Movie Review: ****Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

 Zathura is basically Jumanji in space.  Two brothers are playing the game, Walter and Danny (Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo)  The space part adds some elements which are unique.  We have a meteor shower, Zorgons who like to eat people, an astronaut (Dax Shepard) floating by, a robot that is broken.  They are floating in space in their house, which keeps getting destroyed.  Their older sister (Kristen Sewart) is upstairs frozen in the bathroom.  The three are home with sister in charge, who sleeps or is frozen through most of it.  Their father (Tim Robbins) had to go to work.  

The three siblings are really in a dysfunctional family.  Parents are recently divorced.  Walter blames his younger brother for this.  Danny and Walter do not get along.  walter is actually very mean to him, and calls him names.  The older sister has checked out and really isn't involved with her brothers at all.  This story serves as a jolt to them to get their relationships back where they need to be.

 Jon Favreau directed.

Movie Review: ****Snow White and the Huntsman

I didn't realize this was a Kristen Stewart movie before going, but was pleasantly glad it was.   Again we have Kristen dying and coming back to life, just like Twilight.  This movie is Snow White with motivation and characterization.  The black forest is scary, which makes it not good for kids but it is very entertaining for adults.  The mean witch/queen (Charlize Theron)  is very eery as well.  I really like the hunts man, (Chris Hemsworth) and the dukes son creating a three way relationship.  My son didn't like the faerie scene, but I did.  The white stag was incredible.  And the arrow was so unexpected.  This is a movie with a strong female lead, almost Joan of Arc feel.

I would recommend this movie to those who want a good time.

Movie Review: *****Breaking Dawn part 2 Twilight part 5

This move is fantastic, the best of the series.  We left Tony home, which I was happy of because I think he may have had nightmares with regards to the many heads being pulled off.  The action is intense. 
Bur this is more than an action movie.  It is a love story for a little girl, half vampire and half human.  A mother's love, a father's love, a family's love, a wolf's love.  They must protect her from the Voltari, who are afraid of anything new.
It also includes Bella resolving things with her father, just letting him know that she is alive, but not more than he needs to know.  Bella also comes to know her special powers, of protection from the powers of others, which she learns to project to others.
This show is will presented, and includes a tribute to all the actors for all four movies.  It has a way of looking back which does not detract from the story. 

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Twilight 4

"Breaking Dawn part I" presents the marriage of Bella and Edward, as well as the birth of their baby.  The honeymoon is interesting.  I guess vampire babies grow fast in the womb.  The pregnancy threatens Bella's life, but she goes through with the pregnancy anyway.  Edmond changes Bella into a vampire before she dies.  The wolves decide the baby is evil, and are determined to kill her, but Jacob imprints on the baby, so its all OK in the end.  The imprinting thing is sort of vague, but that's how things work with wolfmen.  The question now is how the other vampires around the world will react to the baby when word leaks out. 

Movie Review: *****Eclipse, Twilight 3

The third move in the Twilight is *****Eclipse.  This movie has the most action. Victoria, Bella's enemy since the first movie, amasses an army of newborns, people recently turned vampires, who are more hungry and stronger than vampires.  The wolfmen join the vampires affiliated with Edmond, who are traditional enemies, in the fight against the newborns and Victoria.  It is very intense, resulting in the death of many newborns as well as Victoria.  Jacob is injured, and treated by the father of the vampires, who is also a doctor.  Bella has a choice to make, as she loves both the wolf and the vampire.  She chooses the vampire.

Novie Review: ****^ Twilight 2: New Moon

 "New Moon" introduces the Indian wolf men, who protect the tribe from the vampires.  The actor Taylor Lautner portrays Jacob Black, who set up with the pack to protect Bella.  This is because Edward has gone away, thinking this will keep Bella safe.This movie shows how Edward and Bella are hopelessly in love.  Bella goes through deep depression, and turns to  Jacob who is also a family friend.  However, in the end she takes greater risks with her own life, thinking it will bring Edward back.  In one of these, Edward perceives she has died through his sister's special vampire power.  In the end it is Bella who has to save Edward as he is determined to be destroyed.

Movie Review: ****Twilight

  Twilight introduces us to the vampire movies based on the four  books by Stephanie Meyer.  I prefer the movies to the books.  The movies add more intrigue as they progress.  "Twilight" introduces us to the vampires, which is interesting.  It stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella and Edward.  We are introduced to vampire skills and characteristics as Bella falls for Edward.  A vampire, after smelling Bella, decides he must have her for dinner.  He takes after Bella, and her vampire lover has to save her.  The ending is intense.  Bella's leg is broke, but she makes it to prom.  (I would say too intense for children)