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.

A Goofy Movie

Disney, creators of lovable characters with early-onset potty mouths, managed to make a cute, funny movie about a boy and his dad. This movie displays the age-appropriate parental rebellion in the form of Goofy's teenage son, Max. Goofy struggles to stay a part of his son's life but it always (surprise) comes off the wrong way. In true Disney form, Max's mother (assumed Goofy's wife) is no where to be seen or mentioned. I think we are to assume she died. I know, but it's Disney.
Max, on the other hand, is interested in girls (Roxanne, to be exact) and struggles to free himself from what he feels is the Goofy curse of coming across, well, goofy. He is fun, has friends, wants to party and has nightmares that he's going to turn into his dad one day.
As part of a father-son bonding trip, Max and Goofy go cross-country to the Goofy traditional fishing place. Max has other plans. He'd rather go to his favorite singer's concert in L.A. But along the way, they find out they do have a lot in common and start to learn more about each other. Mind you, most of this is met at the same time as disaster, but that pretty much follows Goofy around anyway.
The best parts of this movie are when they visit Lester's Possum place and when they run into Bigfoot. I laugh every time, although I've seen this probably 20 times. Also be on the lookout for "Bobby," a teenage friend of Max who is voiced by Pauly Shore: "Leaning Tower of Cheese-a."
The only things that I'm not crazy about are that a parent is unexplainably missing and there are several times something sounds like a curse but is actually something that just sounds like it. So kids WILL pick up on this and you will hear it all the time. Just trust me. Remember in "Spy Kids" when the girl says, "Holy Shitake Mushroom!" Yep. Kinda like that.
Here's a link to a clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1840513305/

Eagle Eye

Where to begin... The first 15 minutes were a series of "Wow!" Then I figured the movie out. I say this not to make myself sound superior, it's just that the plot wasn't that good. I think it would be better for folks who don't watch much sci-fi because those of us who do saw right through this one. One part particularly gave it away. A military person assigned to the "project" was named "Bowman." PLEASE, for the love of Stanley Kubrick, don't go all "Dave, I cannot do that" on us.
The acting was really good. I'm not sure how much Billy Bob Thornton got paid, but he earned it. He had the best lines: (something like) "I'll make sure you're next assignment is touching shit...with your hands." He was great in this movie. Watch it to see him.
As a quick note, you'll see a lot of people in this movie you've seen in other stuff. Watch closely. Rosario Dawson was super and I was crossing my fingers she wouldn't die in the end (you'll have to watch it). Michael Chiklis from "The Shield" played a small but pivotal role.
As for Michelle Monaghan and Shia LaBeouf, they gave convincing performances - I would watch them in other movies because they seem to have the "craft" down well. The movie's downfall wasn't in the actor's performances; it was in the plot, so if you l-o-v-e Shia, rent this. His was actually more of a dual performance as he has a twin brother, so you get two Shia for the price of one! He really did an excellent job as the grieving, neglected, lesser brother.
The score was good, the action scenes were fantastic and I especially liked the cinematography. There were quick shoot-to shots that aided the weak plot. The sleek design of the machine "Aria" was also very futuristic and somewhat convincing.
I don't think I can conclude the review without pointing out that this movie was original, but borrowed HEAVILY from other movies. The Aria shots were very much like "Event Horizon" or "Sphere," and possibly "Alien." One may even argue the "Star Wars" light saber duel had a similar backdrop to Aria. The 1984-ish Big Brother was obvious from the beginning.
Even with these other similarities, the movie is more of an homage to Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey." It is an example of what happens when the government puts more trust in the machines than the people. Crazy crap happens.
The ending is predictable but sweet. I suggest that fans of action movies and possibly sci-fi should watch this movie. It's not the best, but it has some great moments. While there is no sexuality, there are some strong phrases uttered, so I'd let teens watch it but not preteens or smaller kids. It would make a good date night movie or for a 15 year old girl's slumber party.

Persepolis

This is not a childrens' animated movie. Let's get that straight. It's for teens up.
Personally, I loved this movie because it is told from the female author/narrator's point of view as she grew up during various political regimes in Iran, particularly the Islamic Revolution. She is honest and often funny. I think all teenagers need to watch this movie.
"Your mom won't let you go to the mall today? Aw, maybe the government will change overnight and you'll have to wear a burka everywhere and go to religious schools, huh."
It is animated but in all black and white. The first and last scenes have additional color. While watching it you completely forget you are watching something that resembles a comic book. This is a don't miss history lesson that is enjoyable and funny to watch.
Additionally, it was nominated for best animated movie by the Academy but lost to "Ratatioulle." They should not have been in the same category from my perspective, but that's another story. The animation category is the most controversial. Don't believe me? Look up SpongeBob vs. Disney. Sadly, Disney always wins.

Death Note

This 120-minute film is subtitled in English and filmed in Japanese. To fans of this TV series (I am!), this movie could be a disappointment. I watched it with my two teenage boys and my oldest boy's girlfriend, who was unfamiliar with the series. The boys and I were upset from time to time because the movie did not follow the series in all areas. I had to keep reminding them that it was like any other book we'd read or TV series where they can't fit 30 hours of TV or 400 pages of a book into a 2-hour movie. Cuts had to be made and situations tightened, leaving out subplots. Overall, I have to say this was a really good movie. Don't let the title throw you off.

The story centers around a college guy, Light Yagami (played by Tatsuya Fujiwara), who studies law and investigates a crime. Thoroughly disappointed in what he learns, he stumbles on a notebook with mystical powers. He is later joined by what we would call a ghost , the shinigami Ryuuk. Invisible to everyone else, Ryuuk becomes Light's sole confidante as he begins a rein of what he calls justice. He does this by writing down the names of criminals in the Death Note, thereby killing them in a matter of seconds. Light's misguided attempt at world peace drives him to seek more power and eventually he becomes consumed with his arrogance and need for secrecy. There is a sequel to this movie so the ending will not be as satisfying as a stand alone. Of particular interest to many Americans is the role of Light's dad, who is also the police chief, played by Takeshi Kaga of "Iron Chef" fame. The role of Light's nemesis, "L" is excellent played by Kenichi Matsuyama.
There is very little blood. All the violence is in watching actors feign heart attacks. There are some bad words, but mild compared to most teen films. I recommend this movie because of the uniqueness of the plot, the great acting and an experience into foreign film that most teens are lacking. If you aren't aware, most films are either re-makes of foreign films or (sometimes AND) backed heavily by foreign money. So very few U.S. films are truly U.S. creations. Go rent this original.

Traitor

Don Cheadle, steals my heart as his movie roles keep getting better. His acting is so good and so believable that his movie roles are getting better. I loved him in the "Oceans" movies and adored him in "Hotel Rwanda," but this is a close second. The audience is not aware if Cheadle is a good guy or not as he races across continents, religions and international situations. Guy Pearce ("Memento") and Neal McDonough ("Star Trek:First Contact") play U.S. agents searching down Cheadle's character. Jeff Daniels plays the government official working the covert operation. Said Taghmaoui plays the radical Cheadle befriends and together work as a team against the U.S. This is one of those movies in which the audience is shocked (in a good way) at the ending. I highly recommend you rent this one.

Tropic Thunder

This was recommended by my professor. What was he smoking? Do I want to know? This was a silly, stupid movie with a few exceptions. The opening pretend credits were LOL funny, one with Tobey McGuire ("Spiderman") posing as a gay monk opposite Robert Downey Jr. Jack Black's role was stupid and forgettable. The star, Ben Stiller, had the everyman role and played it better than expected. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't all that. There are definitely funny parts (one at the end on the bridge) and takes at the mercy of the way movies are made. This is a movie for those who are not offended by racial slurs, gay situations, drug use, potty humor or child villains (who tote guns and smoke). Side note: Tom Cruise has a small part that is pretty good and you get to see him dance like an idiot as the ending credits roll.

UPDATE: My professor read this and feels I have done this review an injustice. I will admit that after reading his email, this movie was better than my bashing. Hey, it even got some award noms (not for the movie, but for the comedic actors) Looking at the movie from a film maker's perspective, it is slightly more funny than I gave it credit. Sorry.

The Dark Knight

I know people will hate me but I didn't like this movie. The only redeeming quality was Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. Christian Bale's Batman was mild, Maggie Gyllenhaal as the love interest was not convincing, and again - Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are the better actors who have been shoved off in the overseer roles. Aaron Eckhart's role as Harvey Dent/Two-Face was okay but the special effects for his alternate personality were out of this world. My only real beef with this movie is that as a comic book reader, I was disappointed the audience saw a very young Commissioner Gordon's daughter. I am taking this to mean that future movies will not follow in the comic book line. I was glad to see Scarecrow and some other buddies show up and hope to see more of them in sequels. If you want to see Ledger, watch this. Otherwise, it's a skipper.

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.

Kung Fu Panda

Alright, I admit that I watched this at the pediatrician's office in the waiting room. Not ideal, I know. The animation was great and the voices of Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman made the film. I particularly liked how the animators caught the facial expressions of the actors and imprinted them on the animated characters. Of course it was cute and feel-good and watchable. Most kids would enjoy this movie and the soundtrack.

Iron Man

I had decided I wasn't going to fall in love with this movie because of all the hype. I found that I really did like it because of its unpredictability. Just when I thought THIS was going to happen, THAT happened. Good going, writers! As a teen of the 80s, I loved watching Robert Downey, Jr. in this role, which seemed suited for him. Terrence Howard played Downey's best friend and a military officer (how convenient...) and I understand Paramount/Marvel has not asked him to reprise his role for the sequel - Shame on you! As for the sort of love interest, Gweyneth Paltrow's role was milquetoast - a yawner. The scene stealer was the almost unrecognizable Jeff Bridges as the villain. Please rent this movie. It's really a good story (but not PC) and you'll need to see it to watch the sequel...

Nim's Island

I love Jodie Foster. I love Jodie Foster. There, I've said it. To me, she is the great actress of my age. This was a cotton-candy role for her: very light, sweet and venerable. She paired with Abigail Breslin in a role of little girl lost and Gerard Butler as the hunky reclusive dad who gets lost at sea. Foster always lived her character's role out in her fictional writings but through Breslin's emails, feels compelled to swallow her fears and face her toughest challenges. The movie centers around Breslin yet has such good secondary storylines that the movie feels richer than just a kid-flick. This is watchable with elementary age kids and up. It has a feel-good, although somewhat predictable ending.

21

Based on a true-tale of a college student with mad math skills, Jim Sturgess (who also had a role in "The Other Boleyn Girl") stars in this teen to 20s movie. He needs a love interest, which Kate Bosworth fills gracefully. Kevin Spacey is the teacher who recruits Sturgess and welds him into team member of card sharks, memorizing lines and numbers. Are they unstoppable? Of course not - Laurence Fishburne is on the case as an agent seeking revenge on Spacey. The best parts of this movie are the beginning and end with the college dean interviews. Priceless ending. I liked the movie and would recommend for a good date night.

Be Kind Rewind

I loved this movie. I can't believe the critics dissed it. I'm not a fan of Jack Black but this performance changed my mind about him. He was goofy, yes, but so determined to do right because of his friendship with Mos Def. Danny Glover plays a VCR store manager with Mos Def as his shopkeeper. Somewhere along the lines, there is an interesting relationship between Glover and Mia Farrow, which the audience is never fully privy. After Black is irradiated, he walks through the VCR store and erases all the tapes on accident, just by his presence. Not wanting to upset Def's boss, Black and Def decide to act out the erased movies and rent them as the real thing. In a LOL moment, the customers pay extra for Black and Def's portrayal of their old favorites, such as "Driving Miss Daisy" or "Robocop." In a historical sense, the movie shows audiences how something like the end of the VCR and the era of the DVD can alter people's lives. It's really a good comic film.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Based on the best-selling novels (I read them), this movie doesn't disappoint as it stayed true to the basic concept of the books. I was very happy with Freddie Highmore's dual performance as the twin brothers and Mary-Louise Parker's role as the mom. The special effects were good without scaring smaller kids. The generation gap was closed between the children and the elderly matriarch, played by Joan Plowright. Filled with goblins, fairies and mysterious other creatures, this was a delightful movie for elementary ages up.

Jumper

A great teen movie. I hear teens all the time talk about what super power they'd like to have if they could be granted one. Well Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker of "Star Wars") has a power and is conflicted with using it for good or evil. As if in a "Spiderman" comic, the childhood flame, Rachel Bilson of "OC" fame comes back in the picture and serves as his conscious. "Twilight" fans should look for Kristen Stewart in the last few minutes of the movie. It is supposed to be a sequel movie. If so, I'll be anxious to see the next chapter of "Jumper."

Juno

Despite all the buzz about promoting teenage pregnancy, this was a pretty good movie. It was as honest a movie could be about unwanted pregnancy. The funniest parts involved packing orange Tic Tacs in a mailbox, the parents' reaction, the conversation at the clinic ("It has fingernails?") and the strange attachment Michael Cera's character has on Ellen Page's cherry printed underwear. The most touching moments were the locker scene (I wanted to beat Michael Cera), the track scene and most importantly, the hospital scene in which Cera comes to Page's bed and just holds her. It's a great movie to watch with an older teen and use teaching moments as you go along. I was also impressed with Jason Bateman's performance as a confused wannabe dad. Jennifer Garner stole every scene she was in because of her genuine acting skills. Kudos to Fox Searchlight for making it.