Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

After his father dies in the World Trade Center on 9/11, eleven year old Oskar Schell finds a key in an envelope that had once belonged to his father. Soon after his discovery, he sets out on an arduous adventure through the city to find whatever it unlocks, hoping that somehow it can get him closer to his father. Extremely moving and incredibly heartbreaking story of an amazingly smart young boy coming to terms with grief. Starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright, Max von Sydow 7/10 Rated PG-13

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

In the eighth and final film of the Harry Potter saga, Harry along with his friends Ron and Hermione continue their search for the Horcruxes of Lord Voldemort to be able to destroy him, but unfortunately Voldemort finds out that the trio are hunting them. Harry realizes that the last of the Horcruxes is inside the Hogwarts Castle, but they need help getting in. However after Severus Snape, the now Headmaster of Hogwarts knows that Harry is back, the inevitable battle between good and evil begins. Many say this is the best of all the Harry Potter films and I must agree; with awesome edge-of-your-seat action, stunning visual effects, and epic battle scenes it is a remarkable conclusion to an unforgettable series. Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters 9/10 Rated PG-13

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

In this two-part telling of the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series, The Dark Lord Voldmort has become so strong he's taken over both The Hogwarts School and the Ministry of Magic, muggles and wizards are forced to evacuate their homes and go into hiding, fearful of being attacked and killed by Voldemort's followers, The Death Eaters. Harry, along with his friends Ron and Hermione begin to seek out three Horcrux lockets (which are able to keep the soul of the person who created them, even after the person has been obliterated) that are the key to defeating Voldemort. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Bill Nighy, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Brendan Gleeson, John Hurt 8/10

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

It is Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; former potions professor Horace Slughorn has come back, and the danger of the dark lord is greater than ever. Harry finds a book on Advanced Potion Making, which he discovers was owned by someone named "The Half-Blood Prince". Harry suspects Draco Malfoy maybe a Death Eater, one of Voldemort's followers. Harry finds out more about Tom Riddle (aka Lord Voldemort) and sees what he was like when he was a student at Hogwarts, and discovers what can destroy him. Meanwhile he begins to fall for Ginny, Ron's sister. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Julie Walters 7/10

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

It is Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and already he has been expelled for having performed a charm in front of a Muggle (non-wizard person), which he is not allowed to do outside school. Another new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is at Hogwarts named Dolores Umbridge, who appears to be nice, but is absolutely cruel and sadistic. Harry finds out about The Order of the Phoenix, a secret society founded by Albus Dumbledore when they started fighting Lord Voldemort. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather believes that the dark lord has come back and is gathering an army, so Harry is more than eager to fight. When Umbridge refuses to teach the students how to defend themselves against the dark arts, they decide to have Harry Potter teach them. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Julie Waters, Jason Isaacs, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane 8/10

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2005)

It is Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, and he along with the Weasley family, the Diggory family and Hermione attend the Quidditch World Cup where Death Eaters (followers of Lord Voldemort) stir up a frenzy. Lately Harry has been having strange nightmares about the dark lord. At the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there's another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor named Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody. Headmaster Professor Dumbledore announces that there will be a Triwizard Tournament, in which one wizard's name from each of the three houses is picked from a magical cup called the Goblet of Fire, to compete in three very dangerous challenges. The only restriction is students who are under seventeen aren't allowed to enter. However the Goblet chooses Harry for a fourth name, despite him not being old enough. But being bound by a magical contract, Harry has no choice but to compete in the tournament. Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Robert Pattinson 7/10

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

It is Harry's third year at the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and there is a new replacement for Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, a man named Remus Lupin. Harry also finds out that a prisoner by the name of Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban prison and is after him, so security is high at Hogwarts. What Harry discovers later on is that Sirius Black is his godfather and despite him being friends with Harry's parents, he apparently betrayed them because of his loyalty to the dark Lord Voldemort. By far my favorite of the Harry Potter series; with quick-witted humor, the build-up of suspense leading to the appearance of the infamous Sirius Black (who is wonderfully portrayed by Gary Oldman) is utterly brilliant. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Pam Ferris, Gary Oldman, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Richard Griffiths, Robbie Coltrane, Pam Ferris 8/10

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (2002)

It is Harry's second year at The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and there's a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher named Gilderoy Lockhart. But Harry Potter is not safe at Hogwarts; he starts to hear voices, and the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. So Harry, along with his friends Ron and Hermione set out to find the heir of Slytherin house so they can discover who has been attacking the students. The magic and wonder continues in the second film of the Harry Potter saga, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs, Julie Waters, John Cleese, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris 8/10

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Harry Potter seems to be an ordinary boy, living with his dreadful Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their horrible son Dudley. Until on his eleventh birthday when he gets a visit from a man named Rubeus Hagrid and finds out that he's really a wizard who despite his aunt and uncle's objections, has been accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry learns that he is famous in the world of wizards, having survived being attacked when he was only a baby by the evil Dark Lord Voldemort that killed his parents. Harry meets Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, along with Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. While at Hogwarts he plays Quidditch (a game that involves flying on broomsticks), takes down a mountain troll, and discovers the Mirror of Erised where he sees his dead parents. Harry, Ron and Hermione find out that someone is out to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, which has powers that can make a person immortal. A wonderfully imaginative fantasy story that is such fun you can't help but see it more than once. Based upon the novel by J.K. Rowling. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, John Hurt, Julie Waters, Alan Rickman, John Cleese 8/10

The Road (2010)

A father and son struggle to survive in a world that has been destroyed by an unexpected cataclysm; crops are gone, there's scarcely any food, trees are falling around them, and you can't trust anyone for fear of cannibalism. The boys' mother abandoned them so it is only the two of them as they travel on the road, their destination; the south. From the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel by author Cormac McCarthy, Viggo Mortensen is remarkable in this sad, terrifying and suspenseful story. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall, Kodi Smit-McPhee 8/10

The Tale of Desperaux (2008)

In a small kingdom called Dor, there was born a mouse by the name of Desperaux Tilling. He was small with bigger ears than most mice, and didn't act the way other mice usually do; he was brave and didn't cower. One day he discovers the library and reads a fairy story about a princess named Pea who's locked in a castle and longs for a prince, soup, and for it to rain. What Desperaux doesn't know is before he was born, a rat landed in the Queen's soup and made her have a heart attack and die, so all rats and soup weren't allowed in the kingdom. Desperaux meets and befriends a rat named Roscuro. He tells him about the princess and they decide to devote themselves to helping the princess. An adorable tale with an all-star cast that's visually entertaining, based on the book by Kate DiCamillo. Starring Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, William H. Macy, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, Frank Langella, Tracey Ullman, Sigourney Weaver 8/10

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Jess Aarons lives on a struggling farm with his family. He likes to draw, and he also enjoys running which he trained all summer for, but when school starts and new girl Leslie Burke beats him in a race, he doesn't like her one bit. He dislikes her even more when he finds out she moved into the house next door to where he lives. But they have more in common then they think; they're both outsiders and they both have a great imagination. Soon they become friends and she opens his mind to a wonderful land of trolls, ogres and monsters in a magical kingdom called Terabithia. Based on Katherine Paterson's novel. Starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison, Zooey Deschanel 7/10

Charlie's Angels (2000)

Natalie, Alex and Dylan are three young, beautiful women who come from different backgrounds and places but have one thing in common; they all work for a mysterious man named Charlie. Their new assignment has them investigating the kidnapping of a man named Eric Knox, an engineer who owns a software company. They suspect that another man named Roger Corwin might be behind the disappearance because Corwin wanted to buy out Knox's company. But the angels find out that things are not at all what they seem, and that their boss is the target of assassination. Sleek, sexy and fun, with killer action and fighting scenes. Starring Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, Bill Murray, Crispin Glover, Sam Rockwell, Matt LeBlanc, Tim Curry, Kelly Lynch, Luke Wilson, John Forsythe, LL Cool J, Tom Green 6/10

Casanova (2005)

The place is Venice, the time is 1753. Casanova is the city's greatest and most legendary lover with many admirers. But scandal and trouble seems to follow him around. So unless he finds a wife and gets married he'll be banished from the city. He does get engaged but when he meets a beautiful feminist named Francesca he becomes smitten with her, only problem is she is betrothed to another man. And Francesca is under the impression that he's someone else instead of who he really is. An infectious and delightful romantic comedy; Heath Ledger is absolutely charming. Starring Heath Ledger. Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Lena Olin, Oliver Platt 8/10

Forever Young (1992)

The year is 1939, Daniel McCormick is a test pilot who likes to be daring, but he can't seem to get up the courage to ask his girlfriend Helen to marry him. But when she gets hit by a car and falls into a coma, which the doctors aren't sure she'll wake up from, Daniel has a plan. His best friend Harry had been experimenting with freezing chickens and bringing them back to life, so Daniel goes to Harry and asks him to freeze himself for a year and if she gets better to wake him up. 53 years later, the year is now 1992. A young boy named Nat Cooper and his friend Felix go playing around in a military warehouse when they discover the metal capsule that Daniel is been sleeping in. Thinking he's dead, Nat and Felix run off. Daniel thaws out and to Nat's horror shows up at his house. They let him stay in Nat's tree house and help him to track down Harry, but without much success, and assumes that Helen is dead. Until things get even more complicated when the military finds out about him. An emotional romantic story about seizing the moment and second chances, with little bits of humor that make for a great combination. Starring Mel Gibson, George Wendt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elijah Wood, Joe Morton 8/10

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

Plummer plays Doctor Parnassus, who travels around performing a magic show with his daughter Valentina, along with friends Anton and Percy. Parnassus had made a deal with the Devil for everlasting life and powers, in exchange any child who reached sixteen would belong to him. One night Valentina discovers a man hanging under a bridge and saves his life, but later on when he comes to he doesn't remember who he is, so she names him George and he travels along with Parnassus. But there is more than meets the eye, for behind a simple mirror is a world of beauty and imagination that one only dreams of. An astonishing visual adventure, Plummer is remarkable as is Ledger, in his last film role. Starring Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law 8/10

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Pee-Wee is an unusual man who still acts like a child and plays with toys. He lives with his dog Speck and owns a shiny red bicycle that he loves more than anything in the world. His jealous neighbor Francis Buxton offers to buy his bike from him, but Pee-Wee refuses to sell it. After Pee-Wee goes to the bike shop to pick up a horn, he discovers that his bike has been stolen. He suspects Francis and goes to his house to demand it back. However Francis already got rid of it. So begins Pee-Wee's quest to find and get back his beloved bicycle. He visits a supposed psychic that tells him that his bike is in the basement of The Alamo. On the way to San Antonio, Texas he meets Simone, a waitress who dreams of one day going to Paris. Thinking that Simone and Pee-Wee are together, her jealous boyfriend Andy goes after Pee-Wee, but he flees into a boxcar of a moving train. When he finally makes it to San Antonio, he finds out that there is no basement at the Alamo. A funny and enjoyable movie with some good jokes but may seem silly to most. Not for small children for there are some disturbing scenes, most especially Pee-Wee's clown nightmare and his encounter with "Large Marge". Starring Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen 7/10

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Robin of Locksley, an English nobleman leaves his home to join the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart but is imprisoned in Jerusalem with his comrade Peter. But Robin manages to escape with the help of his Moorish friend Azeem. But Peter ends up dying while fleeing and tells Robin to swear to protect his sister Marian for him. Robin keeps his promise and he returns to England along with Azeem, who is indebted to Robin for saving his life and won't leave Robin's side until he has saved his. But when Robin arrives back home, he finds his father has been murdered, his home in ruins, and the Sheriff of Nottingham ruling over the townspeople. Robin and Azeem encounter outlaws in Sherwood Forest and together with Friar Tuck and Little John, rebel against the Sheriff and his men. Thrilling and fun; although Costner's performance of an Englishman with an American accent leaves much to be desired, it is the incomparable Alan Rickman as the ruthless Sheriff that steals the show. Starring Kevin Costner, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Brian Blessed, Michael Wincott, Sean Connery 8/10

The Princess Bride (1987)

While a young grandson is sick in bed, his grandfather comes over for a visit and reads to him the fairy tale of Buttercup, The Princess Bride. Buttercup lives on a farm and falls in love with the Westley, the farm boy. When Westley leaves the farm to seek his fortune his ship is attacked at sea. Buttercup believing him dead, vows to never love again. However she is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, the heir to the throne of the town of Florin. But before the wedding she is kidnapped by three outlaws; the Sicilian criminal Vizzini, the Spanish fencing wizard Inigo Montoya, and the strong and mighty Turkish wrestler Fezzik, until a masked man in black follows them to save her. Based on the 1973 fantasy novel written by William Goldman, this is a fun and delightful adventure film with love-able characters that'll steal your heart. Starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal 8/10

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A dysfunctional family is determined to have their seven-year old daughter Olive Hoover enter a beauty contest called Little Miss Sunshine, so they take a trip cross-country in their Volkswagon bus. But the trip is hardly a smooth one; her mother Sheryl Hoover is trying to keep her family happy and together, her brother Dwayne refuses to speak until he can join the Air Force academy, her uncle Frank goes along after his failed suicide attempt, her father Richard is unsuccessful with trying to sell his self-help program and her grandfather is a heroin-addict but becomes Olive's coach. A heartwarmingly funny black comedy with an interesting variety of characters that you won't forget. Starring Abigail Breslin, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano 8/10