No Country For Old Men (2007)

Intense. Violent. Surprising. (IVS)

Final Verdict: This is a great, great film. The directing is absolutely incredible, the script is one of a kind, and the acting is the best I've seen in years. The dialogue is sharp, powerful, and memorable, and it's the quieter, subtler moments that really shine. There's also an equal amount of gritty, edge-of-your-seat suspense the likes of which I haven't seen since The Shining or What Lies Beneath. Thanks to stellar performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin (the three male leads) the characters come alive and make you really care for them. The only MAJOR disappointment is in the last five minutes; the film just sort of abrubtly ends. It's shocking and awkward, and could possibly ruin the movie for some folks. That aside, you should go see it; you will be absolutely amazed and thoroughly entertained.

Spoiler(s): I would spoil the ending... but there isn't one.

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%

"I always figured when I got older, God would sorta come inta my life somehow. And he didn't. I don't blame him. If I was him I would have the same opinion of me that he does." -Ed Tom Bell

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

Environmental. Visual. Eh. (EVE)

Final Verdict: Because Hollywood has completely run out of new ideas and must rely on modernizing or updating films of the past, we get a remake of a popular sci-fi movie from the 1950's. The orginal film was essentially a moral story about war and peace, but the remake focuses heavily on environmentalism and global warming (albeit very subtlely). In the beginning it's amazing how alike the old and new films are, but about halfway through the story finally begins to diverge. And while the original film uses dialog to progress the plot, this one relies heavily on special effects; neither strategy works out particularly well though and both seem to settle for a level of mediocracy. I think the original is clearly the better of the two, but this remake is enjoyable as long as the viewer goes into it with very low expectations.

Spoiler(s): Klaatu is still Klaatu, and Gort is still G.O.R.T... the universe can rest easy.

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 19%
Polygraph Operator: Do you feel pain?
Klaatu: My Body does.