REVIEW: THE KING OF KONG - A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS

I don't believe we've ever reviewed a documentary on this site as one of our movie dates, but there's always a first time for everything.

Unfortunately, Wifey doesn't subscribe to that same philosophy so yours truly was flying solo once again when it came time to watch and review this one.

Let me just start by saying that I have a new personal favorite flick in my Top 10! This one was excellent!

It's called The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters and it's a story about a middle school science teacher named Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion Billy Mitchell.

I honestly don't remember how I learned about this incredible epic, but I do remember that it was the trailer that really got my attention. Watch it for yourself and let me know if it has the same pull on you.

Here's the trailer:

HUBBY'S REVIEW

Within the first 10 minutes of this one I hit the pause button. The reason? I needed to know if I was actually wacthing a real-life documentary or not because the first few minutes had the distinct feeling as if I were watching a mock-u-mentary akin to TV's The Office.

After a quick Google search, I soon realized that I was going to be treating myself to one of the most unique and mesmerizing stories I had ever seen - this was a real story, about real people, real places, and real events!

That's what makes this film so compelling. The video game subculture is definitely unique (no shocker there), but the story of these two men - and average middle-class school teacher and a charismatic, arrogant business owner - competing for the title of the Best Donkey Kong Player in the World was captivating.

The entire thing has a Rocky feel to it because Steve Wiebe is definitely the clear underdog who just wants to make his mark upon this world. Even his own moving backstory is told brilliantly to get the audience to sympathize with him and, ultimately, to root for him.

Yet, the most amazing part of this documentary is watching Billy Mitchell's fall from grace because he doesn't handle it with grace at all. In fact, he's comes across as a real jerk for many reasons.

The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. There's more drama in this small documentary than in most serious Oscar contenders. A marriage is on the line, integrity is tested, and friendships falter - all in the name of a video game called Donkey Kong.

Do yourself a favor and rent this one today. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

I'm giving it 4 Ben & Jerry's ice creams out of 5.

REVIEW: SEMI-PRO

Next up was the newest feature film starring Will Ferrell. This time it was Semi-Pro, a movie that was shot in Los Angeles near Dodger Stadium (in the gym of the Los Angeles City Fire Department Training Center), in Detroit and in Flint, MI.

This movie is Ferrell's homage to the wild, afro-picked splendor of the short-lived American Basketball Association that thrived in the seventies before the rise of the NBA. Though the Flint Tropics are a fictional team, the real ABA was every bit as wacky, unhinged, and, yes, entertaining as Semi-Pro itself.

Without giving too much away just yet, it's is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

As a sure sign that Armageddon is upon us (or is it that I'm just getting old at the ripe young age of only 29?) this was another Will Ferrell movie that I didn't care for.

What is going on in this world? I feel out of sorts because this is becoming a trend with me. Personally, I feel like things started going downhill after Old School.

Sure, there are some funny moments and a handful of witty one-liners, but I only laughed out loud 2-3 times through this entire film. I expect more from one of Hollywood's best and brightest comedic actors.

Without ruining it for people, one of those "laugh-out-loud" moments for me was when Ferrell's character got into a fight with the referee. Classic! Hilarious!

Stephen Silver from The Trend said it best when he wrote, "Aside from the 'fro and his sport of choice, Jackie Moon is really no different whatsoever from Ricky Bobby, or whatever Ferrell's character's name was in Blades of Glory."

I'll give this one only 2 Ben & Jerry's ice creams out of 5. Will - please make an Old-School caliber film again.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX RETIRES

Joaquin Phoenix, who turned 34 years old just yesterday, stunned E! Online reporter Jason Kennedy with the announcement that he would be retiring from acting.

The two-time Oscar nominee stated this on the red carpet at a Monday benefit for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, a charity founded by Paul Newman.

Phoenix said that "Two Lovers," his upcoming romantic drama with Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw, will be his final on-screen role.

Phoenix is apparently giving up acting to pursue music, a passion of his since he learned to play guitar to play the role of Johnny Cash in 2005's "Walk the Line."

According to Billboard, Phoenix is working on an album with Tim Burgess, frontman for the UK group The Charlatans. Burgess said, "Once he learnt guitar he found that he had quite a lot of demons inside himself that he wanted to expel through music."

Loved the guy in both Gladiator and Signs and it's too bad we won't get to see more of an actor whom I felt was just coming into his own with his best work still ahead of him.

I must say that I'm extremely shocked by this news. It's a bold and brave decision especially in Hollywood, but Our Movie Date wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Joaquin Phoenix Shocks With Retirement Announcement

REVIEW: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

Great! Yet, ANOTHER film based on a novel, and a historical fiction novel at that! I'll admit that this was our sentiment going in to this movie date.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical fiction novel written by British author Philippa Gregory, based on the life of 16th-century aristocrat Mary Boleyn. Reviews were mixed; some said it was a brilliantly claustrophobic look at the palace life in Tudor England, while others weren't convinced. Either way, it has enjoyed phenomenal success and popularity since its publication in 2002 and has spawned five sequels not to mention this feature film.

Ultimately, though it features some extravagant and entertaining moments, The Other Boleyn Girl feels more like a soap opera than historical drama.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

During my research, I learned that A ninety-minute television drama based on the novel was broadcast by the BBC in 2003. It had a relatively low production budget and was filmed using modern camera techniques, with much of the script improvised.

In contrast, on the Bonus Disc that comes with this movie (the 2008 feature film adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, and Eric Bana as Henry VIII) screenwriter Peter Morgan discusses the dilemma he faced in adapting Philippa Gregory's 600-plus-page novel for the screen. He ultimately decided to use it merely as a broad guideline for his script, which Gregory felt perfectly captured the essence of her book, although many plot elements were eliminated, diminished, or changed. Among the more notable deviations in the film, Mary's marriage to William Stafford, a major part of the book, is mentioned only in a note just before the closing credits, Anne and George decide against committing incest, and there are no overt references to George's homosexuality.

Personally, I came away from it all pleasantly surprised and actually wanting to learn more about this time period and these people who left their mark upon history. In that sense, it's EXACTLY the way Heather Huntington of ReelzChannel.com described it when she wrote, "A run-of-the-mill costume drama that made me think more about running home and Wikipedia-ing the characters than investing in the story before me." That's a little stronger than my feelings about the movie, but you get the point.

I also think it was the perfect cast for this type of story and for these types of characters. It was nice to see Natalie Portman in something other than Star Wars.

Thank the Lord that we no longer live in a time when women are traded and used like cattle; objects for man's lust. Wait, my mistake. Look at how short we've come in 500 years. Sad.

As period pieces and adaptations go, I will give this one a 3 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's ice creams.

REVIEW: AWAKE

Finally, I get to see a movie starring Hayden Christensen that doesn't involve Sith Lords, the Jedi, or the Force.

In all seriousness, I've seen him in other non-Star Wars related roles and he's actually a pretty good actor. Wifey was very eager to see him along with a recognizable cast in the film Awake while I was just sort of ho-hum about the whole thing.

Awake has an interesting premise and it's an unsettling thriller that highlights a deeply troubling medical problem. "Anesthetic awareness" is a rare but dangerously prevalent condition that affects nearly 30,000 individuals a year, in which patients who have been put under anesthesia before surgery remain paralyzed while still being aware of their present situation.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Finally! A movie that didn't stink or feel like a complete waste of time! Ironically, this was a movie that didn't really get me all fired up from the movie trailers.

Then again, it's outlandish, preposterous, contrived, and an implausible thriller which happens to be fun if you ignore the fact that it's outlandish, preposterous, contrived and implausible.

So, what's the deal then? Why did I like this and come away happy about the movie date? Perhaps is was merely due to the simple fact that it was an ORIGINAL CONCEPT and, yes, there were a volley of plot twists that'll have you slapping your head in disbelief, but I didn't see many of them coming and I didn't think they were too far-fetched.

I also thought the film had a nice pace to it. When we reached the end of the story I looked at Wifey and said, "Wow! That was surprisingly pretty entertaining and good! It wasn't too long either."

Awake feels like an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode unfolding in slow motion, with each new revelation only coming a reel or two after viewers have guessed it. Crazy, but fun!

I give it 2.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Typically, we'll shy away from any kind of movie that we hear/read is anti-American.

Wifey and I love this great nation of ours and are patriotic so when a film comes along that we feel unfairly characterizes our beloved country and casts it in a negative light for the world to see we simply won't waste our time with it.

In The Valley Of Elah was a film that came highly recommended even if we were a little hesistant given what little bit we already knew about it's storyline.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I was fascinated to learn of the Biblical connection to this movie. The valley gets it name from the Elah Tree, a type of oak or Terebinth Tree. This large and old Elah Tree still remains in the valley, reminding visitors of the day when trees proliferated in the Shephelah.

The best view of the valley is from the commanding hilltop of Azekah. This strategic city was wisely fortified by Rehoboam, and it was one of the last cities to fall to the Babylonians in the invasion of Judah in 586 B.C.

The valley below - the Valley of Elah - is the location of the epic battle between David and Goliath.

Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman wrote it best, "In the Valley of Elah, the first film Paul Haggis has written and directed since Crash, is exactly the sort of movie America needs right now — a lacerating, bone-deep inquiry into the war in Iraq, one that struggles to find meaning in the very chaos of that conflict. It's no secret that those of us who have never been in a war have probably ingested much of what we 'know' of the experience of combat from the movies. In the Valley of Elah isn't a combat film per se, but its dramatic power is rooted in the violent mystery of battle — in the awe and anxiety and, yes, the curiosity we feel when we imagine our soldiers in a place like Iraq and think, What is it that defines this war? This particular hell? The film is actually a Stateside murder mystery."

In that sense, it is an engrossing murder mystery, but also an in-your-face anti-war, anti-American statement. Political commentary aside, it also features a mesmerizing performance from Tommy Lee Jones.

I should also mention that I took issue with Jones' character describing to another character the story of David and Goliath. In essence, he goes on and on about how the Bible is all allegorical and a book of nothing but metaphors and good stories that could teach a lesson. There is absolutely no truth to them whatsoever especially not when it comes to the story about a young shepherd boy killing a fearsome giant.

Just looking at that within the context of the story (setting - both cultural, geographic, political), and in relationship to the type of character that was uttering such nonsense, it didn't seem plausible since most rugged men and women like Jones' character that I know in that part of the country (military families no less) all have a firm foundation and faith in Jesus Christ and His Word in the Holy Bible.

So, again, if realism is what they were after, they failed miserably there and I guess decided that it was an acceptable ommission in order to perpetuate the anti-war, anti-American theme of the movie. This is where things became transparent for me.

Regardless of which side of the political fence one sits on, In the Valley of Elah's power can't be denied and the strong acting must be appreciated.

Jones makes the father's pride, determination, stubbornness, patriotism, and love extremely, utterly believable, sympathetic, and involving. He produces a stiff ex-soldier whose clipped speech and manner hide a seething mass of apprehension and guilt. His low-key turn as a man forced to question everything from the kind of father he was to the nature of the country he fought for is moving.

Even so, I gave it 1.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5. It just didn't impact me like it did for others.

REVIEW: THE HEARTBREAK KID

Ah, Ben Stiller. There are probably only three comedic actors who I would go see at the theater no matter what kind of role they were starring in - Jim Carey, Will Ferrell, and the aforementioned Mr. Ben Stiller.

It's been awhile since one of our movie dates gave us the chance to laugh out loud and just relax. Up until we watched The Heartbreak Kid we were working on a steady diet of chick-flicks and manly-movies.

The Farrelly Brothers add their trademark bounty of bodily functions to this remake of Elaine May's 1972 comedy.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Aren't there any good movies being made anymore? What is this world coming to when a guy like Ben Stiller can't even deliver the laughs in a comedy?

Maybe it's just me, but this was another bust of a flick. The previews included everything that was hilarious about this one and that makes sitting through the rest of the film torturous.

Despite some amiable performances, The Heartbreak Kid is neither as daring nor as funny as the Farrelly Brothers' earlier films.

Most jokes land with a thud - particularly the gross-out gags, which nearly 10 years after Mary now just feel played out.

If The Heartbreak Kid doesn't go totally wrong, its big problem is that it doesn't really go anywhere. It just sort of lies there.

If you watch this film, don’t expect much and you may not be too disappointed. Now there’s a ringing endorsement for ya!

I give it 1 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: I AM LEGEND

Will Smith in another apocalyptic film? Sign me up! I can't remember the last time I was this excited about one of our movie dates.

Wait, on second thought, let me rephrase that...ANY time spent with Wifey is exciting and I look forward to each and every one of those moments.

I knew going in that I Am Legend was a remake (Will Smith joins the ranks of Vincent Price in 1964's The Last Man On Earth and Charlton Heston in 1971's Omega Man) as the star of an adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, and I also knew from the trailer that I was going to like this one. See it for yourself.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Major letdown. I'm so disappointed.

I thought for sure this was going to be a fun and entertaining ride, but instead it was nothing more than a lazy attempt to get my hard-earned dollars.

The biggest complaint I have? How the heck does a movie star like Will Smith sign off and agree to a role where he will be up against LAUGHABLE and COMPLETELY FAKE looking CGI Zombies? You'd think the star of Independence Day would know better.

I know what you're thinking, "Come on Hubby. You mean to tell me that the ENTIRE movie hinges on whether or not computer animation looks believable enough?" Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying. It becomes such a distraction and makes the whole thing feel awful - it's painful to sit through and watch.

The monsters are routine CGI creations, crudely animated and unconvincing. In a film of such visual majesty and surprisingly weighty drama, they present an unfortunate and needless distraction.

I'll admith that I Am Legend overcomes questionable special effects and succeeds largely on the strength of Will Smith's mesmerizing performance.

With I Am Legend, Will Smith has accomplished what Tom Hanks did back in 2000 - effectively star in a movie that involves very little interaction with other human counterparts.

Still, Director Francis Lawrence lowers his game by resorting to cheap scares, the absence of which is pretty much all that saved his only other feature, 2005’s Constantine, from being completely laughable.

I was VERY DISAPPOINTED and so I'm only giving this 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: WE OWN THE NIGHT

What could be better than a cop movie that offers a bunch of A-List actors and the age-old story of good brother versus bad brother set within a family of cops type of environment?

We Own The Night appeared to be that type of film; the kind you would compare any future family-cop-drama to. The question is whether or not it could live up to the hype and lofty expectations.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

What do Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Joaquin Phoenix, and Eva Mendes have in common? They're all great actors in just a so-so movie.

Chalk this one up as nother movie that disappointed me. I must say that Hollywood is getting great at delivering a drop-dead awesome movie trailer. Unfortunately, the main feature never quite seems to measure up to that standard. It's a roller coaster, mainly because a good scene is typically followed by a bad one.

To sum it up, this film has bland characters, clichéd dialogue and rickety plotting and that ensures that We Own The Night never lives up to its potential. It was terribly written and just such a waste of great actors.

It's also worth mentioning that on my notes I wrote, "JP: Should get the 'Best Mumbler' Oscar" so that just added to my frustration with this one.

Although We Own the Night is never as suspenseful as it wants to be and can be a little formulaic, it never comes close to being boring, and that's something you can't say too often about movies these days.

So, for that very reason alone I'll still give it a 2.25 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: RATATOUILLE

Another kid flick, Ratatouille was another movie that we originally picked out for the kids only to find that we wanted to sit down and invest the time to watch it ourselves from beginning to end.

Of course, this is the latest installment from the brilliant people from Pixar and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I really, really liked this one. Pixar succeeds again with Ratatouille, a stunningly animated film with fast pacing, memorable characters, and overall good humor.

The computer animation was fantastic, but more impressive was the original storyline complete with interesting characters. I would even go so far as to say Ratatouille is an instant classic.

The unlikely dreamer at the center of the film's story is Remy, a Parisian rat with a natural talent for gourmet cooking. His keen sense of smell makes him valuable at sniffing out rat poison but Remy, inspired by deceased five-star chef Auguste Gusteau's teaching that "anyone can cook," wants more out of life.

Circumstances lead him directly to Gusteau's former restaurant, where he becomes a friend and partner to gangly garbage boy Alfredo Linguini. With Remy's help, Alfredo defies the doubts of Gusteau's current owner, the greedy and jealous Skinner, to become a star chef. And, in the process, wins the romantic attention of his lovely colleague Colette.

Animation long ago lost its reputation as simply "kids' stuff," but any hold-outs should be instantly converted by Ratatouille's effortless all ages appeal.

I really hope they make a sequel! I give it 3.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: WE ARE MARSHALL

We rounded our the testosterone series of movie dates with a sports flick We Are Marshall and I was very eager to check this one out.

Being the sports fanatic that I am I'm always looking for the next best epic to add to my list of All-Time-Greatest-Sports-Movies-Ever and this one looked like it had some potential of stealing one of the Top 3 spots (currently held by Hoosiers, Field of Dreams, and Slap Shot) after seeing the trailer.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Most sports movies are based on real people, real teams, and real events. This one was no exception. What this "sports movie" had going for it that many of the others didn't was that it told the story of one of the worst collegiate sports tragedies to ever occur in ths country.

We get to see the real meaning of "community" when Marshall University - its faculty, coaches, students, and parents - fight to find common ground and a way back to a life worth living after a tragedy threatens to destroy all that is pure and good about life in general.

Despite the unique side to this drama, I have to mention that I think this is also the reason why this film fails to become a great one. Matthew McConaughey almost runs We Are Marshall to the end zone, but can't stop it from taking the easy, feel-good route in memorializing this historic event in American sports. Instead of We Are Marshall, the film could have easily been titled Inspirational Sports Drama.

A real-life tragedy such as this requires more depth and authenticity, though. In its rush to be inspiring, some things are never explained, and that keeps us at arm’s length emotionally.

Thus, I give this one 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: THE HITMAN

You know that we're not big fans of movies based on novels or comic books. Creating a film based on a video game is a whole different animal - one that should be extinct!

Still, there was something about the trailer we saw for The Hitman starring that guy from HBO's Deadwood that really grabbed us.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Garbage. Complete and total garbage. I guess we have ourselves to blame for thinking this movie adaptation of a popular video game would be any different from those before it. You know, like such masterpieces as Double Dragon, Mortal Kombat, and Super Mario Brothers.

This movie had the potential to shatter those preconceived notions, but instead it only continued the sad trend. When our story begins we are given several interesting teasers regarding the main character's background. For some strange reason, however, none of them are explored beyond merely mentioning them.

This is where the film completely fails and lost us. The action was great and the special effects were pretty cool, but so what? We can get that in almost any movie these days.

Again, the potential to tell a really neat Alias-meets-Bourne Identity story was lost on the creators.

For their laziness I give this 1 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: MICHAEL CLAYTON

I was happy that we were going to switch gears for the next few movie dates. The chick-flick was wearing on my senses and emotional well-being and it was time to return to my manly roots.

How do you do that? Simple. Just watch movies that have a lot of action and explosions and throw in some good guys and bad guys. Do that and I'm a happy camper.

First in this next wave of manly movies for date night was the film Michael Clayton starring George Clooney.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I really enjoyed this one. Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

It was works as a smart and sophisticated thriller. Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is what is known in the legal world as a "fixer," or in the character's own pejorative version, a "janitor" who cleans up legal messes for VIPs and corporations on behalf of a prestigious New York City law firm. The story is about what happens when he is perceived to be a "mess" that needs to be "cleaned up" quickly.

The best part comes in the form of the wonderfully satisfying climax in the hotel lobby. Just wait and see! I also enjoyed how Gilroy uses visual elements to fit the overall theme like the motif of Clooney going down on the escalator at the end.

As another critic wrote, "With his chiseled good looks, dashing charm, and proven acting chops, George Clooney is the closest thing Hollywood has at the moment to an old-fashioned glamorous movie star. He's today's Cary Grant." I agree as this was one of his best performances and he already has his Oscar. This is a movie one can enjoy as much or more for its acting as for its plot.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: BELLA

Sticking with the alternatives-to-abortion theme in recent films, next up on our list was the independent feature Bella, which saw critical acclaim.

I'm not quite sure how we learned about this one, but we remembered that we wanted to see it and it made sense to group it together with similar films like Juno and August Rush.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Truth be told, I was a little disappointed with this movie. Yes, I applaud Hollywood for making another anti-abortion film although this one I fear was hijacked by the Religious Right, which I classify myself as being a part of - to an extent - politically.

For instance, every news item I saw about this film prior to seeing it framed it as being an "abortion movie" when I felt as if that was a mischaracterization. In fact, that was just a sub-plot to the story. A better description would've been to call it "a story of redemption, forgiveness, and healing" instead.

The acting was superb though and you get to see several no-name actors and actresses give some rather moving performances.

All in all, I give this one 2 Ben & Jerry's because it did not live up to all the hype or my high expectations.

RECOMMENDED:
Eduardo Verastegui: The Man Behind Bella

REVIEW: AUGUST RUSH

What is it about chick flicks that will either make a man roll his eyes in pure disgust or have his eyes well up before he sobs like a little baby?

Our next movie date was August Rush and I have to admit that I was caught completely off guard by the little bit of water that mysteriously appeared in my eyes by the end of the movie. What was it? Where did it come from? Why was it there?

For the answers to these burning (embarrassing?) questions let's review the film.

Here's the trailer:



WIFEY'S REVIEW

I can't seem to find where I put Wifey's review so I'll just tell you that she really loved this one and gave it a 4.

HUBBY'S REVIEW

Ok, so any movie that boasts the star of Felicity and another from Lord of the Rings definitely has my attention from the beginning. Then, once you throw in a sweet little boy who reminded me of my own son a few years from now I was hooked!

Maybe it was something I ate that night or maybe it was something in the air, but whatever it was I was experiencing it in the form of strong emotions throughout this one.

I'll start by stating that I'm liking the trend in Hollywood (if 2 recent and popular movies classifies as a "trend") where every unwanted or unexpected pregnancy doesn't have to end in abortion. It may be a small victory, but it's a victory nonetheless.

In this film the Keri Russell character has a one-night stand, which is completely uncharacteristic of her. She gets pregnant and things happen. I don't want to give anything away here, but the final scene is pretty powerful!

The additional sub-plots of this movie have to do with greed and how other people (especially those you think are closest to you) can and will use you for their own benefit if they think they can. It's a sad, but realistic portrayal of life in the 21st century.

I gave this one 2.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5 making the OMD Rating a respectable 3.375 total.

REVIEW: 21

Next up was the film 21. Our feelings entering this movie date? Great. Another casino slash gambling movie where someone makes a ton of money only to lose it all and learn some valuable lessons in the end.

Unfortunately, our pre-date analysis was spot on and that made for some REALLY boring movie-watching on this particular night.

Here's the trailer:



WIFEY'S REVIEW

Ok, my thinking about this moive was I was really going to enjoy it. the previews made it look so good and it was even promoted on Big Brother! Wow, was I totally wrong! I think the only way you would enjoy this movie is if you know your stuff about blackjack, poker, and card counting.

Hubby and I were kind of just sitting there wondering what the hell this all meant in the world of cards! Letters were numbers and numbers were letters in their little universe.

So anyways, this really smart kid goes and becomes a part of this card counting team to pay his way through Harvard Med School, and he is so good with numbers his professor needs him on his team. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda!

He makes a lot of money and then looses it all, and you would think he would stop after he loses $350,000 dollars but you're wrong! He continues ruining his life and everyone around him (see that’s what money does to people)!

I never understood the whole signal thing going on in this movie it was so obvious to us viewers, like putting their hands behind their backs = HOT TABLE (bad one) and running your fingers through your hair = GET OUT FAST (that one was ok), and then other ones - no wonder how they got caught!

Ok, and we're also supposed to think that every time that this kid would win money he would take all his winnings that he was saving for his way through college and just stash it away in the ceiling of his dorm room? Come on now! Get a bank account or even a safe deposit box!

I would have to rate this movie a 1.5 Ben & Jerry’s.

HUBBY'S REVIEW

What she said. Seriously, this movie was awful and exactly the same as all the other casino and/or gambling films that came before it.

I could see how you might like this if you're into playing cards and hitting the shining city on the hill each week, but if you're like me and you rarely play cards let alone feel as if the best thing about casinos are the awesome buffets then do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Heck, Rounders is probably a much better movie to watch from this genre than 21! Ok, I get that this is based on a "true story" and that's supposed to make everything seem that much more intriguing and dramatic, but I didn't feel that at all.

A quick comment on Wifey's comments about the hand signals...She's absolutely right. If this is, in fact, a true story then they deserved to get caught and lose everything because they were some of the most obvious tells ever! How could you not see them and think that something strange was going on if you worked casino security?

Personally, I hate it when TV shows and movies these days treat the viewers like we're really that stupid and when they ask us to suspend too much belief at the door because after this little sequence I had a hand gesture of my own that I wanted to flash. Here's a hint: it involves only one finger.

I'm with Wifey all the way on this one. I give it 1 Ben & Jerry's making the OMD Rating 1.25 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: GONE BABY GONE

Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck's directorial debut. After watching this film I wondered aloud whether or not he should stick to directing full-time because he's much better behind the camera than in front of it.

All kidding aside, his talents are much better served in this role than giving us another Gigli, which was absolutely horendous. In his first attempt Ben was able to put together an all-star cast of talent and deliver an emotional, gut-wrenching kidnapping story that would make the made-for-TV-movie-makers over at Lifetime Television happy.

Here's the trailer:


His brother Casey Affleck is the film's lead actor, and he's a private detective that at first seems to be in way over his head regarding a local kidnapping case involving a very young child.

As a father of two young ones myself I can't even begin to tell you how much more disturbing these kinds of movies our now that I'm a dad. I can't even begin to imagine the unbearable range of emotions that a parent would go through if this were to happen to them.

The film is ripe with moral relativism and you find yourself eventually rooting for Affleck's character to do the right thing even though everything within you may be screaming for revenge and street justice. I'm glad that Ben decided to make the statement that we don't get to decide - God does - and by doing so he really succeeds in making you feel something genuine.

When was the last time a movie actually made you feel emotion? I think any "great" movie has that going for it.

Gritty realism seals the deal here for me. What began as any old kidnapping story becomes something much more visceral and intense. In the end, you admire people for sticking to the core beliefs, values, and convictions.

Out of 5 Ben & Jerry's Ice Creams I give it a 3.

RECOMMENDED:
Video Interview With Ben Affleck Talking About His Film

REVIEW: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS

Not really part of our movie date series, but a new movie we watched nonetheless and that makes it worthy of being mentioned here in my book.

Of course, I'm talking about Alvin And The Chipmunks starring Jason Lee that we DVR'd back in the Spring for the Radt tots and that we keep playing over and over and over again to this day.

Seriously, I think we've seen this about 80 times.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty good one. If the measure of how good a film is can be determined by how many times you let your kids watch it (and that's determined by your tolerance and annoyance meters) then this one is a complete success!

Sure, it has its share of bland potty humor and is a rehashed kids' movie formula, but it doesn't get on my nerves at all and I like that about it.

Funny, original, and it not only has the neat special effects, but also some catchy tunes too. I especially like how they came up with a scene that shows how the chipmunks came up with their Christmas classic that we hear each year on the radio.

I know that some people said that Jason Lee is now a "sell-out" because he's doing movies like this. Please. The guy just wants to have a successful career and what better way to do that than to star in a kids movie (one that could become an entire series I might add)?

If you want me to get really deep for a moment, I would say that this is a familiar story of exploitation and greed, mostly embodied by Ian the evil music mogul. The focus on the bad adults making their fortunes off gimmicky kids suggests an object lesson for those who persist in blaming Britney - without moral or emotional guidance, overworked and overpraised, the kids become preening, self-involved monsters.

That's a good lesson for parents everywhere.

I give this one 2.5 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

OMD HAS A NEW HOME!

So, what do you think of our new home, our new digs? Pretty snazzy, eh? Actually, I don't think Wifey has even seen the new site yet or even knows about it so consider yourself among the first!

What do you think? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Any suggestions? Personally, I liked this template the best out of all the ones I recently stumbled upon because it just seems to fit what we're all about quite nicely.

Contrary to popular belief, OMD has a special place in my heart since it was a little over a year ago that it launched and since it was also my first foray into the wonderful world of blogging.

I'll admit that I haven't been as committed to running this site effectively as I have towards my business website and the two others. Even so, I'm hoping that this new look will serve as a "new beginning" of sorts. Watch for new reviews to be posted very soon.

MESSAGE TO OMD FANS

To the loyal Our Movie Date followers and fans, yours truly - Hubby - would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU for your continued support in visiting this site week after week in the hopes that you will find some fresh and new material.

Obviously, we've been MIA for quite some time and I can assure you that it's been for good reason. In addition to running a new business, I've been working on two other projects - Look Up Fellowship and Red Letter Lessons - and that's taken precedence over this site.

However, now that things have reached a happy medium I'm pleased to report that we're back and ready to rock and roll! We're going to change a few things though.

For instance, while we will make every effort to publish Reviews that contain Hubby and Wifey analysis you may find that every now and then only one of us has something to say. We decided that this will help us keep things from falling behind as it become quite the challenge trying to get Wifey and I to both sit down and write out our reviews together.

We're also looking into having a custom banner made for the top of our site. Something a little more unique and eye-candy-ish.

So, once again, thank you and we hope you enjoy the new and improved Our Movie Date (OMD)!