Transformers (2007)

Michael Bay's 2007 interpretation of the 1980's tv show/toy line is entertaining if nothing else. Centered around Shia LaBoeuf's character Sam Witwicky, whose first car just so happens to be an Autobot (one of the good transforming robots from outer space), there are three things this movie has plenty of: action, plot holes, and semi-awkward to awkward dialogue.

The funniest scene in the entire film takes place between Sam and his parents, played by Kevin Dunn and Julie White. As they argue in Sam's room, they exhibit what the rest of the film lacks: chemistry. But then again, it's difficult to have chemistry with main characters who are CGI - no matter how cool they may look.

Rating: 3/5
Recommended for: People who don't ask questions that begin with "Wait. Why don't they just...?" during movies. Also, action buffs.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is hands down the deepest and darkest of all the Batman films. The Nolan men weaved a clever and visually intriguing tale. In this one Batman and Lieutenant Gordon are pitted against the manic Joker, whom the crime bosses have called in a bid to regain their power. It's difficult to say much more about the plot without giving too much away, so let's just say it'll have plenty of twists and turns (and an awesome in camera flipping semi-truck) to keep your interest. This may even be one action film that'll be nominated for more than special effects or make-up come awards time.

Heath Ledger gives a thoughtful and committed performance as the Joker. It's always nice to see someone on the screen who has really developed a character, even if he is a bad guy. I read somewhere that he even put on his own clown make-up every day because The Joker would have done it himself. It's a mess but it's a commitment. The best part is with that make-up and that intense of a character, it's easy to forget that's Heath Ledger in there - keeping you rooted in the story.

Christian Bale continues his conflicted Bruce Wayne performance from Batman Begins, although someone decided it was a good idea for his Batman voice to be a much lower, raspy whisper-yell. It wasn't. Maggie Gyllenhaal does an admirable job taking over the Rachel Dawes role, even though the character only exists to give other characters someone to chase after. Gary Oldman puts on his good guy boots and gives it his scrappy all as Lt. Gordon. And shaking his head at them all is the ever-wise Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.

Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Everyone who is not a little kid.

The Unsuspected (1947)

The beginning of The Unsuspected finds a dead woman in the house of Victor Grandison, the host of a radio show that tells true crime stories. It's soon followed by the return of one of his nieces who'd been believed dead. The niece, Matilda, is accompanied by Steven, who claims to be her husband, but to whom she can't remember ever being married. Then there's Althea, Victor's other niece, who is married to Oliver, who was once engaged to Matilda. And Althea's not exactly thrilled that Matilda is still alive.

So yes, to say the plot is very thick right from the beginning is an understatement. And everyone manages to keep it interesting as the plot gets even more muddled before everything suddenly becomes clear. At that point, the audience is in on it but there's nothing we can do to warn the dwindling cast of good guys.

The cast gives a great ensemble performance, delivering lines naturally with nothing too overdramatic until a Grandison speech in the later half. Highlights come from Claude Rains, the penultimate supporting actor, as Victor Grandison, commanding your attention and fully committing to his character - a man who doesn't waver from his end goals for a second. Joan Caulfield is a great person for the audience to empathize with as she wanders about mildly confused at the center of the story. Director Michael Curtiz floats us through the Grandison home, making us familiar with all the rooms and giving us the impression that trouble is waiting just around the corner. The black and white film is really taken advantage of with the use of lighting to set the mood - an example being the soft glow that seems to emanate from the Matilda. And the whole production is so smooth, Hollywood could never match it with a remake today.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend for: Those who'd enjoy a good mystery without needing to grip the edge of their seat.

Get Smart (2008)

The 2008 rehashing of the 1965 television show has 300% more action and 15% of the comedy. In other words, if you were looking for the silliness of the original show, you missed it by that much.

On the tv show, the 1960s cold war battle reigned between the super-secret spy agencies of CONTROL (good guys) and KAOS (bad guys). The film is set in modern day and CONTROL is alleged to have been disbanded, but of course, it hasn't. Maxwell Smart is a CONTROL analyst yearning to be a field agent and when KAOS learns the identities of the CONTROL agents, Smart is finally called up to go check on suspicious KAOS movements in Russia. Being a newbie, the Chief sends veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) to go with him because, conveniently enough, 99's just had plastic surgery and KAOS will never recognize her.

Overall we have a bunch of people running around using the names from the original show and a few catchphrases but not much else. Steve Carrell's Maxwell Smart is actually really good at his job - and not just by accident. Of course he still is a bit klutzy like the original, but that's mainly used for gratuitous violence against him. The Rock makes a notable appearance as Agent 23, the super agent Max aspires to be like (more about him in the spoiler section). Meanwhile Anne Hathaway shows she can do some action movie moves, but her most impressive move is with her voice. About a half hour in, she slips on a bobbed wig (very reminiscent of an original 99 do) and slips into the voice of Barbara Feldon (the original 99). Whether it's intentional or not, It actually made me feel a bit more comfortable with this Get Smart alternate universe.

If they'd renamed the characters, agencies, and the movie itself this could have been a decent movie. But when it comes to the bar set by the original, this film does fancy tricks all around the bar but cannot quite reach it.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommended for: People who've never seen the tv show.

Extended Review: A plot line taken from the first few episodes of the show is the ally who actually works for KAOS. For the film, it's Agent 23/The Rock. Between distracting us with just being awesome and the writers pushing him off screen for a large chunk of time, it is actually a surprise when he's revealed. The chase sequence that ensues is impressive, but perhaps too high-quality for this movie. It serves as another reminder that this movie could have been better if they called it something else.