Happy Feet

Characters voiced by Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams

I love this movie. Its definitely one to own and it has a killer sounndtrack as well. A whole bunch of penguins that sing and sing. This gorgeous couple (Kidman and Jackman) have a little one. Since mommy and daddy sing so beautifully, it is expected that son will follow suit. So wrong. Instead, son seems to have something wrong with his feet that makes him tap dance and he cant sing to save his life.

Being the outsider, he is sent away from the tribe and he bumps into a whole bunch of mexican penguins and of course Lovelace (Williams). Lovelace has an interesting necklace and claims to be in contact with the spirits. Oh and he has a voice like Barry White and all the ladies love him.

There is a fish shortage and off little Mambo (Wood) goes to save the day.

A great story, and the music is sooo beautiful. If animation is your thing, definitely see this.

I would give this 8/10

Night at the Museum

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais.

I went to see this movie last night and it was exactly what i needed. This is such a funny, easy movie.

Ben Stiller plays Larry, a divorced dad with a 10 year old son that cant hold down a job. As a last resort, he accepts a museum gig only to find out that its a night guard job. The museum comes alive at night with hilarious consequences. Robin Williams is a hoot as Teddy Roosevelt - the 26th president of the United States (a fact that he reminds us about at every opportunity). Owen Wilson is a cowboy called Jedidiah and he is mega funny.

I love Ben Stiller and i think he can do no wrong and he doesnt disappoint me. There is a message within this movie but its not till the end that we get it. The special effects are amazing and i feel Larry's fear as the Lions from the Mammals of Africa room chase him down the hall. He is called dum-dum by some statue, receives no help from the retiring guards, his son prefers his mother's new boyfriend who is a stockbroker, some silly monkey tore his instruction book to shreds...it is not a good life for the man.

It all turns around hilariously. I definitely want to own this when it comes out on DVD.

I give this 8/10

Nollywood - Shut In

This movie stars: Bimbo Manuel, Stephanie Okereke and Martins Uroh (of Gulder Ultimate Search 2 fame).

Bimbo Manuel plays a very successful but overprotective father of 2 and husband. He provides the best for his family but will not allow his kids go out or socialize. They have everything they need at home so he sees no point in additional socializing outside school. Seems to stem from childhood issues. He has kids from several women

Stephanie Okereke plays his wife. She has a shop and is always at loggerheads with the fact that the kids are stifled. She is an ideal world in other respects. The marriage seems to have settled into routine so no passion here.

The Kids - There is a daughter who is about 15 and a son who is about 18 from a different woman.

Reviewing can be hard without giving things away but this movie deals with an issue that is taboo everywhere in the world let alone in Nigeria where the thought of it would be outlawed if possible. It is dramatic. The movie is well shot with interesting camera angles. The dialogue is minimal but so crisp and every word is loaded and adequately conveys to the viewer what's going on with the character.

The use of sound and music is appropriate. There is a haunting track that runs throughout the movie. Its not a bother and just envelops the viewer in the movie and the dilemma.

There is the arrival of yet another stepson from the States and he is obviously more worldly than the 2 at home. So there is the fight to expose his siblings to the world even if it means him acting as a chaperone.

This movie is a must see. It is a damn good movie. I was totally swept along with the story and the characters and is one of the better Nollywood efforts. It is especially great because it can be a great crossover movie. The story, right down to the end can be transferred to any society and make sense and be plausible.

However, it is one of those movies that i love and will own but will probably never watch again simply because it is so intense and i cant handle it again. Sort of like The Notebook, Monster and Monster's Ball.

I give this movie a resounding 9/10. See this if you can. Definitely a must see.

Deja Vu

Oh boy! I love this movie. I am one of the many Denzel Washington fans out there so this movie was definitely on my must see list.

The plot of the movie revolves around a ferry explosion in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday and the hunt to find the perpetrator and the killer of some gorgeous girl. Both crimes appear related. Denzel plays Doug, an ATF agent assigned to the ferry incident and who stumbles onto the murder of the girl. He is drafted onto a special unit that has some incredible technology that allows people to go back in time - 4 days to be exact.

I am trying not to give too much away but i will say that i loved this. Denzel had some pretty funny lines which i think he pulled off very well. Val Kilmer as part of the special unit was okay. If you watch CSI (the original), the new guy on the block - i forget his name is pretty funny as a young PHD holder that's part of the special unit. Paula Patton (the murdered girl) is sooo beautiful. Really beautiful. But after Denzel, acting props have to go to the one and only JC. Jim Caviezel of the Passion of the Christ has presence. Even when he didnt say any words, i just felt his intensity.

I would give this a 8/10. One to own once it comes out on DVD.

Casino Royale!

Okay. As a huge fan of James Bond and all things Bond related, i was distressed at the choice of Daniel Craig to be my James. I just didnt get it. He is blond and has blue eyes. He is unknown to me and during shooting of this movie, i read he lost teeth and got hurt. James Bond does not get hurt. So i was prepared to hate this movie and Daniel Craig some more.

Daniel Craig is intense. It took me almost 30 minutes while watching the movie to let go of images of Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Sean Connery and appreciate Daniel. He acted the hell out of this movie. Since this is a prequel, Bond is very crass, rough around the edges and hasnt achieved that suave debonair thing that is soooo James Bond. I am still a bit weirded out by the blond thing (there was a scene with a close up of his eyes and the eyelashes and eyebrows just got to me) but i will take back all the words of disdain i threw at Craig. Logically, i know that subsequent movies will have James evolving into the character we now love so i shall give Craig a break.

The plot of this movie is plausible. The bad guy Le Chiffre is one very weird fellow (as Bond villians shoud be), the Bond girls are alright and the theme song doesnt have the words "Casino Royale" in it (By the way, i believe there are only 3 Bond theme songs that dont incorporate the title of the movie in some way).

The gadgets - well seeing as James Bond had just gotten double 0 status, he didnt have access to any of the fun stuff. I mean, he started out driving a Ford. But the movie goes on to give background as to the reason why Bond has a thing for Aston Martins. The pre-requisite product placements (done tastefully of course) were there for Sony Ericcson phones, Sony Vaio, Jaguar etc.

The stunts in this movie are pretty brutal. Breath taking but not outlandish like Bond movies of old. Stunts are more along the lines of Mission Impossible type movies. And another thing: In this movie, James Bond bleeds and hurts. I mean he is roughed up good and it shows. There are some breathtakingly beautiful scenes shot in Europe - so amazing.

All in all, i have to watch this movie again. Just because i feel ready to drop all my pre-conceived notions and appreciate this movie for what it is. I would give this a 7 out of 10. Its a good flick. Its just really tough competing with Bonds of old.