Cats & Dogs: the Revenge of Kitty Galore

One of the many taglines for this movie: Just Like Real Spies... Only Furrier. In this sequel one crazed feline has upped the ante in the age-old poker game of cats vs. dogs. This former agent of the cat spy organization has gone rogue and hatched a plan to not only bring her canine enemies to heel, but take down her former kitty comrades for complete world domination. Faced with this unprecedented threat, cats and dogs will be forced to join for the first time in history in an unlikely alliance to save themselves and their humans.

I really don't get what would posses a studio to make a sequel 9 years after its original. I don't remember the original being a cult favorite and since they couldn't get all of the vioce talent from the original to reprise their roles I think that should have been a hint not to go through with it. With that say I did find the movie enjoyable for what it was, but I have to warn anyone over the age of 12 that there are better ways to spend your time and money. For me the best use of the 3D technology was the Looney Toons Short that preceded the movie titled "Coyote Falls" starring Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. I would not recommend buying the soundtrack to this movie either since it is made up of watered down versions of popular songs like your average Kidz Bop album. I rate this movie a Rated D. Parents may want to buy it on dvd to keep their younger kids occupied for for 82 minutes.

P.S. There are some funny clips during the end credits if you actually enjoyed the movie.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The tagline for this movie: It's The Coolest Job Ever. A master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan is fighting against the forces of evil, in particular his arch-nemesis, while searching for the person who will inherit the powers of his teacher. He recruits a physics student from the local university guy, who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. He gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic and sorcery, in order to stop a great evil from destroying the world.

Balthazar Blake is a thousand year old sorcerer who apprenticed under Merlin and now finds himself on the look out for the Prime Merlinian who will be the heir to Merlin's power and the key to stopping the evil inside the Grimhold. David "Dave" Stutler is a Physics Major at New York University  who is caught in the middle of a war between two sorcerers, one a Merlinian and the other a Morganian, for possession of the Grimhold. Maxim Horvath is an evil sorcerer and Balthazar's rival, since they were both apprentices, who wants the Grimhold to release the evil sorceress Morgana le Fey. Drake Stone is a celebrity illusionist and Morganian who joins Maxim on his mission to find the Grimhold with the desire to gain more wealth and power.

I remember when I thought the combination of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer could do no wrong. Well this is a pile of wrong right here because it is incredibly bland. This is one of those movies that you would probably love as a kid, but when you watch it again, years later, you will wonder what you thought was so special about it. The cast and crew were squandered on something that had to potential to be so much more. This movie reminds me of the moral of Ber Zauberlehring by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (thanks wikipedia ... lol) the  maybe you should leave certain things to those better suited for it. I wish they had adapted something else from Fantasia instead of this. I rate this a Rated D.

P.S.
If you stick around after the end credits will will see a nod to Mickey Mouse in the original segment and evidence that a certain villain is still at large.

Predators

One of the taglines for this movie: The Most Dangerous Killers On the Planet... But This Is Not Our Planet. Eight people of different backgrounds find themselves on an alien world with no idea how to get they got there. They soon become aware that they are in a game preserve and are being the prey being hunted for sport. It is now a matter of survival of the fittest among these eight strangers against an unseen threat, but could the greater threat be the one they seem to pose to each other?

Royce is an ex-military-soldier turned mercenary whose main concern is becomes finding a way back to Earth. Isabelle is a lack ops sniper with previous knowledge of the aliens whose planet she has found herself on. Edwin is a seemingly innocent doctor who sees the similarities with the dangerous planet life on the planet and those on Earth. Cuchillo is a Los Zetas drug cartel enforcer frustrated by the alien world he is on. Mombasa is Sierra Leone Revolutionary United Front death squad officer who is not afraid of death and never willing to back down. Spetsnaz is a father of two and a Russian commando during the Second Chechen War with a curiosity for the alien planet. Stans is a notorious and deadly death-row inmate from San Quentin state prison who just wants to survive. Hanzo is a Yakuza assassin who has committed yubitsume on the ring and pinkie of his left hand and appears to be looking for an honorable death.

The only word that fits this movie is BADASS. They have taken the franchise back to its R rated roots instead of the PG-13 incarnations that has hampered it in the AVP and AVPR incarnations. With Robert Rodriquez and his Troublemaker Studios producing this film there was no doubt that it would be something to watch. Nimród Antal proves with his fourth film that he is a director to watch when it comes to tense cinematic sequences with an action payoff to rival those that have come before. If I had anything negative to say it is that the Alan Silvestri score used always reminds me of his score from the Back To the Future trilogy which can take me out of the film at times. The actors did a great job of portraying people who were use to being the hunters of their environments stuck in WTF situation. It was interesting that we are introduced to a different breed of Predator and also their alien pets which has helped to flesh out their universe. I rate this movie a Rated T.

Toy Story 3

One of the taglines for this movie: The Breakout Comedy Of The Summer. With their owner on his way to college, the toy-box gang are left to ponder uncertain futures in the attic. Due to a mix up they find themselves donated to a daycare where they are initially overjoyed to be played with again, but their enthusiasm is quickly lost when they are put in the hands of untamed tots with no idea of how to play with them properly. All the toys must band together to escape the prison they have found them selves in and make it back to the familiar comfort of their owner's house.

Woody is chosen by Andy to accompany him to his college dorm, but must first make sure that his friends make it back to Andy's room from the Sunnyside Daycare center they have been accidentally donated to. Buzz Lightyear must deal with his feelings for Jessie while becoming the new leader of Andy's toys when they find themselves in new surroundings, but the new toys may use his own technology against him. Jessie finds her growing feelings for Buzz frustrating as he seems to have trouble reciprocating and is dealing with the abandonment issues that are still fresh due to her last owner no that Andy is leaving. Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear is the toy that runs things at the Sunnyside Daycare center with an iron fist in a velvet and he has a policy when it comes to new arrivals that Andy's toys may not find conducive to their well being.

You can mark my words that the Toy Story Trilogy is going to go down as not just one of the best animated trilogies of all time, but one of the best trilogies period. This third movie proves why Pixar has the formula that every other modern animation studio must emulate if they wish to survive. This movie builds perfectly on the movies that have come before it with its blend of comedy, adventure and honest emotion. The ending is bittersweet, but touching and as with the other movies the toys looked more real than the human beings whose world they inhabited. I envy those who were able to see this movie in the 3 D that it was crafted to be seen in. I will miss that the gang from from Andy's toy-chest and the quality movie going experience they imparted. I rate this movie a Rated T.

P.S.
During the credits we a nice wrap up to the life of the toys after their farewell with Andy and, in some cases, each other.