May 2008
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6:30AM: Paid Programming
7:00AM: Will & Dewitt
7:30AM: Magi-Nation
8:00AM: Skunk Fu!

Movie Reviews

forgetting sarah marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall Rating: R
Grade: C+

Judd Apatow and Jason Segal shot with many naughty surprises. Segal also stars as Peter Bretter who… more »

street kings
Street Kings Rating: R
Grade: B

When Serpico meets Training Day with The Shield’s antihero slant in this corrupt cops tale directed… more »

Married Life
Married Life Rating: PG13
Grade: B+

Writer/director, Ira Sachs’ screenplay for this film is a dark satire of the classic late 40s-50s… more »

The Ruins
The Ruins Rating: R
Grade: C+

To satisfy the spring-breakers’ jones for grade B horror, Carter Smith along with screenwriter Scott… more »

NOW SHOWING
april movies

21

Has the prospect of looming student loans got you considering junior college? This is… more »

Horton Hears a Who!
Horton hears a who Grade: A

The latest family-friendly flick to hit theaters, a CGI version of Horton Hears a Who!, proves once… more »

Twenty-One
21

Real surprises aren’t the stock and trade for movies like 21. I should have come to the theater… more »

festing on a budget
Film fest

“Cinema is an art form that encompasses everything, but it’s so affordable,” says Jesse Rodriguez,… more »

small films on the big screen
Local films

What: Free showing of Short Films Haberdash, Abigail’s Spring and Face 2 Face
Where: San… more »

Mammoths and Pterodactyls and Sabertooth Tigers, Oh My
10,000 bc Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

So what was it that made me laugh hysterically at this ridiculous prehistoric epic? Was it the wooden… more »

The Bank Job
Bank Job Rating: R
Grade: B

This heist film is based on an incredible true story. Set in London circa 1971 at the Lloyds Bank… more »

The Karate Kid of Street Fighting Films
never back down Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

If you are a teenage boy with excess testosterone coursing through your bloodstream, then this “fight… more »

PLAY ON!
play on

Orange Park Community Theatre opened its fourth show of the season and the last one before their annual… more »

disco basketball
Semi Pro Rating: R
Grade: C+

The sneak preview of funnyman Will Ferrell’s new movie, Semi-Pro, at the AMC Theater in Regency… more »

Cyrano de Bergerac by another name
Penelope Rating: PG
Grade: B+

First-time filmmaker Mark Palanski created a madcap style to present this fantasy remake about an… more »

royalty and rivalry
Other Boleyn girl Rating: PG 13
Grade: A-

Period pieces sometimes try too hard, as did the Elizabeth The Golden Age. Despite the courtly setting,… more »

uncle sam wants yo - again
Stop-Loss

Stop-loss. These days, it’s a term that is often used flexibly as an adjective, noun, and even a… more »

March Movie Preview 2008

A sneak peak into the movies for March

more »
a tepid teleportation tale
Jumper Rating: PG 13
Grade: C-

Director Doug Liman has had more hits than misses. The guy gave us great movies like Swingers and… more »

teenage shrink
Charlie Bartlett Rating: R
Grade: C+

Opening on February 22, Charlie Bartlett is a perky little movie suitable for adolescents as well… more »

same story, different tales
Vantage Point Rating: PG 13
Grade: B

Five key characters are in Madrid, Spain, to view a summit on terrorism. A television news van is… more »

life made graphic
peripolos Rating: PG 13
Grade: A-

Cartoons have rapidly won their place as an artistic medium worth the time of even the snobbiest of… more »

road trippin’
Wild West Comedy Rating: R
Grade: A-

This documentary is Vince Vaughn’s vanity project. In September of 2005 Vaughn took five of his… more »

fantasy finds the big screen
Spiderwick Rating: PG
Grade: B+

Animated features aren’t the only kid-friendly game in town. Following in the footsteps of fantasy… more »

cupid hits home
Definitely Maybe Rating: PG 13
Grade: B

The unwritten law of Hollywood: Valentine’s Day requires a cutesy romantic comedy to satisfy all… more »

street art
Step up 2 Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

The dramatic concept behind this sequel to 2006’s Step Up is that all true American art forms have… more »

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Roscoe Jenkins Rating: PG 13
Grade: C

In this fish our of water tale, writer/director Malcolm D. Lee cooked up this Martin Lawrence vehicle… more »

the duality of dylan
I'm Not There Rating: R
Grade: A-

In viewing this film, one might ask, “At what point does this Fellini-esque picture become pretentiously… more »

treasure hunters dig deeper
Fools Gold Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

It has all the earmarks of romantic comedy: from Matthew McConaughey’s irresistible sideways grin… more »

seeing spirits
The Eye Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

Using the Pang Brothers’ original 2002 concept, Frenchmen David Moreau and Xavier Palud remade Sebastian… more »

bigfoot in the mouth
Strange Wilderness Rating: R
Grade: D-

Every year we get at least one stoner film. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (which was actually… more »

fresh, free film

What: Short Circuit Film Festival
When: February 13 at 7 pm
Where: Wilson Center on… more »

Will the Oscars be a grouch?
Oscars

As the writer’s strike drags on and after the lame Golden Globes “News Conference,” this year’s… more »

America needs Rambo
Rambo 2

America needs Rambo and Rambo is here for America. The evolution of this franchise is a reflection… more »

Come home Rambo, the cold war is over
Rambo Rating: R
Grade: C-

In all of my analysis of the first trilogy of Rambo movies, I never really considered the fact that… more »

Funny for the first five minutes
Spartans Rating: PG 13
Grade: D-

Writer/director/producer Friedberg along with Aaron Seltzer collaborated on yet another parody film.… more »

Hostel for housewives
Untraceable Rating: R
Grade: D+

If the popularity of trashy tabloids and celebrity sex tapes are any indication, there’s a little… more »

Local Film Spotlight: Extra Extra

Andy Warhol once said “In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Well the future… more »

Emotion in Movement
How she move

I’d seen previews of How She Move before I walked into the theatre and my expectations were low.… more »

Mad Money
Mad money Rating: PG 13
Grade: C+

In these desperate times of downsizing and threats of recession, with jobs being out-sourced to India… more »

Film as art
Mandy Lane

Chances are, unless you fall into a tiny niche audience, you’ve never seen an art film. For most… more »

Perfect popcorn cinema
Cloverfield Rating: PG 13
Grade: B+

Internet hype is a funny thing. It worked amazingly well for 1999’s surprise hit The Blair Witch… more »

Sappy and Snappy
27 Dresses Rating: PG 13
Grade: A

“I feel like I just found out that my favorite love song was written about a sandwich,” said a… more »

The Savages
the Savages Rating: R
Grade: A-

Writer/director Tamara Jenkins’ screenplay broaches a sensitive subject in today’s world–aging… more »

a surprisingly timely tale
there will be blood Rating: R
Grade: A

In this dark but riveting drama set at the turn of the 20th Century, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s… more »

Movie Review First Sunday
First Sunday Rating: PG 13
Grade: D

Ice Cube has carved out a dynasty for himself by making cheap films that enforce negative African-American… more »

redemption on the tail of a kite
Kite Runner

Kite Runner might not be a movie that will make you feel comfortable, but it is a fine film. The release… more »

miss it!
Rating: PG 13
Grade: D+

Want to watch a bad urban legend? One Missed Call is in theatres right now. If you haven’t seen… more »

Guillermo del Toro brings another spanish hit to american audiences
Orphanage Rating: R
Grade: A

I guess it’s what is known as a “cult of personality” when you just adore a public personality… more »

a cinematic masterpiece
Atonement Rating: R
Grade: A

Adapting Jan McEwan’s penetrating 2001 novel to screen would seem like an impossible task. However,… more »

nicholson & freeman kick it
bucket list Rating: PG 13
Grade: B

Two old guys, Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), are from radically… more »

cage is back stealing history again
National Treasure Rating: PG

Far fetched with a shameless commercial slant, this big budget franchise movie was written by committee… more »

the sleeper hit of 2007
Juno Rating: PG 13

The best movie of 2007 snuck out at the last minute to little fanfare. Little fanfare in Jacksonville,… more »

winners with words
Great Debaters Rating: PG-13

Considering the time period, 1935, this captivating film, based on the true story of Melvin Tolson… more »

The Perfect Holiday
Perfect Holiday

D Rated PG 96 min

Every holiday season there is a rash of schlocky product aimed at people… more »

‘munks in da hizouse
Chipmunks

C- Rated PG 91 min.

I will never fail to be surprised by the things that enthrall American… more »

humanity’s last hope, the fresh prince
I am Legend

B Rated PG-13 114 min.

After viewing this film, I asked a pertinent rhetorical question –… more »

The three days, dozens of films no reason to stay home
International Film

The Jacksonville Film Festival is still six months away but that doesn’t mean you and I can’t… more »

Control is 70’s punk
Control Movie

B+ Rated R 121 min.

The tortured rock star cliché gets another spin with this bleak yet… more »

Awake
Awake

B Rated R 78 min

First time feature filmmaker Joby Harold imagined a clever screenplay for… more »

The Golden Compass
Golden Compass

As the father of two girls, nothing could make me happier than to finally see a truly feminine character… more »

Hitman

B- Rated R 100 min

This is yet another video game to feature film adaptation to attract the… more »

Mama’s Boy
Mamas Boy

B- Rated PG13 97 min.

After losing his father as a young boy, Jeffrey Mannus (Jon Heder)… more »

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

A Rated R 117 min.

Sidney Lumet has over 50 films to his name, many considered masterpieces,… more »

Beowulf
Rating: PG-13
Grade: A

Fantastic.  Zemekis’ vision of the classic tale is amazing to say the least.  Wonderfully… more »

No Country For Old Men

A- Rated R 122 min

Tommy Lee Jones plays Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, whose jurisdiction includes… more »

In The Valley Of Elah movie review

Writer/director Paul Haggis’ latest film is a masterfully crafted murder mystery framed in the affects… more »

Eastern Promises movie review

This twisting, intriguing scenario involving the Russian Mafia in London, England was skillfully… more »

Sydney White movie review

Amanda Bynes has a charm that can save most scripts, and she uses it well in the modern day tale… more »

Across The Universe movie review

There are times when I walk out of a movie theater wondering why a studio felt it necessary to waste… more »

Bourne To Kill
bourne ult

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is back and he is more determined than ever. 

more »
detaining the brat pack
pancake

Have you ever been stuck in front of the television drinking beer with a friend, because there seems… more »

an intriguing story
dwights Rating: R
Grade: A-

Brenda Blethyn, as Jean Dwight, almost carries this Australian film to glory singlehandedly. Keith… more »

mustache rides
hot rod

Hot Rod brings the type of stunts, epic fist fights, totally awesome 80s power ballads, and the fake-mustached… more »

a horrifying waste
I know Rating: R
Grade: F

I could make a lot of Lindsay Lohan/cocaine jokes right now. Heck, I’ve been thinking them up all… more »

to steal an angel
angel Rating: R
Grade: B

to steal an angel
Angel-A movie review
by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.netmore »

bourne again
bourne Rating: PG-13
Grade: B+

Bourne is on the run kicking serious butt to find out his identity and who turned him into a secret… more »

Lindsay Has a Twin Once Again
lohan Rating: R
Grade: B

Aubrey Fleming is the typical high school student.  She is the daughter parents brag about. … more »

uplifting romantic comedy
no reservations Rating: PG
Grade: B

This remake of the 2001 German, Mostly Martha, stayed true to the original screenplay written by… more »

the lives of others
the lives of others Rating: R
Grade: A

This penetrating German film, written and directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, won an Oscar… more »

having heart in darkness
Rescue Dawn