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Director: Wes AndersonRelease Date: November 25, 2009
Genre: Animation / Adventure / Comedy
MPAA: Rated PG
20th Century Fox
The ORB's take: One of the best animated films I have seen in a long time.
Movie Review:
This film is hilarious, entertaining, and a must see. This is a flick that kids will like, but adults will enjoy it a lot more. "George Clooney" provides a perfect voice-over for the main character Mr. Fox. It is based on a children's book that was written in 1970 about a fox that steals chickens, geese, and alcoholic apple cider from three farmers. They get upset and work together and attempt to catch the fox, setting of a chain of events that will make you laugh and want to watch it again and again. The animation is refreshing and well done, as well as the cast of actors and actresses providing the voice-overs. This is a movie that is not only worth seeing in the theater, but a DVD that you will want to own - a movie that you will want a sequel to.
What to Watch For: Mr. Fox, Ash, Kristofferson
You Might If You Like These:Shrek
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Royal Tenenbaums
Official Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Albert HughesRelease Date: January 15, 2010
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
MPAA: Rated R
Warner Bros
The ORB's take: Fresh plot, great fight scenes.
Movie Review:
If you liked Denzel Washington in "Man of Fire" and "Training Day" then you will enjoy this film as well. This is a post-apocalyptic film so it is very "grey" and dull-looking most of the movie. The plot is fresh because Denzel's character "Eli" is carrying the last Bible on earth, and has a mission to place it into the hands of someone that will protect it. After the sun burnt up the Earth, the ones that lived demanded that all of the Bibles be destroyed because of the power that it held. "Eli" is protected when he carries the book, which provides some impressive fight scenes, because there are many people after him trying to steal the book and the power that the holds. This will be a great DVD watch or a worth-while matinee.
What to Watch For: Fight scenes, Cinematography
You Might If You Like These:Mad Max
The Road
Official Book Of Eli (2010) Site
IMDB
Director: James CameronRelease Date: December 18, 2009
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated PG-13
20th Century FoxThe ORB's take: The visual FX in this movie is amazing and is worth seeing just to experience how 3D should be done.
Movie Review:
This film's plot line follows trends - you have seen this script before over and over again. Now of course the elements are different, but you will get a very similar story line to "Titanic" - which is not a far step considering it is the same director and writer. Most of the film tells a story about a Marine who exists in an Avatar's body and gets invited to partake in the world in which the Avatars live. He learns how to fight, hunt, feel, ect....just like an Avatar - but the only reason he is doing this is to infiltrate their world to gain respect so he can ask them to move off of their "Tree" (which is their home). The Avatars live on the biggest, most valuable mineral found on this world the humans have found and they want it to take back to Earth. The longer the Marine stays and trains as an Avatar the more he falls in love with the daughter of the Avatar leader. With all of that said, it then leads up to a huge battle at the end and I am pretty sure you can fill in the rest of the plot without even seeing the movie. But that is not why you should see the movie, the reason to see this film is because it is very, very detailed, and vibrant shown in 3D. From the space-ship's HUDS to the over-grown forests, you have to see it for yourself in a theater (don't wait for the DVD) to understand and receive what this film's director has intended to give you. ------On a side note-----There is a lot of talk of political / tree hugging over-tones in this film. Is this true? Yes. Is this Hollywood? Yes. So do I go see movies to get political advice? NO. Was it necessary to explain some of the tree-hugging / all-things-are-living theme in this movie? After seeing this and thinking about it, my answer is Yes. It is needed to describe the type of world the Avatars live in, so for it to make sense and to try to get the feel what this director wanted you to feel it was probably necessary - but still is annoying at times throughout the movie. Bottom Line - Go and see it - worth the price of admission and the experience of what is hopefully a new wave of 3D films.
What to Watch For: 3D (the entire movie), Forrest scenes (visuals), Battle scene
You Might If You Like These:Dances With Wolves
Titanic
Official Avatar (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Quentin TarantinoRelease Date: August 21, 2009
Genre: Drama / War
MPAA: Rated R
Universal Pictures
The ORB's take: The movie is carried by Brad Pitt's performance and Tarantino's dialog.
Movie Review:
This film has all the elements that a "Tarantino" would have - lengthy dialog, great acting, and unnecessary gore. This movie is about a fictional plot to take down Hitler and his advisers. A group of American soldiers called The Basterds want to carry out a plot to kill Hitler and as many of this followers as they can. There is also another story that takes place in this film (something that this director does a lot in his movies) that involves a Jewish girl that owns a movie theater that somehow gets a bunch of Nazi's to hold a premiere at her establishment which leads to a plot to kill them all. Both story lines are intriguing and keeps your interest throughout the film, but I will warn you that there is a ton of dialog and at times seems very unnecessary. This film is definitely worth a rental, and if you like "Brad Pitt" or "Tarantino" this flick is a must see.
What to Watch For: Bar Scene, Movie Theater
You Might If You Like These:The Departed
Valkyrie
Reservoir Dogs
Official Inglourious Basterds (2009) Site
IMDB
Artist: SwitchfootLabel: Atlantic
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: November 10, 2009
The Orb's Take: The definition of a ROCK / POP album - gritty / grungy / hooky.
Album Review:Seven might be "Switchfoot's" lucky number because this album is one of, if not the best album they have released to date. "Hello Hurricane" provides rock, pop, melody, chorus hooks, and remember-able songs. This is the type of band that can convey their live energy through their songs in an album and they do a great job of that in these twelve tracks. It is always a great indicator of a quality band when you hear their music featured on multiple commercials even before the album is released. "Hello Hurricane" will produce a good hand-full of radio singles that will stay on the charts for a healthy amount of time. If you are a fan of "Switchfoot" you will be impressed and want more, if you have only heard of this band on the radio and like this type of music then it is definitely worth the buy.
What to Listen to: "Mess of Me", "Free", "The Sound"
You Might If You Like These:
Kutless
Anberlin
The Afters
Official Switchfoot website
Switchfoot MySpace Page
Director: Christian AlvartRelease Date: September 25, 2009
Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller
MPAA: Rated R
Overture Films
The ORB's take: Not worth your time at all - what is reality, maybe isn't really real.
Movie Review:
This is one of those movies that provides a great trailer, but once you see the movie you ask yourself what was the trailer (meaning it looks like a promising movie, but the movie itself is absolutely horrible). "Dennis Quaid" and "Ben Foster" are the actors that you will recognize in this film but the script is so bad that well known actors can not help this movie, even from a "made from television" standpoint. The worst part about this movie is that it tries so hard to make you think something is happening, when it is really not happening. It makes you think that they are somewhere, when they are really elsewhere, and that is the experience / twist this screenwriter and director are attempting to give the audience. In the trailer the movie gives the impression that it may be scary, but that is very mis-leading and a joke. The story is about a "colony" ship carrying 5000 passengers (obviously set in the future) that is on a mission to a new planet to inhabit it because Earth, as a planet, is dying. During the trip a couple of crew members awake from "hyper-sleep" and discover that no one is around and the ship is at a standstill. The members set out to restart the ship and while doing so stumble upon what some of the 5000 crew members have become - or have they? - or do they have a disease called "Pandorum"? If that little bit is not enough to divert you from wasting your time on this movie, then I will not be able to help you out on this one. Don't wait for the DVD, and don't set your DVR - this movie landed on a different planet than Earth and it should stay there, away from all human contact.
What to Watch For: The Mutants, The Credits
You Might If You Like These:Alien
Leviathan
Official Pandorum (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: F.Gary GrayRelease Date: October 16, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller
MPAA: Rated R
Overture Films
The ORB's take: If you wanted "Taken" to go to the next level, this is your type of film.
Movie Review:
If you liked the movie "Taken" then seeing this movie is a must see and you won't be disappointed. This movie takes "Taken" to the next level. "Gerard Butler" does a great job in this film, and is probably his best movie since "300". This movie is all about revenge, and hatred for the judicial system that allows murders to walk free. This flick doesn't have an elaborate plot, but does provide a few twists that will make you wonder why you didn't figure it out during the movie. Simple plot: Husband survives a robbery that his wife and child do not, and the murder testifies and only gets a minimum sentence - prosecuting attorney cares more about winning - victim turns out to be more than a simple law abiding citizen. This movie is well worth your money to see in the theater and isdefinitely a first-week-release rental.
What to Watch For: The judge's payment, Twists, Revenge
You Might If You Like These:Payback
Taken
A Man Apart
Official Law Abiding Citizen (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Stephen SommersRelease Date: August 7, 2009
Genre: Action / Adventure
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Paramount Pictures
The ORB's take: Nothing at all like the cartoon, just using the name to make a buck.
Movie Review:
I might be correct in saying that most of you out there probably have not seen this movie. And if this is true you may want to keep it that way, you might feel like you wasted a couple hours of your life that you want back immediately. Some of you that wanted to see this movie because as a kid you grew up watching the cartoon, and were hoping for an interesting / cool / great live depiction of what you loved as a kid. - But what you will get is you asking yourself "what is going on?" and "where did they get this from the cartoon?". The cast is pretty bad, and the script is worse. At times I had to remind myself that I am watching "G.I. Joe" and not "Power Rangers" - yes it was that bad. There is some action, and some of it is "watchable" and when I say "watchable", I mean you might want to wait for the DVD and have this film on in the background while you are doing something else somewhat productive so you don't get angry after it is over. What is actually wrong with them movie? - the cast, the acting, the script, and the idea - add that all up and you should not have made this film. This film was delayed from coming out in the spring because the test audiences didn't like it very well - I would have hated to seen the movie before they fixed it - or maybe they didn't!?! Wait for TNT to run this one and lower your expectations so you can get through the whole movie.
What to Watch For: Weapons, bad acting.
You Might If You Like These:Transformers
Street Fighter
Official G.I. Joe (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Johanthan MostowRelease Date: September 25, 2009
Genre: SciFi / Action / Thriller
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Touchstone
The ORB's take: A promising plot doesn't deliver.
Movie Review:
This won't surprise you - "Bruce Willis" is a down on his luck cop with family problems. A role that he plays well - if you haven't seen any of the "Die Hard" films then maybe you have seen "16 Blocks" or "The Last Boy Scout" or maybe "Mercury Rising". Don't get me wrong, I believe in actors playing what they play best - but stay away from bad scripts. This is like an "iRobot" going from what was already bad to something a lot worse. The film is entertaining at times, but will remind of a film that FX or TNT could have produced. It attempts to give us twists throughout this flick, but they are so thin you can see right through them. The idea of this movie is that that most of the world operates their everyday lives through their "Surrogate" - their personal / look alike robot. They (the human) never leaves their house, and in most cases never leave their room. They control their "robot" through a machine by mind control - so since they never leave their homes, crime rates and murder rates have all been reduced toalmost zero. There is a small group of outcasts that don't believe in the "Surrogate" world and revolt against it at any cost, if the "Surrogates" enter their towns.Someone comes along and develops a weapon that can kill the human through their "Surrogate". This is what brings "Bruce Willis" out from behind his "Surrogate" to chase down this criminal the old fashion way (No Robot). This movie is not worth seeing in the theater, it would be an at best second DVD choice, and it is probably better if you'd just wait until cable ran it or a friend rented it and had you over to watch it.
What to Watch For: Plot twists
You Might If You Like These:I Robot
Minority Report
Official Surrogates (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Ruben FleishcherRelease Date: October 2, 2009
Genre: Action / Comedy / Horror
MPAA: Rated R
Sony Pictures
The ORB's take: Woody Harrelson is hilarious and Jesse Eisenburg makes this movie.
Movie Review:
This movie really doesn't have much of an elaborate, never-seen-before plot: See Zombies! - Run from Zombies! - Kill Zombies!, but that doesn't mean that this movie is not a must see. "Zombieland" is very entertaining, combining comedy, adventure, and some horror-gore. There is one thing that sets this movie apart from some of its others in this genre - throughout the flick "Eisenburg's" character (Columbus) keeps relaying "Zombie Rules" that he lives by that keep him alive - these rules are very amusing and portrayed throughout the film. "Woody Harrelson" gives a great performance with his ruthless zombie-killing character (Tallahassee) who is always looking for a twinkie to eat but can never find one. There are only four main human characters throughout the entire movie and each are named after the destination they are headed for (each one thinks that the location they are headed is not infected by zombie disease). This movie is well done - very funny, entertaining, not too long, not too in-depth - the kind of movie you feel like you got your money's worth when you leave the theater. Enjoy!
What to Watch For: Fasten your seat belts, Twinkies, Bill Murray, and Zombies.
You Might If You Like These:Shaun Of The Dead
Official Zombieland (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Wes Anderson
