“This Film Is Not Yet Rated”, which was stamped with a NC-17 rating as well as many others, is a documentary that centers on the MPAA rating system. The Motion Picture Association of America is one of the few Top Secret association in the world who decides what film gets the following ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R, and the feared NC-17 rating. If you really have a passion for movies, then this one won’t disappoint. You will have an entirely different perspective on movies.

Film-maker Kirby Dick has backbone to create a documentary based on the powerful MPAA ratings board. This I will give him credit for. His point is made vaguely with wit. Very important documentary for those whose sole purpose is to enjoy the movies the way they were intended. Watch out Michael Moore, Kirby Dick just marked his spot in film-making.

One thing the film hovers around is the fact that many of the most well known directors have been stamped with an NC-17 rating that forced them to take out some scenes that were a really important part of the film in order to make it an R rating. Some of these scenes that were force to be removed actually made the movie. The audience has never seen their favorite films the way they were meant to be seen. The film includes interviews from film critics, authors, and film-makers which include Kevin Smith, John Waters and many more.

This is one of the most interesting documentaries that I have ever seen. Worth renting for the sole purpose of understanding the trouble this association has caused some of our favorite directors stress and agony. Why do these films have to be slapped with a NC-17 rating? Excellent documentary that studies the film institutions worst enemy and delivers a fatal blow on the MPAA.

Engaging and thought provoking. Take the time to really study the effort put forth in this film. Admire the courage that it took to make such a controversial subject as this one. Give it up for Kirby Dick, the film-makers hero and legend.

“Mr. Woodcock” stars Sean Williams Scott, Susan Sarandon, and Billy Bob Thorton. With the exception of a couple of mildly funny moments, it ends up being short on the laughs. One of the reasons for this is because all of the actors are in their usual form.

John Farley (Sean Williams Scott) was an overweight kid with low self esteem that was pushed around by his gym teacher (Billy Bob Thorton). Thirteen years later he is a successful author of a book title  “Leting Go”. John gets the chance to see his mother in his home town be the annual Corn Cob Queen, but when he arrives he wasn’t expecting to see that his mother is dating his high school gym teacher Mr. Woodcock. Things get worse when is mother (Susan Sarandon) decides to marry the rough and rude Mr. Woodcock. John’s mission is to break up the marriage by proving to his mom that Mr. Woodcock is not who she thinks he is.

I can’t help but enjoy this film mainly because of Billy Bob Thorton’s character. You may know his character from many of his other films. If you don’t like Billy Bob Thorton, then you really should pass this one up. I am a fan of most of his movies where he plays such a crude and hateful man. In other words, this is Billy Bob Thorton material. Sean Williams Scott role suits him also, which is what makes the movie enjoyable. The film lacked a strong comedic feel to it that could have made it that one great comedy.

Most of the funny parts were spoiled in the trailer that was played continuously during it’s time in theaters. This is what makes the film less funny than it really is. The whole result of the film is very predictable to begin with. For some reason, the true performances still make the movie worth watching. The end is sudden, but the result is satisfying. Billy Bob Thorton uses his bad mouth to make us smile, but never really laugh. It could have been a lot better, but also could have been a lot worse.

The bottom line is, if you like Billy Bob Thorton and the unpleasant characters that he portrays, then “Mr. Woodcock” deserves the rental. If you think that it is funny when Billy Bob is in his evil form, then it is worth watching. Me, I enjoy intentionally unpleasant characters who are in their most beastly appearance. Is the film worth watching? That was a rhetorical question, I already know the answer.

Staring one of my all time favorite comedian/actors Jim Carrey, “The Number 23″ is one of the years biggest surprises. This story of obsession co-stars Virginia Madson and Logan Lerman, who do exceptionally well at their roles.

Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) is a living a normal life with a son (Logan Lerman), a loyal wife (Virginia Madson), and a mediocre job as a dog catcher. His life take a turn for the worst when he is late to pick up his wife, thanks to Ned, a dog he was chasing. His wife stumbles upon a book with the title “The Number 23″ that was written by a mysterious author named Topsy Kretts. After reading a couple chapters of this book, he finds similarities between the character in the book and himself. He soon learns that Fingerling, the character in the book, commits an unspeakable murder.

This is a true spellbinder of a thriller. Jim Carrey owns this gripping thriller that will keep you guessing from start to finish. This is an enthralling piece of film-making from Joel Schumacher, who I am not a big fan of. This tops all of his work put together. Not that many people liked Jim Carrey performance, but I thought that he look very comfortable on screen. The dialog has such a dark, yet suttle tone to it. Lets put it this way, I can’t see anyone pulling off this role other than Jim Carrey. I like him more in dramas than I do in comedies. The only thing is the film is a tad unsure of itself.

“The Number 23″ is neatly collected. The slow pace worked well for me, thanks to the juicy performance by Carrey. Schumacher directs this with such gracefulness that it is hard to turn away from. This edge-of-your-seat thriller that does the one thing that it intended to do, and that is thrill you to the bone. To top everything off, I enjoyed the ending. Even the color red has it’s own characteristic in the film.

 Jim Carrey’s downfall? I think not. This was a solid movie with a solid performance from Jim Carrey, who should deserve more praise for this role. I am a big Jim Carrey fan and for those who think that serious work isn’t for him, I will have to beg the differ. This is one of the years most underrated films. Don’t listen to the critics Jim, your still the most talented man alive.

Staring the voices of Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, along with many others, “Ratatouille” is strictly for toddlers. The film takes place in Paris and centers on a Rat with a passion to cook.

Remy (Patton Oswalt) is a rat that has one dream. That dream is to cook like his hero Anton Gusteau (Brad Garrett), who has recently passed away. His restaurant is left to a clumsy chef by the name of Linguini (Lou Romano). By fate, Remy comes across Gusteau’s restaurant and has the chance of a life time when he meets Linguini, a chef in desperate need of help. Remy decides to help Linguini get Gusteau’s Restaurant restored to the five star restaurant that it was meant to be.

Like “Cars”, I thought that Ratatouille overstayed it’s welcome for an animated film, but that’s not the only reason I didn’t like the film. There are several reasons why I despise this movie. One thing is how slow the film is. I never laughed, which is one really disappointing apparatus about most recent animated films. It lacks interesting characters and a briskly paced plot. “Ratatouille” delivers nothing remotely clever in it’s 111 minute running time.

I hated this film and I use the word hate with delight. I found nothing cute, witty, or appealing about a rat cooking at a restaurant in Paris.It was never funny and found myself dozing off. I watched it twice, which means I gave it a second chance, and saw absolutely nothing special about it. Sluggish and never interesting. Not even moderately entertaining. This is a wildly overrated animated feature that won a award it surely doesn’t deserve. In my opinion, “Beowulf” should have took the spot of “Ratatouille” for the nomination. Of course, “The Simpsons Movie” is still the winner for me.

This I would put under the category for Toddlers if there was one. Possibly the worst Pixar movie to date. Might keep kids under 7 interested for a while but adults will squirm in their seats. Sluggish and slow paced with an uninteresting plot. I just can’t see what critics liked about it. Unfunny, banal, dreary, and most of the time flavorless.

“Surf’s Up” stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder, Diedrich Bader and James Woods. This poorly constructed animated film also contains a cameo appearance from professional surf-boarder Kelly Slater.

Cody (Shia LaBeouf) is a penguin from Shiverpool, Antarctica who claims that he is the best there is. In actuality, Cody is nothing but a deadbeat when he meets Tank (Diedrich Bader) in the “Big Z Memorial Surf Off” on Pen Gu island. Ever since he was young Cody idolized Big-Z (Jeff Bridges), a surfing legend that died years ago. From that day forward, Pen Gu island has had the “Big Z Memorial Surf Off” in his honor. Cody’s only dream is to win the competition and prove that he is the best surfer alive.

There are many things that I disliked about the movie. One is the way the penguins walked. Instead of waddling, the penguins walked like humans. Another thing is the film introduces the viewers to characters that they could care less for. This is mainly because of how irritating these characters are. The film is hardly ever funny with the exception of a few built in chuckles. This many will frown upon.

Just because it is an animated film aimed towards a younger audience, the viewers feel obligated to like it. This is how most animated films become over-rated, such as this one. The documentary style photography will probably make kids, it’s primary audience, lose interest in the film. The whole movie experience was a bore and frankly disappointing.

Overall, I don’t see how anyone could keep interest in a film that has so many little jokes that fall flat. I was never dazzled or amused by the animation. The story was simple but predictable. The whole documentary-like feel just doesn’t work for animated films, especially if the film doesn’t have any wit or charm to it. In the long run, “Surf’s Up” wipes out on almost every film aspect that I can think of.

“Happy Feet” features an accomplished voice cast that includes Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and Robin Williams. It is directed by George Miller (Babe: Pig in the Big City) and written by Warren Coleman, John Collee, George Miller, and Judy Morris.

Dropped as an egg, Mumbles (Elijah Wood) is a penguin unlike any of the other penguins. Born in a colony of singing penguins, Mumbles doesn’t sing with his voice, but with his happy feet. This is looked down upon by his fellow penguins, especially since Mephis (Hugh Jackman) and Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), his parents, have great voices. This dilemma makes his parents worried that he will have trouble finding a mate. Mumbles ends up being blamed for the penguins food shortage and must prove that the shortage isn’t his fault.

Right off the bat you will fall in love with these adorable singing penguins. After the dreadfully boring “March of the Penguins”, I couldn’t help but feel overjoyed at the end of “Happy Feet”. A cute animated film with heart and soul. Catchy tones and songs that are scrambled with other songs that create awe-inspiring music. I loved the tap-dancing. Watch the special feature to see the man who tap-danced for Mumbles. It is an amazing sight.

“Happy Feet” deserved the Golden Globe award best animated feature over “Cars”. It was more dazzling and beautiful to look at. The story is simple and to the point. The movie might have worked better with more singing, because those scenes just managed to maintain a smile on my face. The voices that stood out the most are Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and Brittany Murphy. I thought that the film started to head down hill when Mumbles was blamed for the food shortage, but then recovered once the ending rolled around.

I would have to say that “Happy Feet” deserves a recommendation to everyone, especially the lot of you who love penguins. It’s cute, funny, stunning, but at times fumbles a pebble or two, which is forgiven in the end. ”Happy Feet” taps it’s way into memory. Director George Miller has a nag for animal films and does and excellent job at portraying the lives of these animals, but this is his best film yet.  

“Bug” is exactly the type of film that makes the thinking person think. Staring Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr., and Lynn Collins. The film mostly takes place inside the motel room of the main character Agnes White (Ashley Judd)

The flim starts out by introducing us to a lonely woman by the name of Agnes White. The opening scene’s purpose is to show the viewers that this woman is not only lonely, but also paranoid about a man who was recently released from jail. R.C. (Lynn Collins) is her only close friend. During a party at the lesbian bar that Agnes and R.C. work at, R.C. introduces Agnes to a war veteran by the name of Peter Evans (Michael Shannon) standing next to a juke box. This all leads to a night of partying at Agnes’ Motel room. After R.C. leaves for an emergency phone  call, Agnes and Peter spend the night together. Once this happens, the bugs arrive. Are they real or is it just their imagination?

Most critics are calling this film a horror movie. I wouldn’t go as far as calling Bug a horror movie. It is more like a psychological film. A government conspiracy to be exact. In other words, if you are the type of person who believes in government conspiracies, then you might find “Bug” to be a very disruptive film. If you are not that type of person, you might start to think like one once the film ends. The acting portrayed in the film might be Ashley Judd’s best work yet. Don’t let the film’s name trick you into thinking that this movie is full of creepy crawling bugs, because it’s not. In fact you never really see any bugs. This is what leaves you wondering whether or not the two really had an infestation, giving “Bug” a resemblance to Hitchcock films.

 Director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The Hunted, The French Connection) does an excellent job at bringing out the true acting in Ashley Judd, who should be recognized in this film for her assertive performance. A little confusing at times, but a second or third viewing should fill in the gaps. The beginning does start off a little slow, but the quirky dialog should keep your interest. Intensity flows off the screen once the sex scene ends. You might occasionally ask yourself “What is going on?”. Trust me this is normal.

Overall this film has talent both behind the camera and in front. The story just keeps getting more bizarre, bloodier, and mind-blowing as it proceeds. William Friedkin doesn’t top The Exorcist, but it is definitely his best work in over a decade. I recommend this to everyone, just to see it this film messes with your head as much as it did mine. Be sure to check your skin for aphids after viewing this movie.

“Timber Falls” stars Josh Randall, Brianna Brown, Nick Searcy, Beth Broderick, and Sascha Rosemann, who are basically nobodies. But, take note on how well acted this is. It takes place deep in the woods of West Virgina.

The film first introduces us to a couple (Josh Randall and Brianna Brown) who are planning on taking a peaceful hiking trip through the wood of West Virgina. They arrive where they must decide which trail to take. After a mysterious woman mentions the trail Timber Falls, among many others, the couple unfortunately decide to take Timber Falls. This leads them to a trio of crazed rednecks and a deformed man named Deacon (Sascha Rosemann) and his psycho family. What follows is torture and mayhem that lead to a sacrificial birth.

What really attracts attention here is the surprisingly well acting done by the lead characters. Gore-hounds will be asking the question on whether or not there is enough gore to satisfy their needs. Lets put it this way, If you enjoy the type of films like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Hostel” then you won’t be disappointed. You know how the saying goes, “If you can’t afford stage blood, then don’t make a horror movie”. Well, the film-makers of Timber Falls purchased their fair amount of stage blood for this film.

Just like most horror films, you just might find yourself thinking “how stupid can these people be?” I guess that just adds to the fun. This isn’t by any means a great horror film, but I did enjoy it alot more than I expected. The torture scenes are well shot and the direction done by director Tony Giglio (Chaos) was exceptional, thanks to the help of the actors.

The only dilemma with this film is that goofy and comical ending that just doesn’t suit the movie. The film was clearly a horror movie and the abrupt adding of humor at the end fell flat on its face. Other than that this film was worthy entertainment for fans of torture movies. It is no more than your cut above average horror film that deserves views from fans of fangoria magazine and films that they would recommend. 

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen and is directed by Tim Burton, one of the most imaginative directors alive.

The film takes place in London where we meet the dark character Sweeney Todd. After being falsely arrested, Mr. Todd is determined to get his revenge on those who imprisoned him and took away his wife and daughter. With the help of a woman by the name of Mrs. Lovett, a pie shop owner who serves London’s worse pies, Sweeney Todd seeks his revenge on those who striped him of his soul.

This is a masterful work of art. It’s funny, scary, brilliant, romantic and ultimately thrilling. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up once again, this time they simply top everything that they have done. Hold on tight for Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s darkest hour yet. Maintaining a well deserved R-rating, this goes far beyond any big-screen Broadway musical ever filmed. The dark and gloomy atmosphere creates a creepy vibe that only Tim Burton could nail with such acuracy. The songs were sung with such perfection and the strangely catchy lyrics make for one hell of a musical. Up for a total of four Golden Globe Nominations, including best picture, “Sweeney Todd” is a radiant horror musical.

Helena Bonham-Carter is as beautiful as her voice and Johnny Depp belts out each note in such a rich and stylized manner. Taking it’s number one spot on my top ten list of movies for 2007, this is without a doubt the most unusual Broadway musical that has ever made it to the big screen. It’s dark material for both Burton and Depp. A creepy and well-crafted thriller that marks the high point of Burton’s career. It’s as exciting, gripping, remarkable and overwhelming as a movie can be.

One of the best films of the year has finally arrived. Someone please give Burton his rightful award for best director. For those of you who claim to hate musicals, you will find this to be a bloody good treat. Depp fans will dig his voice, especially when he hits the strong notes. Well sung with vivid imagination that takes you to the dark side of a man without a soul, “Sweeney Todd” raises the bar far beyond any other movie ever made. This is a razzle-dazzle of a thriller with some intensely grotesque scenes. ”Sweeney Todd” is gloriously brutal, oddly romantic and one of the years best.

Staring Will Smith and…..well that is just about the only one the film stars. So once again, we have a movie that centers on a single actor. I will have to admit that I am getting tired of films that try their hardest to center on one character. “I Am Legend” is one of those films that are acceptable based on it’s casting choice.

Will Smith stars as Robert Neville, a scientist who is now the only man alive on earth, thanks to a man-made virus. This virus was made to cure cancer, but instead turned every human into flesh-eating zombies. With his only friend being his dog, Robert Neville searches for an answer as to how to cure the infected and find some way of regaining a normal lifestyle. To maintain sanity, he sets up mannequins in the local stores that he visits every day in desperate need of something to talk to.

With a promising start, the film ends up loosing it steam near the end. It mostly worked when Smith and his dog were on camera. Meaning that two-thirds of the film actually felt fresh, whereas one-third seemed to be stale. The story felt like your standard survival story. A man who is close to a nervous breakdown, thanks to the absence of the human race and resorts to strange behavior to maintain his sanity. Seeing that many people will disagree with me, I will acknowledge the intensity and frighteningly realistic Manhattan atmosphere.

The direction was a cut above average, but the photography was done with a bland style. The CGI effects were nothing to go crazy over, however the powerhouse performance from the lead actor is what really saved this film from being a complete mess. It also left me wondering if I missed something. The film-makers failed to explain why Robert Neville was immune to the infected. This was a crucial question that was never answered. The film would fall flat on it’s face without the heavy performance by Will Smith and his dog, Sam.

Other than showing Will Smith’s talents as an actor, the film has nothing much more to recommend. So, hats off to Willie, proving that he is capable of carrying a film on his own. “I am Legend” has a striking resemblance to films such as “A Boy and His Dog” and “Dawn of the Dead”, films that also occurred in a post apocalyptic world. An uneven mixture of intensity, humor and tragedy that is recovered by the potent acting.

“Ice Spiders” stars Patrick Muldoon as Dan “Dash” Dashiell and Vanessa Williams as Dr. April Sommers. The film is mainly set on ski slopes with what characters in the movie refer to as “ski bums”.

The story is your typical government screw-up. After discovering a way of using a spider’s web for defensive purposes, the government created a lab in a sub-zero temperature zone. This is because spiders don’t like cold temperatures. With the help of Dr. April Sommers, the government fed the spiders a steroid like substance to make the spiders grow at an accelerated rate. All of this turns to mayhem when the spiders get loose and are more immune to sub-zero temperatures than expected.

Those who say that the special effects are great are really pushing it here. The spiders are done with lazy CGI, but this is still better than some horror movies that made it to the multiplexes. With some more decent special effects and a tad bit more gore this could have really found some fans. The acting in it was uneven. By this I mean that some of the acting fit the characters while some of the acting just felt forced. This I would blame on the director.

It was originally aired on the Sci-Fi channel, which is very appropriate for this type of film. I really didn’t expect much from it and that is what I got. A film that really left me with nothing to talk about. I was distracted from the beautiful scenery by the tired CGI effects. Just like any other Sci-Fi original movie with nothing much to recommend.

The main problem with Ice Spiders is it’s short on gore, which is a big thing for me. The body count might have been high, but you never really get to see any of the slaughtering. What I like most about it is that it was originally aired on cable. The directing was inert and the story felt trifling and lifeless.

Ron Howard’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” stars Jim Carrey, one of the most talented actors alive, and co-stars Molly Shannon and Taylor Momsen . The film takes place in a snowflake which is pretty original. I saw it in theaters when I was 11. I enjoy it just as much as I did when I was then as I do now.

As far as the movie’s synopsis goes, I really shouldn’t have to explain it. Everyone knows the story. But do you know the story behind The Grinch. That is what Ron Howard explores in this live action version of the TV cartoon that is played every season. The story is narrated by Anthony Hopkins, who does an excellent job. It is colorful and full of spirit.

The cast is wonderful. Jim Carrey is superb as The Grinch and Max looked just like the dog from the cartoon. The costumes were done with such accuracy to the Dr. Seuss book that it was a great accomplishment alone. Ron Howard is the exact definition of a great director. The scenery was picture perfect along with a marvelous screenplay that gives you some background on the infamous Grinch and why he became the way he is. What more could you ask for with a full length feature film?

A well done adaptation to the beloved book. It is actually more of a Jim Carrey talent show, but works even when Jim Carrey is absent in the film. This proves the talent behind the co-stars along with the creators of the gadgets that resemble Dr. Seuss’ remarkable imagination. The costume designer, Rick Baker, won a well deserved Oscar for best make-up. For the most part, the character development is a work of art. The production design seemed just like the cartoon and was also nominated for an Oscar, but unfortunately didn’t win.

I recommend this to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. The performance from Jim Carrey just might be his best yet. The film never destroys the moral of the original like the live action Dr. Seuss follow-up “The Cat In The Hat” staring Mike Myers. This is a flawless film that Dr. Seuss would appreciate as much as I do.  

Staring Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Ian McKellen, and Daniel Craig “The Golden Compass” is a fantasy that takes place in a world unlike any other. Directed by Chris Weitz and based on the novel “Northern Lights” written by Phillip Pullman.

In a world where human’s souls walk beside them in the form of animals called “daemons”, a orphan girl by the name of Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) overhears a conversation about Dust. According to Lyra’s uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) and his observations on Dust, children are immune to it while adults become tainted by Dust through their Daemons. After recent disappearances of some children, Lyra is asked by her new aquantince, Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) to join her in her trip to the far north. Before leaving, Lyra is given a golden object called an alethiometer which is capable of telling the truth. Unaware of how to use the alethiometer, Lyra is determined to find the truth about Dust and ultimately rescue the kidnapped children.

In the vein of “The Chronicles of Narnia” this fantasy is far from epic. Although this has more to recommend than “The Chronicles of Narnia” it still fails to amaze its audiences with its unique style of storytelling. There are a couple things that make this decent. One is the special effects. The polar bear fight is something to admire. Another is the acting. Nichole Kidman really stands out wearing one of her sexiest outfits ever.

This fantasy overstays its welcome by an easy twenty minutes. There is really only one scene that stands out. The polar bear brawl is practically the only thing that will dazzle the audience, aside from Nicole Kidman’s sex appeal. This is a loud and unacceptably long adventure that really leads to nothing but questions that won’t be answered until its sequel. The complicated story will make it hard for kids to follow and will leave them asking questions on the ride home.

Overall, this is a contrived story with some noisy effects that ended up being overlong and disappointing. I did enjoy this film far more than “The Chronicals of Narnia” the problem is “The Golden Compass” leaves more questions than answers and depends on a sequel to wrap it all up. Therefore this is amaturish film-making that will not be forgiven by any means. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed in the end.

“Enchanted” is a film, like many others, where the animated world collides with the real world. It stars Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Saranon. Most of film takes place in the real world, which is good because those are the scenes that worked.

This is a fairy tale that centers around a princess by the name of Giselle planning to get married to Prince Edward. Everything is according to plan until Prince Edward’s evil mother Queen Narissa sends Giselle to the place of no happily ever afters. Prince Edward and his sidekick Pip (a talking squirrel) follow in search Giselle and true loves first kiss. While Giselle is wondering around in the real world, Queen Narissa decides that the only way to keep her son from getting married is to poison Giselle. Yes, you guessed it, a poisoned apple. Sound a little familiar?

What makes “Enchanted” your average run-the-mill Disney is the film has nothing original to offer. This is basically your Snow White/Cinderella fairy tale. The film has some flaws that are forgivable, like the predictably happy ending. What is a fairy tale without a happily ever after? The thing is that some of the flaws are just downright unforgivable. These include how unoriginal and cliche the whole story felt. I kept asking myself “Haven’t I seen this before?” It leaves kinda leaves a “been there, done that” feeling.

Amy Adam does an outstanding job as the always cheerful Giselle. It is just too bad that Prince Charles isn’t exactly Prince Charming. Everyone will find Pip to be the funniest character and the filmmakers failed to make his character shine.

I warn you that this is musical/fantasy. Those who aren’t fans of musical might find themselves to be rolling their eyes. I am one those who isn’t a fan of musicals, but for some reason I enjoyed those scenes the most. This was in fact entertaining, but it is far from the enchanted movie experience that I was hoping for. The story’s concept could have been put to good use if it had some new ideas. I am sure that this film will find a wide variety of audiences who will like it. “Enchanted” is one that young girls will adore, but for me it was your basic Disney movie.

“The Mist” is based on the short story written by Stephen King and is directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). This Sci-Fi/Horror stars a fine cast that includes Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, and Toby Jones.

After a vicious storm strikes a small town, a mysterious mist follows. The citizens of the town end up stuck in a supermarket after a man, bleeding from the nose, runs in claiming “There’s something in the mist”. After some brutal attacks by creatures in the mist, the people now must fight for their lives to make it out of the mist alive. They end up splitting up into two groups. One group believes that the mist is a biblical act of god, led by Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden), and the other group, led by David Drayton (Thomas Jane), does not.

The camerawork and creature effects are what keeps the film moving at a brisk pace. I love the way this film actually feels like a Stephen King horror movie, getting the viewers involved with the character’s situations. The script, though I haven’t read the book, was incisive and to the point. Yes, it was creepy and sometimes scary, but there is something missing. Maybe it was the acting that was done, how should I say, a little too good. Maybe it was the way it was all layed out. Or maybe it was all the hype. What can I say, I was somewhat disappointed.

Some scenes worked well, while others got me rooting for the bugs. What I enjoyed most about this Stephen King adaption are the acid spinning spiders and that backbone of an ending. This is a ultimately depressing horror film based on human survival and the will to live. A hit or miss type of ending, but for me it hit the bulls-eye. What holds the film together is the thick script and the impressive camerawork. What pulls the film apart is the hype and the acting just didn’t work for me.

The mist does have some pretty intense and scary moments, just not enough of them. The bugs are the real showcase here, ranging from giant wasp-like creatures to spiders that spin acid webs. This is, at times, a bone chilling, stomach churning movie experience. There’s something in the mist…too bad it’s a mild disappointment.

“Fred Claus” stars Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, and Kevin Spacey. This family christmas comedy is directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers). This is far from the Vince Vaughn that you have seen in ”Wedding Crashers”, which in my opinion is a good thing.

When Nicholas Claus was born, Fred made a promise. To be the best brother anyone could ask for. But, as Nicholas grew, his mother and father always seemed to favor him. Everything that Fred did, Nicholas managed to win over his parents. As this went on, Fred began to despise his younger brother and became naughty. After years of never visiting, Fred decides to visit his younger brother in hope that he will loan him a hefty sum of money. Meanwhile, Fred and the elves are unaware that Santa’s workshop is under heavy surveillance by Clyde Northcut,(Kevin Spacey) who is trying to shut down Santa’s Workshop.

I love the cast. Kevin Spacey and Paul Giamatti in particular. Kevin Spacey does a terrific job as a character that you grow to hate, but in the end can’t help but love. Once again, Paul Giamatti proves that any role (whether it is a determined criminal or a chubby lovable Santa) is suitable for him. Some may think that the Superman/Spacey part was cheesy, but for me it just added to the tender and touching moments that the film has in store.

I also couldn’t help but enjoy the scenery. The set was done with such magical touch and the elves added to the many laughs and chuckles. The main problem with the film is the fact that it will have a hard time competing with crowd-pleasing Christmas films such as “Elf”. Call me nuts…but I enjoyed this film much more than “Elf”. It isn’t great, but it is definitely far from bad. A pleasant holiday film that adult may find more amusing than kids.

“Fred Claus” delivers as a Christmas present for the whole family. The best holiday film in years. Paul Giamatti makes for an excellent Santa Claus, Kevin Spacey delivers as the dreadful evildoer and Vince Vaughn does a surprisingly sincere job as his naughty, but big-hearted, older brother. A warm, funny, and wildly entertaining Santa Claus picture.