Cast: Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Ned Beatty (Lotso)
For complete info, see IMDb's Toy Story 3 page.
I'm a huge fan of Pixar, so I'll see anything they do as soon as possible on the big screen. Naturally, I had to see Toy Story 3 in IMAX 3D while it was still available, which didn't give us much time before Eclipse opened.
Toy Story is one of my favorite animated movies and I enjoyed Toy Story 2, but Toy Story 3 was the only one of the series that got me to tear up near the end. I liked Toy Story 3 more than the second movie and will definitely be there for Toy Story 4 if they make it.
I know John Lasseter will never allow them to make a Toy Story movie without a great story and Toy Story 3 definitely lived up to my expectations. If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend checking it out. Pixar knows how to make animated movies adults will enjoy as much as kids and they're keeping that tradition alive with Toy Story 3.
Grade: A
Labels: 2010, adventure, animated, comedy, Disney, family, Joan Cusack, movie, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:21 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
For complete information, see IMDb's The Pixar Story page.
This documentary wasn't quite as interesting as the book The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company, but you can cover a lot more in a book than you can in an hour and a half long documentary. I've been a fan of Pixar since they released Luxo Jr. and I love that they finally released the shorts on DVD last year (too bad I didn't realize it was available on Blu-ray before I purchased it). If you're at all interested in the history of Pixar, you will definitely enjoy this documentary. If not, then clearly it's not worth renting The Pixar Story.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2007, animated, documentary, John Lasseter, movie, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Rep. Charlie Wilson), Amy Adams (Bonnie Bach), Julia Roberts (Joanne Herring), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Gust Avrakotos)
For complete info, see IMDb's Charlie Wilson's War page.
The cast of Charlie Wilson's War was amazing, so there was no question that I would rent it. I didn't know much about the movie, since I avoid news on a movie once I've decided to see it (I'd rather see it for myself than hear all about it first) and was surprised by how much this movie moved me.
Movies like this based on real people with real flaws (and Charlie Wilson had plenty, it seems) always interest me. This movie shows the real events that took place in Afghanistan in the late 80s and shows how Charlie Wilson helped the Afghans. If you like biographies and/or war movies, you should definitely rent this one.
Grade: B
Labels: 2007, Amy Adams, biography, drama, Julia Roberts, movie, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks, war
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Robert Langdon), Audrey Tautou (Sophie Neveu), Ian McKellen (Sir Leigh Teabing), Jean Reno (Captain Fache), Paul Bettany (Silas)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Da Vinci Code page.
With the exception of the strange choice of Tom Hanks for Langdon, The Da Vinci Code was very well cast! No one I know who read the book agreed with the choice of Tom Hanks, but you can't deny his overall box office appeal, in spite of some recent flops. James and I think that Michael Vartan would have been perfect - he plays an American on Alias so the fact that he's actually French shouldn't have mattered. Of course, he's not nearly on the level of Tom Hanks in terms of box office guarantees go, so I can understand the choice they made.
If you haven't read the book, I'd say see this in theaters definitely - especially if you don't plan to read it. If you always choose to either read the book or see the movie and you read, what have you been waiting for? Get the book and read it.
Although the movie was good, it definitely lacked something. It wasn't as intense or interesting as the book. Perhaps it's just because I knew the story, but I've been re-reading the book and found it just as captivating, so I don't think that's the answer.
Ron Howard did a great job of following the book. Some things were changed, but most of them were pretty minor changes that allowed for skipping some of the story due to time constraints and didn't change the story much. There was really only one major thing they changed that I thought was critical to the plot (and wouldn't have taken up much time), but on the whole they followed the book I love very well.
The cast was (for the most part) amazing and the direction and special effects were well done. I even jumped at some of the crucial suspenseful points of the movie, in spite of the fact that I knew what was going to happen.
Spoiler alert for the 5 people who haven't read the book...
Seeing the tomb made me understand why it took them a bit to figure out that the rosy orb had to be an apple when we were talking about Newton. When I was reading the book, I felt like yelling at them, "It's an apple, you idiots!" When you see it in the context of the movie, one can understand why it might take a bit longer to figure out, since the apple was not on the tomb and there was definite pressure to come up with the answer quickly, which can make it more difficult to think.
...end of spoiler
The Da Vinci Code movie is definitely worth seeing and will be much better and more exciting on the big screen, so see it before it leaves theaters. I'm sure this gives you months, since it's the second-highest grossing film for the opening weekend internationally. It didn't do as well as I thought it would in the US, but I'm sure that it'll be around for quite a while.
Grade: B
Labels: 2006, drama, Ian McKellen, movie, mystery, Paul Bettany, thriller, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 1 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Harter Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Polar Express page.
I had heard so many great things about this movie that I was very happy we got to see it in IMAX 3D. I figured that was the only way to do it. And, if you're going to see this movie, I still think that's the only way. Although The Polar Express is a cute movie for kids, I definitely didn't think it was spectacular. I'm sure when I have kids they'll enjoy it, but it wasn't quite our cup of tea. I'd rather watch a Pixar movie or classic Disney movie if I'm going to watch an animated film.
Very cute and probably a lot better if you're younger and/or have read the book.
Grade: B
Labels: 2004, 3D, adventure, animated, family, fantasy, IMAX, movie, musical, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Frank Abagnale Jr.), Tom Hanks (Carl Hanratty), Christopher Walken (Frank Abagnale, Sr.), Martin Sheen (Roger Strong)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Catch Me If You Can page.
Don't let Leonardo DiCaprio scare you away from seeing this movie based on a true story about a man who conned millions of dollars as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, & lawyer. He and the rest of the cast do a great job in Catch Me If You Can. It's a very interesting movie, made more interesting by the fact that it's all based on a real story. The idea that someone could get away with everything Frank Abagnale Jr. managed to pull is amazing!
Security at airports is much more strict now, but even at that time, one would think you couldn't just pretend to be a pilot. Really blows my mind that someone could get away with so much. I definitely recommend this interesting movie.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2002, 2003, Christopher Walken, comedy, crime, drama, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Sheen, movie, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Tom Hanks (Sheriff Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear/Buzz Lightyear II), Joan Cusack (Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl), Kelsey Grammer (Stinky Pete the Prospector)
For complete info, see IMDb's Toy Story 2 page.
Of course, this is not nearly as good as the first Toy Story, but it's still a wonderful Pixar movie! I will always love Pixar animation and I'm glad that they're continuing to put out great movies.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1999, adventure, animated, comedy, family, fantasy, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Captain John H. Miller), Tom Sizemore (Sergeant Mike Horvath), Edward Burns (Pvt. Richard Reiben)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Saving Private Ryan page.
Great cast, very well done special effects, but just not quite what I thought it could be. With such a great plot, Steven Spielberg directing, Tom Hanks and the rest of the amazing cast, I figured this was a shoe in for a movie that would sweep me away and have me hoping it got best picture. Turns out that neither of these happened. The movie was okay, but not nearly as good as I thought it could be. And, I hope it doesn't get best picture, even though these kinds of movies tend to impress the academy.
Everyone who went to the movie with me was more impressed by Saving Private Ryan than I, but they still couldn't talk me into liking it more than I did. The movie really dragged for me. At over 2 1/2 hours that does happen sometimes, but I've been to 3-hour movies that seemed to fly and this was definitely not one of them. Instead, I found myself checking my watch and wondering how much longer it could possibly go on.
I guess this just wasn't my kind of movie, since I know almost everyone else out there loved it. I could have waited to rent it, though I do like to have seen all the Oscar nominees by the time the awards come around, so that makes seeing it in a movie theatre a good idea.
Grade: C+
Labels: 1998, drama, Edward Burns, Matt Damon, movie, Tom Hanks, war
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Everett Scott (Guy Patterson), Liv Tyler (Faye Dolan), Johnathon Schaech (Jimmy Mattingly), Steve Zahn (Lenny Haise), Ethan Embry (T. B. Player), Tom Hanks (Mr. White)
For complete cast, see IMDb's That Thing You Do page.
A one-hit wonder from Pennsylvania finds a manager and tries to become the next biggest thing. This story written & directed by Tom Hanks is very good. It explores all the changes a band (and group of friends) face when they become an overnight sensation. That Thing You Do shows that Tom Hanks is very talented behind the camera (and before the cameras start rolling) as he is in front of the camera. The movie is fun, funny, touching, and just a great story.
Grade: B
Labels: 1996, comedy, drama, Liv Tyler, movie, musical, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen, (Buzz Lightyear) Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Jim Varney (Slinky Dog), Wallace Shawn (Rex), John Ratzenberger (Hamm), Annie Potts (Bo Peep)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Toy Story page.
I've liked Pixar's animation for years, so I was very excited when they were making a full-length movie. I thought that together with Disney (who have led the feature animation pack) Toy Story could be amazing and - wow! They did a great job! Pixar animation is getting better and better. The humans still need work, but toys were the perfect subject for their first movie.
The story is wonderful, the soundtrack is very good, and it's amazing how much they made me care about the life of toys!
I can't wait for Pixar's next movie.
Grade: A+
Labels: 1995, adventure, animated, comedy, Disney, family, fantasy, John Ratzenberger, movie, musical, Pixar, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Jim Lovell), Bill Paxton (Fred Haise), Kevin Bacon (Jack Swigert), Gary Sinise (Ken Mattingly), Ed Harris (Gene Kranz)
For complete info, see IMDb's Apollo 13 page.
Apollo 13 is definitely a very good real-life drama directed by Ron Howard. Somehow, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I can't really put my finger on the reason for this. The cast is great, the drama was well done, it's a great story based on real events... Perhaps it's just that Tom Hanks has been in a big movie for the last two years running and I would have rather seen someone else or something.
Either way, Apollo 13 is a very well done movie about events that really happened to the astronauts on their way to the moon.
Grade: B
Labels: 1995, adventure, drama, Ed Harris, history, Kevin Bacon, movie, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Robin Wright Penn (Jenny Curran), Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor), Mykelti Williamson (Pvt. Benjamin Buford 'Bubba' Blue), Sally Field (Mrs. Gump)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Forrest Gump page.
Though I don't think it's up there with the best movies of all time, which many have argued, I did really enjoy Forrest Gump. It's a movie that really offers a unique perspective on life and allows you to appreciate what you have a bit more. The cast is amazing and the story is very good. In spite of all the challenges Forrest faces, Forrest Gump manages to be an overall uplifting story, which is nice.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1994, Best Picture, comedy, drama, movie, Robin Wright Penn, romance, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed), Bill Pullman (Walter), Ross Malinger (Jonah Baldwin)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Sleepless in Seattle page.
Another example of how little I like Meg Ryan. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this movie is really not worth the hype surrounding it. I know I'm not a girly girl, but when it comes to romantic movies, I tend to really love them. Definitely not in this case.
I can't really explain why, but I never got emotionally involved in the well being of the characters. I simply didn't care about them. When you don't care about characters, it's hard to care if they get together or end up alone, which makes a romantic comedy harder to enjoy.
Grade: C-
Labels: 1993, Bill Pullman, comedy, drama, Meg Ryan, movie, romance, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Tom Hanks (Jimmy Dugan), Geena Davis (Dottie Hinson), Madomna (Mae Mordabito), Lori Petty (Kit Keller), Jon Lovitz (Ernie Capadino)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's A League of Their Own page.
Baseball, comedy, and drama - what more could I want in a movie? This movie about the first female professional baseball league and the struggles within it is priceless. The cast is wonderful! The baseball is great, and the real-life drama is such a wonderful story! If you somehow missed it, you must see it now. Then, you can get all the "There's no crying in baseball!" and other quotes that people use from A League of Their Own. A wonderful movie about life and sports when the men are off to war.
Grade: A-
Labels: 1992, comedy, drama, Geena Davis, Madonna, movie, sports, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:40 PM show | 0 screams