Cowboys & Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, Adam Beach, Clancy Brown, Walton Goggins
2011

Review
Some of you may be skeptical about watching this movie because of the western and alien mixture in the plot. This is understandable, but by the end of the movie, it is not an issue. The action keeps you engaged enough that if you had any doubts, you forget about them eventually. It is directed by Jon Favreau, and some even bigger names are attached to this movie. This fact sets some high expectations. While not being an instant classic, it is a solid movie. Fans of westerns and fans of sci-fi should be able to enjoy this movie alike.
8.5/10
Cowboys & Aliens Official Site: Click Here
Cowboys & Aliens on Netflix: Click Here

The Smurfs

The Smurfs
Genre: Family, Children
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Sofía Vergara, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Kenan Thompson, Jeff Foxworthy, John Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, B.J. Novak, Paul Reubens
2011

Review
This children's comedy is loaded with star voices. There is a certain level of fun trying to guess who voices which character, with a few obvious ones. The best performance was Hank Azaria for his role as Gargamel. He was perfect for that role. This has gotten good feedback from children which is good since it should be the target audience, but it also a good movie to adults. Especially, adults who grew up watching the cartoons. As far as children go, the ratings would probably be higher if only reviewed by kids. Taking into account that adults are going to watch this too, it probably not rated as highly as it could be rated. It is good movie for the kids, with enough humor that the adults won't hate the movie. That being said, if there are no children or you did not grow up enjoying the cartoons, pick an alternative movie, because the movie is geared more toward children. There are probably more choices available that would be better use of your time, if you choose to use that time watching a movie.
7/10
The Smurfs from Sony Pictures: Click Here
The Smurfs on Netflix: Click Here

The Change-Up

The Change-Up
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Mann, Alan Arkin
2011

ReviewThis is another body switch comedy. This formula for a movie has been around for a while. There have been successes and failures. This was a pretty big success. The raunchy humor is on point. Watching Jason Bateman play the obnoxious guy is pretty funny. As he is known for playing more level-headed characters, this was a nice change of pace. The supporting cast does a great job and the daughter in the movie, played by Sydney Rouviere, is a great actress, especially considering her age. This movie is definitely worth seeing if you are a fan of Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, or raunchy comedies in general.
8/10
The Change-Up Official Site: Click Here
The Change-Up on Netflix: Click Here

Bad Teacher

Bad Teacher
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, Phyllis Smith, John Michael Higgins
2011

ReviewThis comedy has a great cast. Cameron Diaz for starters, but she is not best cast member in the movie. Jason Segel delivers another great performance, just adding to his list of solid jobs in movies. Lucy Punch does a good job playing the role of the uptight teacher across the hall. Her job in this movie will probably get her a few more acting jobs in the future. Phyllis Smith and John Michael Higgins support the other actors and help with some of the best scenes in the movie. Finally, Justin Timberlake plays his role near perfectly and adds another notch under his belt as an actor. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments, depending on your sense of humor. Though this movie is toward the top of the list for raunchy comedy of 2011, it is sure fall behind some others. If raunchy humor is your type of humor, this movie is definitely worth watching, though.
7.5/10
Bad Teacher Official Site: Click Here
Bad Teacher on Netflix: Click Here

Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3
Genre: Shooter
2011

Review
This is the final installment of the Gears of War franchise. These games have been both praised and scrutinized for the multiplayer. The praise comes from the unique experience of the multiplayer itself. The over the shoulder, third person sets it apart from the typical first person shooter. The scrutiny comes from the amount of lag and glitches in the game. This is the first game to have dedicated servers and it shows. The gameplay is much smoother than the previous two games. Glitching is not as big of a problem in this game as the other two as well. This makes for probably the best multiplayer experience that this franchise has offered up. Naturally, there are players who dislike the multiplayer for a number of reasons, but it most likely boils down to refusal to get as good at the new game as they were with the older ones. The campaign is about as long as the others with a little more substance. The ability to play a 4-player cooperative is a bonus. However, the campaign is not the main reason people will be playing this game. Finally, the achievements seem a little desperate to keep people playing. This is a little understandable since it is the final game. The Seriously 3.0 is a little out of reach of casual gamers who cannot invest hours upon hours on a single game. Epic Games did a good job with this game though, and it is a nice conclusion to a great franchise.
8.5/10
Gears of War Official Site: Click Here

The Last Circus

The Last Circus
Genre: Thrillers, Spanish
Starring: Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang
2010

Review
This movie has some good imagery. The dark settings and mood make the bright colors of the outfits, make up, and blood stand out more. It does catch the attention of the eye. The story is a boy has a rough childhood and decides to follow in his father's footsteps to become a clown. After landing his first gig, he falls in love with a woman who has an abusive boyfriend. This boyfriend happens to be the other clown in his circus. This sets off a chain of events that leads to some demented moments. The first half of the movie seems calm, with a love triangle. Eventually, it takes a strange turn into more disturbing scenes. It seems a little more dramatic than most movies, but that seems to be the approach. Also, there is a lot of symbolism throughout the movie that you may catch every once in a while. However, the trailer gives high hopes for the movie, and it just seems to not be able to live up to the trailer. While there are worse movies to watch, there are definitely some better ones to watch, as well. That being said, the imagery, gore, and general insanity could lead this movie into a cult status.
6/10
Official The Last Circus Website: Click Here
The Last Circus on Netflix: Click Here

Friends With Benefits

Friends With Benefits
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Starring:: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
2011

Review
This is a romantic comedy. Most romantic comedies are dreadful for men to watch. This particular one though, toed the line between a movie for men and women. Until this movie, this had been done with little success in this genre. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis do an excellent job. Although, they had already proven to be good actors, it is surprising sometimes how versatile they can be considering their roots (Timberlake being from *Nsync and Kunis playing Jackie on That 70's Show.) Woody Harrelson has a great supporting role in the movie, and offers plenty of laughs in case the movie gets too romance heavy. Though, it never really does. If more romantic comedies were like this movie, more boyfriends would probably be willing to go to the theater rather than being dragged by their girlfriends.
8.5/10
Friends With Benefits Official Site: Click Here
Friends With Benefits on Netflix: Click Here