The Last Mimzy

Rated: PG

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Synopsis: When Noah (Chris O’Neil) and Emma Wilder (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) discover a special box on the beach, they open it and unlock an exciting adventure beyond imagination. Inside they find Mimzy, a magical stuffed rabbit along with other mystical toys, which give the children exceptional powers of their own. Able to move objects with their minds and solve complex equations, these new wonder kids begin to attract the attention of their parents, teachers and even the FBI. Surrounding the phenomenon of Mimzy is an awesome secret-one that holds the key to saving the future of all mankind.

The Last Mimzy is a great movie for children. Full of magic and fantasy, kids will be drawn to the movie instantly. The movie also pulls mathematics and science together very well.

What I love the most about this film is how the purity and innocence of children is shown. Children are always able to see things more clearly and believe in the impossible more easily. The children can see the magic in the toys where none of the adults can.

The CGI effects are minimal but just enough. Children younger than ten wouldn’t be too interested in seeing this movie as it’s more a physiological film than action packed. The movie did feel a bit dragged out at some points but for the most part this is a movie that will open children’s minds to science and helping to take care of their planet.

Very cute movie.

Director: Bob Shaye

Running Time: 97 minutes

Rating: 9/10 stars

Just Like Heaven

Rated: PG-13

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Just Like Heaven is centered around Elizabeth Masterson (Reese Witherspoon) who is consumed by her job at the hospital and her dreams of becoming a doctor. One night as she is heading to her sister’s house for dinner and a blind date setup, she has a head on collision with a truck while attempting to turn up her radio. Enter David (Mark Ruffalo), he’s depressed, broken hearted, and looking for a new apartment.

David ends up renting out Elizabeth’s apartment, her family does a month to month sublet. Elizabeth suddenly appears in the apartment, demanding David to leave. She then disappears right before his very eyes. David, via his friend, Jack (Donal Logue), who is a psychiatrist, believes he is hallucinating due from too much drinking. But Elizabeth returns again, determined to make David leave HER apartment. David gets the bright idea to go to a bookstore and read up on books about ghosts. He informs Elizabeth that she is dead but Elizabeth doesn’t believe him.

David continues on his journey to rid himself of Elizabeth’s spirit via priests, ghost busters, cleansers, and the kid from the bookstore, Darryl (Jon Heder), who helped him find the books about spirits. Darryl informs David that Elizabeth isn’t dead, something else is going on with her. Elizabeth comes to find out from Darryl, David had lost his wife. David and Elizabeth set out on a journey together to discover what has really happened to Elizabeth, and through that journey David finds more than just healing his broken heart.

Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo have wonderful chemistry together. The constant bickering and arguing and sarcastic comments will have you laughing out loud. The crazy antics they get into in order to discover Elizabeth’s story are just as amusing. There are also heartfelt moments throughout the movie: Ruffalo’s character revealing how he lost his wife, Witherspoon’s character fighting to remember who she is and discovering truth’s about herself, add charm to the movie without being dry or over dramatic.

Ruffalo is a pleasure to watch; he is an excellent comedic actor. Witherspoon proves she can venture into more than just drama, matching Ruffalo scene for scene like an old pro. Even though the plot is a bit predictable, there are still enough twists to keep the movie interesting and entertaining. The romantic scenes are lovely and intimate.

Just Like Heaven is a light and enjoyable romantic comedy for both men and women.

Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Director: Mark Waters

Rating: 9/10 stars

‘Machete’s’ Danny Trejo will kill again

Fans of Danny Trejo get their full dose of the Latino baddie in this weekend’s “Machete.” We’ll have more later in the week from the character actor, who has had smaller parts in dozens of movies but is finally getting his close-up, playing a part he and Robert Rodriguez describe as the “first Latino superhero.”

In the meantime,one interesting tidbit to emerge from our conversation with Trejo: The actor will reunite with “Machete” costar Michelle Rodriguez in a new indie called “Skinny Dip.”

The movie is a revenge picture involving a young woman who kills a policeman, and Trejo is keeping it in the family: His son Gilbert will produce and likely co-direct. In case there wasn’t enough of the ethnic pride/campiness that Trejo is known for in his work, the other director is a young filmmaker with the perfect name of Frankie Latina.

(No word yet, incidentally, on sequel plans for “Machete,” though it’s likely Rodriguez, who actually wrote the film back in the early ’90s, has some ideas. )

Read more HERE

The Last Exorcism Movie Delivered Creepy,Thrilling Suspense

The Last Exorcism movie delivered creepy,thrilling suspense. Lionsgate released their new horror,thriller flick “The Last Exorcism” into theaters this weekend. I just watched it,and thought it was excellent. The top movie critics were sort of mixed on this one,but I thought it was pretty good. It featured a lot of weird,suspenseful,creepy scenes that left me on the edge of my seat. It stars: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell,Louis Herthum,and Tony Bentley.

“The Last Exorcism” revolved around Patrick Fabian’s character Cotton Marcus who is a supposed Reverend that performs fake exorcisms for money. On this last trip,he decides to tape his whole experience,and reveal what he actually does to fool these people. However,this new experience is one he’ll never forget. He arrives at the Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum) farm. The town is full of people who believe in crazy demon stories as they reveal in a filming session.

Louis Sweetzer is convinced that his daughter Nell is possessed by a demon because she displays crazy behavior,and then doesn’t remember it after it’s over. Cotton eventually uses some tricks to make it looks like she’s really possessed and performs a fake exorcism to make things look ok.

Read more HERE

John Cusack plays Poe in movie thriller

John Cusack, last seen in the mock eighties movie Hot Tub Time Machine, is set to play Edgar Allan Poe in a fictional thriller.

Cusack will portray he American literary icon in The Raven, directed by James McTeigue (Ninja Assassin, V For Vendetta ), according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“Send any poe-gold my way as i begin this journey into the abyss,” the 44-year-old performer said on his Twitter account late Friday.

He also revealed in the tweet that the role had originated with British actor Michael Sheen, known for his portrayal of ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair in The Queen.

Read more HERE

‘Tron: Legacy’ ramps up to light speed for December release

Jay West is a devoted fan and student of the 1982 film “Tron,” and he has written a series of guest columns on the viral marketing for the film’s sequel, “Tron: Legacy,” due in December. Following up on the film’s highly anticipated presentation at Comic-Con International 2010, West recounts Comi-Tron’s invasion of San Diego and continues to unlock secrets as the movie nears.

In the convention’s exhibitors hall, “Tron: Legacy” was the theme of a dramatic booth that featured a large-scale recognizer and lightcycle (both iconic “Tron” vehicles), along with previews of tie-in merchandise, such as the full line of action figures, vehicles, electronics and video games inspired by the movie. Attendees also were able to purchase exclusive Comic-Con “Tron” merchandise at this booth: a 1,500 limited-edition vintage-style “Tron” figures — featuring “Tron” in his classic pose of reaching up for his disc (these figures also came in “Tron” arcade-game-style boxes) and 3,000 limited-edition diecast Sam Flynn lightcycles. No surprise, both editions sold out quickly…

One of the most eagerly anticipated elements of Comi-Tron was what lay in store for the next phase of the ongoing “Flynn Lives” ARG (alternate reality game), which has been pulling players into the film’s universe for more than a year now.

The re-creation of the setting of Flynn’s Arcade from the original “Tron” and the upcoming “Tron: Legacy” movies was considered by many to be the highlight of last year’s Comic-Con, so when it was announced by way of the ongoing “Flynn Lives” ARG in the few weeks prior to Comic-Con that Flynn’s Arcade would return, the Internet was abuzz with fan excitement at being able to revisit Flynn’s … and anticipation for what possible new reveals might be encountered.

Read more HERE

What did you think about today’s movie news?

Little Mermaid

Rated: G

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is centered around Ariel, one of  King Tritons’ daughters who seeks the chance to be turned into a human. Ariel, at sixteen, is ready for something new in her life. She has tired of life under the sea and the constant restrictions her father places on her.

One night, after being yelled at from King Triton for missing out on the concert she was supposed to not only attend but take part in, and for having gone up to the surface once again in an effort to understand the human objects she had found., Ariel sees the sky light up with fireworks from her secret hiding place under the sea. She swims to the surface and up to a ship which is captained by a human prince, Eric. A hurricane comes out of no where and destroys the ship sending cast and crew jumping into the ocean for cover. Ariel drags Eric back to the shore and watches over him until she determines he will be all right. She watches as he returns back to his home and quickly realizes (in true Disney fashion) she is in love with him.

Ariel then seeks out the sea witch, Ursula, who makes a deal with her: she will help Ariel become human to gain the one she loves but in return Ariel must surrender her voice. Ariel is known to have one of the most beautiful singing voices in the sea. Ariel agrees to give up her voice and is Ursula transforms her into a human.

But Ariel’s wish come true comes with a condition, she has three days to have Prince Eric fall in love with her and declare this love in the form of a kiss or Ariel will be turned back into a mermaid and belong to Ursula forever.

The Little Mermaid is irresistible! You will fall in love with Ariel and her world!

Running Time: 83 minutes

Director: Ron Clements and John Musker

Rating: 10/10 stars

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Rated: G

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

One cold night, an old woman happens upon a castle and asks the prince for refuge from the cold but the prince refuses due the old woman’s repulsive appearance. The old woman reveals her true identity as a beautiful enchantress and places a spell on the prince and his entire castle because of his shallowness. The prince is turned into a beast and the enchantress tells him if he can find a woman to fall in love with him just as he is by his twenty first birthday the curse will be broken.

Ten years pass and the prince remains alone among his servants who have been turned into various household products, objects and utensils. One day a man named Maurice is on his way to the fair to place his invention in a contest when he gets lost and attacked by wolves.

He finds safety in the walls of the castle but the prince, who still holds anger over what the enchantress had done to him, places Maurice in the tower as his prisoner. Maurice‘s daughter, Belle, goes in search of her father and chooses to take Maurice’s place as the beast prisoner. In the time she is imprisoned Belle helps to bring the good out of the Beast and the love story takes off!

One of Disney’s BEST animated films and the first animated film to be nominated for an Oscar in Best Picture, Beauty and the Beast is one of my ALL time favorite movies!

Beauty and the Beast is woven together with meticulous detail. The French quaint town as the background is full of vivid and bright colors. The dark and foreboding atmosphere of the castle plays a great role in personifying the depression of the Beast and is perfect contrast to Belle’s serene and generous personality.

The music in Beauty and the Beast is heart moving and beautiful. The song “Beauty and the Beast” performed by Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts) is still one of the Disney’s most revered songs. “Be Our Guest” performed by Jerry Orbach (Lumiere) is still one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SCENES in the movie! Richard White does a great job at bringing forth the villain Gaston. And Paige O’Hara as Belle is charming and sweet.

Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful movie for children and adults alike because it offers a great and ageless life lesson: you should judge someone by their heart not by their looks.

So snuggle up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and sit back for a whimsical ride of pure magic only Disney could create!

Running Time: 90 minutes

Director: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

Rating: 10/10 stars

Vampires Suck

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Vampires Suck is a spoof made parody at poking fun at the Twilight movies. You would expect from the title the movie would offer humor toward various vampire movies made throughout the last couple of years but instead all you get is a movie with vulgar useless humor and a redundant plotline.

Opening with the same beginning of New Moon and progressing backwards toward Twilight then bouncing between scenes from the two movies, Vampires Suck had no dimension to offer. The jokes fall completely flat. I chuckled about three times but never laughed out loud. There is a small part where Director’s Friedberg and Seltzer poke fun at Alice in Wonderland (she gets shot by Edward Sullen and falls into the rabbit hole) and of the next upcoming movie in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, where Becca’s friend needs someone to explain to her why a movie about a girl falling in love with a vampire and having a baby is worth watching (a review I agree with!). But for the most part Vampires Suck was pretty much a summary of everything Twilight related.

Vampires Suck is a ridiculously over the top comedy at the absurd melodrama lovers of Twilight eat up so easily . Vampires Suck just proves a book-turned-into-movie franchise doesn’t really mean it ever had a GOOD plotline to begin with in order to become wildly successful (i.e. The mysterious bad boy who’s in reality a good guy at heart, the fact that EVERY guy would be lusting after a girl who has not a SINGLE drop of personality within her!). Jean Proske does a MARVELOUS job of capturing, Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan character– the downward gazes, the lower lip biting, the constant hair tucking, the obsession with sex, the lack of smarts– Jean Proske as Becca is actually quite entertaining to watch!

For Twilight lovers everywhere, this is not a movie for you. For the die hard Twilight haters, this probably won’t be enough for you. For everyone in between, who is tired of books and movies aimed at female characters who play the role of mindless damsels in distress and the bad boy who gives up his bad ways to be with the girl he loves, you’ll probably get some enjoyment out of this movie.

As for me, I enjoyed the fact that Vampires Suck helped show the world just how useless the Twilight Saga really is. It wasn’t a wrap-your-hands-around-your-stomach-tears falling-from-your-eyes type of comedy so don’t go in expecting to be roaring with laughter. But if you need a break from all the Twilight lovers out there and don’t want to feel so alone in making fun of it, then go check it out. But truthfully, you can wait to dollar box it (redbox). It’s not really worth the price of admission.

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 115 minutes

Director: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer

Rating: 2 stars/10 stars