Act of Valor (Active-Duty US Navy Seals) in Theatres on July 11, 2012

Act of Valor (2012)

Hazel's
Comment: There were Filipino groups who demanded an apology from Relativity Media and wanted this movie banned because it depicted Filipinos as cold-hearted terrorists. But isn't this movie a work of fiction? Why are some people just so uptight and critical about it?

Audience
Rating: 4/5
Liked the Movie: 77% (n=69,819)

Critics
Rating: 2.3/5
Liked the Movie: 25% (n=126)


Reviews

"When the bullets are flying, Act of Valor is undeniably tense and thrilling." - Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

"Fighting is a learned skill; so is acting. And the SEAL stars are plausible only when on maneuvers - performing as their own stunt doubles." - Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

"The special ops missions are pretty amazing, but the SEALS as dramatic characters are under-developed." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"It's undeniably reverent of the real-life heroes in its cast, but Act of Valor lets them down with a clichéd script, stilted acting, and a jingoistic attitude that ignores the complexities of war." - rottentomatoes.com

"The filmmakers are so intent on shooting the real SEAL deal that they forget this is supposed to be a movie: We need a story." - Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

"I don't know what to make of Act of Valor. It's like reviewing a recruiting poster." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"I think these real-life action heroes deserve a better movie. So does the audience." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune


Movie Info

An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs in a film like no other in Hollywood's history. A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations, Act of Valor features a gripping story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey. When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. Act of Valor combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the-minute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure film-showcasing the skills, training and tenacity of the greatest action heroes of them all: real Navy SEALs. -- (C) Relativity

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh

Written By: Kurt Johnstad

Distributed By: Relativity Media

Cast
Roselyn Sanchez (Agent Morales)
Alex Veadov (Christo)
Nestor Serrano (Walter Ross)
Emilio Rivera (Sanchez)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

The Amazing Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Sally Field) in Theatres on June 29, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: Honestly, I didn't like the character of the new Spiderman much - he is playful, rash, irresponsible. To me, not a hero at all but just a typical boy next door. Though I loved the scene where Stan Lee showed up... epic!
Comment: A movie I'm definitely going to watch on the big screen! It's awesome that there are scenes wherein you could feel like you're Spider-Man since it's shot on his perspective. Can't wait when it swings to theatres real soon...

Audience
Like to See the Movie: 91% (n=232,426)

Audience
Rating: 4.2/5
Liked the Movie: 84% (n=291,053)

Critics
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=240)


Reviews

"A well-chosen cast and sure-handed direction allow The Amazing Spider-Man to thrill, despite revisiting many of the same plot points from 2002's Spider-Man." - rottentomatoes.com

"The Amazing Spider-Man is at least better than Raimi's Spider-Man 3, which was a mess." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

"At 28, Garfield's slightly older than Maguire was when he played Peter Parker in 2002, but his combination of fresh-faced innocence, nervous agitation and wry humor is immediately appealing." - Tom Charity, CNN.com

"I don't really see why the Spidey reboot was needed right now, but The Amazing Spider-Man has its virtues. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are stellar and director Marc Webb has crafted a Spider-Man that touches the heart." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"If you've seen half a dozen superhero films, and the box office results suggest you have, then you've also seen what "The Amazing Spider-Man" has to offer." - Laremy Legel, film.com

"How amazing can it be? We all just saw this movie when "Spider-Man" came out a decade ago." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"With great stories come great responsibilities. This one doesn't measure up." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune


Movie Info

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero. -- (C) Sony

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Marc Webb

Written By: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee, James Vanderbilt

Distributed By: Sony Pictures

Cast
Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker / Spider-Man)
Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy)
Rhys Ifans (Dr. Curt Connors)
Sally Field (Aunt May / May Parker)
Denis Leary (Captain Stacy)
Martin Sheen (Ben Parker / Uncle Ben)
Campbell Scott (Richard Parker)
Irfan Khan (Dr. Ratha / Van Adder)
Annie Parisse (Mrs. Van Adder)
Julianne Nicholson (Mary Parker)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Dark Shadows (Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Moretz) in Theatres on May 10, 2012

Dark Shadows (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: It's the first time I watched a movie with Eva Green (the witch) and I'm impressed with her acting. Of course, being impressed with Johnny Depp is a given. However, I had some questions after watching the movie like a) how come the cops and townspeople left the manor when they know a witch and a vampire are killing each other? and b) when your daughter's a werewolf, wouldn't you have noticed it while she was growing up?
Aside from the incoherent script, I'm boggled if the movie wants to scare you or make you laugh. Ultimately, it brings you nowhere.
Recommendation: You can miss watching the film unless you're a Johnny Depp or Tim Burton fan who wants to check out their 8th collaboration. For me, a movie that belongs in the dark shadows.

Audience
Rating: 3.2/5
Liked the Movie: 48% (n=165,555)

Critics
Rating: 2.7/5
Liked the Movie: 40% (n=209)


Reviews

"How bad is "Dark Shadows"? It makes you long for a "Twilight" movie. That's bad." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"An uncertain combination of elements that unsuccessfully tries to be half-scary, half-funny and all strange..." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"The visuals are top notch but Tim Burton never finds a consistent rhythm, mixing campy jokes and gothic spookiness with less success than other Johnny Depp collaborations." - rottentomatoes.com

"Dark Shadows' only meaningful relationship is between Depp and his audience. He's a persona now, no longer an actor." - Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

"The film's biggest disappointment is the utter lack of chemistry between Depp and either Green or Heathcote." - Joy Tipping, Dallas Morning News

""Dark Shadows" doesn't add anything new to the genre, but it's a surprisingly high-spirited and genuinely black-humored comedy." - Rafer Guzman

"All dressed up and no place to go." - Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic


Movie Info

Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy... until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. -- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 53 min.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Tim Burton

Written By: Dan Curtis

Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Johnny Depp (Barnabas Collins)
Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard)
Bella Heathcote (Victoria Winters)
Eva Green (Angelique Bouchard)
Chloe Moretz (Carolyn Stoddard)
Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Julia Hoffman)
Alice Cooper as Himself

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Hunger Games (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth) in Theatres on March 21, 2012

The Hunger Games (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: "What a gruesome and violent movie (Really? Teens are allowed to watch this?) but what a concept! It reminds me of arenas in ancient Greece where slaves or gladiators were watched to fight to the death, as a form of amusement. I loved the movie! Jennifer Lawrence, plus the other actors like Banks, Harrelson and Tucci were superb. What I just didn't like was the shaky handling of the camera that made me dizzy after watching the movie. Can't wait to watch the sequel "Catching Fire," and of course to read the book trilogy, since the novels are usually better than the movie =)"

Audience
Rating: 4.2/5
Liked the Movie: 86% (n=96,173)

Critics
Rating: 3.6/5
Liked the Movie: 85% (n=243)


Reviews

"This movie rules." - Dominic Corry, Flicks.co.nz

"Thrilling and superbly acted, The Hunger Games captures the dramatic violence, raw emotion, and ambitious scope of its source novel." - rottentomatoes.com

"Lawrence is terrific in the lead role and gives us someone to root for to survive this horrible ordeal. The supporting players carve out memorable characters. The musical score, costumes and makeup are the other strengths." - Keith Cohen, Entertainment Spectrum

"Lawrence is a strong role model for young girls with her character's sacrifice, courage, moral grounding in a world that's lost its own, and will to fight for what's right, even if it means sacrificing her own life or sparking a revolution." - Neil Pond, American Profile

"The film is aided immeasurably by Judianna Makovsky's costume design. Clothes are an intentional method of deciphering The Hunger Games' politics." - Chirs Laverty, CLothes on Film

"I didn't read the book. While the film is entertaining enough, I never felt drawn in to this new world." - Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review


Movie Info

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. -- (C) Lionsgate

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hr. 22 min.
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By: Gary Ross
Written By: Suzanne Collins, Gary Ross, Billy Ray
Distributed By: Lionsgate

Cast
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)
Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark)
Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne)
Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy)
Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket)
Lenny Kravitz (Cinna)
Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman)
Donald Sutherland (President Snow)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler) in Theatres on January 18, 2012

Coriolanus (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.7/5
Liked the Movie: 70% (n=2,544)

Critics
Rating: 3.6/5
Liked the Movie: 91% (n=57)


Reviews

"Ralph Fiennes makes Shakespeare modern and bloody brilliant." - Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter

"Fiennes directs theater on the grand scale, burning his characters down to expose the terrible beauty of the human soul." - Kathleen Murphy, MSN Movies

"The play has been significantly but artfully trimmed by John Logan's screenplay, which preserves Shakespeare's language." - Jake Coyle, Associated Press

"Fiennes takes one of the playwright's lesser-known works, originally set in the 5th century B.C., updates it to current times and imbues it with a gritty blood-spattered fierceness." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

"In attempting to update the play to a buzzing CNN world, Ralph Fiennes proves that as a director, he makes a fine actor." - Kyle Smith, New York Post


Movie Info

Caius Martius 'Coriolanus' (Ralph Fiennes), a revered and feared Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus's anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city. -- (C) Weinstein Co

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 hr. 2 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Ralph Fiennes

Distributed By: The Weinstein Company

Cast
Ralph Fiennes (Caius Martius)
Brian Cox (Menenius)
Vanessa Redgrave (Volumnia)
Jessica Chastain (Virgilia)
Gerard Butler (Tullus Aufidius)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law) in Theatres on January 8, 2012

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.9/5
Like the Movie: 80% (n=73,771)

Critics
Rating: 3.1/5
Like the Movie: 59% (n=181)


Reviews

"As Johnny Depp has done so brilliantly with his devilish Jack Sparrow, Downey has made this sly sardonic Sherlock stylistically all his own. Case closed." - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a good yarn thanks to its well-matched leading men but overall stumbles duplicating the well-oiled thrills of the original." - rottentomatoes.com

"In an act of criminal negligence, Ritchie has wasted Robert Downey Jr. in a sequel that eliminates smarts in favor of relentless headbanging." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"I was let down by this loud and flashy but utterly empty sequel." -Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

""What do you see?'' the gypsy girl asks him. "Everything,'' Holmes replies. "That is my curse.'' If Downey has a curse, it'll be called "Sherlock Holmes 3."" Ty Burr, Boston Globe
"The skill level in the script is elementary school, my dear Watson." - Kyle Smith, New York Post


Movie Info

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large - Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) - and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder - a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction - all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history. -- (C) Warner Bros

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr. 8 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

Written By: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Jude Law (Dr. John Watson)
Noomi Rapace (Madam Simza Heron)
Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler)
Jared Harris (Professor James Moriarty)
Stephen Fry (Mycroft Holmes)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol (Tom Cruise) in Theatres on December 16, 2011

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011)

Hazel's
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: The gadgets were cool especially the IPAD-controlled hallway image... Breathtaking scenes during Tom Cruise's dangling outside Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building... highly action-packed and entertaining movie. Though Tom Cruise is growing old... Nooooooo! =)

Audience
Rating: 4.1/5
Like the Movie: 87% (n=64,495)

Critics
Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 93% (n=184)


Reviews

"Stylish, fast-paced, and loaded with gripping set pieces, the fourth Mission: Impossible is big-budget popcorn entertainment that really works." - rottentomatoes.com

"[Bird's] fresh touch gives breathless energy, tremendous excitement and, above all, humor to what could have been a wearying genre exercise." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"There's a good chance you'll get so caught up in what they're doing, you won't even notice how stiff and inhuman the actors appear." - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

"As usual with the series, the movie combines a plot line a toddler could understand with gadgets that would baffle an engineering Ph.D." - J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader

"The real mission is to renew a stale franchise, and here Ghost Protocol largely succeeds, on the strength of good action scenes - including an IMAX-enhanced Dubai skyscraper dangle by Cruise - and the good humour of a well-chosen cast." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

"Ghost Protocol is a very good thrill ride and Cruise is better than he's been in a long time." - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol was directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), whose first stab at a live-action feature preserves the buzzy exhilaration and carefree absurdity of a cartoon." - Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

"A largely successful attempt to reboot the moribund franchise that turns out to be probably the most entertaining installment since Brian De Palma's series opener from 15 years ago." - Lou Lumenick, New York Post

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is easily the best of the lot." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

"I'm thinking it, so I might as well say it: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is no Fast Five." - Richard Corliss, Time Magazine


Movie Info

This is not just another mission. The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this. -- (C) Paramount

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr. 13 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Brad Bird

Written By: Josh Applebaum, André Nemec

Distributed By: Paramount Studios

Cast
Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt)
Simon Pegg (Benji Dunn)
Jeremy Renner (William Brandt)
Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell)
Vladimir Mashkov (Anatoly Sidirov)
Paula Patton (Jane Carter)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner) in Theatres Since November 18, 2011

You still got a chance to attend Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen's Wedding... still showing in a lot of movie theatres around you... =)

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

Hazel's
Rating: 2/5
Review: I got bored while watching. I have to agree with some critics that it could have been more dynamic if the whole Breaking Dawn book was made into just one movie. Though I find it amusing that in this one film I saw Bella looking her best so far since Twilight (during her wedding) and her worst (upon giving birth).

Audience
Rating: 3.8/5
Like to See the Movie: 71% (n=81,374)

Critics
Rating: 2.2/5
Like the Movie: 26% (n=177)


Reviews

"The most melodramatic installment in the series, but if you're willing to suspend your disbelief (and laughter), it's a compelling and entertaining ride." - Cara Nash, FILMINK Australia

"It is in many respects the best installment of the franchise as its stars go from sullen kids to sullen young adults, where their expressions look more natural." - Scott Bowles, USA Today

"The Twilight films manage to cleverly blend melodrama with supernatural thrills, and while the film is not without its silly moments and cringeworthy dialogue it does deliver the drama and emotional highs we have come to expect." - Mark Adams, Daily Mirror [UK]

"Really a half-film, and the boring half at that. Such is the nature of things dubbed "Part 1." It's a film about things that will inevitably happen, but don't until the next, more important part." - Phil Villareal, OK! Magazine

"Fails to inject its few key scenes with any life thanks to a woeful script, poor direction and lacklustre performances, though fans of the franchise should be used to that by now." - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

"This weekend, millions of people around the globe will be conned into handing over their hard earned cash to see a film with no plot, no action and no climax." - Matthew Toomey, Brisbane

"The vampire drama of Twilight is all about the romantic agony of eternity, and this franchise feels like it's going on for ever." - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

"An eventful but bloodless first half of the smash series' finale." - Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter


Movie Info

In The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson), plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought on by a marriage, honeymoon, and the tumultuous birth of a child...which brings an unforeseen and shocking development for Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). -- (C) Summit Entertainment

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 57 min.

Genre: Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Bill Condon

Written By: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

Cast
Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan)
Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen)
Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black)
Billy Burke (Charlie Swan)
Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen)
Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen)
Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen)
Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale)
Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale)
Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen)

Source: rottentomatoes.com