Title	Excerpt	Author	Date	Total Comments	Recent Comment
Planet 51	My dad had an old saying for someone who was out of place: “They’re like a brown shoe at a black tie convention,” he’d say. The new animated movie Planet 51 is for those brown shoes who feel a little out of place. From the writer of the Shrek films,…	wessingleton	11/20/09	0
The Blind Side	The new film The Blind Side opens with that now-famous 1985 scene of New York Giants lineman Lawrence Taylor shattering Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann’s leg and his NFL career. Much like that scene itself you’ve seen everything in the the winning The Blind Side before: player rising above challenging…	wessingleton	11/13/09	0
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire	Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire is a harrowing film experience, with heavy, downbeat subject matter that’s not easily accessible to the movie-going masses. Difficult to watch, it’s an intelligent, powerful low-budget film that’s rightfully been garnering acclaim on the festival circuit during the last year and likely…	wessingleton	11/13/09	0
A Christmas Carol	There have been countless versions of Charles Dickens classic story A Christmas Carol, everyone from Mickey Mouse to the Muppets to George C. Scott have been featured in both musical and non-musical forms of the novel, but none has been seen like the new Robert Zemeckis 3D motion capture version.…	wessingleton	11/06/09	0
Astro Boy	Astro Boy is decent entertainment for the young set and a good diversion while parents go see Paranormal Activity. Actually, adults may enjoy the colorful, energetic Astro Boy as well and may remember it in its original U.S. or Japanese TV version back in the ‘60s. A solid big-screen remake…	wessingleton	10/23/09	0
Paranormal Activity	There’s been lots of buzz and hype surrounding the new film Paranormal Activity, a low-budget horror “mockumentary” made for $15,000 by a novice, unknown filmmaker that’s still awaiting wide release. Something similar happened 10 years ago with the horror film The Blair Witch Project, or as I call it, The…	wessingleton	10/09/09	0
Whip It	Whip It is an entertaining coming-of-age-story on skates, taking place in the rough-and-tumble world of women’s roller derby.  The uneven but likable, easily accessible film, marking the feature film debut of Drew Barrymore, doesn’t always work perfect, but there’s enough energy, enjoyable moments and a great cast to make it…	wessingleton	10/02/09	1	10/14/09
Capitalism: A Love Story	You never know what you’re getting into with a Michael Moore film. The director of such documentaries as Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine knows how to stir up trouble in a New York minute, and his new documentary Capitalism: A Love Story takes square aim at the evils of…	wessingleton	10/02/09	1	10/09/09
Surrogates	Ever wish you had an extra body to get some of your stuff done throughout the day? The new sci-fi thriller Surrogates starring Bruce Willis shows what happens when that wish comes true. A provocative premise and exciting visuals nearly make up for the stale, predictable story with tremendous leaps…	wessingleton	09/25/09	0
9 (movie)	The new science-fiction animated movie 9 has a perfectly dated released on 09/09/09 but with imperfect timing, as some may confuse it with the recently released live action sci-fi District 9 or the upcoming musical also called Nine. Dark, uneven and very intense for an animated film, 9 is helmed…	wessingleton	09/11/09	0
Whiteout	The new action thriller Whiteout is set in the frosty climate of the South Pole, but it’s lacking in any genuine chills, thrills or surprises. Other than the beautiful Kate Beckinsale and lots of pretty (but windy) snow, this stale, predictable offers anything revealing in the way of murder mysteries…	wessingleton	09/11/09	0
World’s Greatest Dad	I admire Robin Williams as an actor and a comedian, though recently he’s been hit or miss. His new dark comedy World’s Greatest Dad looks promising considering his director is also another skilled comedian, Bobcat Goldthwait, the funnyman with the distinctively loud, trembling voice and of the Police Academy movies…	wessingleton	08/28/09	0
Avatar Preview	I was fortunate enough to be a part of the select crowd that recently had a chance to view about 15 minutes of selected scenes from James Cameron’s new 3D action sci-fi thriller Avatar, which opens in December and is his first movie since Titanic 12 years ago. Cameron hasn’t…	wessingleton	08/21/09	0
Shorts	Robert Rodriguez’s colorful, enjoyable new children’s fantasy film Shorts affirms his versatility as a filmmaker. The Texas-bred director and writer has done everything from action adventure (Desperado, Sin City) to horror (The Faculty, Planet Terror) to children’s films (Spy Kids), most of which is filmed right here in the Lone…	wessingleton	08/20/09	0
Post Grad	If you just graduated from college and job hunting in this recessionary job market, then the predictable, unimaginative new comedy Post Grad may not be for you. This agreeable, paint-by-numbers movie has a “been there done that” feeling to it, which isn’t surprising given that it stars Alexis Bledel from…	wessingleton	08/20/09	0
The Time Traveler’s Wife	Being married is difficult enough without one in the couple being a time traveler (though some may in fact wish they had that ability). That issue and more are explored in the new romantic drama The Time Traveler’s Wife, based on Audrey Niffenegger’s best-selling 2003 novel. In spite of two…	wessingleton	08/14/09	0
Paper Heart	Paper Heart is a quirky, sweet and delightful romantic comedy that’ll have you believing in love and also falling in love with an engaging new actress in Charlene Yi, who delivers a breakthrough comedic performance essentially playing a version of herself. Her goofy, honest charm is the film’s highlight, even…	wessingleton	08/07/09	0
The Cove	If you’re an animal lover, then the affecting yet shocking new documentary film The Cove is a must-see, but know that it is also deeply disturbing. It details the horrific slaughter of innocent dolphins in Taijii, Japan and a film crew’s attempts to expose the cruel animal abuse and so…	wessingleton	08/07/09	0
Julie & Julia	About halfway during the new film Julie & Julia something hilarious happens. Two of the characters watch Dan Ackroyd on TV do his Saturday Night Live wickedly funny, blood splattering take on Julia Child (catch it on You Tube if you haven’t seen it). As funny as Ackroyd is, he’s…	wessingleton	08/07/09	0
Funny People	Admittedly, I’m not an Adam Sandler fan. He started out well, but his immature, high-strung humor has become irritatingly repetitive over the years, as he essentially plays the same character in every one of his films.  Knowing his brand of humor, I wasn’t exactly excited about seeing him play a…	wessingleton	07/31/09	0
The Ugly Truth	There’s no denying that Katherine Heigl of the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy and Gerard Butler, the rugged star of 300, are attractive and charming. Too bad the same can’t be said of their profane new romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. To be brutally honest, The Ugly Truth is tasteless,…	wessingleton	07/24/09	0
(500) Days of Summer	I have two announcements that I’d like to formally make right here to start my review: I have a big crush on the darling actress named Zooey Deschanel, who steals your heart, not to mention Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s, in the new offbeat but tenderly bittersweet romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer,…	wessingleton	07/17/09	0
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince	Dark but impressively stimulating, the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince carries with it the ardency of killing off a major, beloved character. Harry Potter and his pals at Hogwarts, along with movie audiences, may never be the same again. It also sets…	wessingleton	07/15/09	0
Bruno	Some believe that celebrity deaths come in three’s. This summer, there will have been three-high profile comedies to have died a quick death at the box-office:  First there was Will Ferrell’s Land of the Lost. Then a few weeks later Jack Black went down with Year One. The casualty to…	wessingleton	07/10/09	0
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs	If you saw Ice Age or Ice Age 2 then you’ve also seen Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the latest entry in the 20th Century Fox CG-animated movie series about an unusual prehistoric group of animals surviving the wild. Ice Age 3 is still suitable, goofy fun strung…	wessingleton	06/30/09	0
Year One	This summer has been a mixed bag for comedies. The modestly budgeted The Hangover has stormed the box-office recently to become a sleeper hit, but the lame $100 million Will Ferrell vehicle Land of the Lost crashed and burned in the same time period. The prehistoric buddy comedy Year One…	wessingleton	06/18/09	0
The Proposal	Just when I was about to divorce myself from romantic comedies, along comes The Proposal, a lively, amiable view of relationships. It’s certainly nothing new and it’s predictable as the unpredictable Texas weather, but The Proposal is held together by two engaging actors in Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds and…	wessingleton	06/18/09	1	06/12/09
The Taking of Pelham 123	The Taking of Pelham 123 is not your ordinary heist film. First, it’s a remake of the classic 1974 film starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. Second, it’s helmed by consummate visual filmmaker Tony Scott. And of course - the most important thing - it has two gifted A-list actors…	wessingleton	06/12/09	1	06/05/09
Land of the Lost	If you’re a child of the ‘70s and ‘80s, you probably remember the cheeky and cheesy Sid and Marty Kroft syndicated TV series Land of the Lost, which featured a family thrown back in time in a dinosaur-filled land. It was altogether pleasant, harmless Saturday-morning entertainment geared for the younger…	wessingleton	06/05/09	0
My Life In Ruins	About this time back in 2002, the independent comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding was really taking off and would eventually gross $370 million worldwide on a measly $5 million budget, making it one of the most profitable films of all time. It also made a big star out of…	wessingleton	06/05/09	0
Drag Me to Hell	Welcome back, Sam Raimi to horror films, and what an enjoyable thrill ride you provide with your latest offering, Drag Me to Hell. This marks the first genuine horror film for the Spider-Man director in 17 years, since Army of Darkness, and his best one since his hallmark Evil Dead…	wessingleton	05/28/09	0
Up	We critics are a fickle group. We call one movie the “best of the year” in January until another one comes out that’s better. But I can honestly call the brilliant and charming new Pixar animated adventure Up, one of the year’s best that will certainly make my Top 10…	wessingleton	05/28/09	0
Away We Go	Away We Go is a small film with a big heart. Quirky, sweet and sensitive, Away We Go is a fresh alternative to the big summer film of the moment and a perfect date getaway for a warm evening. It may be too leisurely, unconventional and even low-key for the…	wessingleton	05/28/09	0
Terminator: Salvation	I’ll speak directly to the faithful Terminator movie (and now TV series) fans first. You’ll love Terminator Salvation, a faithful entry and reboot to this aging sci-fi franchise with 25 years under it’s belt since the very first James Cameron Terminator film way back in 1984. For the rest of…	wessingleton	05/22/09	3	05/28/09
Angels and Demons	To quote none other than Gomer Pyle: Surprise, surprise, surprise. That could well sum up the description of Ron Howard’s exciting new thriller Angels and Demons, the sequel to the 2006 mega hit The DaVinci Code, which brought people in with its controversial story then bored them to death in…	wessingleton	05/15/09	0
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past	When a romantic comedy like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is released the same weekend as a blockbuster film like Wolverine, the studio must have great faith in the movie, or think it’s a dog of a movie. On the surface, it seems to be the latter, but studio execs might’ve…	wessingleton	05/01/09	1	07/15/09
X-Men Origins: Wolverine	The new fantasy adventure film X-Men Origins: Wolverine literally kicks off the summer movie season in high style, with loads of intense fun and action geared toward the comic book set. Even if you don’t fall into that group, there’s still plenty of things to enjoy Wolverine, though the story…	wessingleton	05/01/09	0
Fighting	The best thing about the crowd-pleasing new movie Fighting is well, the fighting, though its story lacks punch. Starring hunk-of-the-moment Channing Tatum in a scrappy Rocky-rip off , the script is clichéd, sloppy and unrevealing, but Fighting is entertaining enough to please those looking for some bloody, bare-fisted (and for…	wessingleton	04/24/09	0
State of Play	The new thriller State of Play comes at a time when public trust in U.S. politicians is at an all-time low and print journalism is facing an upheaval from online news choices. With that in mind, State of Play, based on a BBC series from a few years back, wants…	wessingleton	04/17/09	0
Adventureland	Adventureland is your ticket to predictable, laid-back fun. Much like a theme-park ride, the low-budget rom com has many ups and downs - it meanders too much and lacks a compelling narrative, but it’s superbly acted by the young leads, Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) and Twilight’s Kristen…	wessingleton	04/03/09	0
Question and Answer with St. Nick director David Lowery	1. The two main characters don’t have names, they’re known as The Boy and The Girl, yet they’re both fully-realized characters. Why did you keep the children nameless and do you feel this gives these characters an even greater sense of identity? Names are a funny thing for me -…	wessingleton	03/28/09	3	09/22/09
Race to Witch Mountain	Race to Witch Mountain is the latest remake landing at the box-office, and should find itself in fierce competition with some superheroes watching over theaters. Witch Mountain is an adequately entertaining but silly, bland mix of sci-fi, family film and action-adventure and a star vehicle for Dewayne “The Rock” Johnson…	wessingleton	03/13/09	1	04/06/09
The Last House on the Left	The Last House on the Left is a horror -revenge flick remake that almost works well, if not for some contrived flaws in its central premise. Last House starts out disturbingly well, and then falls prey to some unoriginal, violent horror film clichés in its last act. A remake of…	wessingleton	03/13/09	0
Watchmen	The new movie Watchmen, based on the popular graphic novel by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, does the comic book justice and then some. It’s a dark, postmodern take on the anti-superhero that boasts some wildly stunning, entertaining visuals and varying political views. On the downside, Watchmen is uneven, excessively…	wessingleton	03/06/09	0
Confessions of a Shopaholic	Here’s a confession of a non-shopaholic: I have to say that I may not be the best person to review the new movie Confessions of Shopaholic. I’m a guy and a non-shopper, though I do occasionally enjoy a good bargain on a new pair of shoes. I have more pairs…	wessingleton	02/12/09	1	02/13/09
The International	Boy, what bad timing. The new political spy thriller The International, about an evil bank with more than money on its mind, couldn’t have been released at a worse time, as the U.S. and other world markets are coming off one of its worst financial periods ever. The International is…	wessingleton	02/12/09	0
Friday the 13th	Welcome back to the woods, Jason. We hardly knew thee. Yeah, right. Friday the 13th is the latest horror film franchise to get a reboot, and while it’s good to see Jason and his big knife again, it’s an otherwise paint-by-numbers simplistic horror film franchise that’s typical with this genre:…	wessingleton	02/12/09	0
Push	I have to admit, while I love all sorts of movies, I suck at really getting into sci-fi films. I’m not a Trekkie, a Star Wars fanatic and I know little, if anything about Firefly. I watch them for the pure entertainment value and little else - call me a…	wessingleton	02/06/09	0
He’s Just Not That Into You	Guys, chick flick alert. He’s Just Not That Into You, or its alternate title - How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Chick Flicks - hits theaters in time for V-Day. It’s an occasionally fun but hit-or-miss, overlong rom com about the up and downs of relationships, dating and…	wessingleton	02/06/09	1	02/06/09
The Uninvited	Some movies are made to entertain rather than provoke thoughts, and the new horror film The Uninvited is one of those movies. The Uninvited is a notch above piece-of-junk mediocrity (which in the horror genre says a lot) but it has enough creepy and twisty moments to provide some enjoyably…	wessingleton	01/29/09	0