Marmaduke

This is the perfect film for children 5 to 11 years old.  The special effects for talking dogs was done very well.  The facial expressions on the dog even looked like Owen Wilson.  I would not rank this film in the same category of Marley and Me or Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  Both of those films I would probably see again.  Marmaduke most likely not.  6 out of 10 for children only.

The Stepfather

I don't usually view horror/suspense/thriller films because I don't scare easily. I would probably annoy the audience by laughing at every unbelievable thing. But this one looked different. It looked like it could be real, a psyco stepdad. It did not scare me, but I did enjoy it. It started out slow and built up near the end. I did like the way it ended. The young man star, Dylan Walsh, did not look young enough to be a high school senior. It was filmed more like a TV movie. I could hear the girls next to me and behind me squirm and scream, so it did scare some viewers. My choice of scary films are Misery, Disturbia, and Silence of the Lambs. This one is not of that caliber, but was fun. 6 out of 10.

Couples Retreat

This is definately a Vince Vaughn film. A little crude but humorous. Sexual references throughout. You could at least tell it was trying to give marital advice. I liked the Break Up better, but it was still fun. 6 out of 10.

Bright Star

This romance was enjoyable because Nancy and I like the Jane Austin type stories that are delicate and lovely. The attention to detail in the costumes and landscape was beautiful. It might be too slow for the average person, but it was very relaxing to us. It makes us marvel at the social injustices of the time and thankful for our privileges today. Even though I enjoyed it, there have been others of that genre that I like better. I rate this one 6 out of 10.

Fame

We were so excited for this movie to come out that we went to the Thrusday midnight showing. Sadly, I was disappointed. It started out great with good character development and I couln't stop tapping my feet and swaying to the music. But the storyline was too fragmented. I kept waiting for it to come together somehow, but it never did. Each segment could have been great if it followed through and didn't just skip to the next year. It was like seeing a promo for a series of shows and not getting to see the actual show. I compare it to having a gormet chef prepare your favorite meal and then dropping on the floor before it gets to you. Chay thought it was great though. Mike rated it a 5 and I give it a 6 out of 10 because I liked the music and dancing. (I was expecting a 9 or 10 :( )

G Force

Fun family entertainment. Lots of action. Predictable outcomes, but very entertaining for school aged kids. I rate this one 6 our of 10.

500 Days of Summer

If you like a unique perspective on a love story, this is it. I loved the ending and Lizzy didn't. Even though I enjoyed it, it did not represent the type of relationship that I value. For me dating is also about finding someone with family values and creating a family together. None of that was shown in their relationship. But it does give you insight to the imbalance of passion for each other that occurs in relationships. There were times it was slow, but that's how relationships develop. I rate this one 6 out of 10.

Time Traveler's Wife

People who read the book did not like this movie as much as I did. If you can take something so far fetched and make it almost believable, I will enjoy it. The special effects were creative and were close to looking realistic. The love story was sweet and showed devotion. There was some nudity in timetravel, but it was done in good taste. I rate this one 6 out of 10.

Paper Heart

I couldn't wait for this movie to come out. But it was different than I thought it would be. Some things were better and some were worse. I really liked how kooky it was! It was fun and fast paced until the end where it dropped off dramatically. I rate this one 6 out of 10