I have to say my first reaction as I came out of the theater was dissapointment but the more I think about this movie the more I like it. I went into the film already having an idea about what the big twist was going to be, because of this I was looking for it instead of just enjoying the movie. However, now as I review the movie in my head I enjoy it more and more.

So now I guess I should tell you what the film was about. "Shutter Island" takes place in 1954 and is the story of an escaped mental patient from an institute for the criminally insane. This escape is investigated by two U.S. Marshals, Teddy Daniels(Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule(Mark Ruffalo). Teddy has been a U.S. Marshal since he came back from the war, where he helped liberate a concentration camp. He is very troubled by the things that he did and saw in the war. He is also haunted by the memory of his wife who was recently killed in a fire in their apartment. When the two men get to the island they find that there are things going on that aren't quite right. Everyone there seems to know about something but are too afraid to tell it. The men in charge also seem unwilling to help the Marshals. The main doctor in charge, Dr. Cawley(Ben Kingsley), is the most helpful but even he won't submit fully to the investigation. As Teddy and Chuck dig deeper and deeper things get stranger and stranger until finally the truth is reviled.(The island is magical and can make you time travel and has clouds of black smoke that kill people. No wait that's another island. Just kidding that's a "Lost" reference in case you didn't get that.)

Anyway, because I was looking for this big twist at the end I wasn't as surprised but really it's not a very far-fetched twist. The film also, somewhat, eases you into this twist so when it hits your like oh ok that makes sense. Unfortunately I can not elaborate any more for fear of spoiling the film. This movie is one where you will walk out thinking about it and asking questions. I saw it yesterday and I think that I am now to the point where I almost understand the full effect of the story, with all it's different twists. This may be because I'm a little slow or maybe just cause I tend to over analyze films like this. Either way you will think about this one even after you have left the theater.

Now, it may just be because I'm a huge pansy when it comes to movies like this, but I was on the edge of my seat and looking through my hand for a good bit of this movie. Martin Scorsese(one of my favorite directors) does a great job of making you feel on edge, creeped out and guessing what's next all at the same time. DiCaprio also does a great job of playing the troubled Marshal who is frantically trying to find the truth and keeps you captivated with his intense conversations and internal struggles. You really feel for his character by the end of the film. I have to say, though, that Ben Kingsley makes the best performance of the film. He does such a good job of playing the main doctor and by the end of it you feel for him as much as you do for DiCaprio. This movie also provides some humor which helps to break up the tension and kept me from being completely freaked out.

One aspect that I enjoyed very much was the music. Since Scorsese directed "The Last Waltz", which is the final concert of The Band, he and Robbie Robertson(Singer,songwriter and guitarist for The Band) have worked on many films together including "Raging Bull." In this film Robertson does a great job of helping to create that eire mood which greatly adds to this film. I feel that the music makes this film as good as it is.

I really enjoyed this film and I recommend that you see it. Now you may find that you're not quite as surprised as you wanted to be, I know I wasn't, but it is still a good film that will leave you thinking. It will entertain you and get your heart racing. The performances were great all around, from directing to acting to the music. The only thing lacking is the story, because of its somewhat stereotypical ending, you'll know what I mean when you see it. I give it a solid B and I might just have to go see it again.

So those of you that know me, and lets be honest everyone who is reading this knows me, knows that I actually like chick flicks. I blame this on my sisters and mother for making me watch them when I was a kid. That being said, I have to say that this film is one of the better chick flicks that I have seen recently. "Valentine's Day" is the story of the struggles that everyone goes through on this most made-up of holidays. It's like the American version of "Love Actually" with it's many story lines and even the love sick little boy who is too mature for his age and misses his mother. However, this film gives you a lot of Los angeles flavor and takes pride in letting everyone know where this film takes place.

It has a terrific ensemble cast which includes Ashton Kutcher, George Lopez, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner and a shit load of other good actors and actresses. I do have to say that my personal favorite member of the cast has to be Taylor Swift. She and her at-the-time real life boyfriend Taylor Lautner have a small part in this film. Swift does a great job playing the ditzy high schooler madly in love with her high school boyfriend(Lautner). Now I may hold this opinion solely because I happen to love me some Taylor Swift but whatever.

This film jumps from story line to story line following the different character's events on Valentine's day. Of course like we've seen a million different times in this type of film all the characters are somehow connected. This film did have the very predictable outcomes like any chick flick but it had so many story lines that it did have some twists that you don't see coming. However, I feel that this film had too many story's to follow. At points it got somewhat confusing trying to follow all the stories. Also it had so many stories that I forgot about some until when it went back to them. Because of this it was forced to spend more time on some story lines and less on others leaving sometimes only seconds spent on one story. Eventually towards the end the film just drops some stories focusing completely on just a few. It may be that I have been spoiled by the master of this type of story telling Mr. Quentin Tarantino. I believe, he has perfected this story telling in films such as "Inglorious Bastards" and of course "Pulp Fiction." If you haven't seen these films I highly recommend them. And to be honest if you haven't seen "Pulp Fiction" by now what the hell is wrong with you.

Anyway I digress, in addition to not distributing the time on the story lines quite right the film also seems to drag on. At times it takes to long to get to the point which we all can see coming anyway. It could have easily told the same story with the same effect and lost some of the scenes that reinforce the same things that the film has already shown us.

After all of that being said I did like the movie. Chick flicks have to be a little funny so the guys watching don't just blow their brains out and this one was funnier than most. With funny people like Kutcher, Foxx and Lopez it gives you good one liners and funny situations that we can all relate to and some we can't, hopefully. With all of these great actors the film had well great acting. Imagine that. One of my favorite things about this film is how it gives you a lot of "side quips." You have to pay attention but every once in a while you get funny lines that come out of the blue. Sometimes you don't even see who says it but if you listen closely you'll get some added humor. It's got all the chick flick basics, it will make you laugh and cry and no I didn't cry. It's a feel-good movie that will make you glad that your in a relationship and gives those who aren't hope for the future. Either way your covered. I found this to be an above average chick flick one that I wouldn't mind buying for my sister's dvd collection. I give it a low B.

So I guess the best movie to start with would have to be the new sensation "Avatar". For those six of you that haven't seen the movie it is about these humans that have traveled to another planet in search of an alternative energy source. The main character is an ex-marine, who has been wounded and no longer has the use of his legs, named Jake. His identical twin brother was a scientist who was originally going to the new planet to help learn from the natives in his genetically engineered avatar but he was killed so the other scientists were forced to use Jake. So Jake goes to the planet with another scientist and joins the entire team of scientists, or as I call them the "hippies." They just fit too easily into this stereotype. So eventually Jake gets accustomed to his avatar and starts making friends with the natives. He gains their trust and eventually decides that he doesn't want to help destroy their home, which is his objective from his marine commander. Just a side note the marine commander also plays the marine commander role to a stereotypical T, right down to the scars on his face and his hatred of the hippies. So Jake and the other hippies try to warn the natives that their home is about to be destroyed but they don't listen and stay to watch their home get blown up. Then the hippies and the natives band together to fight the humans for control of the forest. Now comes the big fight scene where Jake battles the marine commander and of course wins and saves the planet from the evil humans. But the corniness doesn't end there, Jake then decides to leave his old body for good and only live through the avatar with the natives forever. This is a very quick overview but this story doesn't need much detail considering it has been told a million times over.

Now, it has grossed more money than any other movie in history. However, I would like to point out that this is because of the inflation that has occurred over the years. In addition to that there is the fact that it was released in 3-D which adds about three bucks to the already staggering ticket price. It actually ranks about 17th all time according to some website(http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm). Now, all that being said, I think you might be able to gather what I thought about this film. It sucked and it may be one of the most overrated films in the history of film. Now I'm not saying that it was the worst movie of all time but it just had one of the most unoriginal and predictable scripts that I have ever seen. I guessed the major plot lines of the entire movie within the first five minutes. What a shock the hippies want to save the planet from the evil capitalistic and marine people who are trying to exploit the planet for its recourses. In my opinion "Avatar" is a mix between "The Matrix", "The Last Samurai" and "FernGully". That's right I said "FernGully" and I'll tell you why.

First it's like "The Matrix" because like "The Matrix" in "Avatar" the hippies have to transport into the body of another being. Thats basically where the comparisons end because "The Matrix" is actually original and a good film.

Next we have "The Last Samurai", these films are similar because like in "The Last Samurai" the main character starts out working for the enemy and ends up being captured and then spends enough time with his enemy to see he actually likes them. Then the main character ends up fighting against the people he originally worked for. However, spoiler alert, in "The Last Samurai" (which is also a much better movie) the "good guys" don't win like they do in "Avatar." This is almost exactly what happened in "Avatar". Jake starts out trying to get the indigenous people to leave their home so the humans can get what they need but then he spends enough time with the natives to realize that he likes them and wants to help them fight against the people he used to work for.

Now to the comparison that you must be thinking is the most far fetched. "Avatar" is like "FernGully" because in "FernGully" the main characters live in a big tree in the middle of a forest and the "bad guys" want to bulldoze the forest and the big tree to make way for whatever it is they want to build to make money. See it is very similar, I told you. If you still don't believe me just go rent "FernGully" and you'll see. I also highly recommend renting either "The Matrix" or "The Last Samurai" if you have never seen them they are good films.

I do have to say that "Avatar" looked awesome. The special effects and graphics were spectacular and the 3-D aspect made it even better. Now because of the special effects and the 3-D I do recommend that if you haven't seen it that you do so but only if it's in 3-D. This is not a movie that is good unless it's in a theater and in 3-D. So after all of my rambling I have to say it's a decent movie but not one I would rent. Overall I give it a low C. It just barley makes it to a C because of the graphics, 3-D and action.