1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Prestige
The Prestige is visually amazing, and very entertaining. Performances by the entire cast are very good, and there are enough twists and turns to ensure a lot of fun. My one beef with this film was a semi-unbelievable ending, but the ride to get there is so great I can forgive it. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Pride
Pride an inspirational true story about a group of kids in Philadelphia that start a swim team and the coach that inspires them to bigger things. It's a typical sports movie filled with the typical clichés. But, Terrence Howard is absolutely superb and makes this an incredibly watchable movie. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice features a tremendous performance by Kiera Knightley who proves that she indeed can act. I also very much liked Donald Sutherland in his humor filled role as her father. The production for the most part is superb, with magnificent camera work. It is giggly, light and delightful. 4 Stars Out of 5
Prime
Prime has one thing going for it. Meryl Streep. She can do anything. She is far and away the best part of this film. She delivers some of the best comedic expressions I have ever seen in a movie. But expressions do not a movie make! It's funny in spots. But it's overlong, not believable and cannot overcome its massive flaws. There are some grand build ups but when we expect the big punch line, it fires blanks. Prime isn't. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Primeval
They should have called Primeval "Attack of the Thirty Foot Croc." Because that's what it is. Its plot and characters have been lifted from Jaws, but this falls into the so bad its funny category. Its unintentional comic moments run fast and furious. But this fails to generate any excitement or suspense, because it's a predictable, stupid movie about a big croc! And that's what it is…a croc…1 Star Out of 5
The Prince and Me
Take Coming to America, and mix it with The Princess Diaries, throw in a dumbed-down, predictable script with lots of stupid moments, and what do you get? The Prince and Me! Here's an example of the stupidity. The Royals in this are supposed to be from Denmark, but they speak with English accents!
2 Stars Out of 5
The Producers
The Producers is very very funny. Matthew Broderick and Nahan Lane reprise their roles from the Broadway music with great success. Uma Thurman joins them and is less effective, but Will Ferrel once again steals the show. I laughed a lot. And a word to the wise, don't leave before the credits are through, or you'll miss more fun!
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Prom Night - Screen Gems - Rated PG-13
What happens when you take the slash out of a slasher film? You get Prom Night! It's PG-13, so it's pretty tame and devoid of anything remotely frightening. The most suspense it can work up is, who will be the king and queen of the prom? There are loads of unintentional laugh inducing moments, so it's got that going for it. But the scariest part is when Brittany Snow is hiding under the bed in her hotel room. Did you hear what I just said? She is under the bed in a hotel room! You NEVER do that! Hasn't she watched those shows where they turn on a black light in those rooms? THAT gave me the creeps. 1 Star Out of 5
The Protector
It's a genre we never thought we'd see. The martial arts elephant movie. The Protector is a silly Thai film starring the amazing Tony Jaa as a man who really wants his stolen elephants back and is willing to kick the poop out of anyone who gets in his way. The film is a mishmash of subtitles and bad dubbing, but the action scenes with Tony Jaa are pretty incredible. Disregard the story and watch it for the action. 3 Stars Out of 5
Pulse
I didn't see the Japanese movie that Pulse is a remake of, but I doubt it was as silly as the American version. In this film, because of a computer virus, ghosts are unleashed into the mortal realm to kill unsuspecting computer users through wireless networks, and cell phone signals. Red duct tape is the only thing that blocks them, but I kept asking why couldn't they just turn the transmitters off? 2 Stars Out of 5
Punch Drunk Love
Punch Drunk Love is offbeat, entertaining, and easily Adam Sandler's best performance ever. He shows us that he is more than the one-note talent that he has demonstrated in his previous movies. Emily Watson is wonderful and makes a perfect match for Sandler's oddball character. The movie itself is obviously low budget, and feels somewhat unfinished, but it gets 4 Stars Out of 5
The Punisher
The Punisher has some incredibly over the top, vicious violence. This is a comic book turned into a movie. But this contains no humor at all. It is reasonably well acted, but is an assault on not only the characters that are receiving the revenge, but on the audience. In one especially squirm-in-your-seat scene, a character that has multiple facial piercings, has them forcibly removed with a pair of pliers. I felt punished by The Punisher. 2 Stars Out of 5
Pursuit of Happyness
There is not much new in The Pursuit of Happyness. It's a true rags to riches story but that's been done over and over again. What makes this film a cut above the rest is an amazing Will Smith. He makes this a way above average touching and inspirational film. I really felt his emotions and I enjoyed seeing him act against his real life son. He makes this one of the year's best! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
