Twilight

This was an awesome movie! I didn't read the books (yet) but was able to follow along nicely. I had certain expectations and had heard rumors - but folks, it's about vampires so it wasn't really that hard to keep up. Unless you've been under a rock, you know what they look like, eat, act like, etc. No shockers there.
As for the overall feel, I really enjoyed the acting. Both lead characters did an excellent job. I have to say that my favorite acting was the secondary players though. Billy Burke as the dad was great - just like you'd expect in this role. Sarah Chalke as the mom was genius. The whole time I kept wondering where I knew her from and then BAM - she was the evil Nina on "24." (As a side note, several of the actors were in "24"... coincidence???)
There were issues with some of the directing that I need to point out. In the scene in which Edward shows Bella what he really looks like, his shirt is undone (thankyougod). But in the next shot, his shirt is buttoned up - not enough time to do this. There were several timing errors like this one that I caught - and I'm not a professional movie critic. This is the director's fault and it doesn't sound like it will be repeated as the gossip fodder is growing that Catherine Hardwicke may not be at the helm for the next series in this saga.
There is no sex, only a brief make-out scene. You don't actually get to see someone sucking the blood out of an unwilling human. There are a few scenes that border on that, but none that should make your teen have nightmares. In fact, it might make your teens hot for the male lead, steamy Robert Pattinson or the tomboy Kristen Stewart. I have to say that I've really liked Stewart's acting since "Panic Room." She's great in everything - I just wish she'd smile more.
As for the appropriateness, I would let 13 year olds and up view this. There are scenes that parents may feel are too grown-up for their smaller kids.
I would definitely say this movie is one to watch - and watch out for the sequels. I hope they don't disappoint.

The X Files: I Want to Believe

How about The X-Files, I Want to Throw Up? As a huge fan of the series and anything the two stars have ever been in, I was sorely disappointed. Yes, I knew it would suck, but I held out for some hope. It was poorly written (shame on you Chris Charter, Spotnitz, Morgan, Wong, or whoever else was involved - you know who you are) and not well acted. But who could with that script? David Duchovny acted much more laid back and Anderson was mild compared to her earlier role on the series. Pileggi showed up for 2 minutes and got top billing - WTF? Amanda Peet did a great job along with her partner Xzibit. Billy Connolly played the ex-priest with a fetish for young boys yet has some divine connection to God by way of visions. The twist is in the villains, of course, and that part is interesting. As a repeat villain (Battlestar Galactica) Callum Keith Rennie used this movie to help perfect his craft and thereby isn't in a starring role. Watch for him with a Russian accent. The rest of it is somewhat predictable and boring. Unless you are a hard-core fan, run from this bomb.

Wanted

Skip this movie. Go online and look at sexy pictures of James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie. You'll thank me later. This is an unbelievable movie about a secret society of assassins and the quest for one young man (McAvoy) to find out about his lineage. The special effects were the only redeeming quality in this movie. Folks, I had this one figured out with the exception of the mass murder scene at the end. This was not that creative of a movie and I'm disappointed that these stars did the gig for money instead of their craft. Especially Morgan Freeman, who played the behind-the-scenes boss that he's played in a number of movies. Morgan: Please stop being the old wise sage and start doing the action again. You've got it in you.

The Happening

Again, the critics hated this but I kind-of liked it. It is a bit preachy about ecology and the state of the planet, but a good lesson. That being said, do not watch this movie if you don't mind gore. This movie is filled (I mean it) with suicide of various bloody means. I love me some Marky Mark, excuse me, Mark Wahlberg, and he did a great job acting with the part he'd accepted. It would have been a better movie if there had been less blood and horror and more relationship and disaster. The adorable Zooey Deschanel played Wahlberg's whiny conflicted wife to a T. The best part of the movie was the suspense, which was unfortunately brief. After they have a sense of what is causing the mayhem, the audience is subjected to countless suicides. Why? I'm not sure, maybe for water cooler reasons. M. Night Shyamalan can and has done better. For you teens of the 80s, watch for Betty Buckley (Eight Is Enough) in a mentally disturbed role. This movie's not all that and a bag of chips but it is something for someone who is comfortable with semi-slasher movies.

I Am Legend

Honestly, I was severely disappointed when I found out about the alternate ending. I think the movie had a number of twists and turns and the ending was not as satisfying as the one I read about later (alternate ending). Will Smith was best when he was loosing it, as in the scenes with the mannequins. I wanted the mannequin to say "hello" too because I felt so badly for Smith's dwindling touch with reality. The effects were good and the few other actors in the movie contributed to Smith's star performance. I'm glad I watched it and remember parts of it long after viewing. In a sense, the reality of finding a cure to cancer that could later destroy hit home. I will not forget this movie, despite the forgettable title.