is clearly not for everyone (or anyone, really), but if you’ve seen many of the recent films designed to scare the wits out of you, this spoof has a certain wit all its own, as seen through the eyes of certifiable madman David Zucker (Airplane and Naked Gun). Somebody has to do it (1 hr 23 min).

The Sentinel

With Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 2.5

Intrigue, intensity, and fast-paced suspense make this an entertaining peek inside the world of the U.S. Secret Service. Michael Douglas is at his best as a decorated agent wrongly suspected of going bad, and he quite convincingly uses his skills to go underground in an attempt to prove his innocence. This is certainly engaging … you won’t be bored … and though it is far better than most of the mindless horror and other trash now littering theatres nationwide, it isn’t exactly meaningfully deep or thought-provoking. Go for the popcorn (1 hr 48 min).

Shall We Dance

With Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 3.5

Stylized ballroom dancing gets a dose of poignant humanity in this remake of the 1997 Japanese hit. It is actually better than the original, with outstanding performances and great character development throughout. In addition to dazzling and at times comical dance scenes, this is also a beautiful story about honoring fidelity while being true to oneself, portraying a response to the challenges of midlife based more on integrity than on “acting out” the unconscious confusion (1 hr 35 min).

Shark Tale

Voices by Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Renée Zellweger

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 3

Stereotyping becomes art in this delightful animated underwater crime gangster/comedy, with all the popular themes we’ve seen before. Still, the combination is highly creative and great fun. The fish-faced characters are more like their voiced personas than they are undersea anythings, but somehow, DreamWorks makes it work, and it’ll likely charm the barnacles off “kids” of any age (1 hr 30 min).

Shrek 2

Voices Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders

Entertainment: 4 Message: 4

Animated comedy/action/adventure at its finest. Shrek 1 was great fun, and this is arguably at least as enjoyable. Picking up where the first film left off, we are swept up by a wave of delightful, ingenious and fun creativity. A few new wild and wooly characters join the cast, with Antonio Banderas as “Puss-in-Boots” stealing more than a few comic scenes. With many spoofs on other Disney movies, a lovely plot and endless surprises the bouncy pace of this charming tale will keep you entertained from opening curtain to “happily ever after. “ No wonder the enchantment is still going strong nationwide since the May 19th debut (1 hr 45 min).

Sideways

With Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 2.5

While this was certainly an enjoyable, clever and funny film, the critical hype about its merits can make for disappointment. It is a subtle spoof and commentary on the modern condition, wine snobbery, friendship and mid life crises. Oscar nominated for Best Picture (2 hrs 3 min).

Silver City

With Chris Cooper, Richard Dreyfuss, Billy Zane, Danny Huston, Daryl Hannah

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 4

The message seems similar to Fahrenheit 9/11, but constructed more as a metaphor for our current political climate, and nonetheless comi-tragic. There are some extremely memorable moments in this powerful if not painfully poignant story that spin a complex web of influence and corruption, high-stakes lobbyists, media conglomerates, environmental plunderers, and undocumented migrant workers. Check it out! (2 hrs 9 min).

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

With Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi

Entertainment: 3 Message: 3.5

This retro-futuristic sci-fi fantasy has much to offer. An interesting technical achievement as all scenes were created with live actors filmed in front of a “blue screen” with computer graphics added later. It is a stylized genre piece, true to the 1940s mood that it creates, paying homage to many of the popular films of that time –Wizard of Oz, King Kong, or even Flash Gordon – but the story, action and suspense are still somewhat stilted and two-dimensional. Hugely imaginative and brilliantly produced, it took 10 years for its first-time writer/director to complete the project. Angelina Jolie’s part is puny, but Law and Paltrow make this Sky Captain fly high (1 hr 47 min).

Sky High

With Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Lynda Carter

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 4

If you can appreciate a kid-centered superhero flick full of great laughs and lessons, then take the family and go see it. The message is similar to many “young superhero” stories (X Men, Harry Potter, Spiderman), with the kids coming to grips with their growing powers. In this case, however, there are also the complexities of attending Sky High school – real life themes of loyalty and friendship, social class distinctions (heroes vs. lowly sidekicks), true love vs. hormones – and big decisions about following in your parent’s footsteps, all done up as a parody on the genre. It’s worth seeing (1 hr 42 min).

Spiderman 2

With Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris

Entertainment: 4.5 Message: 4.5

The evolving love story between Peter Parker and MJ spins a successful web that makes Spiderman 2 stick with audiences of all ages. Being a superhero is easy compared to love. Toby McGuire embodies the conflicts and tribulations of Peter/Spiderman with deep sensitivity, emotional honesty and sophisticated skill. Reaching his next level of maturity and integration, he learns to contain his opposing “sides”, providing a wonderful metaphor on coming to terms with power, responsibility, and leadership, while being true to oneself and recognizing one’s own (human) limitations. You may also appreciate the great villain and the fun Spiderman effects (do not try this without a web, or at least use a net). What a great combination of thrilling entertainment and much needed inspiration and meaning (2 hrs 7 min)!

Superman Returns

With Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Kevin Spacey

Entertainment: 4 Message: 3.5

A highly satisfying and consistent production, this latest creation is a respectful tribute to the long lineage of Superman, with its own unique style. Brandon Routh is not only the vision of a picture-perfect Superman, with eerie similarity to the young Christopher Reeves, but also brings complexity and insight to the Superman/Clark Kent persona. Kevin Spacy as the bad guy ˆ that‚s new∑ and took some getting used to, but it works. Well done from beginning to end, story telling at its best with great visuals and special effects that should happily entertain genre fans of all ages (2 hrs 34 min).

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

With Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christiansen, Natalie Portman, Samuel Jackson

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 3

In this final installment of the prequel trilogy, the missing pieces of the puzzle fall into place and the intertwined, epic storyline finally explains itself. Should be called “revenge of the sith-bones,” as all of the explaining takes time …. As usual, there’s Star Wars™ trademark visual effects overload (this one takes the cake!), stilted acting with corny dialogue, and good humor juxtaposed the heavy-handed, overly simplistic battles of good vs. evil. As a cloaked metaphor for “doing the right thing,” it works. Sure, it’s overdone, but you knew that. By now, the charming characters are like old friends (watch for Wookie-land), so seeing them again is sure to satisfy (2 hrs 26 min).

Stepford Wives, The

Entertainment: 3 Message: 3

With Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Faith Hill, Bette Midler

This is a searing re-imagining of the 1975 classic of the same name. Remember that this film is satire, or it will push all your buttons! This dark comedy makes fun of misdirected male fantasies about women and fitting in. Amazing cast (1 hr 33 min).

Super Size Me

With Morgan Spurlock

Entertainment: 3 Message: 4.5

Ready to get nauseous? If you can stomach the side-effects of watching this movie – our brave hero ingests three McDonald’s meals a day for 30 consecutive days – it is well worth the effort. The shocking statistics on fast food and the rate of obesity in our country, particularly for children, speaks volumes for the role and responsibility of the fast food industry. If you are still among the living, go see this sobering, hilarious film (1 hr 38 min).

Syriana

With George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper

Entertainment: 3 Message: 4 Warning: brief but disturbing torture scene

Fascinating but confusing cross-currents of sociopolitical maneuvering and the people and places of the global oil industry serve as theater for this elaborate multicultural pastiche. Pawns, puppets and manipulators shake out winners and losers (losers often end up dead), and a web of corruption and uncertainty over oil supplies breeds like a virus. The characters only get a piece of what’s happening, and so do we, as if the filmmakers wanted it that way. Even the spies and power brokers get tossed around in the raging storm of deception and domination. With these disjointed tendrils for a plot, your discomfort gradually increases, and you may just be consumed by it. Certainly this film stirs up questions and will keep audiences talking for quite some time (2 hrs 3 min).