Couples Retreat. Rated PG-13 : Comedy/Drama/Romance. Theater Release Oct 2009, DVD Release Jan 2010. Starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Bell, Kristin Davis, Jean Reno and several others. Comedy of 4 couples who think they are going on a vacation to support one couple in trouble only to find out they are all required to take the Group Therapy.

Russ Comments. This is a pretty funny movie. I'm a HUGE Vince Vaughn fan, and while it didn't get great initial reviews, this hits home to any couple married of more than 5 years. We all have issues, and each has different problems. Certainly worth renting. I gave it a 6+ !.

Clarence's Comments. An enjoyable movie, definitely not for children. I too am a Vince Vaughn fan, but gave this movie a 6+ as well.

AMELIA . Rated PG-13. Romance/Action/Biographic. Theater Release Oct 2009, DVD release Jan 2010. Starring: Hillary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and others. Life of the Ledgendary American flier who was the first female to fly across the Atlantic and then lost her life while attempting to fly around the world in 1937.

Russ Comments. I personally like "real history" movies , and this does a very creditable job of showing Amelia Earhart's life in the 1930's. The romance of Swank and Gere is done in a "classic way", and then it really shows her dedication to being a role model for women in the USA. Earhart is almost the poster person for women liberation today. I gave this a 7 !!

The HURT Locker. Rated R. Drama/Action/War/Thriller. Theater release Oct 2009. DVD release Jan 2010.Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly and others. Kathryn Bigelow produced this war thriller of a Squad of Elite US Army bomb specialist in Iraq defusing the IED's and other devices, plus running into long range sniper fire.

Russ Comments. This movie starts out almost as a documentary of life in-country, but quickly gets you involved with what War in Iraq is really like. The phrase "Shoot first, then ask questions" could have been the tag line for this real life drama. Bigelow does a masterful job of weaving human emotions and life in Iraq in this classic movie. Up for 9 Academy awards, this film is tought to watch but compelling at times. I gave this a 8+ !!

DISTRICT 9. Rated R. Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller/Drama. Theater release Aug 2009. DVD Release Jan 2010. Starring Sharlito Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt and many foreign actors. This Peter Jackson Sci-Fi production depicts an Extraterrestrial race forced to live in Slum-like conditions on earth, who find a kindred spirit in a govt. agent exposed to their biotechnology.

Russ Comments. I personally didn't like the movie to start with. The flick kind of grows on you, and you can see the similarities to RACISM in the world today. Ironically done in South Africa, and blacks are in-charge of that country ?? Anyway, up for several Academy Awards and certainly worth viewing. I gave it a 6+ !!!

Time Travelers Wife. Rated PG-13. Drama/Fantasy/Romance. Theater release Aug 2009. DVD release Jan 2010. Starring Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Arliss Howard and others. Fictional story of a Chicago Librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel and the complications to his life and others.

Russ Comments. While this is something of a "Chick Flick", it does a good job of fictionally showing the issues of involuntary "Time travel". The movie does not get into the technical aspects of how this all occurs, yet McAdams and Bana are excellent in this movie. Got a "So so" inital theater rating, but certainly worth viewing. I gave this 5+ !!!

The Hangover. Rated R. Comedy/Crime/Drama. Theater release June 2009. DVD Release Dec 2009. Starring; Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor Rachael Harris and others. Story of a bachelor party in Las Vegas where three groomsmen lose the Groom and retrace steps to find him

Russ Comments. Clearly the funniest Movie of 2009 and released right before Xmas. As I stated in the best Must see flicks of 2009, this is "Crude" humor, much like Animal house, yet just plain funny. Almost somewhat believable plot, and was a top DVD sales and Theater sales for 2009. this is not for everyone, but I gave it a 9+ !

Surrogates. Rated R. Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi. Theater . Theater release Sept. 2009. DVD Release Jan 2010. Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosmond Pike, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames and others. A cop is forced to leave home for the first time in years to investigate murder of other surrogate and uncover plot to destroy all surrogates.

Russ comments. While this appeared to be on the marginal fringe of action movies, I liked it. Willis is one of my favorite actors, Radha Mitchell good and the story line , while very future Sci-fi , is interesting. I think takes place in the Boston area, home for me, and while it didn't get a good initial theater review, will do better in video rental. I gave this a 6+ !!!

ZombieLand. Rated R. Action/Horror/Comedy. Theater release Oct 2009. DVD release Jan 2010. Starring ; Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Bresslin, Bill Murray and others. Story Based on how 2 men have found away to survive in a world overrun by Zombies and two women also on this journey

Russ Comments. Crazy funny , but pretty gross movie. I would not recommend this to any body who cannot take "blood/gore/gross humor", but the scenes with Bill Murray (as himself) are just plain funny. Clearly best scenes in the flick, and Emma and Abigail steal the scenes. Again, I would not recommend to all, but for Harrelson fans worth renting. I gave this a 5 !!

Love Happens. Rated PG-13. Drama/Romance/Mystery. Theater release Sept 2009. DVD release Feb 2010. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Dan Figler, John Carrol Lynch, Martin Sheen, Sasha Alexander. Romantic story of a widower writes a book to cope with lose,becomes a best seller and becomes a motivational speaker, meets Aniston and we find out he's still has issues with the los

Russ Comments. I'm a BIG Eckhart fan, liked this movie and think it is better than the Theater reviews. Sheen as father-in-law is great, and Aniston does a pretty good job as the new women in Eckharts life. Certainly worth a watch !! I gave this a 6 !!

A Serious Man. Rated R. Comedy/Drama. Theater release Oct 2009. DVD release Jan 20

Starring Michael Stutilbargs, Richard King, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick and others. A very black comedy about a Midwestern College Professor who watches his life unravel as his Jewish wife wants to leave him for another "Serious Jewish Man". Takes place in the early 1960's.

Russ Comments. At first I just didn't think this was worth a watch. However, got several Academy Award nominations and decided to view . This is a classic Cohen Brothers directed film, and like watching Woody allen, either you like him or not. I gave it a 5 !!!

Whiteout. Rated R. Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller/Mystery. Theater release Sept 2009. DVD release Jan 2010. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short, Alex O'Loughlin and others. Crime story of a US Marshall tracking a killer in the South Pole Artic Weather station while fighting the 6 month timeframe to "get out" or be trapped there.

Russ Comments. This is a clever little movie. What fascinated me most was the depiction of life on a South Pole Weather station, freezing weather conditions and not only investigation of a series of murders but how to cope with the elements. Pretty good watch. I gave this a 6+ !!

Inglorius Basterds.Rated R. Drama/Thriller/War/Fantasy. Theater Release Aug 2009. DVD Release Dec 2009. Starring Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent,Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth , Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender and several German actors. Fantasy depiction of a bunch of Jewish US soldiers on a special mission to terrorize the 3rd Reich by scalping and killing Nazi soldiers in Nazi occupied France.

Russ Comments. This is a typical Quentin Tarintino farce, much like "Pulp Fiction". Many folks would not like this movie, but clearly has Academy Award nods, and Waltz may get best supporting Actor. The Movie is up for "Best Picture", and the brutal scalping and killing of Nazi's would turn off many folks. I personally like his unique work. I gave it a 7.