The Wanderers

Actors:  Ken Wahl, John Friedrich, Karen Allen, Toni Kallem

Rating:  6 out of 10, this has really not aged well.  I can remember absolutely loving this movie when it first came out – thinking it was so cool.  Maybe it’s sad to see a young Ken Wahl knowing what the depth he sunk to with drugs.  The rest of the cast is fairly forgettable except Karen Allen and Toni Kallem who both shine.  Again, as supposed New York City gangs these guys come across as actors.  You can also see the microphone in several scenes.

MVP:  Toni Kallem as the suffering, fertile girlfriend Despie, funny to think she went on to play the wife of Big Pussy in the Sopranos

X-Men First Class

Actors:  James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Oliver Platt

Rating:  8 out of 10, I wasn’t too excited about this when it first came out but the cast does a fantastic job of selling the story and making you care about the characters.  It was fascinating to see the back stories of the characters from the earlier movies – especially the relationship between McAvoy and Fassbender.  Bacon does evil extremely well.  My only criticism is that the movie tries to do too much and therefore kind of drags at time.  It was as if the editor just did not want to leave anything on the floor.  This was a very entertaining movie.

MVP:  Michael Fassbender as the young Magneto has incredible screen presence – we’ll hear more from him

Your Highness

Actors:  Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Theroux, Toby Jones, Damian Lewis

Rating:  6 out of 10, this was an interesting choice for Portman following her Oscar win.  This movie just doesn’t work despite its stellar cast.  McBride, a guy I usually like, is not capable of carrying a full length movie and his attempt at an English accent is a disaster.  There are a bunch of interesting double entendres but overall this movie is just not funny enough despite the great talent in the cast.

MVP:  Franco as the kind of gay hero prince

Zombieland

Actors:  Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigale Breslin, Bill Murray

Rating:  7 out of 10, really quirky comedy set against, of all things, a zombie apocalypse.  My daughter recommended this and I laughed through almost the whole thing.  Harrelson is a great psycho, as always and Stone is very impressive as a femme fatale.  The movie is carried though by Eisenberg as the geek narrator and his rules for survival.  Bill Murray is hilarious in a bit part as himself.

MVP:  Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus, the narrator and survivor geek

PHASE 1 COMPLETE!!!!!

Well that was a bit of a pain - going through that entire list.  At the same time it was kind of fun as it was like visiting old friends.  Now I have the task of watching and reviewing the films I have bought since I finished the last of these.  Hopefully my wife doesn't divorce me when she hears I'm starting this up again.  I'll blame my daughter.

2 Days in the Valley

Actors:  Danny Aiello, Jeff Daniels, Eric Stolz, Teri Hatcher, Charlize Theron, James Spader, Glenne Headley

Rating:  7 out of 10, enjoyable, quirky with great characters and a plot that moves right along with numerous plot lines and then all of a sudden they all connect.  You just gotta love the Aiello – Headley match.

MVP:  Aiello is awesome as the golden hearted would be hit man

The 6th Day

Actors:  Arnold Swartzenegger, Wendy Crewson, Robert Duvall, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rappaport, Michael Rooker

Rating:  6 out of 10, some cool demonstrations of just over the horizon technologies for day to day living with Arnold being Arnold – boy just cannot act but it’s hard to not watch him.  Very strong supporting cast and interesting story – Goldwyn always makes a great villain.

MVP:  The Governator of course, bad girl Talia (Sarah Wynter) was interesting