Saturday night we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007,PG) (ScreenIt! Review).  From the ScreenIt! review:

A struggling songwriter thinks he's hit pay dirt when he finds himself in the company of three chipmunks who can not only talk, but also sing in perfect, if high-pitched harmony.

It was OK.  I wondered if they skimped on the special effects because the munks at times didn't seem as well done as I'd have expected.  The boys enjoyed it, especially when someone was shaking his booty or making a rude noise.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Saturday night we watched Babel (2006,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Various strangers' lives are affected and become intertwined by an act of violence.

I usually dig films like this, but this one not so much.  I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Tonight we finished watching World Trade Center (2006,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Family members worry about and rescuers try to find victims buried in the rubble following the attacks of 9/11 and subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

The depiction of the anguish of the families of the missing first responders was remarkable and  brought Lisa to tears.  Somehow I didn't care for Nicholas Cage's performance.  I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Friday night we watched Alpha Dog (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From the ScreenIt! Review:

A group of wannabe suburban gangsters must deal with the repercussions of kidnapping an associate's 15-year-old brother.

This had potential (and it was interesting to learnt that it was based on a true story), but in the end it seemed kind of flat.  The most interesting part to me was the way the Jake Mazursky character pretty much left Truelove with no options.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Tonight I finished watching My House in Umbria (2003).  From Rotten Tomatoes:

Based on the novella by William Trevor, MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA is set in the sprawling Italian countryside. After a tragic train accident, four survivors find solace in the villa of an English writer, Mrs. Delahunty (Maggie Smith).

This was a bit dull and never really grabbed me, though it certainly makes hanging out in the Italian countryside look attractive.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Today I finished watching HBO's documentary Hard as Nails.  From the HBO web site:

When Justin Fatica steps to the altar, he becomes a whirlwind of energy, using a mix of professional wrestling, hip hop and Scripture to bring Jesus to his audience. An unordained Catholic minister and the founder of the Hard as Nails youth ministry, Fatica employs an intense, over-the-top approach that has connected with thousands of troubled teenagers, but also inspires resistance within his own Catholic Church. HARD AS NAILS paints an intimate portrait of this driven, charismatic man.

It was an interesting documentary.  The Hard as Nails ministry uses a lot more yelling and screaming than I'm used to hearing.  Maybe it's effective, though I guess I don't see much precedent in scripture.  Justin seems like a dedicated guy.  I like his idea of frequenting a barber shop on the black side of town and interacting with the folks there because it makes him uncomfortable.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Back in December we watched Meet the Robinsons (2007,G) (ScreenIt! Review) for movie night.  From ScreenIt!:

A 12-year-old orphan and failed inventor finds his world turned upside down when a 13-year-old takes him into the future in hopes of fixing a time-space continuum problem caused by some villains' nefarious plans.

It was enjoyable but nothing special.  I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Back in December the kids watched Balto (1995,G) for movie night.  From Reel.com:

When Nome, Alaska runs out of the antitoxin needed to fight off a diphtheria epidemic, dog teams are the only way to obtain the crucial medicine. Balto the wolf-dog proves his loyalty by leading a dangerous mission through the Alaskan wilderness.

It's interesting that this was based "loosely" on a true story...but it must have been quite a disappointment in its day that this was turned out by Spielberg.  It was OK but unremarkable.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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Last night I finished watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).

To free his imprisoned fiancée, a former blacksmith turned swashbuckler tries to find a former pirate acquaintance who's trying to free himself from owing his soul to none other than Davy Jones.

Jam-packed with action and quirkiness.  I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still enjoyable.

I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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A few weeks back I watched Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A NASCAR racer must contend with his fall from the top of the sport at the hands of a foreign driver.

I was surprised when I realized that I had been watching for quite a while before noticing tat the "foreign driver" was Sacha Baron Cohen.  The film was quirky enough to be kinda funny despite a tame storyline.  I give it 3 out of 5.

- Jonathan

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