Movie Micro-Reviews: Edition 85

Some really excellent films this time.

Descendents (The)	83	I’m sure real families have some of these same personal issues.  Clooney played the role of a father forced to finally deal with being a real dad, and did it well.
Hugo	81	My recommendation – don’t find out anything about this movie before you see it.  But see it.  You will like it.  There’s a little something magical about it.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King	100	In the last edition, you saw we had seen the first two again. So you just knew you would see this, right?
Lockout	40	Cannot recommend this – wants to be “sci-fi” but the application of science is totally wrong.  Wants to be “action” but the editing puts shots together about ½ second too short each time, so the action is hard to follow.  We know Guy Pearce can be better than this. The only believable character was Maggie Grace’s
National Treasure	81	A clever action mystery.  Fun clues.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets	81	Another well-written mystery.  They followed the formula they created in the first movie, and it worked.  Fun!  We will own it.
Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (The)	70	Rooney Mara plays one of the most interesting characters in recent memory – Lisbeth Salander - with complete dedication.  The mystery was very good.  All in all, I liked the movie.  BUT.  But some of it is so disturbing, so graphic, so violent that I can’t recommend it except with that warning. I won’t see it again.
50/50	62	J G-L is a likeable actor, who seems to be able to handle most any role.  Here, as a young man faced with a 50% chance of surviving a cancer which is aggressively attacking him, he helps us put ourselves in that sad situation.  My main problem with the movie is Seth Rogan, who seems to play the same rude sex-obsessed “buddy” every time I see him.  Though he has some redeeming qualities, it’s hard for me to watch him sometimes.  That was the case here.
Avengers	94	Wow!  Such a good comic book movie!  OK, if you had not seen the previous movies, maybe you’d be a little lost.  But, of course, I HAVE seen them, and this movie is a fantastic result. Heroes with big egos fighting each other – because that happens in comics all the time!  Heroes dealing with their personal issues, both as strengths and weaknesses – a Marvel hallmark.  And action-upon-action.  Yet none of it would make the movie great without the humor.  So much humor!  Loved it!
Much Ado About Nothing	75	Shakespeare at his most accessible.  Kenneth Branagh makes the Bard’s words sound natural.  Emma Thompson is a wonderful Beatrice.  And Denzel Washington brings more life to Don Pedro than Shakespeare probably ever dreamed possible with the actors of his time.  Delightful.