"Big Miracle" (Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell) in Theaters on July 4, 2012

Big Miracle (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 63% (n=29,488)

Critics
Rating: 3.1/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=95)


Reviews:

"Big Miracle uses real-life events as the basis for a surprisingly satisfying family drama." - rottentomatoes.com

""Big Miracle" gets off to a shaky start, but once revved up, it becomes an involving work-against-the-clock-and-the-odds action movie." - Rachel Saltz, New York Times

"Cold War-era bonding over whales? It would sound utterly absurd if it weren't based on fact. And that's part of what makes this movie fun for adults." - Stephanie Merry, Washington Post

"It is a whale of a comic tale, if also one overly crowded with characters and incidents." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

""Big Miracle" might be subtitled, "How Hollywood Turned a Real Story Into Bogus Fiction." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"If you think it's absolutely not your kind of thing, you might be surprised." - Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies


Movie Info

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. -- (C) Universal

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Ken Kwapis

Written By: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler

Distributed By: Universal Pictures

Cast
John Krasinski (Adam Carlson)
Drew Barrymore (Rachel Kramer)
Kristen Bell (Jill Jerard)
Dermot Mulroney (Colonel Scott Boyer)
Ted Danson (J. W. McGraw)
Tim Blake Nelson (Pat Lafayette)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner) in Theatres on November 2012

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

Hazel's
Comment: Twilight fans are in for a treat on November... though it's the last installment already of an engaging series that had us glued to Jacob's abs and Edward's pretty face haha =)

Audience
Like to See the Movie: 90% (n=48,892)


Movie Info

The epic love story between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen concludes in this final installment of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling series.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Bill Condon

Written By: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer

Distributed By: Lionsgate Films

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

Source: rottentomatoes.com

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

You are cordially invited to Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen's Wedding on November 18, 2011 at a theatre nearest you... =)

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

Critics
Rating: 2.1/5
Like the Movie: 12% (n=16)

Audience
Rating:
Like to See the Movie: 89% (n=52,019)


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

Zookeeper (Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Adam Sandler) in Theatres on September 21, 2011

Zookeeper (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3/5
Like the Movie: 45% (n=30,539)

Critics
Rating: 1.7/5
Like the Movie: 14% (n=117)


Reviews

"Did we mention that things just go better with Kevin James? Well-trodden comedy hooks become strangely more amusing. Goofball physical shtick elicits broader smiles. The bumblingly stupid is made endearing." - Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

"Casting carries "Zookeeper" over its roughest patches. The vocal guest stars are inspired." - Sean O'Connell, Washington Post

"Zookeeper smothers Kevin James with a sodden script and a surfeit of jokes inappropriate for the young viewers who would be intrigued by its juvenile storyline." - rottentomatoes.com

"A children's comedy about talking animals that feels as if it were written by children or, perhaps, by talking animals." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

"Little kids - hence the G rating - and those who think poop-tossing is funny will be amused by Zookeeper. The rest of us are better off not feeding the animals." - Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

"There's little to recommend about Zookeeper, a movie that's flat, lacking in surprises and very dull." - Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News


Movie Info

In Zookeeper, the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo love their kindhearted caretaker, Griffin Keyes (Kevin James). Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get a girl in his life is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job. The animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored code of silence and reveal their biggest secret: they can talk! To keep Griffin from leaving, they decide to teach him the rules of courtship - animal style. -- (C) Sony Pictures Publicity

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Directed By: Frank Coraci

Written By: Jay Scherick, David Ronn

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Cast
Kevin James (Griffin Keyes)
Rosario Dawson (Kate)
Leslie Bibb (Stephanie)
Ken Jeong (Venom)
Donnie Wahlberg (Shane)
Adam Sandler (Donald the Monkey)
Cher (Janet the Lioness)
Jon Favreau (Jerome the Bear)
Sylvester Stallone (Joe the Lion)
Nick Nolte (Bernie the Gorilla)

Source: rottetomatoes.com

Monte Carlo (Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Cory Monteith) in Theatres on July 1, 2011

Monte Carlo (2011)

Audience
Rating:
Like to See the Movie: 68% (n=6,079)


Movie Info

Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship. -- 20th Century Fox

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 49 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Thomas "Tom" Bezucha

Written By: Thomas Bezucha, April Blair, Maria Maggenti, Ronald Bass, Jules Bass

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Cast
Leighton Meester (Meg)
Katie Cassidy (Emma)
Cory Monteith (Owen)
Andie MacDowell (Pam)
Selena Gomez (Cordelia Winthrop Scott)
Nicole Kidman

Source: rottentomatoes.com

"Beastly" (Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens) in Theatres on April 23, 2011

Beastly (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.5/5
Liked the Movie: 62% (n=37,655)

Critics
Rating: 1.85/5
Liked the Movie: 18% (n=78)


Reviews:

"You have to admire the bravery of the filmmakers, who went ahead and made a movie despite not understanding the subject matter. It's also pretty impressive that anyone could miss the point of Beauty and the Beast." - Eric D. Snider, Film.com

"Beastly gets one timeless fact right: For hatchet faces, fatty cakes and Frankenskanks, high school can definitely feel like a curse." - Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

"Roses and love bloom, and you might giggle yourself sick, but this is the kind of cornball entertainment that rainy afternoons were made for. Throw in a cozy sofa too. Beastly will size down well on your television." - Manohla Dargis, New York Times

"Fundamentally misguided, poorly written, and badly acted, Beastly adds little to the legacy of its timeless source material." - rottentomatoes.com

"It's dogged by awkward dialogue, a ridiculous plot and lackluster performances, especially by the leads, Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

"Beauty and the Beast Lite. Might appeal to 11-year-old girls." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"The best thing about this movie -- starring Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen -- is that it's only 86 minutes long." - Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

"There is one good thing you can say about "Beastly": The title perfectly sums up what you'll see on screen." - Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic


Movie Info

Genre: Drama, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Synopsis: Beastly is an edgy teen romance about learning how to see past false surfaces to discover true inner beauty. Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer) has it all - looks, intelligence, wealth and opportunity - and a wicked cruel streak. Prone to mocking and humiliating "aggressively unattractive" classmates, he zeroes in on Goth classmate Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), inviting her to the school's extravagant environmental bash. Kendra accepts, and, true to form, Kyle blows her off in a particularly savage fashion. She retaliates by casting a spell that physically transforms him into everything he despises. Enraged by his horrible and unrecognizable appearance he confronts Kendra and learns that the only solution to the curse is to find someone that will love him as he is - a task he considers impossible. Repulsed by his appearance, Kyle's callous father (Peter Krause) banishes him to Brooklyn with a sympathetic housekeeper (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and blind tutor (Neil Patrick Harris). As Kyle ponders how to overcome the curse and get his old life back, he chances upon a drug addict in the act of killing a threatening dealer. Seizing the opportunity, Kyle promises the addict freedom and safety for his daughter Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) if she will consent to live in Kyle's Brooklyn home. Thus begins Kyle's journey to discover true love in this hyper-modern retelling of the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story.

Rated: PG-13 for language including crude comments, brief violence and some thematic material

Running Time: 1 hr. 35 min.

Distributor: CBS Films

Directed By: Daniel Barnz

Cast
Alex Pettyfer (Kyle Kingson)
Vanessa Hudgens (Lindy Taylor)
Mary-Kate Olsen (Kendra)
Neil Patrick Harris (Will)
Peter Krause (Rob Kingson)
Lisa Gay Hamilton (Zola)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Red Riding Hood (Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman) in Theatres on March 11, 2011

Red Riding Hood

Hazel's
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: Throughout the movie, I kept on guessing who the wolf could be, but in the end, realized all my guesses were wrong... totally someone you wouldn't expect! This movie is an interesting take on one of our beloved fairy tales (though I found the plot cliche especially the ending). The director, Catherine Hardwicke, also directed Twilight. I asked my boyfriend Joey which one he liked better, Red Riding Hood or Twilight. His answer is "Red Riding Hood" and with that reply, I also agree =)

Audience
Rating: 3.3/5
Like the Movie: 55% (n=28,914)

Critics
Rating: 1.8/5
Like the Movie: 11% (n=137)


Reviews:

"Catherine Hardwicke is Anne Rice with a camera." - Rex Reed, New York Observer

"Red Riding Hood is pretty decent, considering it's, you know, Red Riding Hood." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"If you're a Twilight fan, you may feel as though you've already seen this. And if you're not, well, why would you be interested in something like this at all?" - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"If, by chance, you've missed "Twilight" and its sequels, don't worry. Shiny, moody, moon-faced and dumb, "Red Riding Hood" pretty much replicates the experience entirely." - Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

"Red Riding Hood does trot out the classic what-big-eyes-you-have routine. It's a pretty amusing moment, and it makes you wish the rest of the film had that same sort of knowing sense of humor." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press

"Amanda Seyfried is magnetic in Red Riding Hood's starring role, but she's let down by her uninspired leading men and a painfully cliched script." - rottentomatoes.com

"Poor Amanda Seyfried. One of today's most lively and expressive young actresses, she finds herself stuck between two lifeless pieces of wood." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Red Riding Hood" is entertainment for the village idiot." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"But, my, what sharp teeth Ms. Hardwicke doesn't have." - Manohla Dargis, New York Times


Movie Info

Genre: Horror, Romance

Synopsis: Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast - one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect... and bait.-- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: PG-13 for violence and creature terror, and some sensuality

Running Time: 2 hr.

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Cast
Amanda Seyfried (Valerie)
Billy Burke (Cesaire)
Shiloh Fernandez (Peter)
Gary Oldman (Solomon)
Max Irons (Henry)
Virginia Madsen (Suzette)
Julie Christie (Grandmother)


Source: rottentomatoes.com

Burlesque (Cher, Christina Aguilera) in Theatres on February 2, 2011

Burlesque

Hazel's
Rating: 3/5
Review: Awesome vocals by Christina Aguilera and nice routines but the story is cliche and predictable. Kristen Bell portrayed a weak rival in the movie. The songs are just okay, nothing spectacular.

Audience
Average Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 71% (n=46,411)

Critics
Average Rating: 2.4/5
Like the Movie: 37% (n=140)


Reviews

"It's more hallucination than story, but hey, If you think of it as a slightly deranged long music video divathon it can be a lot of fun." - Nell Minow, Chicago Sun Times

"Burlesque is a preposterous and intermittently entertaining lesson in how to make a movie musical with a little brains and a lot of talent." - Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Campy and clichéd, Burlesque wastes its talented cast (including a better-than-expected Christina Aguilera) on a movie that wavers uncertainly between "bad" and "so bad it's good." - rottentomatoes.com

"The rest of Burlesque plays like an extended version of the "Lady Marmalade" video, with a few contrivances to provide vague conflict." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press

"Instead of leading with what Aguilera does best -- belting, vamping, spotlight hogging -- the movie shoehorns her into a rehashed backstage musical conceit." - Karina Longworth, Village Voice

"Burlesque manages what seemed impossible: It is filled with half-naked dancing girls, yet it's still boring." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday


Movie Info

Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts

Synopsis: Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club's proprietor and headliner. Burlesque's outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal...

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Distributor: Sony Pictures/Screen Gems

Directed By: Steve Antin

Cast
Cher (Tess)
Christina Aguilera (Ali)
Cam Gigandet (Jack)
Stanley Tucci (Sean)
Kristen Bell (Nikki)
Alan Cumming (Alexis)
Eric Dane (Marcus)
Peter Gallagher (Vince)
Julianne Hough (Georgia)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

"Love and Other Drugs" (Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal) in Theatres on January 26, 2011

Love and Other Drugs

Audience
Average Rating: 3.4/5
Like the Movie: 59% (n=39,268)

Critics
Average Rating: 2.9/5
Like the Movie: 49% (n=147)


Reviews

"They gaze intently at each other a lot. Is that all it takes? Maybe. A useful date movie, then." - David Sexton, This is London

"Eight months after health-care reform was signed into law, Universal Pictures courageously weighs in with a watered-down satire of the pharmaceutical industry." - J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

"It's certainly its own brand of cinematic viagra - guaranteed to arouse and, in the short run at least, perk up tired romcom audiences." - Matt Risley, Sky Movies

"By no means perfect, but Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are a match made in heaven." - Allan Woodward, Little White Lies

"At least we now know why Anne Hathaway's co-presenting this year's Oscars. She's not gonna make it to that stage any other way." - Robbie Collin, News of the World

"It's a pleasure to see Hollywood produce a romance this refreshingly adult, but Love and Other Drugs struggles to find a balance between its disparate plot elements." - rottentomatoes.com

"I ended up wondering how a screenplay this messy had ever gone into production, let alone attracted two actors of this quality." - Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail (UK)

"It's as if veteran director Edward Zwick signed on to tell one story and got railroaded into telling four different ones instead. The resulting film is a saccharine-fuelled, cliché-ridden mess." - Alistair Harkness, Scotsman

"Avoid this sickly-sweet, dishonest nonsense." - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian (UK)

"It isn't quite Love Story, but comes close." - Karen Krizanovich, Radio Times


Movie Info

Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Synopsis
A salesman competes in the cutthroat world of pharmaceuticals to hawk a male performance enhancement drug. Based on Jamie Reidy's memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman."

Rated: R for strong sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material

Running Time: 1 hr. 53 min.

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Directed By: Edward Zwick

Cast
Anne Hathaway (Maggie Murdock)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Jamie Randall)
Oliver Platt (Bruce Winston)
Hank Azaria (Dr. Stan Knight)