Good Will Hunting

Disclaimer: We watched this one Clearplayed.

Tabi says: 3.5 stars

I'd give the dialog five stars, though Clearplay certainly took out a lot of it. Lots of profanity. Robin Williams was fantastic and gave some very profound advice. Way to go Damon and Affleck on the screenplay.

I liked it, but it wasn't as fulfilling as I wanted it to be. Not that it wasn't fulfilling, I just wanted Damon's character to do more, be more, and give back. So he raised himself out of the slums, great...but what did he do to raise others as well.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Will says: 4 Stars

I thought this was a great movie. It's definitely made for younger audiences, but I thought it was a lot of fun. If you like movies like Goonies, Willow, or Nancy Drew, this would be a great movie for you.


Tabi says: 3.5 Stars

I thought it was a fun kid's movie. It had a similar feel to Willow but for a younger audience and with better graphics.

(By the way, this was Liam's first movie in a theater...well first that he was old enough to enjoy anyway. That's big in our famiy...like taking one's first steps! He did great!)

Martian Child

Tabi says: 4 stars

I've been wanting to watch this movie for a while, but every time I went to Redbox it was checked out. That's saying something because I frequently visit many different Redboxes. Now I know why it was in such high demand; it's because it's a great feel-good movie. Very pro-family. John Cusack made a very believable first-time dad and Bobby Coleman was a fabulous weird Martian kid. Maybe having a little boy of my own made this story of a little boy needing love and trust made it all that more touching. Just like Gone, Baby Gone, it ended and I felt like becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

Just a sidenote: This movie is based on the science-fiction writer David Gerrold's experiences adopting a child. It is interesting to note that David Gerrold wrote the original Star Trek episode Trouble with Tribbles! Wow.

Shrek 3

Tabi says: 1.5 stars

Some funny parts, but not as good as the second Shrek.

Indiana Jones

Tabi says: 4 stars

Very Indiana Jones! Fun, fun, fun. I enjoyed the ties to the old movies.

They did a great job introducing a new character, Shia Labeouf, without making him an Indiana Jones replacement.

Juno

Tabi says 3.75 stars

I'm not sure what to say about this one. Watch it edited because the story of a teenage pregnancy comes with a lot of the crude immature conversations about it. Still, I thought it was emotionally engaging. Okay, you know how in a dream you are usually one character and you follow that character throughout the dream (unless you're me and you switch characters, no matter what gender or species). Often movies are that way; you feel emotionally connected to one character. In this movie, however, I felt myself in many of the character's shoes. I felt like I received a more holistic view of what it might be like to be in this situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Tabi says: 2 stars

Should have watched this one edited. I know, a lot of you out there are saying, "Well, duh!" Will saw part of the special features at a friend's house and thought it looked funny and a few different people told us it was not as racy as the preview makes it. It definitely had some raciness, but not nearly as much as the preview makes it seem. I think it needed editing more for the violence, although, I would have appreciated a lot of the raciness edited too. There was a lot of grab whatever is next to you and hit someone with it, even if it's a wrench.

There were some really funny parts, but overall, it was just okay.

Golden Compass

Tabi says: 3 stars

I don't think all the hype about this movie being anti-God was necessary. The book might have been, but this was more anti-establishment. The way the movie portrays the "establishment" is more like a corrupt government. It reminds me a lot of The Giver by Lois Lowry in the way the government is portrayed.

If there were anything to complain about in this movie, it's the fact that it doesn't end! It totally sets itself up for the next movie in the trilogy, a lot like the Fellowship of the Ring.

I liked seeing Nicole Kidman as a villain, and the little girl, Dakota Blue Richards, does a great job. Effects were good, they won the Oscar for that this year over, even Transformers whose effects I thought was great. Some of the effects are reminiscent of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

There Will be Blood

WE WATCHED THIS ONE EDITED

Tabi says: ?

I'm just not sure what to say about this one. It was very well made, and the acting was solid. The story was disturbing. An interesting look at insanity.

Next

Tabi says: 3 stars

Surprisingly good. It's similar to Deja Vu; I think I liked this one better. There were definitely some dialog issues and some cheesiness, but I expect a little cheesiness in a Nicolas Cage movie. We watched this one with Rob and Lindsey which made it all the more fun.