Major Barbara @ Sidney Harman Hall

The Shakespeare Theatre's production of George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara is stellar. Vivienne Benesch and Ted van Griethuysen, pictured above, are fantastic and Griethuysen's Andrew Undershaft steals the show with his delivery of Shaw's charming and scathing dialogue. After 100 years, it is amazing how this play transcends time and still reflects the world was we all know it. The clash between family and business, religion and state, and wealth and charity are dramatic, intriguing and down right hillarious. Kudos to the Shakepeare Theatre for delivering another great production for a very appreciative season ticket holder.

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Jumper

Doug Liman and David Goyer are back on the screen with this latest sci-fi, action thriller. Hayden Christensen throws off the black robes of Darth Vader to play a teenager who discovers he has the ability to teleport and escape his less the ideal homelife for new adventures in the Big Apple until his luck turns for the worse. The action is well done even if the teleporting seems to be a bit excessive at times. Rachel Bilson and Diane Lane complete the cast as the love interest and the absent mother with a secret. I recommend seeing this at a matinee so you get the best value for your money.

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Diary of the Dead

This is George Romero's fifth installment for his legendary Living Dead film series that all started with the Night of the Living Dead. Romero is the undisputed king of the zombie movie genre and this film delivers with his trade mark style, piercing socio-political commentary, and cutting edge visual effects. It amazes me how Romero can still keep the genre fresh and relevant when you thought you had seen everything possible from a zombie flick. This is a must see film for all horror fans and will be a welcome addition to my personal horror DVD collection after it leaves the big screen.

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The Spiderwick Chronicles

Spiderwick is the next installment of a children's book to get the big screen treatment due to the industry's abiltily to realize these stories with the proliferation of CGI effects. The story is not bad and the fantastical creatures do deliver a good mix of the beautiful and cute with the scary and evil. Feddie Highmore, from such great films as Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, takes on the task of portraying twins on the big screen with differing personalities. I appauld his effort at trying to strech his abilities as a child actor but the performance is very wooden at times and does not stand up well to his past efforts. Spiderwick is still a worthwhile film to see with the kiddies in tow but you may want to hold off with the really young children because there are some rather frightening moments that they may not like but the older kids will love.

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The Eye

Another in a long line of american remakes of Asian ghost stories. Sans the long-haired pasty tormented ghost girls and ear-numbing chatter noise, the movie is a rental at best. If your going to rent it , go ahead and get the original and wallow in the culture. Jessica Alba is pretty and does a fare acting job but it is not enough to surpass the orginal film. Boo!

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Rambo

I just saw this and it is the most violent movie I have ever seen. Everything and eveyone explodes in a rain of bloody body parts. The previous movies do not hold a candle to this one. If you like to revel in over the top violence, this movie is for you.

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Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Martian Lawrence is back on the big screen in the first of two family comedies this year. I lucked in to a free screening of this movie and was pleasantly surprised. The cast is fun and Michael Epps steals every scene he is in. It was good to be able to actually laugh again during a Martin Lawrence film versus waiting for it to be over and forgotten.

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Untraceble

A new thriller has hit the big screen that taps in to the exploitation of the internet and our morbid curiousity in seeing accidents and shocking video. Diane Lane works in the FBI's Cyber crimes devision when she is tasked with tracking down a website that displays the actual murder of seemingly innocent victims whose demise are accelerated when more viewers tune in. The movie is entertaining, the acting is good, and the online deaths are creative if not easy to watch. The movie is a good late night rental when the kids are tucked in and there are better movies playing now that you would be better off spending your money on.

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Argonautika

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's lastest production, Argonautika, is the epic tale of Jason and his Argonauts questing for the Golden Fleece as envisioned by writer and director, Mary Zimmerman. Mary Zimmerman's retelling or, more to the point, reimagining of this classic delivers a production that is beautiful, irreverent, hilarious, daring and slightly modern. The riff on Hercules and the roll call of the Argonauts as a rap are truly inspired. The is a must see performace. Get a ticket today before you miss out on an evening of shear theatric pleasure.

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How She Move

I have to admit I have a fondness for the dance movie. I have seen such questionable classics as Footloose, Flashdance, Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Bugaloo, Center Stage, and Save The Last Dance. In this film the premise is lame as in most of these types of films but the dancing is very cool. Rutina Wesley delivers and energetic dance performance and the soundtrack is fun as it should be. Wait to rent this on DVD so no one will know your dirty little secret or luck in to some free movie passes like I did.

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