Bolt

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes

2.75 stars out of 4

Always a sucker for cartoons and talking dogs, I liked this movie a lot.  Bolt is the story of a dog who works  in telelvision, but doesn’t know it.  He thinks he has superpowers and is really saving his “owner” each and every day.

Bolt accidentally escapes from the television set and is out in the real world trying to save his owner.  John Travolta is the voice of Bolt and Miley Cyrus plays the roll of his master.  If you ever watch Larry David’s show “Curb Your Enthusiam” you’ll recoginze  the voice of the cat Bolt meets out in the real world.  She’s played by the wife of Larry David’s agent in the HBO television show.  Sussie Essman does a great job, but would sound even better if she was allowed to swear.  Of course, she doesn’t because this is a movie for kids.

There are not a lot of pop culture references or jokes for adults, but this is a breezy piece of animation good for the little ones.

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The Day the Earth Stood Still

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1hour 43 minutes

2.5 stars out of 4

It’s got all the bells and whistles of sci-fi movies these days.  There are some cool special effects and some loop holes in the story.  This is a remake of a classic from the 1950’s, which I have never seen but I think the message is the same.  Humans should take better care of the earth.

Keanu Reeves plays an alien who comes to planet earth to take care of business.  Jennifer Connelly is a scientist who makes a connection with Reeves and does her best to save us all.  I wasn’t bored in this movie, but I wasn’t blown away either.  I really didn’t feel like I was on the edge of my seat wondering if we were all doomed.  Maybe it’s because I’m so used to special effects or maybe because the movie wasn’t that special.

There’s plenty to see during the holidays, but if you want some good special effects which are made even better on the IMAX go check this one out.

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Seven Pounds

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes

3.75 stars out of 4

Maybe I was just feel extra emotional the day I saw this movie, but I loved it.  I’m not embarassed (okay maybe a little) to say I cried my eyes out during this film.

There’s been a lot of talk or non-talk about this movie.  All the people who are associated with it aren’t telling much about the story line saying it will ruin the movie.  I agree.  However, I figured out the mystery in this movie about half way through it, but still loved it.  This is not like “The Sixth Sense” or “The Usual Suspects” where you don’t figure it out until the very last scene.  It’s okay if you figure out what’s going on.  In fact, once I did that’s what made me even more weepy.

Will Smith and Rosario Dawson do an incredible job of showing us a different kind of love story.

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