Movie review: Shrek the Third

Director: Chris Miller and Raman HuiWriter: Jeffrey Price, Peter Seaman and Jon Zack [based on the book Shrek by William Steig]Composer: Harry Gregson-WilliamsFeaturing the voices of: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Julie Andrews, John Cleese and Rupert Everett
Old King Harold of Far, Far Away is dying, and as husband to Princess Fiona, Shrek stands to become the new king. There's one problem: The green ogre doesn't want the crown. The solution: Find Artie, who, as Fiona's cousin, is the only other possible heir to the throne. As Shrek, Donkey and Puss In Boots head off on the whirlwind adventure to find Artie, all is not what it seems. Prince Charming, who is still grieving the lose of his mother, plots a bitter revenge by assaulting the city of Far, Far Away with an army of fairytale villains. In the meantime, Shrek finds the fabled Artie, but he's anything but kingly material. Calling for desperate measures, Shrek kidnaps Artie, so he can come back to Far, Far Away and claim his namesake, but the question remains: Will there be anything left to come back to?
Best scene: The baby shower thrown by the other fairytale princesses. Think "Desperate Housewives" meets "Weeds." It's fantastic! This is a hint at the greatness that this film teetered on, but never fell into.
Favorite Performance: Amy Sedaris as Cinderella is scene-stealing in her small role. Each line was delivered with perfect comic timing - a wonderful, mature take on a dizzy princess.
Overall: With too many "morals" and not enough substance, sadly the film, while very entertaining, is nothing more than a money-making sequel. Even the jokes lack originality, which is a shame coming from a franchise famous for original takes on well-used themes.

Atonement

Written by Christopher Hampton (based on the novel by Ian McEwan)

Directed by Joe Wright

Starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, and Romola Garai

2007

Rated R
Atonement is the story of Briony Tallis (Ronan), a 13 year-old girl and aspiring writer growing up in a vast mansion in 1935 England with her mother and older sister Cecilia (Knightley). Briony has a crush on the servant's son, Robbie (McAvoy), who is in love with her sister. After witnessing and misinterpreting some interaction between Robbie and Cecelia, Briony mistakenly figures Robbie for a sexual deviant. Meanwhile, Cecelia and Robbie reveal their love to one another.
Briony's misinterpretation of Robbie's manner results in Robbie being accused and charged of a crime against Briony's cousin, Lola. Although Cecilia begs her younger sister to clear Robbie's name, Briony cannot.
The second half of the movie takes place five years later and focuses on Cecelia's and Briony's separate journeys through London and Robbie's trek through northern France.
Cecelia is a nurse in London, having cut off contact with her family in support of Robbie, who was allowed release from jail to fight in the British Royal Navy in World War II. 18 year-old Briony (Garai) turns down her place at Cambridge University to become a nurse as well, in atonement for what she did to Robbie years ago. After Robbie is wounded and separated from the rest of his battalion in battle, he wanders through France just trying to find a way back home to Cecelia.
Totally, this film is complex and tragic, visually stunning and heartbreaking. There's something for everyone: the first half is beautiful with breathtaking scenery and amazing costumes, and the second half is gritty and dark. I most definitely recommend this film.

300 Movie Review

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Gerard Butler Lena Headey Vincent Regan Dominic West
Genre: Action,adventure,
Distribution companies: Warner (Warner Bros.) Premiere date: March 9, 2007,
The MPAA rating: R

One Sentence: Casting required no lines, just for the males to take off their shirts.

The movie was good, however I think it wasn't great. I would even go as far as to say that it is not as good as Sin City, the movie it has splattered across the posters and commercials saying that it's from the creator of. Splattered is a good word, as the amount of blood sent splattering across the screen could turn the ocean red. Yet, the violence, seemed to be comic book in nature, and never seemed overdone, silly, or gratuitous. A beautifully put together set of images, that would make any special effects group and editor cry tears. The movie is as pretty as you think it is going to be. With the addition of stabbing with spears. Hot shirtless Spartans who all just came from a Bod Man spray commercial, fight with their golder shields and helms behind a golden sun, with crimson capes fluttering in the wind, is really wonderful to look at. Dark evil members of the Persian army help us know who is good and who is evil. But still looking awesome while enslaving all of Europa and Asia. Greek woman who are naturally beautiful and often naked keep the theme of everything in 420 BC was hot hot hot. It all melted together to really make something that I enjoyed visually.The story, stuck me a lot lighter than the visuals. A good story, which is actually a very interesting and powerful real story, of heroes who wanted to protect a nation, sort of fell flat. While it had all the elements that should have made the men, and their sacrafice mean something to us, it seemed to miss the mark. I am not sure what kept it from the grand Braveheartesque ending it so longed for, it just didn't nail it. I can't tell you why, it just was a little weak on that part. I would not say that this really breaks the movie however, it is still worthy of viewing, and even worthy of you dropping the 8 bucks per on it. So overall, I would say, yes to most of the hype, but the story could have done a little bit more.

Men's movie!