Movie Reviews by Jenn Untch

Actor Profile: Matt Damon

Born in 1970, Matt Damon has been a guy with a goal. Along with his good friend Ben Affleck, the goal was to do exactly what he's doing now. Acting. But, Damon's story is one that might just be one of the more inspiring to come out of Hollywood. He wound up going from obscure actor to overnight sensation with one single movie. Did I mention the movie won him an Academy Award? The movie was 'Good Will Hunting' and it began as a writing project while Damon was attending Harvard University. There was also another reason for it though. Both Damon and Affleck wanted to make a movie they could really embrace. Not being able to find one, they did it themselves. Their hard work, and sharp eye into life for young men in their age group was recognized by the Academy and both of them finally got their chances. To say their careers have taken different paths would be putting it mildly however. Affleck has been plagued by his relationship with actress/singer Jennifer Lopez. Damon, however, has really had no major scandal to speak of. You see him on TV at baseball games, and at premieres for either his films or those of friends...but not a lot else. Add to that an impressive list of movies, and you wind up with a guy who isn't really sitting back on his laurels.

This year, Matt Damon has shown up twice with two movies I've strongly recommended. 'The Bourne Supremacy' and 'Ocean's 12' are films that allow him to really be a star. He's tried more obscure films, but he seems almost stuck. Put him in a role where he can absolutely jump in with both feet, and he seems happy. There are thespians in Hollywood of course. Matt Damon just isn't one of them. Honestly, I'm pretty glad of that myself. There's not a thing wrong with a guy with a killer grin, and killer talent being given all the fun scripts. Isn't that what Hollywood legends are made from?

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Some information taken from Internet Movie Database
Photo Credit to Cosmo Men

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Ocean's 12

-Directed by: Stephen Soderbergh

Starring:
George Clooney - Danny Ocean
Julia Roberts - Tess Ocean
Brad Pitt - Rusty Ryan
Matt Damon - Linus Caldwell

You know them. They're the people, from the place who did the thing? This all star cast is back. Yes, all of them. Thanks to a sharp script, and a saavy director, the entire crew from the infamous Las Vegas heist has returned for more. Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) is on the trail of Ocean's 11, and he's been in a bad mood since they relieved him of about 160 million dollars. Yes, the insurance company has replaced it but that's not the point. The point is that he was robbed, and he hates to lose. Ok, so...that's about all I can explain about the plot without giving much away. Now then, on to the fun stuff.

I was a big fan of the first movie which was a remake of a classic made back in the 1960s. The original Ocean's 11 really isn't a movie I'd recommend because it was made for one reason. One of the stars (Frank Sinatra) wanted an excuse to stay in Vegas and there came the movie. I found the original flat and unappealing. Luckily for this generation, we have someone like Soderbergh who wants to make movie going fun. He creates an environment where you really do want to cheer for the thieves. Why? Well, take George Clooney's smart portrayal of Danny Ocean. He's slick, but you want him to do well. Clooney is at home as Ocean, and his natural on-screen charm makes it clear he is a man born to make movies.

The entire film took the cast all over Europe and from every bit of press I've seen it's been a movie made by close friends. These people are not novices. Collectively, they've all made likely well over 100 movies. They could act like friends with a lampshade. But the natural exhuberance they have for each other makes this movie sparkle. My only complaint is that you sometimes wonder if you were missing the joke. Maybe we are. Technically, a really good thief makes you wonder what happened long after they've disappeared into the sunset.

Oh, and by the way? Twelve really is the new eleven.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

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Van Helsing

Hugh Jackman: Gabriel Van Helsing
Kate Beckinsale: Anna

Ladies and gentleman, I give you the perfect movie night flick. It has action. It has interesting characters. It also has the coolest guy in a fedora since Indiana Jones. With characters based in literary beginnings, Van Helsing is excellent for one main reason. It doesn't take itself too seriously. Because of that, it allows a viewer to have a fantastic trip through a monster rich landscape made more vivid thanks to CGI.

The story begins in black and white in the lab of Dr. Viktor Frankenstein. As the story goes, he is the creator of the monster made of the pieces of seven men. But the movie allows more to it. Interjected into the scene is Dracula, played with moustache twirling perfection by Richard Roxburgh. Something is clearly up in this mountainous lab, but it's not quite clear what. However, this dark introduction neatly sets up a whirlwind adventure which resumes a year later. It is then that we meet Gabriel Van Helsing. He is a man called to hunt evil, but his past is a mystery. He simply is compelled to fight that which might plague mankind.

The movie doesn't waste much time on the deep questions though. We're plunged headlong into a story that calls up werewolves, vampires and some of the finest special effects of recent memory. This is a movie rich in visuals. A foggy forest, the snarl of a werewolf. Details are given care in this film, and you honestly might find yourself wondering if that bump outside the window might be more serious than just a stray cat.

Jackman and Beckinsale turn in fine performances. This isn't an acting heavy movie, but it does require a certain amount of charm to be brought to the roles and it's done with easy grace. Both are natural action stars, and their personality will have you cheering them along.

The language in the movie is brief, and fairly mild. There's also a non-explicit scene of a sexual encounter along with a bit of drinking. The reason for the PG-13 rating is simple. Nonstop action. However, the action is done in a way that you're never overwhelmed with gore. You're simply aware of the ferocity of these monsters and it's left at that. I'd recommend this movie for anyone looking for a popcorn munching adventure with enough heart to really make it worth the time.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

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The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement

-Directed by: Gary Marshall

Mia: Anne Hathaway
Clarisse: Julie Andrews

After the stellar success of the original Princess Diaries, you could see the sequel coming a mile off. It's just what happens with movies anymore. With Gary Marshall at the helm though, there's something different. There's an outstanding chance the sequel will actually be good. Marshall is a master at comedy, Disney knows it, and audiences have come to expect it. And that, essentially, is one of the main problems with this well meaning sequel. You expect the jokes, and that's kind of sad.

We rejoin Mia as she's graduating from college, with the incredibly fitting major of international relations, and we're caught up on the goings on of some of the last movie's key players as the young princess returns to her home of Genovia for her 21st birthday. It's there that she reunites with her grandmother Clarisse and her chief of security Joe (Julie Andrews and Hector Elizondo respectively). Right off the bat, you're brought back into the warmth the first movie did so well, and a good deal of the credit for that can go to Andrews. She is a graceful presence on-screen and adds a bit of class to the movie as she's able to crack some jokes of her own. Elizondo is a perfect foil for her, being the straight man in just the right way to make you really see how much he cares not only about his job, but the women he protects.

But now the plot thickens as the parliment of Genovia enforces a long ignored law about how an unmarried woman cannot take the throne. Thanks to the manipulations of Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies), there's also an alternative if Mia cannot find a suitable husband. His nephew Nicholas is ready and able. (Did I mention he's pretty cute?) Newcomer Chris Pine made more than a few hearts flutter in the screening I attended. Luckily though, there's more to it. He's fantastic as he goes from being a King-hopeful to someone who realizes that what he's doing is just wrong. You see the transition and take it with him until you're hoping he really does become the one to win not the crown...but the girl wearing it.

Now for the sad part. The movie tries awfully hard to be funny. When a movie does that it often fails, and does so miserably. It's to the credit of Marshall and his cast that it doesn't fail. Anne Hathaway is a gifted actress who has proven she can carry physical comedy. She is what saves some obvious jokes from just being lame. When she's on screen there is a sweetness that comes with her that's hard not to like, and harder still to dismiss. Add to that the incomparable Andrews and newcomer Chris Pine, you have a movie that is what makes summer movie watching fun. It's light hearted, good spirited, and perfect for princesses of all ages. (Even grown up ones.)

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

CLICK HERE for Production Photos from Yahoo! Movies

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I, Robot

-Based on the book by Issac Asimov
-Directed by: Alex Proyas

Del Spooner: Will Smith
Susan Calvin: Bridget Moynahan
Sonny: Alan Tudyk

It's probably no secret to regular readers of my reviews and articles on various actors and films that I am a movie junkie. However, what you might not know about me is that I read like a fiend. That being said, when I found out that this classic work of Science Fiction literature was on its way to the big screen I thought that I was getting presents without it being Christmas or my birthday. Like the Lord of the Rings books, works by Asimov are resonant things. However, I incorrectly assumed that the sweeping vision put down in words could never be translated well to film. Alex Proyas has done it, with a little help from Will Smith.

In a movie that will add to Smith's long history of summer blockbusters I, Robot can be summed up in exactly one word: Breathtaking. Set in 2035 America, you meet Detective Del Spooner who is a throwback to a simpler time. Ironically, that year is 2004. The first scene of the movie shows how much simpler Spooner chooses to live with his remote control CD player and Converse shoes. He's a stranger in this new world, and it's clear that no one knows it more than Spooner himself. It's also in this first scene that I have a problem with the filming. There is a fairly pointless bit of nudity which just made me scratch my head and wonder what exactly the director was thinking. It sticks out and it is, in the first few moments of this complex film, something that I feel could have been reshot. But Smith brings the story back to its proper place and you're soon immersed in this brave new world.

Robots are a daily part of average life in this futuristic Chicago. They walk dogs, care for children, and walk the streets shoulder to shoulder with their human masters. The special effects in creating these helpers is fantastic. They seem tangible and believable in their mingling with humanity which is a fact that seems far more ominous as the movie progresses. Alan Tudyk leads the robot cast as the sensitive Sonny in a performance that matches that of Andy Serkis as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's impressive what a talented actor and a special effects department the size of Rhode Island can do.

My only substantial complaint with this movie is in its language. There's a lot of it that's questionable. And it, like the nudity issue, just made me want to scratch my head. When a movie earns a rating for language, there's an assumption there will be something heard that's a bit adult. I, Robot pushes the boundary of it in a couple of scenes. So if you're wanting to take some younger viewers please keep it in mind. Despite that though, it is an excellent movie. Will Smith is an entertaining man to watch, and when you give him material like that of Asimov's book, the possibilities are endless.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

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CLICK HERE for The Official Movie Website

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The Bourne Supremacy

-Based on the novel by Robert Ludlum
-Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Jason Bourne: Matt Damon
Marie: Franka Potente
Nicci: Julia Stiles
Pamela Landry: Joan Allen

Matt Damon has been accused of not being able to pull off an action movie. If that's true, then I'm hard pressed to wonder exactly WHAT movie that might be. It was most certainly not the 2002 blockbuster "The Bourne Identity", and it is not this movie. Based on the work of author Robert Ludlum, Matt Damon returns as the amnesiac spy Jason Bourne in a movie that picks up two years after the first one ended. Hiding out in India with his girlfriend Marie, the movie opens with fragments of broken memories from his past and rockets you into a non-stop action ride that was just made for summer movie viewing.

Damon has said on many occasions that he had been reluctant to do a sequel to such a well made and well liked movie. The reason? He didn't want it to be a disappointment. He's said that he remembers one too many sequels that let the audience down, so he wanted no part of something that might be exactly that. It's apparent that he liked what he saw in this movie, and that Damon likes himself in that character. He embraces the physical nature of this role with a passion, and adds to it his stunning presence as an actor. Jason Bourne is likeable despite his deadliness, and as an audience member you want things to work out for him.

Director Paul Greengrass has changed the overall look of the movie with a different type of camera use. When Jason is in a thrilling car chase, you feel like you're sitting in the back seat with him. I'll admit it was a little bit dizzying but I found that I liked it. You could understand Bourne's anger and desperation and his sheer will to survive. Also, I felt that Greengrass handled the issue of violence in the film with admirable taste. This is an action movie. Make no doubt about it. But there is no occasion where you're subjected to senseless gore. You see blood, you know characters are hurt or dying, but you only see a flailing arm or the reaction of another character. The focus in on the action and not the end result.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

CLICK HERE for Production Photos from Yahoo! Movies

CLICK HERE for The Official Movie Website

CleanFilms.com is awesome! They've edited all the movies so we can watch them without the bad stuff. Now I'm ready for a movie night.

> GET A FREE MOVIE RENTAL! <

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Actor Profile: Will Smith

Sure, he might have started out his career as The Fresh Prince. But through a lot of hard work, and some amazingly sharp insight into the best scripts for him, Will Smith has climbed the Hollywood ladder until he secured himself as one of the most bankable talents around. A native of Philadelphia, Will was born on September 25, 1968. As the son of middle class parents and the second of four children, he earned himself the nickname "Prince" for his amazing gift for digging himself out of trouble.The name stuck when he formed the popular duo "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince". His first real fame was as a rapper which garnered him two platinum albums and a Grammy award.

After a run on the popular sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", Smith found himself with possibilities galore. Starting in 1992, he's taken on some ambitious roles with "Where the Day Takes You" and "Six Degrees of Seperation." But he is best known for his ability to helm a summer blockbuster. Starting out with "Bad Boys" with Martin Lawrence, he became a household name with a little film called "Independence Day". That was the movie that proved Will Smith was here to stay. Also? It showed that extraterrestrial life forms did his career a world of good. After all? Who can honestly say they don't know what "Men in Black" are?

This summer, Smith is back in the movie based on the works of Issac Asimov called "I, Robot". Early buzz is putting it as one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year. And its easy to see why. Will Smith is many things, but when it comes to the movies he's the guy you want to pack a theater to cheer for.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

CLICK HERE for Will Smith Movie Photos from Yahoo! Movies

CleanFilms.com is awesome! They've edited all the movies so we can watch them without the bad stuff. Now I'm ready for a movie night.

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