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Reviews
Stargate: Atlantis: Vegas (2008)
Unique? Hardly. Original? Strike two....
It isn't original to mimic another show. Maybe if this had been a throw-away episode somewhere in the middle of the series, it could have been forgiven. But to waste the penultimate episode on a gimmick is unforgivable.
In an overall weak season, this was truly the pits. The writers just ran out of ideas this season, I guess.
I was going to be sorry to see the show go, but after losing interest as the season progressed, this episode guaranteed that I'll just watch the series finale out of respect for what used to be.
And I'm not going to even bother with the "younger, hipper" Stargate replacement. Give it up, SciFi.
Night at the Museum (2006)
A pleasant surprise
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by "A Night at the Museum." While I am a fan of many of the people in the movie, I didn't hold high hopes judging from early reviews.
The best way I can describe how much I enjoyed this movie is to admit that I'm the kind of movie-watcher who will pick apart any inconsistencies or flaws in a movie's logic any chance I get.
If I'm not enjoying the movie enough, that is.
"A Night at the Museum" sets a VERY high level of disbelief, and I was happy to go along for the ride. Yes, there are holes you can drive a truck through. Yes, the characters could be developed more. And yes, the special effects are the star.
But you know what? In the end, I didn't care. Not at all. It's a fun movie that lets you shut down your brain and just enjoy it.
I'm sure that it won't be a movie for everyone. No movie is. But my family and I (including our young son) came out of it smiling and comparing our favorite scenes. I'm even planning on going to see it again while it's still in the theaters, and that's a VERY rare thing for me.
So if you want light fun during a stressful time of year, take a chance, don't expect a masterpiece, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Robots (2005)
A wonderful family movie!
While many reviews of Robots have focused on the weak storyline, I would like to point out that it is a children's movie. While there is plenty in it to keep an adult's interest (look for all the signs around the city), the story is simple enough that my 5 year old understood exactly what it was about: be true to your dreams.
The level of detail in the movie is staggering. It's obvious the software used to create and render the animation has evolved quickly since Ice Age. Some of the scenes in the city (especially the public transportation system) are incredible blends of imagination and technical achievement.
The voice work is wonderful. Rather than make the same mistake Shark Tale did, Robots has wisely used the talent to enrich the movie rather than *become* the movie. People don't want to see celebrities in an animated movie. They want to see characters with recognizable voices that are still characters. And in this, Robots excels. The number of cameo voices is amazing, and unless you watch the entire credit list, I doubt anyone will be able to pick them all out.
If you're looking for an enjoyable family outing, one with a great moral for your children, and a truly entertaining way for adults to spend time, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Robots!