Movie Reviews By Movie Reviews Pro

Drag Me to Hell - Alison Lohman

Rating:

Movie: Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Studio : Ghost House Pictures; Universal

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 99min

Website : dragmetohell.net

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8nkai

Review:
Drag Me to Hell marks Sam Raimi’s reinsertion to the horror genre, a director infamous for his cult series The Evil Dead. His latest endeavor follows Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a loan officer from Los Angeles determined for a promotion to assistant manager. In an attempt to impress her boss, Christine forces herself to deny an old woman’s loan extension. The woman, named Mrs. Ganush (Loran Raver), gets on her knees and begs Christine to grant her an extension, but she does not falter. At the end of the day, Christine is assaulted by Mrs. Ganush, and after a brief tussle, she places a curse on her. Christine is to be tormented by demons for three days, in a sort of “Hell on Earth scenario”, before ultimately being dragged to Hell to burn for eternity. Knowing this, she must find a way to destroy the haunting demon before time expires.

Overall, the film is spot-on. Raimi provides a script full of suspense, sheer terror, and even some morbid humor. One would think that after 22 years of directorial projects outside of the genre, it would be tough to dive back in. However this is not the case, as Drag Me to Hell knows how to push all the right buttons to create optimal enjoyment for the audience. Unfortunately there are some pitfalls in the movie, albeit rather minor. The computer-generated effects are quite underwhelming at times, and even if the plot is enticing, it feels rather thin. Despite these complaints, Drag Me to Hell is an entertaining watch with loads of hair-raising moments guaranteed to keep you situated at the edge of your seat.

-Daniel S.

Horror, In Theaters, Thriller Drag Me to Hell

Up - Edward Asner

Rating:

Movie: Up (2009)

Studio : Pixar Animation; Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 96min

Website : disney.go.com/disneypictures/up

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lbph

Review:

Up follows the adventure of Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner) and Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai), as they set out on a trip around the globe in Carl’s house, which is floating thanks to thousands of helium balloons. Carl imagines this scheme after being relentlessly annoyed by construction workers for him to move, as his old house has become a bit of an eye-sore among the jungle of skyscrapers and futuristic buildings. Following a brief altercation with one of these construction workers, Carl is ordered by a judge to move into an assisted living community. Intent on keeping his home, Carl sets his plan in motion; however, he does not know that Russell, who is working for his “Assisting the Elderly” badge as part of his Boy Scout program, was on his porch when he lifted off. Together, the two embark on a wild journey to visit exotic locations as well as inadvertently forge a rather unlikely friendship.

Over the years, Pixar has been known as a powerhouse for producing comical, clean movies that are entertaining for children and adults alike, and Up is no exception. The incredible animation, aesthetically pleasing vibrancy and beautiful film score alone are worthy of positive reviews, but the compelling storyline and relatable characters make up the bulk of my praise. Up is not only a tale of adventure, but it is also a heartfelt story of undying love; this is evident in Carl’s unyielding desire to visit Paradise Falls, an exotic destination in South America that he vows to visit, as per his deceased wife’s request. This extremely realistic enterprise, coupled with flawless execution, results in a movie that is instantly relatable for viewers of all ages. Young or old, average movie-goer or film fanatic, you are absolutely guaranteed to enjoy Up.

-Daniel S.

Comedy, Family, In Theaters Comedy, disney, edward asner, Family, Up

Rating:

Movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Studio : 21 Laps Entertainment; 20th Century Fox

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 105min

Website : nightatthemuseummovie.com

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8626c

Review:

Battle of the Smithsonian is the sequel to the incredibly lucrative Night at the Museum, released in 2006. This movie picks up a few years after the first finished, and now Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is the creator of his own infomercial inventions company, home to items such as a glow in the dark flashlight. After discovering that his old museum is being absorbed by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, Larry abandons his hectic schedule to answer a distress call from Jedediah Smith (Owen Wilson), which is one of the exhibits that have come to life. Jed and his crew are in possession of the Tablet of Akmenrah, an artifact integral to Kah Mun Rah’s (Hank Azaria) evil plot to take over the world. This relic becomes the center of battle, as both sides attempt to secure it.

Ben Stiller’s satisfactory performance is greatly overshadowed by Hank Azaria’s adept portrayal of a flamboyant Egyptian monarch hell-bent on global dominance; Amy Adams’ role of the adventurous, precocious Amelia Earhart is also superb. Several other actors have noteworthy performances as well, including Owen Wilson, Bill Hader as General Custer, and Christopher Guest as Ivan the Terrible.

Despite its remarkable special effects, a predictable storyline and ordinary comedy amass to a movie that seems to please only children, not the entire family. But for its genre, Battle of the Smithsonian most certainly delivers with a pure PG rating and sparkling clean humor that is perfectly fit for younger audiences. These factors, plus the inherent celebration of museums and history, make for a movie that is certainly worthy of a parent’s approval.

Night at the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian opened in theaters nationwide on May 22, grossing nearly $54 million on its first weekend. It is now playing in theaters across the country.

-Daniel S.

Comedy, Family, In Theaters Ben Stiller, Comedy, Family, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum 2, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Angels & Demons - Tom Hanks

Rating:

Movie: Angels & Demons (2009)

Studio : Imagine Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 138min

Website : angelsanddemons.com

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x799zs

Review:

The action starts in the Vatican after the sudden death of the Pope; simultaneously, the Hadron Collider in Switzerland successfully generates anti-matter. Shortly after this remarkable scientific achievement, one of the vials of antimatter is stolen by a mysterious stranger. After four Cardinals are kidnapped, a mysterious ransom video and note show up brandishing the word Illuminati, an ancient group infamous for opposing the Catholic Church in the 1600’s. Harvard symbologist professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and his team of investigators urgently seek meaning behind the Illuminati’s cryptic clues, in order to save not only the lives of the kidnapped Cardinals, but everybody in Rome as well.

Bits of history are sporadically spoon-fed to the audience about the Church/Illuminati strife, as well as each party involved; this method allows for viewers who have not read the Dan Brown novels to closely follow along. The movie is quite suspenseful, as each discovery the team makes only leads to yet another shrouded clue in the web of Illuminati references. This, however, gets a bit tiresome as it serves for the basic architecture for the entire two hours: the result being a lot of talk and sparse action.

The recurring theme acts as a metaphor for hot-button topics of today, issues that mostly boil down to religious vs. scientific beliefs. Within the movie are characters of vacillating mentalities, such as staunch Catholic priests in addition to more progressive-minded ministers. These sorts of characters essentially bridge the gap between religion and science, in an attempt to prove how each side has its utility.

Even if you do not follow the series of novels religiously (pun intended), Angels & Demons is guaranteed to deliver as thorough entertainment with remarkable suspense. It opened worldwide on May 15 with $152 million in earnings, and is now playing in theaters.

-Daniel S.

Drama, In Theaters, Thriller Angels & Demons, Angels and Demons, Drama, Thriller, Tom Hanks