DVD Review for 3/18/08: Awake

Awake

3 out of 5 stars

Overview
Awake is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a man (Hayden Christensen) undergoing heart surgery while experiencing a phenomenon called "anesthetic awareness", in which it leaves him awake but paralyzed thourghout the operation. As various obstacles present themselves, his wife (Jessica Alba) must make life-altering decisions while wresting with her own personal drama.

My Stupid Review

I gave this movie 3 out of 5 stars. It wasn't a Great Movie but it did keep my attention throughout, and there is a few twists that make it worth while. Hayden played a good role, but it was hard not to think that at any moment he would pull out his light saber and start slashing up young padawans. Jessica Alba was HOT as usual, but not really acting wise. The story was good, the acting not so good. The best role was played by Terrance Howard who was the Dr. that performed the operation. It's worth renting, but don't go putting it on hold at your local Blockbuster. Thats just my opinion take it or leave it 

DVD Review for 3/3/08: Rendition

Rendition

2 stars out of 5

Overview

Isabella El-Ibrahimi (Reese Witherspoon) tries to determine why her Egyptian-born husband Anwar (Omar Metwally) never returned from a trip to Africa. Meanwhile, CIA analyst Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) helps interrogate Anwar in a secret location outside the U.S. The reason why is that CIA executive (Meryl Streep) believes Anwar has connections to a group responsible for a bombing in North Africa that killed Douglas' partner. There is also a forbidden romance between the daughter of Anwar's prime interrogator and a terrorist.

My Stupid Opinion

I gave this New Release DVD 2 out of 5 stars. I am glad I didn't see this in the theater. It is 45 minutes too long for one. There is a subplot about a romance between the Egyptian interrogator's daughter and one of the terrorists, which is just a waste of time. A movie about secret government procedures and torture could do without a romantic subplot. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance was emotionless. The only bright spot was Meryl Streep's performance. Streep plays a mean bi*&%, but the movie itself was just too slow. I wouldn't waste my time watching this unless it happens to be playing at the Dentist's office. Better yet, wait until it premieres on TNT, so you can take the commercial breaks to punch yourself in the nether regions to keep yourself awake. Watch Ghandi instead, it's much more exciting......but thats just my stupid opinion, take it or leave it.

Movie Review for 3/3/08: Vantage Point

Vantage Point

Stars: 2.5 out of 5

Overview

President Ashton (William Hurt) is attending a global war on terror in Spain. Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid) and Kent Taylor (Matthew Fox) are two of the Secret Service agents assigned to protect him. This is the first action that Agent Barnes has been in since he took a bullet for President Ashton six months earlier. Shortly after the President is escorted to the stage in the plaza by the Secret Service, he is immediately shot twice by a rifle from a window. Chaos breaks out in the crowd, and more chaos ensues when bombs start exploding. Howard Lewis (Forest Whitaker) is an American video taping the event. He believes that he has the picture of the man who shot the President. Several different people witness the event, and we see the events through their eyes to find the truth behind the shooting.

My Stupid Opinion

I gave this Movie 2.5 stars out of 5. When I saw the trailer in the theater, it looked Awsome, but it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought that after the assasination attempt, The secret Service would figure out the shooter by asking the various people involved who saw the incident, and they with the help of Barnes would catch the bad guy, which to some extent it does, but it does it in a different way. Instead of working forward from the shooting, your are taken back 20 minutes or so before the shooting and see through the eyes of each of the main witnesses or people involved. After about the third one, it gets a bit redundant. I thought they could have made this movie much more intense by working forward rather than backwards. I also thought Forest Whitaker could have played a bigger role as well. It was still a movie worth seeing, I would just wait until it comes out on DVD. It reminded me of the Movie Snake Eyes with Nick Cage. Anyway, thats my stupid opinion, take it or leave it.