The Ugly Truth

Let's just say it now that there is not an "ugly" person in the movie anywhere and it is a good date movie for men and women. The ugly truth antics are fun to watch and Katerine Heigl learning to flirt and become even sexier - what man is not going to enjoy this? Heigl has grown up and out alot since My Father the Hero and I like it! Gerard Butler is there for the ladies to love but I am looking forward to his next film Gamer even more. Dudes, if you have to see a "chick flick" to make your girls happy at least make it this one.

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Orphan

"..the depraved, worthless piece of filth that is Orphan..." per Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post. With a review like this I had to see this film because it obliviously had to have something more to it than the classic The Bad Seed or the remake The Good Son to bring out such vitriol for a movie from a jaded critic. After seeing the film, I can see why this was said but the twist makes the movie and works to bring out the genuine creepiest and horror of the ending. I can understand now why Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard agreed to do this film because it is not what you are expecting and does deliver the goods. The true gem of the film is Aryana Engineer as Max who is the cutest thing you have ever seen on screen and juxtaposes Esther perfectly to make her even more horrific - well done everybody!

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The Taking of Pelham 123

Denzel Washington and John Travolta update the 1974 film featuring a hijacking of a New York metro train which starred Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. The cast is rounded out with Luis Guzman, John Turturro and everyone's favorite Soprano, James Gandolfini as the Mayor. All in all a good film, solid performances, easily paced and a good remake like 1991's Cape Fear. If you have some free time to check it out at a matinee like me, you won't be disappointed. I recommend the number three combo from the concession stand with ketchup and mustard - happy viewing.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Our favorite teenage wizards are back in the sixth install of the J.K. Rowling film franchise based on her books. The film is first rate and the story does deliver on the plot of the the sixth book even if a lot of the finer points were left out so they could actually get it on the screen. I wonder what the splitting point will be to deliver the two remaining films that are due out based on the last book in the series. The quidditch match is awesome and I cannot wait to see the film again when it makes its release in IMAX and with select 3D scenes. Will it beat the take so far by Transformers 2 this summer - only the fans will decide.

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Phedre HD Broadcast from Britain's National Theatre

I didn't get to renew my season tickets this year for the Shakespeare Theatre and to rub salt in my wounds a limited performance run of Phedre starring Helen Mirren is scheduled to kick-off the 2009-2010 season of performances. But before the play is scheduled to come to DC, a live HD performance would be broadcast as part of Britain's National Theatre Live program. Thanks to my friend Svetlana we scored tickets and was treated to a wonderful play with an expected fantastic performance by Helen Mirren. I love Helen Mirren in everything she does! I wish I could see her in person performing on the Sidney Harman stage but all 12 performances are completed sold out and I am glad I got to see the broadcast if nothing else.

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Moon

Kudos to Duncan Jones on this sophomore effort that stars the magnetic Sam Rockwell. Although there are great effects and realism in the sets, the power of this film is the performance of Rockwell as the sole inhabitant of a moon mining base who is just a few weeks shy of completing his three year contract when he loses communication with the Earth and his family. Kevin Spacey voices his only companion, an operations robot called GERTY. Even though I figured out the plot pretty quickly, the story is well plotted and the revelations of Sam Bell's predicament is fully engaging. If you do not get to see this in the theater, then definitely add it to you NetFlix's queue to watch when it hits DVD.

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I Love You, Beth Cooper

I admit I only saw this movie because it stars the sexy and cute Hayden Panettiere. The plot is OK with a few chuckles thrown in even if it was not Shakespearean like O or 10 Things I Hate About You. I still prefer the American Pie films for my laughs and fun. Where are this generations' teen film classics like Porky's, The Last American Virgin, or Fast Times at Ridgemont High which I had back in the 80's? Come on Hollywood don't let down your new crop of horny teens with films their grandparents would approve of.

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

The motley crew of Manny, Sid, Diego and Scrat are back with some toothy new friends. To kick off this adventure Manny and Ellie are pregnant, Sid wants his own family and finds one by accident, Diego is feeling a little too domesticated, and Scrat finally finds a love greater than the ever elusive acorn. It is nice to see the dinosaurs make it in to this series and they are big, scary and fun on screen. The scene stealer this time out is Buck, voiced by Simon Pegg, who is the motley band's crazy wilderness guide as they try to track down one of their own who was taken by a perturbed mother dino. I am a huge fan of this animated series and recommend it to all families to see.

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Torchwood: Children of the Earth

Torchwood has been hands down the best spin-off series to come from the long running BBC scifi hit series Doctor Who. Russell T Davies relaunched the Doctor Who series in 2005 and has been hitting them out of the park since day one to the elation of all fans around the world. But with this latest installment of Torchwood, I have to give kudos to Davies as being a master storyteller with fantastic vision, a no-holds-barred writing style, and the unerring ability to entrap his audience in a story with the unforgettable characters that live there. John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness has come a long way from when I first saw him in Shark Attack 3: Megalodon and must be kissing the ground that Davies walks on for the creation of a cult favorite icon that will stand the test of time. Be sure to check this out on BBC America when it airs on July , or by any other means at your disposal, because you will love it!

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Spring Awakening @ The Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater

Even though there was no real introduction to this musical in the Playbill passed out before the performance, just reading the titles of the songs gives you the the basic plot. This is a coming of age piece about teenagers trying to break away from the repression of their parents and the consequences of their own hormonal actions. The music was phenomenal and how could it not be with titles like "The B**** Of Living", "Touch Me", "The Word of Your Body" and "Totally F*****". The punk-rock like performances really struck a chord with me. I hope everyone gets to see this before it leaves town because you will be moved by it and be glad you are no longer a teenager.

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Public Enemies

After seeing the trailers for the last six months, Michael Mann's next pseudo-epic bio-pic makes it to the screen staring everyone's favorite actor Johnny Depp. The film suffers from the typical Mann treatments of being just a bit too long, overly dramatic where it is not needed and a less then satisfying ending. If you are a fan of Depp, then see the movie. If not, wait for cable or NetFlix. Oh yeah, Christian Bale is in the film as well as Dillinger's nemesis but the role seems lackluster and underdeveloped when compared to Depp's performance.

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The Color Purple - Kennedy Center's Opera House

Well Fantasia was actually in this production and she was awesome as Celie. The play was more bawdy then I expected from seeing the movie way back when Whoopi Goldberg played the main character. The music was fantastic and I had to have it for my broadway musical soundtrack collection. My date for the evening is waiting on me to burn it to my ipod so she can borrow the CD and copy the songs as well. All in all a great night at the Kennedy and a good birthday gift for my date.

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