Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Release 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

Switchfoot "Hello Hurricane" (2009)

Artist: Switchfoot
Label: 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

Pandorum (2009)

Director: Christian Alvart
Release 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

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Director: F.Gary Gray
Release 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

G.I. Joe (2009)

Director: Stephen Sommers
Release 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

Surrogates (2009)

Director: Johanthan Mostow
Release 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

Zombieland (2009)

Director: Ruben Fleishcher
Release 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

AFI "Crash Love" (2009)

Artist: AFI
Label: Interscope
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 29, 2009







The Orb's Take: Solid album all the way through, worth a listen.

Album Review:
This is AFI's seventh studio album over eighteen years of being a band. They have consistently released a new album every three years, and they put together a solid one with "Crash Love". Solid vocals, and a good mix gives us hooky lyrics with rocking guitars. Catchy choruses makes this an album worth listening to and it will have you humming them in your head. AFi has a distinct vocal sound that sets them apart from other bands. AFI would be considered as more of an "underground band" - this is a band that you will not be hearing on your local radio station getting steady air-play. Again, worth your time to check it out.

What to Listen to: "Medicate", "Torch Song", "It Was Mine"

You Might If You Like These:
My Chemical Romance

Official AFI website
AFI MySpace Page

State of Play (2009)

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Release Date: April 17, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated PG13
Universal




The ORB's take: A good drama, nothing too intense, nothing unexpected.

Movie Review:
This movie is better than television mini-series drama, so it it worth a rental. "Russell Crowe" puts in his usual performance; good acting, and he will draw you in even if it doesn't seem interesting. gives a decent performance, and plays his character well; a lying congressman caught in a web of deceit and murder - painting the same picture of what we already think Washington congressmen are. "Rachel McAdams" probably gives the best performance in this movie of top actors and actresses. She gives us smart dialog and handles her character very well, making you want her and "Crowe" on the screen at the same time throughout the movie. The movie's plot is simple; Congressmen gets caught in lies, journalists ("Crowe, McAdams") have to come up with what they are permitted to publish without having all the witnesses, and a murder interweaved in the middle of it all. That is all I can let you in on, there is a small twist, but it is predictable. This movie is worth a rental only because of the actors that are in it. Pop some corn and enjoy.

What to Watch For: Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe

You Might If You Like These:
Lions for Lambs
Hollywood Land
The Sum of All Fears

Official State of Play (2009) Site
IMDB

Gamer (2009)

Director: Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor
Release Date: September 4, 2009
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated R
Lionsgate



The ORB's take: I have seen and wasted my time on a lot worse movies than this - it's about mind control, what did I expect.

Movie Review:
This is a sad attempt at a modern rehash of the 1987 "The Running Man". On paper the plot line and concept sounds like it could be interesting, but some things are better left on paper or in someone's head. The expectations of great graphics in this film was assumed as well, but instead ends up producing mostly grainy, choppy images. "Gerald Butler" seems to be in every movie coming out this year - three of them in 2009 - hopefully his next film due out in a few weeks will be worth our time. This movie is about a television show that a smart computer programmer came up with after developing a mind control system that allows you to control humans. The game involves convicts that are on death row and places them in suburban war type scenarios. They are controlled by gamers that move them around the different stages and get them through the adrenaline, wanna-be "live" video-game levels to live for another stage. The goal for the convict is to survive an impossible amount of stages and he will be set free of his death row sentence. A modern day remake of "The Running Man" would, could, and should work, but the attempt here involves stupid one-liners, and boring virtual-world concepts. Wait for the TNT movie special or when it shows up on HBO. If you enjoy the "Crank" franchise you will probably enjoy this flick as well.

What to Watch For: The credits.

You Might If You Like These:
The Running Man
Crank


Official Gamer (2009) Site
IMDB

Muse "The Resistance" (2009)

Artist: Muse
Label: Warner Bros.
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 15, 2009







The Orb's Take: Scratch the last 3 tracks and you have a great album.

Album Review:
First I'll start off with the simple facts: If you are a "Muse" fan you will / or should have already had purchased this album and you are not / will not be disappointed. Second : If you have never heard of the English band that calls themselves "Muse", this is a solid album, but not the best album to start with. Their third album "Absolution" would be the best album to start listening too one of the most creative, talented bands out there in the industry today. Now with that out of the way, their fifth studio album "The Resistance" has eight solid tracks out of eleven. The last three tracks on the album might as well be instrumental tracks, and would have been better off being on a bonus disk rather than the full length album. I would have rather have had three more great songs, instead of musical symphonies without any point, not that they are talented, well put together tracks; they just don't fit in with the rest album. Just like their last album "Black Holes and Revelations", "Muse" defiantly gives us a different sound on this album, adding a different style to their own unique sound. You can close your eyes multiple times while listening to this album and hear the influences of "Queen" and "David Bowie". While I thought the last album introduced more of a pop sound to some of their songs, I think this album throttles back a bit on the pop sound and gets back to more of the classical sound that "Absolution" gave us. I have had the opportunity to see this great band live, twice, and they are the only band that I would actually travel a long distance to go and see - one of the best live bands I have ever seen. This album will translate very well in their live show; if they are ever in a city near you, don't hesitate, go and see them - I promise you will not be disappointed and you will become a long-life fan.

What to Listen to: "Resistance", "MK Ultra", "Uprising"

You Might If You Like These:
Queen
The Verve
Radiohead

Official Muse website
Muse MySpace Page

The Used "Artwork" (2009)

Artist: The Used
Label: Reprise Records
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 1, 2009





The Orb's Take: Take note, this lead singer knows how to convey passion throughout an album.

Album Review:
If you like "The Used" then picking up this album should be an purchase that has already happened. This album is very well mixed, and the track listing is very strong. Great writing, solid drumming, and intense guitar sounds is what "Artwork" is all about. Bert McCracken's intensity and passion he omits in his vocals is what puts "The Used" on a different level when it comes to this type of music. After listening to this album it made me more aware of the "K-Mart" shop-toy-bands that are putting music out today that you hear every time you turn on the radio because it can't stack up to a band like this. "Artwork" is the fourth studio album and the first album that new drummer Dan Whitesides has been featured on. McCracken refers to their sound on this album as "Gross Pop" - calling it nosier and messier. If you have heard "The Used" and you like them, you will not be disappointed at all in this album. Future artists and lead singers take note of how to convey intensity, passion, and quality throughout an album by listening to "Artwork" before you put out something just to put it out.

What to Listen to: "Blood On My Hands", "Men Are All The Same", "Meant To Die"

You Might If You Like These:
My Chemical Romance
Story Of The Year

Official The Used website
The Used MySpace Page

I Love You Man (2009)

Director: John Hamburg
Release Date: March 20, 2009
Genre: Comedy / Romance
MPAA: Rated R
DreamWorks Pictures




The ORB's take: Typical, predictable, but funny.

Movie Review:
Paul Rudd was made for these type of movies, but with that being said this movie had its moments when it just seemed to drag out parts that should have been cut from the film. Don't get me wrong, I laughed hysterically in parts of this flick, but that didn't make up for the lull in parts that made you feel awkward for almost wasting your time. The movie was predictable and would remind you of a romantic girl flick, but that was made for a guy. I know that sounds weird, but that is definitely what they tried to do with this film. The guy (Paul Rudd's character) asks his girlfriend (Rashida Jones - "The Office") to marry him. He is the perfect guy, but he has no man friends at all, and this becomes a concern for his girlfriend and her friends. So he starts to go out on "man dates" (I know that sounds weird, because it is) and it will make you laugh, but only because his brother ("Andy Sandburg") is who helps him out - you have to see the movie to understand why. Predictable, he finds a friend and they start to hang out all the time, which then makes his girlfriend jealous, so she wants him to stop hanging out - ect. ect. ect. This is for sure a DVD rental, maybe even a TNT or FX movie. Almost a waste of time, but there is just enough to keep if from being complete trash.

What to Watch For: Walking the dog, Billboards, and Poker night.

You Might If You Like These:
Role Models
Knocked Up
Anchorman

Official I Love You Man (2009) Site
IMDB

District 9 (2009)

Director: Neil Blomkamp
Release Date: August 14, 2009
Genre: Action / Drama / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated R
Sony Pictures




The ORB's take: Completely refreshing script, different, exciting; when is District 10 coming out.....?

Movie Review:
When I first saw the trailer for this movie back in early spring, I honestly thought it did not look exciting nor very entertaining. But I am very thankful that I was wrong, WOW this movie was a surprise that lived up to the hype. For only the last couple of weeks have they started to push the trailer on television and start the anticipation that this was a really good must see movie. Even from the trailers it is hard to determine exactly what this flick is really about, which adds to the freshness this movie brings the first time you watch it. I will not give anything away, or much of the background of the movie. When the movie starts out it will remind you of how "Cloverfield" was shot, but a lot more professionally done, so for you that got sick watching "Cloverfield" you will be fine in this one and it is not done that way the entire flick. It takes on sort of a documentary feeling at first, describing the aliens, when they came down, how they came down, how we came in contact with them, how District 9 was formed, and what District 9 has become. The story is intriguing so you don't mind the information and the introduction to District 9. After that, the action / thriller part begins and does not end until the credits start rolling. I have read some reviews that people were saying the ending is sad, and I would have to disagree, I think it is brilliant and makes you want more. The way the aliens were depicted is another great part of this film, it showed a different type of alien that you might be used to seeing on most other alien/sci-fi films. My recommendation is to go see the movie if you like these type of films. My warning: it is rated R for the violence/gore and language. It is worth your money, even if you see it at full price at an evening showing and that is rare.

What to Watch For: Alien weaponry, The Mech Robot

You Might If You Like These:
Cloverfield
iRobot
The Day The Earth Stood Still

Official District 9 (2009) Site
IMDB

Public Enemies (2009)

Director: Michael Mann
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Universal




The ORB's take: Wait for the DVD, I had higher expectations, even if it was based on a true story.

Movie Review:
My first thought when I watched this movie was that it seemed to move to slow. There were the occasional bank heist and shoot outs, but it seemed like those scenes were not the focus of the film, it was the "attempted" development of the Johnny Depp's character ("John Dillinger") so that by the end of the movie you feel for bad for him. The movie is designed to make you believe that "Dillinger" is doing the right thing by robbing banks and killing people that get in his way. The best part of this movie is when he gets caught, wondering how he is going to escape. The other big part in this flick is the love story it also attempts to develop (it never goes deep enough into Johnny Depp's character for the audience to appreciate it). Bottom line, good actors, skimpy script, could have been better, but you still should rent it when the DVD comes out - but you've been warned that it is nothing spectacular.

What to Watch For: John Dillinger's tyrants

You Might If You Like These:
Goodfellas
The Untouchables
Donnie Brasco

Official Public Enemies (2009) Site
IMDB

The Soloist (2009)

Director: Joe Wright
Release Date: April 24, 2009
Genre: Drama
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Universal




The ORB's take: Worth a DVD rental! It will make you think.

Movie Review:
Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr. can act and they do a great job in this dramatic film. Nothing over the top, and nothing award worthy, but great acting. The script was one of those scripts that worked and kept pulling you into the characters and their emotions. Jamie Fox is a mentally ill, talented musician (Cello and Violinist), who is homeless on the streets of LA. Downey Jr. is a writer for the LA Times that can't find an interesting story for his column until he stumbles upon Jamie Fox playing a violin with only 2 strings on it. Downey Jr. continues to run into Foxx and finds him intriguing and asks to write about him. While writing Foxx's story he feels compelled to get him some help and see him play music again. That is where the story begins and has a great ending with your typical ups and downs that always occur in this type of a film. If you enjoy either one or both of these actors you will like this film and agree that it is worth a rental.

What to Watch For: The Result

You Might If You Like These:
Seven Pounds
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Official The Soloist (2009) Site
IMDB

Project 86 - "Picket Fence Cartel" (2009)

Artist: Project 86
Label: Tooth and Nail
Album Type: Rock
Released: July 14, 2009





The Orb's Take: Good Vox, Good mix, Good Rock n Roll.

Album Review:
Project 86 returns with "Picket Fence Cartel" and they don't disappoint at all. With their 7th full length studio album they prove that they should be getting regular ready play on any rock station out there. Very catchy tunes, so catchy that it catches you off guard sometimes and you find yourself listening to the album 2 or 3 times before you realize you have already heard one of the songs twice. Incredible guitar tones with very unique lead vocals defiantly sets this band apart from all the others out there trying to rock in their own category. If you have never heard of Project 86, no worries because I think this is their best album to date, so now is a great time to discover this veteran rock band.

What to Listen to: "The Butcher", "Destroyer", "Dark Angel Dragnet"

You Might If You Like These:
POD
He Is Legend
Avenged Sevenfold

Official Project 86 website
Project 86 MySpace Page
Tooth and Nail Records website

He Is Legend - "It Hates You" (2009)

Artist: He Is Legend
Label: Tragic Hero Records
Album Type: Hard Alternative Rock
Released: July 21, 2009





The Orb's Take: Solid album all the way through. Worth your time, money, and the repeat option on your Ipod.

Album Review:
It is always great when a band comes out and gives you an album that you were not expecting to be one of the best albums of 2009. "He Is Legend" gives us just that and more with "It Hates You" - their 4th studio album. This is their first album on "Tragic Hero Records" a label out of North Carolina, they used to be on "Solid State / Tooth and Nail" records. This is a solid 12 song album that is mixed incredibly well - the drums and guitars hit hard making you want to crank up your car stereo or Ipod to the next level. The vocals cut through and complement the hard hitting tracks which is very refreshing with the lack of good albums today. The whole album is extremely catchy, with great consistent writing, and with hard very hard grinding guitars (listen to "Thats Nasty"). I can't say anything bad about this album, pick it up, buy it, and enjoy.

What to Listen to: "Thats Nasty", "Dicephalous", "Decisions Decisions Decisions"

You Might If You Like These:
Dead Poetic
Showbread
Chevelle

He is Legend My Space Page
Tragic Hero Records Website

Land of the Lost (2009)

Director: Brad Silberling
Release Date: June 5, 2009
Genre: Adventure / Comedy
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Universal




The ORB's take: You'll laugh, just not a lot.

Movie Review:
I will have to say that I have never seen any of the old television episodes but I don't think that would have helped - it might have made things worst (I viewed some clips on YouTube and they were bad). For a Will Ferrell movie I expected to laugh a lot more than I did, and the times that I did laugh it usually was not because of Will Ferrell. The adventure was fun, and the monkey "Chaka" was stupidly funny, but I found the flm at times very boring. The movie took a horrible turn when the aliens showed up and they looked like something out of a low budget alien horror flick. Danny McBride ("Eastbound and Down", "Tropic Thunder") was the best part about this movie, he is hilarious and stupid, but in a way that will make you laugh. Will Ferrell showed us with this movie that he is starting to take the path that Adam Sandler did with his movies - the first couple of films make you laugh and are enjoyable, but after that they seem to repeat themselves, and are just not as funny. Wait for this one until HBO, or ABC airs it, not quite worth it to waste your money on a DVD rental.

What to Watch For: Danny McBride stealing the show from Will Ferrell in this movie.

You Might If You Like These:
Drillbit Taylor
Semi-Pro

Official Land of the Lost (2009) Site
IMDB

The Taking Of Pelham (2009)

Director: Tony Scott
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Columbia Pictures




The ORB's take: Two great actors = a decent flick - even for a re-make.

Movie Review:
This is a remake from the 1974 original film, with a couple of new spins and concepts thrown in. A great cast of actors including "Denzel Washington", "John Travolta", "John Turturro", and "James Gandolfini" makes this movie a must rent when it comes out on DVD. Washington provides a typical great performance like he usually does in most of his films, but Travolta seems to go over-the-top at times in this movie. He is his typical actor self (like in the films "Face Off" & "Swordfish") but when he gets crazy and starts to ramble it seems to get comical at times - I found myself telling him to chill because it didn't fit the part. With that being said the movie, storyline, and great cast of actors make it worth your time. I don't want to reveal any of the twists in this plot, so I will stop here.

What to Watch For: Two actors battle it out on the screen, which creates a great finally

You Might If You Like These:
Hostage
Ransom

Official The Taking Of Pelham 123 (2009) Site
IMDB

Year One (2009)

Director: Harold Ramis
Release Date: June 19, 2009
Genre: Comedy / Adventure
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Sony Pictures




The ORB's take: Funny at times, what you see in the trailer are the great laughs.

Movie Review:
When I saw this movie I expected to have already seen most of all the funny parts in the thousands of previews that were shown on t.v. - so I was not disappointed. Michael Cera's dry humor is what makes this movie funny. Jack Black is his usual goofy self, sometimes annoying, sometimes over-the-top, sometimes funny, but solid actor. The only problem that I had with this film was I felt that they were really going out of their way to poke fun of and mock biblical history. If you are religious you will cringe when you see the Cain and Abel scene, as well as the Abraham and Issac scene, I felt that they could have approached some of these topics in a different way that may not have been so offensive. With that aside the movie will produce some laughs, but I would wait for the DVD or even HBO - or catch it at a drive-in where you can see it for a two for one special.

What to Watch For: The Palace scene, Micheal Cera's humor.

You Might If You Like These:
Superbad
School Of Rock

Official Year One (2009) Site
IMDB

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Director: Michael Bay
Release Date: June 24, 2009
Genre: Action / Adventure
MPAA: Rated PG-13
DreamWorks




The ORB's take: Better than the first - Action from start to finish.

Movie Review:
Unbelievable! When I saw the first one two years ago, I walked out of the theater thinking that it would be hard to top this movie with it's sequel - well "Michael Bay" did it. Non-stop action from start to finish, same flavor of humor that was in the first movie that will make you laugh, and more Transformers to add to the cast. This installment is two-and-a-half hours long, but you will want more. If you enjoyed the first "Transformers" movie, please do not listen to most of the reviews that are out there saying this movie is horrible. It is far from that, I think that it is better than the first one and it is one of those movies that is worthy of a second and third trip to the theater to watch it again and again. The storyline for this movie was well put together, reminding me of some of the cartoon episodes where "Optimus Prime" would get beat and the "Autobots" would retreat, regroup and "Optimus Prime" would rise up and defeat the "Decepticons". Some of the reviews that I read said that the battles and camera angles were hard to focus on what is going on, that also is far from the truth, it only adds to the great effects that are in this film. The main cast members from the last film return to this film including "John Turturro", in which he is better in this movie than he was in the first. Most of the Transformers cast returns as well, including "Megatron". Go see this movie in a theater, don't wait for the DVD, it is worth your time and money - this movie is the definition of what movie "entertainment" was meant to be. I thank you "Michael Bay" for bringing my child-hood memories to the big screen once again, and hope in another two more years I can say the same. Well Done!

What to Watch For: Devastator, Alice, Bumblebee battling the Leopard.

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