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• Charlie Wilson's War (2007) 8/10

  2008-01-05 00:00

  

  The movie wasn't without star power and it paid off. Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) wages a secret war in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unintended consequences. Julia Roberts plays Joanne Herring, a very wealthy Houston socialite and political activist that uses her influence to push Charlie into taking action against the soviets. Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show as Gust Avrakotos, division chief for the CIA. Overall, it is a great movie that shows the type of under-the-table policy making that unconstitutionally overspends tax payer's money for personal projects of the wealthy elite. This may be a Hollywood drama, but this type of backroom deals are still being done today.

  0.3

• I Am Legend (2007) 6/10

  2007-12-14 00:00

  

  Scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) looks to save New York City and find a cure to a plague that killed most of humanity and transforms the rest into mindless monsters. Will Smith holds his own but the story leaves quite a few holes and seems a little rushed at times. The movie is more of a thriller than a true horror flick. There are scenes that give the audience a chilling glimpse into what a post-apocalyptic world might look like (only where are all of the dead bodies - or at least skeletons). The beginning of the movie focused on his isolation and was done quite well, but as soon as the battle with the pseudo-humans started, the movie lost me.

  0.3

• National Treasure: Book of Secrets 8/10

  2007-12-22 00:00

  

  Our favorite treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) looks to save his family's name by discovering the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The journey will lead him to a secret book, only known by presidents which will help him uncover the mystery hidden within the 18 missing pages from the diary of assassin John Wilkes Booth. Yes there is treasure. Yes there are historical riddles. Yes there are completely unrealistic plot twists. But in the end, if you let yourself get swept away in the adventure, you'll be in for an enjoyable ride.

  0.3

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian... 6/10

  2008-05-23 18:00

  

  The four Pevensie children are back in the second installment of the Chronicles of Narnia. This time they learn that time passes much quicker in Narnia than in our world as nearly 1300 years have gone by and their former kingdom is in ruins. I think this movie was better than the first but it still lacks the character depth and historical background that makes the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies so great. The plot tends to stall and there is really only one story thread that is built up to its anti-climactic conclusion. The oh-so-slight love interest was hinted at between Susan and Prince Caspian but it was never realized. I don't blame the directer completely. I've read all of the books growing up and not only are they very small books with little detail but C.S. Lewis seems to be writing for a 4th grader. Another think that strikes me as strange is that the books don't go in chronological order. Book 7 (The Magician's Nephew) should have been the first movie while book 6 (The Horse and His Boy) should be the third movie after The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. This is the real flaw in these films because when we have knowledge of backstories and historical context, each additional movie is much more enriching.

  0.3

• The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) 6/10

  2008-02-25 00:00

  

  The Spiderwick Chronicles is yet another book-to-fantasy franchise attempt to capture the same magic of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and the Chronicles of Narnia... unfortunately it doesn't quite get there. Spiderwick is more of a Pan's Labyrinth meets Bridge to Terabithia. Though a young audience may enjoy the imaginative adventure of twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, and sister Mallory, as they find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures... the movie only really works on a superficial level. Without highly developed characters and a rich backstory of the world they are in, it is hard to see the movie even covering its production budget ($92 million) domestically. It will likely make a small profit from the global and home markets but it likely wont be enough to green light another film.

  0.3