Mars Needs Moms

After tormenting his sister and refusing to eat his veggies, Milo (Seth Green) lands in big trouble and starts viewing his mom (Joan Cusack) as uncaring and unfair. But when martians suddenly abduct her, Milo rushes to the rescue and discovers why all moms are so special. In this fun-filled animated film, based on Berkeley Breathed's popular book, martians need loving, hardworking mothers just as much as humans do.

When I first saw the trailers for "Mars Needs Moms" I was a little skeptical because I found it disturbing to here Seth Green's voice coming out of an 11-year-old child. Thankfully, Disney realized this and at the last minute replaced Seth Green's voice with that of Seth Robert Dusky (LJ from Nickelodeons "Big Time Rush"). Great save Disney. Sadly they went with Robert Zemeckis ("Polar Express" and "A Christmas Carol") style of creepy rotoscoping human animation, but thankful the technology has improved a bit and there were only 3 humans to animate in the movie. As all Disney films go the visuals and attention to detail are amazing. Seeing the movie in 3D only makes it better. "Mars Needs Moms" has a good story that is a little difficult to pick up on at first but director Simon Wells was able to pull it together. I will even admit that there was a moment in the movie where I almost teared up. Almost.

Is this Flick Worth Watching? : Yes. The overall moral of the story is a little confusing, but I think the message is a good one.


PYRiAH's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Unknown

Liam Neeson stars in this taut thriller as a man who regains consciousness after an auto accident only to discover that another man is impersonating him, and that no one -- not even his wife (January Jones) -- recognizes his identity as the real Dr. Martin Harris. Finding himself with an unexpected ally (Diane Kruger), Harris struggles to solve the mystery and hang onto his own wits, while also being stalked by anonymous killers.

This story appears to be original, but I feel like I have seen it somewhere before… Anyways, this may be the first movie where Liam Neeson doesn't know everything. A far role from playing the all-knowing god like characters he is used to, Neeson still knows how to bring the suspense. "Unknown" keeps the brain working the whole way through. Of course soon as the twist is revealed it is obvious and then you fell stupid for not figuring it out sooner. The movie is shot incredibly well and it contains one of the best car chase scenes I have seen in a while.

Is this Flick Worth Watching? : Yes. It isn't as good as "Taken" like all the TV spots were claiming, but it is still an exciting movie.


PYRiAH's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Megamind (DVD Review)

When a cunning supervillain (voiced by Will Ferrell) accidentally kills his crime-fighting nemesis, the rogue suddenly finds life boring and uninspired. So, he creates a new enemy (Jonah Hill) who seeks to destroy the world, forcing Megamind to play the hero role for once in his life. This hilarious 3D animated feature from director Tom McGrath (Madagascar) also features the voices of Brad Pitt and Tina Fey.

"Megamind" was Surprisingly funny. I wasn't sure if Will Ferrell could be funny if you couldn't see his face and I am barley speaking the truth when I say that Ferrell's comedy isn't usually tailored for children. Though somehow Ferrell as Megamind works. Farrell is able to bring his sarcastic nature without being too vulgar and the animators did a great job with expressing the emotions on Megamind's face. Children should enjoy this movie (mine did). There is nothing better than seeing a man with a giant blue head and a fish in a gorilla suit fighting in the ever going battle between good and evil.

Is this Flick Worth Watching? : Yes. If you don't laugh, then you most likely don't have a soul.


PYRiAH's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Buried (DVD Review)

While on a job in Iraq, civilian contractor Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is attacked and kidnapped, then awakens to find himself buried alive in the middle of the desert with nothing but a lighter, a candle, a cell phone and a knife. Does Paul have the instincts he'll need to save himself? Director Rodrigo Cortés crafts a tense psychological thriller with sociopolitical undertones that doubles as an exercise in claustrophobic terror.

"Buried" is hard to describe, but it is flat out amazing. You are literally anxious the entire movie. If you have claustrophobia, I would steer clear of this one because this movie makes it hard to breathe. Ryan Reynolds is the perfect actor for this type of movie. Anyone else placed in this role and this movie would have been in the $2 Wal-Mart bin. Reynolds is able to have a dark sense of humor that can make you laugh in very uneasy situations.







Is this Flick Worth Watching? : Yes. Amazing movie.


PYRiAH's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Machete (DVD Review)

Hired to assassinate a politician, vigilante and ex-Federale Machete (Danny Trejo) nearly dies when a sniper shoots him during the job. Out for revenge, he's joined by a reluctant old buddy (Cheech Marin) who's become a pacifist priest. Written and co-directed by Robert Rodriguez, this homage to exploitation films based on his fake trailer in Grindhouse co-stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba and Steven Seagal.

I am going to start off by saying that you have to know what kind of movie you are getting into when you go to watch "Machete." The movie is not meant to be serious. Think of "Black Dynamite" and "Shot-em Up." It is meant to be over the top so don't roll your eyes every time something ridiculous happens. If you can get past a man repelling from a building with human intestine then you will thoroughly enjoy "Machete." Robert Rodriguez is one of my favorite directors and he never lets me down. "Machete" has action, comedy, and a classic feel that has to be admired. I know most people won't agree with me, but then again most people are too serious.







Is this Flick Worth Watching? : Yes. Anytime we can laugh at things people usually take too seriously, I think we should take advantage of it.


PYRiAH's Rating: 3 out of 5 stars