Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Another rockin' good entry in this series. The latest new director Mike Newell keeps things lively and the cast (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint) have all really grown into their parts. Rated PG-13.
The Grade: B+

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - I am happy to report that there is actually a fun film out there to see after a year of mostly boring documentaries and based on true story flics. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang rocks the house! However, the pleasure that you'll derive from it is that of delicious junk food - think juicy cheeseburger or veggie pizza if that's your scene.Okay, it is definitely a guy film but what a guy film! Set in LA with beautiful girls and snappy dialogue it threatens to collapse in on itself each minute but never does. Plotwise it is a pretty standard contrived mystery but it is done with such a great sense of humor and the priniciple actors are so charismatic (Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan) that it easily will win you over. It is directed by Shane Black who is most famous for his Lethal Weapon screenplay. Rated R for language, violence, sexuality, and nudity.
The Grade: B

Jarhead - This is a very well made anti-war film that follows a new enlistee from boot camp to active duty in the first Gulf War. Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Sarsgaard star and all give great performances. Overall, it is funny, disturbing, and extremely realistic. Visually it is consistently impressive, especially later in the film when we get to the see the horrors of war up close. It is meticulously directed by Academy winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition). The only strike against the movie is that we've seen similar things in the past such as in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket which this film mimics in structure. Rated R for pervasive language, some violent images and strong sexual content.
The Grade: B+