Cast: Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Sigourney Weaver (Dr. Grace Augustine)
For complete info, see IMDb's Avatar page.
Avatar is definitely as visually amazing as advertized, though I was pretty disappointed with the use of 3D overall. I definitely recommend seeing Avatar in IMAX 3D if available and digitally or 3D if IMAX is not available in your area. It's a beautiful movie. Did Avatar deserve to be one of the 10 (way too many - I think they should break them up like the Golden Globes do) Oscar nominations for Best Picture? I don't think so. The story isn't all that unique or super interesting. It was very predictable.
It is amazing what amazing visual effects can do for a story, since people talk about Avatar as if it's a lot better than they would without the beautifully designed visuals. Without the special effects and amazingly well done graphics, Avatar would be another standard Sci-Fi movie with a very predictable story line. With the special effects, Avatar is a movie I highly recommend seeing before it leaves IMAX 3D theatres early next month (when Alice in Wonderland starts). I'm sure it will be playing a lot longer in regular theatres, but IMAX is the way to go for a movie this visually stunning.
If I were just grading the visuals, they'd probably get an A or A-. If I'd seen it in a standard theatre, I'd give them an A+, but the 3D effects were pretty disappointing. The movie as a whole definitely doesn't do as well.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2009, action, adventure, movie, Sam Worthington, sci-fi, special effects, Zoe Saldana
Reviewed by Kat at the 11:45 AM show | 0 screams
Cast: Chris Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Leonard Nimoy (Spock Prime), Eric Bana (Nero), Bruce Greenwood (Pike), Karl Urban (Bones), Zoe Saldana (Uhura)
For complete info, see IMDb's Star Trek page.
I'm not a fan of the original Star Trek (TV show or movies). I enjoyed what I saw of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. I also liked most of the movies with those Star Trek characters (at least enough to have seen them in a theatre).
I was really interested in this movie, since they seemed to have a very good cast and I liked the idea of seeing the story with better special effects and acting (I'm really not a fan of William Shatner). Clearly, as soon as they announced that the new Star Trek was being released in IMAX, that was the way I had to see it!
I think the Star Trek movie was very well done. The one person in our group who had watched the whole original series thought they explained things in a way that worked with the original Star Trek and really enjoyed the movie. The cast is amazing, the special effects are well done, and it's a good story. What more could one ask for in a movie on a screen that big? Definitely catch Star Trek in IMAX while you can and if not, see it on the biggest screen you're able to find.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2009, action, adventure, Bruce Greenwood, Chris Pine, Eric Bana, movie, sci-fi, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 AM show | 1 screams
Cast: Bernie Mac (Percy Jones), Ashton Kutcher (Simon Green), Zoe Saldana (Theresa Jones), Judith Scott (Merilyn Jones)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Guess Who page.
This reversal of the older Guess Who's Coming to Dinner was very well done with an amazing cast! Bernie Mac & Ashton Kutcher are hilarious together and the rest of the cast is great, too. I've liked Zoe Saldana since I first saw her (I think in Center Stage) and it's great to see her in more of a leading role. I think everyone I saw this with was pleasantly surprised. I expected it to be entertaining, but not nearly as funny as Guess Who really is. This is a great rental for any time you just want to relax and enjoy a movie!
Grade: B+
Labels: 2005, Ashton Kutcher, Bernie Mac, comedy, movie, romance, Zoe Saldana
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Amanda Schull (Jody Sawyer), Zoe Saldana (Eva Rodriguez), Susan May Pratt (Maureen Cummings)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Center Stage page.
Anyone who loves dancing needs to see this movie. The dancing is amazing and the cast is good in the non-dance scenes, too. The story about a bunch of friends trying to make it in the dance world is very interesting to anyone who likes dance.
If you're not interested in dance, this movie is definitely not for you, but otherwise it's a must see. Center Stage is definitely a movie I will buy when it's released on DVD.
Grade: A-
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:50 PM show | 0 screams