Our Idiot Brother

"Nothing like two dudes and a dog making candles."  It's a shame that Paul Rudd isn't a star on the level of Jonah Hill or Seth Rogen - he's a really great actor, as this film clearly points out.  Funny, fresh, and - most importantly - extremely upbeat, Our Idiot Brother is one of those films that keeps you smiling throughout, without being enormously cliched or heavy-handed.  You find yourself rooting for the main character right away, since he's just an awesome guy who's in some not-so-awesome situations.  For God's sake, he gets thrown in jail because he sells pot to a police officer.  And he knows the guy is a cop - he's in full uniform!  And then he gets released from jail early because he was such a swell guy.  That's the kind of movie this is - a really sweet film.  Rudd means well, and he helps his sisters in his own special way - even if they don't know that he's really helping.

Rating: 92/100

Kill Bill

Undoubtedly Quentin Tarantino's most action-packed film, Kill Bill retains the director's unmistakable dialogue-heavy, heavily homaged style that is seen in his other films.  Perhaps Tarantino's most "conventional" film, Kill Bill is a two-part story dealing with the revenge of a bride who lost her groom to her former boss.  Armed with a samurai sword, she goes on a roaring rampage of revenge, taking down the people who killed her groom and family, one by one, until she reaches the head honcho: the titular Bill.  A love letter to action films (especially martial arts films), Kill Bill works on two levels (as do most of Tarantino's other films): on one level, it is a conventional action film, while on the other hand, it is artistic in a way (thanks to its heavy use of homage).
Split into two parts (Volumes 1 and 2) because of its length, Tarantino hopes to make a complete version by re-combining both parts with some additional footage.  It should be noted that the American release of Volume 1 features the climatic fight scene in black and white; this was done to avoid an NC-17 rating, as the scene is extremely violent and gory.
Pulp Fiction it ain't, but there is really no way that ANYONE can really make a better movie than that one; still, Kill Bill comes pretty damn close.  It should also be noted (as my father reminded me) that both Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction are told in a non-linear style (the former features a number of flashbacks, while the latter simply shows events out of order).

Rating: 90/100

We Bought a Zoo

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!  Not many good, flat-out family movies get released anymore.  Most "family" movies today are either really, really juvenile or seem to be aimed more at adults (the latter of which, thankfully, is more common).  We Bought a Zoo harkens back to the days when family movies were for the WHOLE family.  There's no sneaky adult content (most of the "offensive" content is just a few stronger profanities), it's an inspiring story, and everyone can enjoy it.  Oh, and it is based on a true story.  We need more movies like this.

Rating: 85/100

Battleship

There are movies based on books.  There are movies based on comics.  There are movies based on television shows.  There are movies based on action figures.  And now... there's this: a movie based on a board game.  Yeah...  Somehow, it's not as bad as one would think.  It's not a very good movie, but it's okay.  Good action scenes, great special effects, and "stupid aliens" (my father's words) make for a reasonable way to spend two hours.  The movie remains sort of faithful to the board game, but does its own thing.  Also, it shows just how badass military veterans can be (even if they're old enough to have served in World War II), especially in the face of an alien invasion.  Also also, it's nice to see a movie where the aliens aren't immune to conventional weaponry (even a couple of cruise missiles or some five inch cannon rounds can take down a massive alien ship, and 20 mm rounds can shoot down smaller projectiles).  For a summer blockbuster, this one is just like the majority: dumb fun.

Rating: 70/100

Youth in Revolt

"In the movies the good guy gets the girl.  In real life it's usually the prick."  Are you a nice guy, who has always dreamed of just being a complete asshole sometimes?  That's the whole point of this movie: Michael Cera gets to play the nice guy AND the dick that is somehow irresistible to women.  And it's the same character, but they're different characters!  It's a little confusing, but very funny.  The most notable feature is the excellent cast, which includes Cera, Steve Buscemi, Zach Galifianakis, and Fred Willard.  A great little gem, this is actually based on a book of the same name by C.D. Payne.

Rating: 91/100

Team America: World Police

"Remember, there is no 'I' in Team America."  "Yes, there is."  From the creators of South Park, we get... this.  It's a puppet movie... for adults.  And the puppets all have deliberately crappy motion (because, y'know, they're freakin' puppets) and little puppet clothes and weapons and everything.  And they have to stop a puppet of Kim Jong-il (R.I.P., little one) from doing... something terrible to the puppet world (which in this case is the real world, just with puppets).  Do you think I'm overdoing the whole puppet thing?  Anyways, it's rude, it's crude, but it's hilarious.  EVERYTHING is hilarious.  And, much like South Park, there is a valuable lesson to be learned (which conservatives seem to really like).  Not for the faint of heart.

Rating: 76/100

Transformers

"One shall stand, one shall fall." An update of the classic 1980s cartoon, Michael Bay's big-screen interpretation of the franchise gets a lot of things right. For starters, Peter Cullen (who voiced Autobot leader Optimus Prime, as well as Ironhide, in the original cartoon) returns to bring Prime to life for a new generation of fans. In addition, the characters are mostly ones from the original show, and retain many of the personality traits that made them so distinct (Starscream is a traitorous jet, Ratchet is the medic, etc.), and the classic transformation sound is reused. But enough with nostaglgia; let's get on with the review.
Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is your ordinary teenaged boy, living in a suburban home with Mom, Dad, and Mojo (his dog). One day, he gets a car. Turns out, this is no ordinary car, but rather Bumblebee, an Autobot who has been assigned to protect Sam, because the Decepticons want him - dead or alive.  Cue everything blowing up (it IS a Michael Bay movie, after all).  Good fun, and a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Rating: 90/100

Grease

Grease is an awesome movie.  It's one of those rare musicals that actually translates extremely well for adults (and by that, I mean that Grease is NOT a juvenile movie).  Based on an extremely raunchy stage play that became a massive hit on Broadway, Grease generally follows the path of standard musical romance movies, but actually deals with what the men in the stories really want: sex.  I know I'm being blunt here, but that's what Grease really is about: sex, sex, and sex.  With song lyrics like "you know that I ain't braggin'/she's a real pussy wagon" ("Greased Lightning"), you can't mistake it for anything else.  This is also one of the few movies that actually deals with real issues in high school (notably teen pregnancy).  Often thought of as a kiddie flick (when it really is anything but), Grease is probably my favorite musical of all time, beating out the remake of Hairspray by a wide margin (and I really liked Hairspray).

Rating: 87/100

Wonder Woman

I liked this movie, even though I barely know anything about Wonder Woman (or most superheroes, for that matter - I don't tend to read comic books).  It's good, however, to see a superhero movie that's not too juvenile (like the Spider-man films) and actually involves someone who has superpowers (unlike Batman or Iron Man).  The animation of the movie is superb (although the F-22s at the beginning of the movie, while recognizable, are poorly done), and the voice acting is of a high quality.  I actually was able to get into the movie quite readily, in spite of having little prior knowledge of any of the characters.  However, in spite of the relative ease of viewing for non-fans, I'm sure that hardcore fans will find stuff in here that will keep them watching.  If you have the time, give this one a look.

Rating: 80/100

The Notebook

"What happens if a car comes?"  "We die."  I like this movie.  I don't care what people may say, I like this movie (for the record, I'm a straight male).  I don't understand what other guys don't like about this movie - it's very charming, and quite steamy at times (don't get too excited though, you pervs).  While there have been many romantic films before The Notebook (and many since), what makes The Notebook so special is its simplicity, and the chemistry between its leading players.  No plot description is needed - this story has been done millions of times through the ages.  As cliched as it is, The Notebook is still an excellent movie, and should be required viewing for everyone in a romantic relationship (or wishing to be in one).

Rating: 95/100

Mystery Team

"If life was fair, I would have gotten a new bike for my birthday instead of that stupid car!"  Oh, what to say about Mystery Team?  The best way to sum it up would be to say that it's like Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys, or "Scooby-Doo," but for adults.  Basic premise is that three childish teenagers (I think they're just about to graduate from high school) have been running a detective agency since they were little kids.  Back then, everyone thought it was cute.  Now, they just think it's stupid.  They'll take on any case for a nickel, they don't swear, drive, do drugs, etc., ride their bikes everywhere, and drink chocolate milk.  Anyways, one day a little girl comes to them and asks them to solve a mystery.  Turns out, her parents were MURDERED.  The team decides to take on the case, believing that it will give them greater credibility.  Although the film relies on a good deal of crude humor, it's still funny.  Kids would probably appreciate it even more (although the movie is explicitly for teens and adults).  A good watch if you want something decent to occupy your time, but there are better films out there.

Rating: 71/100

The Dictator

Not Sacha Baron Cohen's finest effort, but then again, it's virtually impossible to top Borat.  Still, The Dictator is insanely funny (at least for those who are not easily offended), and offers very sharp political satire, particularly about democracy.  Unlike Cohen's previous efforts, The Dictator takes the form of a plot-driven narrative instead of a mockumentary, following Admiral General Hafez Aladeen, the dictator of the North African Republic of Wadiya.  When traveling to New York to make a speech at the U.N. on his country's nuclear capabilities (note: when attacking Israel with nuclear missiles, the warhead must be pointy so that the victims don't think that a giant dildo is flying towards them), he is kidnapped, and then rescued by a kindly hippie.  Aladeen then conspires with his former nuclear director (who was to be executed) to return to power, and prevent his idiotic body double from signing a treaty that would turn Wadiya into a democracy.  Hilarity ensues.

Rating: 90/100