Overall Rating: ***
The Legend of Zorro @ IMDB

Synopsis:
As California moves to join the Union, trouble begins to brew and Zorro (Antonio Banderas) must ride again. As he struggles with his responsibilities to the people he swore to protect, Alejandro must find time to be a husband and a father. His marriage may be the sacrifice he must pay to save Mexico, but there seems to be more to his marital problems than meets the eye. Now Alejandro must fight an ancient brotherhood bent on starting a civil war and try to win back Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

Review:
The sequel jinx?! What a surprise! Ok, I’m not saying anything too surprising. The Legend of Zorro wasn’t nearly as good as The Mask of Zorro. There are several elements from the first one that they brought back well for the sequel. Other things didn’t quite work that well. I warn, I’m going to rant a little bit later. Its not something that’s only a problem with this movie, but more on that later.
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Overall Rating: ****
Frequency @ IMDB
Frequency @ Amazon

Synopsis:
Unexplained solar phenomena allow a son to speak to his father, who died thirty years before, by means of an old CB radio. But when Detective John Sullivan (Jim Caviesel) helps Frank (Dennis Quaid) survive the fire that should have killed him, the repercussions ripple through time changing the present. Now can John and Frank fix the past and save all the innocent victims of a serial killer, including his mother? The race is on as the clock ticks on the longest radio signal of all time.

Review:
I have to say that I enjoyed this one. I think mainly because I like the concept. The idea is time travel but not really. This father and son can communicate, but they don’t physically travel back in time or anything. Influence without interaction. Its a little different from your typical time warp sci-fi movie. They do get a little creative when Frank sends John evidence.
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Overall Rating: ***
Madagascar @ IMDB
Madagascar @ Amazon

Synopsis:
When four animal friends bust out the zoo for a night on the town, things get wildly out of control. Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer), and Gloria (Jada Pinket Smith) quickly find themselves in crates on the way to a wildlife preserve. En route, their crates get knocked overboard and they wash up on the shores of Madagascar. Now these four pampered zoo animals must adjust to life in wild….

Review:
I must say I was a bit dissappointed with Madagascar. I had high hopes for this movie, but it seemed to fall in line with the last few mediocre animated films. It seems that Dreamworks Animation is having difficulties finding success after Shrek and Shrek 2 (which I’m watching while I write this). This movie left something to be desired. I was continuously waiting for that gut busting moment, but it never came.
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Overall Rating: ****
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire @ IMDB

Synopsis:
In his fourth year, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself as an unwilling participant of an ancient competition between three rival schools of magic. But something else is amiss. Unexplainable events at the Quidditch World Cup herald the return of the Dark Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), but what does he want with Harry and what will he do to get him? Can Harry survive the three dangerous tasks of the Triwizard Tournement? Will he get a date to the Yule Ball?! Things will change in year four at Hogwarts.

Review:
I’m going to start by truncating the titles to make writing this review a little easier. I’ll drop the Harry Potter and the from the titles. I’m not trying to make a big fuss over what the “true” title of the movie is here. I’m just being technical I guess. Plus I’m trying to save myself some typing. Also, most people who are considering this movie already know what happens. I’ll assume for the most part that you do to, but I’ll try my best not to ruin it for those who don’t. At any rate lets get in to it, shall we?
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Overall Rating: *
The Ring Two @ IMDB

Synopsis:
The terrifying, VHS-haunting, ghost is back in this sequel to the 2002 horror movie. This time Samara (Daveigh Chase) has taken a personal interest in Aidan (David Dorfman). Samara wants a mother and she’ll do anything to get one…

Review:
This one is going to be short and sweet. I really, really didn’t like this movie. The Ring was unique, horrifying, and intense. That is everything that The Ring Two is not. They broke all of the rules the setup in the first film. Samara is not bound by the tape. She is free to haunt anyone she pleases. She can possess bodies and she wants a mother?! Ok so the mother part isn’t such a stretch, but part two supposedly takes place six months after the original. So did she not want her mommy for the last six months? The movie also plays way to predictably. You can see every death coming a mile away and I just wasn’t scared.

I’m not going to waste any more time with this one. Rent The Ring if you haven’t seen it, but don’t waste your time with The Ring Two. Its not even worth the rental (I regretted getting it from Blockbuster).

Overall Rating: ***
Doom @ IMDB

Synopsis:
When things go terribly wrong at a Martian research facility, the marines are sent in to secure the situation. Sarge (The Rock) and his team of marines must fight genetic abominations hell-bent on eating them while protecting the gate back home called the Ark. Crazy weapons and hand-to-hand combat bring all of the action from the hit game to the big screen.

Review:
I gave this movie three out of five stars, but that rating needs a few qualifications. I have to say that the movie was entertaining. It also was a pretty good adaptation of a video game to a movie. For a bad adaptation, see House of the Dead. Let be honest though, this movie didn’t have anything that screamed “great!” I’ve seen action movies that grab you and they really keep you engaged for the full two hours. It was definitely entertaining, but it doesn’t quite compare to movies like The Transporter or Kiss of the Dragon.
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