Monsters vs. Aliens

Directed by: Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Paul Rudd, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski

Running Time: 1h 34min

Just look at the names in the cast for Monsters vs. Aliens and you'd expect a laugh riot with an insane laugh a minute ratio. Not the case. The only one providing consistent laughs is Rogen's character BOB. In fact, most of the characters don't get fully realized, randomly inserting themselves into a thinly held together plot that doesn't delve deep enough and wraps up way too quickly.

But who am i kidding? This is a flick for kids. So, in that sense, it does entertain, especially in 3D. The action is quick and the visuals literally eye-popping (thankfully not our eyes). However, there's a story element missing and any attempts to make the characters cohesively gel and co-exist in a film that has little interest in setting up situations leaves us underwhelmed by the end of it all. This movie would probably work nice as a weekly cartoon series, but for big screen thrills, it doesn't measure up to its ginormic size potential.

Grade: B-

Choke

Directed by: Clark Gregg

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, Clark Gregg, Bijou Phillips

Running Time: 1h 32min

I seriously thought that the book Choke was unfilmable. In the Lolita sense of an unfilmable book due to the thematic content and tonal quality that seems impossible to capture outside of one's mind. Yet, director, adaptor, actor Clark Gregg makes it a labour of love, and succeeds in crafting a film worthy of the followers of Chuck Palahniuk's work. Fans will not be disappointed. Low on budget, high on fulfilling the spirit of the novel, which is categorized for library purposes under the themes of "Sex addiction. Alzheimer's Disease. Religion." Only Chuck could write a novel that pulls those together. Surprisingly, Rockwell, Huston and Macdonald manage to pull it all off. Well casted, well portrayed.

Grade: B+

Watchmen

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Starring:Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino

Running Time: 2h 42min

Visually impressive, Watchmen continues a strong line of comic book adaptations that impeccably capture the tone, look and feel of their source material. More astoundingly, Snyder's version manages to fulfill expectations for one of the greatest graphic novels of the 20th century.

Snyder manages to do this by casting some great role players over big name actors, allowing the viewer to become immersed in the storyline. It's truly awesome how he sets up many shots to directly reflect the artwork of the graphic novel, giving us a film that recreates key details with much precision and accuracy. All the actors are remarkably restrained, as Akerman, Morgan, Haley, and Wilson will certainly have their performances in this film be career highlights when all is said and done. i can't imagine how they could improve this film, as it is visually captivating and thematically enticing, by faithfully sticking to the groundbreaking work it came from.

Grade: A+

One Week

Directed by: Michael McGowan

Starring: Joshua Jackson, Liane Balaban, Campbell Scott, Gord Downie

Running Time: 1h 34min

I can still hear the Sam Roberts song that has become synonymous with this film, a road movie love letter to Canada (with a disregard for the East Coast--every bit as beautiful but apparently not in line with this film's direction). It's a classic marriage of movie and music that becomes a defining memory of each medium.

Not since Goin' Down the Road has a film been driven to be more "Canadian" in its unabashed depiction of Canadian travel and imagery. This is opposed to the more typical disguising of Canadian landmarks in Canadian films trying to appear American, or to an even greater extent, American films shooting in Canada that try to disguise Canadian cities, while neglecting the huge Sam the Record Man spinning records lights in the background.) Indeed, One Week picks up exactly where Garth and Gord and Fiona and Alice left off in Toronto, taking Joshua Jackson's character on a cross road adventure as far west as he can go in Canada.

The premise is universal and philosophical. What would you do if you were told you had one week to live? In true Canadian fashion, the film takes a low key approach to the lead character's response, as he reexamines his life. Narration by Campbell Scott elevates the film, as he is the Canadian equivalent of Morgan Freeman, a voice like no other. His comedic reading coupled with Jackson's subtle acting generate a lot of non-verbal emotion, tension, and revelation.

Though the film takes a few shortcuts towards its conclusion, the old adage, "less is more" applies in this instance. Oftentimes, Canadians film come up short due to budget constraints or the like, but this film's abruptness works, as it leaves the viewer with more to think about, more to contemplate should we find ourselves in the lead character's shoes. It begs us to take less for granted, and to get out and see this great, big, beautiful country of ours. Not a perfect film by any means, but a satisfying slice of Canadiana that is best seen in theatres, if not in real life.

Grade: B+

Let the Right One In

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson

Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson

Running Time: 1h 55min

Spooky, enthralling, and everything a young teenage vampire romance should be. Let the Right One In does for the vampire genre what Ginger Snaps did for the werewolf film. Playing the premise very real, on a shoestring budget, gives the supernatural element of the genre an immediacy and rawness that makes a believer out of anyone. Focusing on the character of the vampire, and what it would mean for someone bitten at youth, the film situates the story in a realistic setting, filled with real teenage problems. In fact, this is more a film about bullying and fitting in, that just so happens to have a vampire character.

The two young leads are irrepressible in their ability to compel us to watch and root for them. Despite its darkness, the film yearns to be uplifting, even with its stunning, disturbing conclusion that is open to interpretation and mixed emotions. As all vampire films are about love, eroticism, and carnal behaviour, by positioning this one within the age where youth is discovering and uncomfortable with it all, allows for some interesting, unexplored territory.

Thought provoking, suspenseful, and eerily paced, Let the Right One In is a refreshing take on a genre that has had its fair share of attention and become somewhat tired and overblown. Instead, this treatment is like a "Year One" take, more akin to classic Vampire lore and film, than modern goth lite vampire chic. Definitely a film that will stick in your mind.

Grade: A-

Hotel for Dogs

Directed by:Thor Freudenthal

Starring: Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow

Running Time: 1h 40min

Not as syrupy and silly as i thought it would be, Hotel for Dogs is actually a lost art. A live action family film that doesn't pander to its young audience, yet remains entertaining and uplifting. Cheadle adds a nice dramatic presence to the film and supplies some of the bigger laughs. The young leads are likeable, and the dogs don't become too cute or too much of a focus, hence distraction. The story remains front and center and some of the inventive designs of the titular hotel conjures up Pee Wee Herman or Wallace and Grommit. Still, i can't grade the film much higher, as it delivers on expectations, while offering few, if any surprises. A decent rental for families with young children.

Grade: C+