Super 8

Steven Spielberg likes to make us JUMP! If you've seen even the trailer for this movie, that notion has been reconfirmed for you.

The mystery unfolds in the summer of 1979, in a small town where there is a group of young teens who are in the process of making their own movie. These kids are so immersed in their desire to make a good movie, they break the rules and sneak out at night to film a critical scene at a local abandoned train station where they witness one of the most rare occurrences in railway history...and they catch it all on film.

Although one of the main characters has a bad habit of swearing like a sailor, it really fits the part, and let's face it, teenagers curse. But, there is really only ONE F-bomb in the whole movie...they were not aiming to be offensive, just to be true characters. Joel Courtney did a great job as the main character, full of heart and compassion. He is adorable! And Elle Fanning is really making a name for herself...she did a great job!

I watched this movie on the IMAX screen with LOUD volume and I think it made the movie even better. I'm not sure if I would like Super 8 as a rental....unless I had a theater room ;)

My advice: GO SEE THIS MOVIE AT IMAX!

~Cinema Sampler

Larry Crowne

Oh how I have missed my favorite, Tom Hanks! He is Writer, Director, and Star of this movie! It's the cutest "RomCom" I've seen in MONTHS! Katherine Heigl and Jennifer Lopez, should take notes from the real master of heartfelt Romantic Comedies!!

This movie will empower a lot of people who may have felt helpless about their situations when they lose a job, or a house, or a marriage (or all three). There is always a way to make things better! It takes sacrifice and hard work, but there is always a way :)

Julia Roberts is actually quite funny in her role here. She's a bit cynical at first...but, maybe some of us are too and we can relate!

So, get your tickets and GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

~Cinema Sampler

Horrible Bosses

How many times have you sat in your cubicle creating your little sticky-note voodoo doll of your boss, stabbing the eyes out with paperclips or cutting the legs off with scissors, or inserting the head in your electric pencil sharpener? Anyone? No?...so, I'm alone in this frustration?!

At least someone knows how I feel! These guys have very different situations but they all feel the same...they HATE their bosses! The characters in this film were so clever and believable. Kevin Spacey may have "Nicolas Caged" (overacted his role) a little but he had to be the Psycho...and that's just what psychos do! The most impressive part was Jennifer Aniston! OMG! I have never seen her like that! Of course she is gorgeous but I have never seen her play such a VIXEN! She owned it! Colin Ferrell has never been so REPULSIVE! I could not even believe it was him! The only better suited person I could think of for that role is Charlie Sheen...but I think he was busy with Twitter and TMZ!

It's fun and funny which will help you overlook the few minor lame parts. My suggestion; GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

~Cinema Sampler

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

We took our kids to see this movie rather than suffer through another three hours at Amazing Jake's. It was SOOOOO worth the trade! This kid is a funny character. He demonstrates the plague of the middle child well. Between his abusive older brother and his tattling younger brother, he can barely catch a break...but then something happens to turn the tables...

My only complaint is that the 'mom' was LAME! We aren't all like that, y'know...

Wimpy Kid was clever and FUNNY! I wasn't the only one who was entertained...the three 14-year-olds with us were laughing pretty good...especially at the "poop scene"...Ha ha ha!

My advice: grab some kids and go see this movie!

~Cinema Sampler

Limitless

Limitless....the possibilities... I think they pretty much nailed it with this movie. Bradley Cooper is just some poor schmuck one day, and a few unpredictable turns later, he is on top of the world...or at least on the top floor of the apartment building he lives in, about to plummet off the balcony to make an impression of the concrete below! It's been a while since I have seen a movie that develops the right amount of substance in the plot that it actually takes you along for the ride...where plot twists actually twist! Limitless had a slow patch or two, but that was quickly forgotten. I think I may have underestimated Bradley Coopers ability to fill out his character so completely. The bum was as believable as the political candidate...(yes, that many plot twists create a winding road). Robert DeNiro's character really tied the whole thing together. He is so powerful, so intimidating, so in control...but is he really in control? I guess you'll have to find out for yourself. My advice: Go see it in the theatre...you'll be glad you did! ~Cinema Sampler

Due Date

This is such a late review...oops. But, hey, if you haven't seen it and you're considering picking it up as a rental then I am still able to assist you with your decision. I have recently become more of a Robert Downey Jr. fan. It seems as though he has finally left all of his wild days behind and has chosen to be the actor he was meant to be. Not to mention he has REALLY HOT hair...yes, I said his hair is HOT! Anyway, I really love his character in this movie; Peter Highman. He is a well-out-together kind of guy who is obviously very devoted to his wife and soon-to-be-born child. Peter is responsible- working a job that requires him to travel, obviously very adverse to breaking any laws, and completely against the use of drugs!

The dude that Peter gets 'stuck' with, Ethan Tremblay/Chase, is quite the opposite! He has some VERY nasty habits, doesn't have gainful employment and is using leaves from a certain plant "medicinally"...although I'm not sure we saw the carrier's card...

Through the movie these guys stumble into some very awkward and crazy scenarios. With their opposing personalities, the humor is in seeing how each one responds.

Anyway, the plot is decent, the character development is good, the humor is mostly good ( watch out for the rest-stop scene), and the ending was fitting. Not a two-thumbs-up kind of movie...but still not bad.

My advice, rent the movie when the kids won't be present!

~Cinema Sampler

Love and Other Drugs

It's been a while since I skipped into a theater expecting a decent love story and stumbled upon cheap "Hollywood Porn" instead. (I probably should have known, based on the movie poster...but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover...)What a disappointment! I can't believe Anne Hathaway sold out and bore her breasts for the big screen. She was so bright and talented...I thought only losers like Tara Reid had to stoop to those levels. Sad, sad day it is...

As for Jake Gyllenhaal, it was clear why he played this role. He had to redeem himself from the character he played in Brokeback Mountain! How else are you going to shake the ever looming shadow of gayness than play a role where your co-stars are your penis and Anne!?!? So cheap!

The plot would have held strong without all the constant sexual activity. The story had the makings of a cute love story. All the "cuteness" dissipates with the scattered flesh scenes...if you forget for an instant what Jake's rear looks like, no worries, it will show up again within five minutes!

If the rumors are true about Jake dating Taylor Swift then I hope this movie doesn't cast a shadow on her as well...she seems too innocent and sweet to be with this perv! LOL

My opinion- don't waste your money...unless of course you're a perv too!

~Cinema Sampler