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Ladder 49
I have real mixed feelings about Ladder 49. On one hand it is a tribute to the brave firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to save others. At the same time it relentlessly pounds that fact home. It isn't really an action movie, although it contains plenty of action. It has some frightening and realistic special effects that truly give the feeling of peril. This is a film driven by character. There are some rich performances most notable are John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix who is the best he's ever been. The story line feels clichéd at times. And you will need a box or two of tissues for the somewhat heavy handed ending.  3 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lady In the Water
M Night Shyamalan's Lady In the Water is far from his best effort.  It is also a victim of bad marketing.  This is really a fairy tale, not a horror film.  It is convoluted and hard to follow at times.  It is rescued somewhat by a wonderful performance by the great Paul Giamatti along with the rest of the cast that does their best with sketchy characters.  A good effort, but this doesn't quite measure up to the standard we expect and is one that you should watch after you rent the DVD.  3 Stars Out of 5

The Ladykillers
In The Ladykillers, genuinely funny dark humor abounds as the Coens once again weave their magic.  Tom Hanks is supremely entertaining, and the rest of the characters are very broad, but get lots of laughs. It is ultimately the film as a whole that wins.  It is a quirky film but I loved it!  4 ½ Stars Out of 5

The Lake House
The Lake House is a kind of cross between You Got Mail and Somewhere in Time.  But this is complete and utter nonsense involving a magic mailbox that lets people living two years apart correspond and somehow fall in love.  The only thing I thought was entertaining about this horrific mess of a movie was watching Keanu Reeves try to act.  There is a scene where he tries to cry that had me in stitches!  1 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lara Croft TombRaider: The Cradle Of Life
Lara Croft TombRaider: The Cradle Of Life is better than the original with more thought given to the plot while still loading up on the action. But there are many points that will have you scratching your head at their sheer stupidity. I wasn't a fan of the original, but I was pleasantly surprised by this.  3 Stars Out of 5

Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector
I like Larry The Cable Guy.  But there appears to be two of them.  The Larry that makes me laugh so hard I hurt in his stand up routine, and the gassy Larry in this movie.  Just about every joke in this movie is scatological.  That's funny the first 20 or 30 times, but starts to wear thin after awhile.  Yes, he has some good jokes in the movie, And Larry fans will be somewhat amused, but Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector is a movie that only has fleeting moments of fun and mostly stupid jokes that fall flat.  In this film, he didn't "git er done." 2 ½ stars Out of 5

Lars and the Real Girl - - Rated PG-13
In Lars and the Real Girl, Ryan Gosling brilliantly plays the damaged and socially challenged Lars, who finds companionship with a life sized, silicone doll.  Although the story involves a sex doll, it never veers into cheap or tawdry humor and is completely innocent and absolutely enjoyable.  It is ultimately about the power of love.  It is offbeat and original, poignant and very, very funny.  5 Stars Out of 5

Last Holiday
Queen Latifah is very talented.  One thing she's not too good at is picking movies to star in.  Last Holiday is a very predictable, very forgettable piece of fluff that asks way too much of the audience for anyone to believe it.  In the film, Queen Latifah plays a somewhat frumpy sales clerk who is told she has three weeks to live.  She then goes through an amazing transformation as she blows her life savings.  She becomes the life of the party and charms people who didn't look twice in her direction before.  Everyone knows that happens ALL the time!  My daughter described this movie as hellacious.  I agree.   2 Stars Out of 5

The Last King of Scotland
Forrest Whittaker's astounding and complex performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland is certain to earn an Academy award nomination and he'll probably win it. (He did.) The movie itself has a few inconsistencies that only take away a small bit from the film.  It's a fictional take on a true life character and events and sometimes gets a bit far fetched.  Every minute Whittaker is on-screen however, is truly riveting and worth the price of admission all by itself.  4 ½ stars Out of 5

The Last Kiss
The Last Kiss isn't really a comedy.  No, this is a movie about bad decisions.  Just about every character in the movie makes a bad decision and then we have to watch them wallow in it.  That's something I don't have to pay 8.50 to watch!  I can do that just fine on my own.  This is also a film that has entirely too much conflict.  I felt uncomfortable the whole movie.  And Zack Braff is really annoying and whiny.  By the end of the film I just wanted to smack him.  2 Stars out of 5

The Last Legion
Colin firth is woefully miscast in The Last Legion as a tough Roman soldier at the fall of Rome.  Yes, Chick Flick Colin Firth with a perm trying to be macho swinging around a sword.  I expected to see Bridget Jones pop out any minute and tell him he needs to put on a sweater.  The movie looks cheap, some of the sets appear like they were made out of paper mache.  It feels awkward, is melodramatic and hokey.   2 Stars Out of 5

The Last Mimzy
The Last Mimzy is a mish-mash of a movie that tries to be a new age environmental E.T. that get's its shots in at the government too.  Problem is, it has lots of plot holes, is too preachy, and isn't enough fun for its audience.  The kids it's aimed at will just squirm until the popcorns gone then ask, "Is it over yet?"  2 ½ Stars Out of 5

The Last Samurai
Tom Cruise may very well get an Oscar nomination for his performance in The Last Samurai.  Ken Watanabe is his costar who should win.  Both performances are powerful, as is this epic movie.  The action sequences are breathtaking and the story is incredibly engaging.  I was blown away by The Last Samurai.  This should be nominated for Best Picture of the year.
5 Stars Out of 5

The Last Shot
The Last Shot is a treat. A great cast that has fun with the script based on a true story of the FBI pretending to produce a movie to nab some mobsters. It has some pretty good laughs and entertaining performances. It's a fun movie about making movies.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5

Laws of Attraction
Laws of Attraction hearkens back to the screwball romantic comedies of the 40's and 50's, and sticks to the formula exactly.  Predictable to a tee, this film has a few laughs and a ton of chemistry between stars Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.  It is pleasant and amusing. 
3 Stars Out of 5

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen starts out OK but the plot quickly becomes muddled, and jumps around from place to place so fast you can hardly keep up. This is set in 1899 but features many things that didn't come around for many years after like a 1920's style automobile. This automobile races around the streets of Venice (In case you didn't know, Venice has no roads…only canals!).  There's a vampire present that seems to be able to stand sunlight just fine. And Dr. Jekyl's Mr. Hyde looks surprisingly like the hulk. This league is not extraordinary, not even close.2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Leatherheads - Universal - Rated PG-13
Leatherheads is nostalgic for old time movies.  That's its problem.  It tries to be something it's not.  It's not an old fashioned screwball comedy.  It is content with looking good rather than being good.  George Clooney seems distracted most of the time while in front of the camera with what's going on behind it, and Renee Zellweger is a caricature of the hard boiled reporter babe she's trying to imitate.  This slow moving plodder also could have done with some editing, having worn out its welcome by the time it grinds to its conclusion.  It has a gameplan, but fails to execute any plays or score any points.  This one's mostly a fumble…but like its star, it looks good.  2 ½ Stars Out of 5

Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde
I really wanted to like Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde. The original was fresh, charming and pretty funny. But even the wonderfully perky Reese Witherspoon can't rescue this forced, unfunny sequel that is clearly all about one thing...cashing in on the success of the original. The story line is idiotic, it's too preachy, and is woefully short on humor.  2 Stars Out of 5

The Legend of Zorro
The Mask of Zorro is a favorite of mine, so I was looking forward to The Legend of Zorro.  It has it's moments.  There is loads of action and some fun, but the zip of its predecessor is gone.  This just feels sort of tired.  Catherine Zeta Jones as Elena has been turned into a nagging wife, and Zorro, somewhat overacted by Antonio Banderas is now a caricature.  The high point of the film is the couple's son - 10 year-old Joaquin played by Mexican import Adrian Alonso who steals every scene he's in, and pretty much steals the movie.  The Legend of Zorro is not awful.  It's just kind of so-so.  And that's disappointing.  3 Stars Out of 5

Let's Go To Prison
Let's Go To Prison is bland unfunny dreck.  There's not a single laugh in the whole movie.  There are loads of tired, typical prison jokes.  But this mean spirited so called comedy should be locked up in solitary.  1 Star Out of 5

Letters From Iwo Jima
Letters From Iwo Jima might be the best movie that Clint Eastwood ever makes.  And that's saying something from an American treasure and truly one of the best director's living today.  Finely crafted in every way, it's a different kind of war movie.  It's a bookend to Eastwood's other film this year, Flags of Our Fathers.  This tells the story of a force that knows it's defeated.  It's not glamorous or uplifting, and is gritty and bloody.   Some might be put off by the subtitles, but they needn't be.  Don't miss it.  5 Stars Out of 5

The Libertine
Johnny Depp's character in The Libertine says at the beginning that you won't like him.  He's right.  Depp's portrayal is interesting to a point, but the film is so boring you never really notice much.  This film is really nothing but horribly written, constant sexual dialogue.  Nothing really happens, except they talk about it.  Add a muddled plot, along with shoddy editing and direction, and even the great Johnny Depp can't rescue this tawdry mess.  2 Stars Out of 5

License to Wed
License To Wed is a romantic comedy that's not romantic and not the least bit comedic.  Just about everyone in the movie is irritating - some more than others.  Josh Flitter and Robin Williams are the more side.  It's sad to see that Williams has started to do movies just for the paycheck.  He won, the audience loses, license revoked…1 ½ Stars Out of 5


The Life Of David Gale
The Life of David Gale is disappointing. I expected an Oscar caliber film with tension and drama, what I got was melodramatic, brusque, heavy handed and preachy. And it also takes a couple of pot shots that conservatives may not be too fond of…This is an unabashedly anti death penalty movie that ends up making it's advocates look cartoonish and demented.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5

Life Or Something Like It
Angelina Jolie and Edward Burns are likable enough, but that can't make up for this contrived and tedious story that is supposed to make you live every day like it is your last. I kept looking at my watch, hoping that the scene I was watching was the last. Some of the scenes made me cringe they were so ridiculous. The ending does rescue some of the stupidity, but only to a point. And is it just me, or are Angelina Jolie's lips getting bigger and bigger?  2 ½ Stars Out of 5

Like Mike
A very enjoyable movie that's not very original. But Lil' Bow Wow has a great screen presence and a wonderful acting ability. This kid screams charisma. Will Smith needs to watch his back. And, it's a lot of fun to see NBA stars try to act...3 ½ Stars out of 5

Lilo & Stitch
I was disappointed by this one. Even my kids (who were really looking forward to it) were disappointed. This has an original idea, and the characters are interesting enough, but it is just missing something. Any great family film entertains everyone. This just doesn't. Sure, it is pleasant enough, but it seems more like an afterthought.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lions For Lambs - MGM - Rated R
Lions For Lambs is a very political film on the Iraq war that is almost all talk.   Tom Cruise plays a senator spouting conservative views with a snarky grin making it obvious he doesn't believe a word he's saying, while it is Meryl Streep who plays the voice of journalism expressing all of the liberal talking points.  She actually says this is the worst time to be an American!  The film is a preachy, self righteous, boring snoozefest.  It's entertainment factor on a scale of one to ten? 2.  And that's how many stars I give it.  2 Stars Out of 5

Little Children
Certainly one of the better movies of 2006, Little Children features a multifaceted story and outstanding performances from Oscar nominees Kate Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley along with the rest of the cast.  Sometimes comic, sometimes painful, sometimes challenging to watch, it never ceases to be incredibly interesting, and incredibly good.  4 ½ Stars Out of 5

Little Man
I like the Wayans brothers.  I even admit to liking gross out humor.  Little Man is a lame one joke movie with plenty of gross out stuff that's not very funny.  A dog urinates all over Marlon Wayan's face…that's where we're supposed to laugh.  It goes on and on with similar bad taste jokes that just aren't funny. The worst part of this hog slush was the gimmick.  I couldn't get over the bad special effects involving transposing Marlon Wayans' face over a much smaller body.  It hovered there looking almost disconnected at times.  To me it wasn't funny, just creepy, and will be nightmare fodder for years to come.   1 ½ Stars Out of 5

Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine is a very funny, warm and wonderful celebration of life with all its twists and turns.  It's filled with terrific performances from the entire cast, This movie is most certainly Oscar bound and is an offbeat delight!  5 Stars Out of 5

Live Free or Die Hard
Check your brain at the door for Live Free or Die Hard.  It's non-stop, far fetched action.  Unbelievable and unbelievably fun, if you let yourself think about it, you might not appreciate some of the fantastic action.  It is a worthy sequel.  Yippie ki yay!  4 Stars Out of 5

The Lizzie McGuire Movie
The Lizzie McGuire Movie actually has a lot going for it. Hillary Duff is entertaining and very watchable. The story will keep pre-teen girls involved, and is good enough for adults to sit though with only minor irritations. My 10-year-old daughter and her friend gave this 5 stars, and that's who this movie is for! Disney is smart and is already planning a sequel. The Lizzy McGuire Movie is pleasant fluff, and I gave it 3 Stars Out of 5.

The Longest Yard
If you want to see The Longest Yard, go rent the original.  The remake follows the storyline, but manages to capture none of the spirit of the original.  While the original was subversive and baad, the remake is bombastic and lame.  In the original, we believed that Burt Reynolds was an ex quarterback.  In the remake we never believe that Adam Sandler was.  In the original, there is a great relationship developed between the quarterback and "coach".  In the remake, the relationship is they eat lunch together.  The original is smart, funny at times, and is a classic.  The remake is a stupid, badly acted, sorry disgrace. 
1½ Stars Out of 5

Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World
If you like Albert Brooks, (and I do) you'll love Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World.  His trademark humor is evident throughout.  There are loads of very funny moments, but I especially liked the running joke featuring the outsourced phone centers in India for everything from computers to the screen actors guild, to the White House.  4 Stars Out of 5
 
The Lookout
Why isn't Joseph Gordon-Levitt making more movies?  His performance as a man with a brain injury is absolutely brilliant in The Lookout.  It's an interesting, twisty story that grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn't let go.  3 ½ Stars Out of 5

Looney Tunes: Back in Action
In Looney Tunes: Back in Action we get hit over and over the head with product placement. Is it a joke? I think they may want us to thin so, but it's not. There are loads of reasonably funny in-jokes and movie references that the kids won't get. Like nods to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" "Psycho" and even director Joe Dante's own, "Gremlins." There is lot's of zany fun from Steve Martin. But you never really believe that the toons are actually there with the live actors. They just don't match up the way that they did in the much better "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"
3 Stars Out of 5

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a really long film clocking in at 2 hours and 59 minutes. That's three hours of pure cinema magic. The special effects are tremendous, but the interweaving stories can get a bit confusing, and don't even try to watch this if you haven't seen the first film or read the books. I would also recommend reviewing the first film just before watching this to get back up to speed. This movie doesn't review anything…it just picks right up and continues on…The epic battle sequences are amazing, and the computer generated character, Golum is a lot of fun. If you liked the first film you'll like this one, but it really leaves you craving the third and final film of the trilogy, but you'll have to wait another year for it.
4 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lords of Dogtown
Lords of Dogtown is decent but flawed when compared to the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys."  Both films were written by Stacy Peralta who was one of the Z-Boys.  But the theatrical and somewhat fictionalized account loses something in the translation.  The documentary was gritty and contained footage of the real thing as it happened.  The Hollywood version glosses over much and, while it is entertaining, seems like only a thin, plastic veneer. 
3 Stars Out of 5

Lord Of War
Lord of War is a politically charged black comedy with Nicolas Cage playing the most anti, antihero I've seen in a long time.  It is Cages performance that drives this movie.  He's one of today's finest actors and this part suits him perfectly.  He plays an arms dealer with no scruples and no conscience.  It's a part that is hard to imagine being played by anyone else.  The film, however isn't as good as Cage's performance.  It comes off as a heavy handed anti gun tome that drags in places and would have benefited from less narration, and more editing.  3 Stars Out of 5
 

Lost in La Mancha
Lost In La Mancha is a heartbreaking, but intensely interesting documentary about Murphy's Law and a film that did not survive it. Everything goes wrong during the making of a film that I'd really like to see made someday. I came away with the opinion that Terry Gilliam is a misunderstood genius who needs another chance to show his greatness. The "behind the scenes" view of film making is raw and involving. I sure enjoyed the movie, but left with a pit in my stomach that took a while to go away.
4 Stars Out of 5

Lost In Translation
Bill Murray gives the performance of his life in Lost In Translation. Scarlett Johansson's unhappy newlywed is the perfect companion to Murray's washed up actor. The script is insightful and hugely entertaining. The only thing I could find wrong with the film is there were two scenes where you actually see the boom mike overhead…why the film makers let that slip not once but twice is beyond me. That aside, this is a funny and poignant film that I thoroughly enjoyed.4 ½ Stars Out of 5

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera
And I gotta tell you about a DVD that has just been released. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera is a new movie that recreates perfectly the look and feel of the 1950's B horror movies. It is very funny and one that every fan of old horror movies- like myself- ought to see. It is a real treat.

A Lot Like Love
A Lot Like Love is a lot like most other romantic comedies.  Ashton Kutcher is a lot like he is in every other movie he's ever been in, and Amanda Peet is too.  A lot.  And the movie is a lot like "When Harry Met Sally."  I must say it has it's moments, but they are relatively few.  Wait till this arrives on DVD. 
2 ½  Stars Out of 5
 
Love, Actually
The great ensemble cast and intertwining stories propel this wonderful film! But it is not for kids! One story line features quite a bit of nudity. But adults should find this movie quite entertaining and well worth the price of admission. The great ensemble cast takes this film up a notch and turns it into an absolute delight.
4 stars Out of 5

Love Don't Cost A Thing
Maybe Love Don't Cost A Thing, but movie tickets do.  And you'd be better off spending your money on another film.  This update of Can't Buy Me Love isn't much more than mildly entertaining syrupy fluff.  Wait until it's on cable…
2 ½  Stars Out of 5

Love in the Time of Cholera - New Line - Rated R
Love In the Time of Cholera suffers from bad casting and some really bad performances from the usually fine Javier Bardem and John Leguizamo.  Add in bad aging makeup that looks like the actors were exposed to a putty machine explosion, and you've got a movie that aspires to greatness, but is really just an over long and misguided film with a bad title. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5

Love Me If You Dare
Love Me If You Dare is a bit insane but fun, and is very involving especially in the first three quarters. The last part does lag a bit, and the end is a head-scratcher. But I did enjoy it.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lucky Number Slevin
Lucky Number Slevin has lots of twists, smart direction and some enjoyable dialogue. It feels a bit bloated in the middle and could have benefited from some editing.  But the performances are very good, and so is this film.  3 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lucky You
If you watch the overlong Lucky You and don't know poker you might get lost. It really bogs down during the numerous card playing sequences.   There is no real chemistry between Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore, but Robert Duval gives his usual great performance.  The film is bland but very mildly agreeable and forgettable.  Lucky You - not so lucky.   2 ½ Stars Out of 5

Lust, Caution - Focus Features - Rated NC-17
Much has been made out of Ang Lee's latest film, Lust, Caution getting an NC-17 rating.  And while its sex scenes are strong, they are not pornographic.  But they are necessary to the film, which is far more than the 10 minutes or so of nudity.  This is a long, intense and very good war thriller.  I left the theater with only one word on my mind - devastating.  4 Stars Out of 5