Land of the Lost

Land of the Lost YEAR: 2009
STARRING:
Will Ferrell, Anna Friel

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OVERALL RATING:
8 STARS

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PLOT SUMMARY:
On his latest expedition, Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked into a space-time vortex alongside his research assistant (Friel) and a redneck survivalist (McBride). In this alternate universe, the trio make friends with a primate named Chaka (Taccone), their only ally in a world full of dinosaurs and other fantastic creatures. Can they all make it back to our world alive, and if so: Will Dr. Marshall can go from zero to hero with his discoveries?
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The Hangover

The Hangover YEAR: 2009
STARRING:
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms

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OVERALL RATING:
6 STARS

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PLOT SUMMARY:
Doug (Justin Bartha) is about to be married, so his friends — Stu (Ed Helms), a dentist planning on proposing to his girlfriend of three years, Phil (Bradley Cooper), a schoolteacher bored of the married life, and Doug’s soon to be brother-in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis), who is smart yet socially-inept — take him to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Stu’s girlfriend is very controlling, thereby forcing Stu to lie to her about their destination.

The guys get a suite at their hotel, then sneak on to the roof of the hotel and toast to the night ahead. Skipping forward to the next morning, the three groomsmen awake with no memory of the previous night. They find Doug missing, Stu missing a tooth, a tiger in the bathroom, and a baby in the closet. Initially they believe Doug to have gone out for breakfast, but soon worry when his cellphone has been left behind. They collect what memories they have to figure what happened to Doug. The valet brings them a police car, which they had dropped off the night before.

Because Phil is wearing a hospital bracelet, the guys head to the hospital. The doctor identifies roofies in their blood, and tells them that they had just come from a wedding. At the chapel, they learn that Stu had married a girl named Jade (Heather Graham). On the way to her place they’re attacked by two Chinese thugs. They escape and find her, where she reveals she’s a hooker and the baby is her’s. Cops bust into her apartment to arrest the three men for stealing their car. However, not wanting to face the embarassment of losing their car, they work out a deal in which the men volunteer to demonstrate how tasers are used. Afterwards they pick up their car in good shape, though a Chinese man named Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong), is locked in the trunk and attacks them upon his release. Alan admits to having drugged their drinks the night before, hoping they’d have a better time, but had been sold Roofies by accident.

They head back to the hotel to look for further evidence, but discover Mike Tyson instead, who is the owner of the tiger in their bathroom. He forces them to bring the tiger back to his place, and on the way there it destroys their car. After returning the tiger they’re attacked again by Mr. Chow and his men. According to Chow, they’d mixed up bags the night before, and they were holding $80,000 of Chow’s money. Chow demands it back in exchange for Doug, whom he has apparently captured. Unable to find the money, Alan decides to use his knowledge of counting cards to win the money in Blackjack. The money is returned, though Chow had captured a different Doug (Mike Epps), who was the dealer that had sold the Roofies to Alan.

Phil is in the middle of calling Doug’s fiance to tell her they lost Doug, when Stu realizes where Doug is. The guys had seen a mattress flung from their hotel earlier, and Stu deduces that Doug is locked on the roof. They find him, sunburned but holding on to the $80,000. They rush back home and make it to the wedding just in time. Phil happily goes back to his family, whilst Stu breaks up with his girlfriend and arranges a date with Jade. Alan finds a camera they’d had with them, & together they look at the images from the night they’d forgotten.

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Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation YEAR: 2009
STARRING:
Christian Bale, Sam Worthington

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OVERALL RATING:
9 STARS

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PLOT SUMMARY:
Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.
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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

natm2 YEAR: 2009
STARRING:
Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams

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OVERALL RATING:
9 STARS

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PLOT SUMMARY:
When the Museum of Natural History is closed for upgrades and renovations, the museum pieces are moved into federal storage at the famous Washington Museums. The centerpiece of the film will be bringing to life the Smithsonian Institution, which houses the world’s largest museum complex with more than 136 million items in its collections, ranging from the plane Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) flew on her non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic and Al Capone’s (Jon Bernthal) rap sheet and mug shot to Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Fonzie’s jacket from Happy Days, the still from M*A*S*H and Archie Bunker’s lounge chair from All in the Family.

With a forwarded resume, Larry (Ben Stiller) becomes another caretaker at the Smithsonian, where Kahmunrah, an evil Pharaoh will come to life with the reestablishing of a tablet as a magical force in the museum bringing the old exhibits (Such as Theodore Roosevelt and Dexter) and new exhibits (like General Custer and Al Capone) back to life, and in conflict with each other. Larry enlists the help of Amelia Earheart, who he develops a romantic interest in, and together they try to put everything back in order.

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Up

Up 2009 YEAR: 2009

STARRING:
Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer

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OVERALL RATING:
10 STARS

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PLOT SUMMARY:
By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

We’re nearing the halfway point of the year now, but as 2009 winds down in December and cinephiles start to compile their “Best Films” lists the discussion will likely turn to why Up should be on top.  It clearly floats above the year’s best so far and belongs among the favorites at the always reliable Pixar Studios.  It’s truly a remarkable film.

Unfortunately when lists and nominations are compiled every year, they often overlook the realm of children’s movies that continually inspire generations of future film lovers.  This sweet story is an exceptional piece of storytelling that just happens to be animated, a component that should be seen as one of the many reasons why Up is so special.  The craftsmanship in Pixar’s first 3-D venture tops even their usual lofty ambitions, bringing their attention to detail to new heights.

Their latest is uniquely great, meaning

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