Act of Valor - There Are No Words, Only Acts

There are a few constants in this world. Death will come, taxes will be due and soldiers, especially Special Forces are underpaid and under appreciated no matter how you measure it. I couldn't wait for this movie to hit theaters. I'm fascinated by the world of the Special Forces solider, regardless of branch, and their unbelievable sense of duty, code and honor. Act of Valor is a seriously jacked up re-enactment using actual active duty Navy SEALs as actors. The plot is simple. A team of SEALs is deployed to rescue a CIA operative, they uncover a terrorist plot against the United States and have to chase various terroist operatives and financiers from one hemisphere to the next. The combat sequences are beyond intense and well edited moving from first person to third person and keeping you close enough in where you actually duck from time to time. The emotions of the movie are what keep you hooked. This is a great portrayal of what has to be the toughest job in the world where you kiss your family goodbye to thrust yourself and your team right into the hornets nest of a world that's waiting to take your head off. This is not a well acted movie, but if you should know that going in, so expectations are set. Coming out of the theater you want to hug, thank and buy a drink for the first solider you see and it makes you proud and humble to know there are people out there that everyday, put their lives at risk so that we can go about our very important and self serving lives. Thank you for the perspective.

I don't recommend this for younger kids under 16-17, if that. This film should give you an appreciation for what service men and women lay on the line for our country with out us knowing a thing. It should inspire you to respect and honor those that have and do serve. For the 'Modern Warfare' generation, I'm afraid this is going to be a awesome live version of MWIII and the real meaning will be lost in a sea of kick assedness. What you have to realize is that in real life, there is no 'Respawn' and families lose fathers, sons, mothers, daughters so we can continue along our merry way.

Class this as a God bless America and those who keep her action/drama.

Rated R - for intense combat sequences and realistic endings

This Means War - Vanity Fair vs. GQ

This is what we needed. Beautiful people fighting over one another where cost is no inhibitor and neither is reality. The new Captain Kirk and Frodo's roided out cousin are CIA agents that fall for the same girl, realize it and spend 3/4 of the film submarining one anothers date nights with all sorts of government resources at their disposal. Reese Witherspoon, who I never tire of watching for some reason, is the girl that is so sideways and indecisive due to her good fortune of dating two buff guys that she can't turn one loose and standard romantic comedy hilarity ensues. The best part of this movie was her sister, played by Chelsea Handler who is WAY over the top direct on relationship advice and made me laugh out loud a couple times. There's also a fantastic paintball scene that anyone that's ever played paintball thinks they can pull off, but end up getting shot in the first 10 seconds by guys like this.  Overall it's a good date flick. Lots of action, decent writing for a romantic comedy and acted like you'd expect an episode of 24 meets Melrose Place. Everyone is strangely rich in this movie too and I can't figure out why. Do CIA agents really take home that much green? I mean, the new Captain Kirk was driving a new Audi R8 Spider. Looks like somebody's been skimming off the arms dealers evidence again. If you are on a first date, this has enough sexual innuendo and make out scenes to make you really uncomfortable which is always a plus and for couples, it's a light enough movie to hang out with your spouse, laugh and realize that we never looked that good, but then we also don't work for the CIA or Consumer Reports.

Class this a classic date flick. Romance for the girls and spys for the guys.

Rated R - didn't know it until I did this review, could have been PG13 

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island in 3D - I smell what you're cookin...

Jules Vernes is rolling over in 3D. This somewhat 'loose' interpretation of his classic novel is a fast paced buffet of computer animation and bad acting that surprisingly goes by quick and leaves you strangely entertained. The main character is a high school kid named Sean, who's mother evidently upgraded husbands on the second go around, goes on a trip with is stepfather, The Rock, to find his grandfather, Nigel Powers (not really, but I loved him in that movie). Evidently grandpa has sent a secret signal that gives them the coordinants to a place just off Figi. So they decide to just jump on a plane and head out (like we all do) to find gramps. This after a touching realization that the kid knows Vernes novels inside and out and The Rock knows morse code! Say whaat? I know, I know, there's no reason to build a back story here, because the special effects crew by this point is probably on their 5th Monster and 3rd hot pocket waiting to get their animation on. They do however, make it to Figi in about 30 seconds and meet up with the Gabriella from high school musical, who evidently was re-united with her deadbeat father in Figi after flunking out her freshman year when Troy ran off with a Tri Delt after figuring out that everyday is not indeed a song waiting to be sung and that he actually sucks at basketball because other colleges don't have a team comprised of Glee understudies like I guess they did in high school. Anyway, Gabs and her dad (Jacopo from Count of Monte Cristo) fly The Rock and Sean to the island and they have many marvelous adventures that were no doubt filmed on a set made entirely of green, because the boys in the animation department just took over this film. There are some very cool scenes that would be great HD wall papers for your PC, Mac, Phone, tablet or.......wall at home. The 3D adds depth like it should and there are only a couple of times they float something out there for you to take a swipe at in the air. The kids did like the film and I was entertained because giant lizards, volcanos, impossible situations along with Captain Nemo's submarine are right up my alley on a Saturday afternoon. Check it out at a matinee price, because it needs to be seen in 3D. At home on the flat screen, it's just another adventure movie with The Rock throwing up The People's Eye Brow and popping his pecs whenever possible.

Class this as a fun, early afternoon show with the kids.
Rated PG - I'm guessing for the peril