Bee Movie

M: This is the latest cartoon about a bug that is unsatisfied with its lot in life and wants to shake the mold, ala A Bug's Life and Ants. In Bee Movie, a young bee, Barry B. Benson, graduates from school and discovers that he has to immediately decide which job he wants to perform for the rest of his life, every day, until he dies. All the other bees seem happy to work their lives away, but not Barry. So Barry goes off on an adventure and meets a human woman and falls in love. Up to this point, about the first third of the movie, I was on board and really enjoying myself. However, the movie then takes the viewer on a disjointed adventure where the story seemed to really unravel. A lot of potential, and pretty good, but disappointing in the end. My 4 year old really seemed to like it though. I give it a B. 2 1/2 stars

V: Had some very funny parts. Thank you, Jerry Seinfeld. I agree it got a little discombobulated at the end. And the point seemed to be (unlike Ants and Bug's Life): Maintain the Status Quo. Which is, I admit, a little uninspiring. But kids liked it. I enjoyed it, too. (I actually found the tv ads that Jerry did to promote the show hilarious.) For light-hearted humor, I give it 3 stars.

Penelope

M: Heart-warming, funny, well acted and well written. I really liked this movie. Penelope is born with a pig-nose. Her family hides her in shame, waiting for the day when her love will accept her as she is and marry her and break the curse. However, the curse is not as simple as they think, and before the end of the movie, the characters will all learn some good lessons. Such funny lines. Cathrine O'Hara plays Penelope's mother and nearly steals the show. James McAvoy plays the same character he played in Becoming Jane (one trick pony? I guess we will see). The movie is hilarious and definitely worth seeing. 3 1/2 stars

V: A really charming little movie! This is a darling story about loving yourself, and looking for the beauty in people. Great cast. Great color. Liked the characters a lot and the quirky little world they lived in. It shows that everyone has their freakiness and their lovliness, just depends on where they wear it. I loved that the investigative photographer, who is trying to discover Penelope, is a little person. Christina Ricci is great, and James McAvoy charming. Penelope's parents, hilarious. Very sweet show. 3 1/2 stars

Jumper

V: This show was pretty entertaining, but didn't give you enough story or info to cause you to really care. Like the characters, it jumped from place to place, and lacked good connections. But most importantly, the real conflict was never developed. Why do these people just want to kill them so bad? It would have been so easy to develop some grudge that Samuel Jackson's character had - like a Jumper killed his son or something - to explain why he's this crazily driven Jumper-killer. And the main guy's mom - doesn't she have a choice? - she just has to hunt Jumpers? That's just who she is? The only thing they offered was that Jumpers "think they are gods." So what, you're jealous? Poorly developed - were they so assured of a sequel? Also, some simple carelessness: They are blocked by the guards from entering the Collosseum, so they "sneak" in another door - and you can clearly see more guards and lots of people at that door, too. Good visual effects. 2 stars.

M: Great visual effects, and I loved the concept of jumping through space and loved even more they way the movie portrayed the jumps. The movie grabbed me from the start. Unfortunately, the storyline was a bit weak and the acting not superb. Plus, I never figured out why the paladins wanted to kill the jumpers so bad. Come on, it has to be a serious deal for a mother to consider it her duty to hunt her own son. Where did this hatred come from? The explanation of "we have always done it" didn't quite do it for me. See the movie though, its a fun watch. 2 1/2 stars.

I am legend

M: Will Smith is a lone man in New York after a virus strikes which turns people into "dark seekers," creepy monsters that cannot come out during the day. I am not entirely sure how this virus caused this incredible transformation in people, or how it have gave these monsters their insane strength, speed, and their unhuman monster look, but it did, and I accepted it. Unfortunately, Will Smith's role caused me to draw comparisons to that of Tom Hanks in Cast Away. You know, both guys living alone for a long time and trying to cope and survive. For me, the comparison hurt Will Smith because he just wasn't as believable in the role. Nevertheless, he was likable and the action and suspense of the movie kept things interesting. All in all, a good movie and worth seeing. But not amazing. 3 stars.

V: This movie was way creepier than I expected. I guess I was thinking more of a Planet of the Apes-type flick, or something. It's very suspenseful and sometimes joltingly scary. Creepy. I thought Will Smith did a good job. I heard there was an alternate ending, which would have been interesting. I just didn't feel totally engrossed or fulfilled by this movie. It was interesting though. But creepy. 2 1/2 stars.