Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Starring:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton
Action/Adventure (2010)

Soon after invading a nearby city Dasdan (Gyllenhaal) is accused of murdering his father.  Forced to run, princess Tamina (Arterton) follows along as she discovers that Dasdan holds a dagger that holds incredible powers.  This dagger was taken during the invasion of her city and it's up to her to keep it out of the wrong hands or else risk destruction of the world as they know it.  Dasdan must now not only prove his innocence but keep the sands of time that give the dagger it's unique powers safe from the greedy man who covets it.

• Gyllenhaal obviously does not appear to be Persian by any stretch of the imagination but it's a movie so you just gotta roll with it.
• Arterton is every bit as beautiful as her character Tamina is supposed to be.  Excellent casting there. 
• There is plenty of action and adventure and a few laughs as well.  There were no slow moments and the story moved along nicely.

4 Stars

Iron Man 2

Starring:  Morton Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johanssen, John Favreau
Action, 2010 (Rated PG 13)

Tony Stark (Downey) the front man of Stark Enterprises finds that his revolutionary Iron Man suit technology has been duplicated by the son of a prominent Russian Scientist who defected to the United States and was later deported.  Not only is he on thin ice with the US Government who rails against his refusal to release the suit into government custody he is also being slowly killed by the very device that has been keeping him alive.  He must figure out a way to stay alive and fight against not only his rival who would do anything to one up the ever popular Stark Enterprises, but also his newest sidekick who just so happens to be a rouge scientist intent on seeing Stark dead.

• Tony Stark is just so cool.  He is like a rock star without a guitar or a band.  So incredibly flashy, devilish, and extremely narcissistic that you can't figure out if you should love him or hate him.
• The special effects in the movie were amazing as was the tiny 23" waist on Natalie (Johansson) so wonderfully cinched in by her equally sexy and functional combat body suit. 
• Natalie's extreme fighting acrobatics were a little over the top but if you don't like it then you probably don't like the movie either because it's all over the top in one way or another but I think that's what's made it such a box office success. 

5 STARS

Sherlock Holmes

Starring: Morton Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Mystery, Action, Adventure

Downey Jr stars as Sherlock Holmes the super sleuthing loose cannon from the much loved novels and his side kick Watson (Holmes). After a black magic wielding killer is brought to justice by hanging and comes back to life Holmes is back on the case at the request of the local police in order to help solve the mystery. Meanwhile, Watson is quite ready to get married and move on from the adventures of sleuthing but every time he tries the tug of Holmes keeps bringing him back. Can they solve this one last mystery together before this sinister man takes over the world?

• I started out watching without subtitles but when I could barely understand the first word that came out of Downey's heavily English accented mouth I immediately put them on. I should've known better.
• The movie had great action and a great flow. It was 128 minutes but didn't feel too long at all.
• I enjoyed watching the little tug of war between Holmes and Watson (Law). Best buddies 'til the end but now that Watson is trying to settle down and move on you could tell that Holmes was very resistant and more then a little jealous of his new lady and his impending new life.
• The love interest role of Irene was played by the lovely Rachel McAdams. She did a great job as usual playing the tough girl.

5 Stars

Armored

Starring: Matt Dillon, Columbus Short, Laurence Fishburne
Action, 2009 (PG13)


Ty (Short) is an ex military combat veteran who finds himself as the sole guardian of his younger brother after his parents die. He is an armored car guard and is struggling financially to keep up with the house mortgage and medical bills left by his parents. His younger brother begins skipping school and after a visit from social services he is desperate to find a way out of this situation. He is offered an opportunity to rob 42 million dollars along with six other co workers and though reluctant feels he has no choice but to partake. As the group proceeds with their plan things go very very wrong and they have to figure out what to do next to avoid getting busted.

• My thing, is if you are going to commit a crime please be prepared for any unintended consequences and commit to finishing what you started even if things don't go as planned. Granted, I've never attempted robbery but still!
• The moment Ty starts to get all emotional and act like a "girl" I am immediately angered. It's not flower making it's a robbery and his actions [after other certain actions that I don't necessarily agree with] are what ultimately sent the whole escapade into a horrible downward tailspin. That was really the only thing I didn't like about this movie.
• Technically Ty was the "good guy" but somehow I wasn't all that thrilled with how it ended for him because he was just so darn stupid. He called himself trying to fix the situation but he only made things a million times worse and that really agrivated me. Can't you tell?
• The action was good and the unfortunate turn of events was unexpected.
• It was an action movie but I liked the way they explored the relationship between Ty and his good buddy Mike (Dillon).

4 STARS

2012

Starring: John Cusak, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton
Action, 2009 (Rated PG 13)

Jackson (Cusak) is a writer turned limo driver who is separated from his wife who now has a live in boyfriend staying in the home with his kids. The weekend he takes his kids for a camping trip out in Yellowstone strange things start to happen. An earthquake, a crack in the earth, and a kooky radio dj up in Yellowstone are all clues that something devastating is about to happen to planet earth and even worse that the government has known all along. Suddenly it is a race against time to try to save himself and his family from certain death as the world as we know it comes to an end.

• Yep, it's another disaster movie. It's not the first, it won't be the last and I liked it.
• Great acting all around.
• This movie was full of action from start to finish. There were "just in the nick of time" moments for everyone throughout.
• The special effects were great and the intertwining of various story lines showing the end of the world from different perspectives made it interesting all the way through.
• I have loved John Cusak since his "Say Anything" and "Sure Thing" days in the 80's (yes, I consider those classics) and was thrilled to see him in such a huge big budget film.
• The morality question of who should live and who should die is raised. The whole world can't be saved and no matter how you slice it there is really no good way to decide.
• Incidentally, back in 2003 I the fledgling actress was approached by a fledgling movie producer with a script and plans basically to make this movie. Unfortunately for myself (and him) it never came to fruition but I always knew if not him then SOMEONE would make this film. I can't help but wonder if he is sitting somewhere thinking that he could have done it better.

5 STARS

The Last House On The Left

Action/Horror, 2009 (R Rating)

Director, Wes Craven

• I watched the unrated DVD version.
• A devious evil threesome kidnap two innocent teenagers who just so happened cross paths with a boy who is helpless to stop them from their murderous intentions.
• Riveting.
• The scene where they attack Mari is very gritty. It was quite long and seemed to go on forever to the point where it became very uncomfortable to watch.
• So much tension.
• I don't think I moved until this one was over.
• My goodness that girl is a fighter.
• I let out a loud "YEAH" at one point. Couldn't help it.
• Towards the end of this movie I literally had to let out a breath because I was holding it and didn't even realize it.
• There is a 1972 version that might be worth watching.

See Movie Trailer

5 STARS