Good, bad movies all part of holiday season

Tis_or rather, twas_the season to eat turkey, sit around, watch people beat each other up for holiday sales, and prepare for the onslaught of Christmas jingles. Or, as we say in my hometown of Orlando, "go see movies." Here's a quick rundown of some of the movies you might have caught or might be catching soon.



8 MILE: 3 stars



Eminem can act. There, I said it. He can actually act reasonably well. That doesn't mean he deserves a medal. 8 Mile, while framed with realistic grittiness by director Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, Wonder Boys) resembles more a studio film from the 30s and 40s than a movie made in 2002 about America's favorite white rapper. The film is the story of an angry young man, unsure of himself but very talented and introspective, who learns to stop blaming everyone for his problems and rise to meet the challenge.

He breaks away from his friends, confronts his fears, learns to love, re-embraces his friends and family (but maintains that he will do his own thing), and learns to show up to work on time. The film is about as cutting-edge as sliced bread, and embraces family values faster than you can say George Dubya Bush. However, it is well-acted, well-directed and pays off nicely with the 45-second rap "battles" that bookend the film. 8 Mile is a good movie. Not a great movie or a revolutionary movie, but a good movie. Eminem's life story is a respectable melodramatic genre piece, nothing more or less.



HARRY POTTER: 4.5 stars



I give this rating with a caution. No, I have not read this particular chapter of Mr. Potter. I read the first book before I reviewed the first movie, but this time I went in blind. And, as a result, I enjoyed myself so much more. I realize that's heresy in some circles, but seeing the movie without reading the book made it better. With the plot twists left unrevealed, I let the movie simply happen and I was spellbound.

The actors were more assured of their roles, the effects were bigger and better and the story was more intriguing. Not to mention Kenneth Branaugh as the funniest on-film coward since the Wizard of Oz. In every way, this Potter is an improvement on the first film. I've had people tell me with a shrug that it was yet another decent adaptation of the book, but that's all. Fair enough. But pardon me for saying that I'm glad I saw the movie first. The book will always be better, but as a movie, Chamber of Secrets is faster, darker and stronger. I'm glad I didn't render the experience "eh" by reading the book first.



DIE ANOTHER DAY: 4 stars



My preview of this film was basically me whispering, "don't suck, don't suck, don't suck." It didn't suck. Lord, did this movie not suck. I'm so relieved. Bond is defined by the Bond Girl, the villain, the sub-villain and the stunts/effects. In this case, the 20th outing was composed of the fiery Jynx (Halle Berry), evil and snidely Gustav Graves, the spooky looking Zao and more car chases and action than you can shake a superfly Aston Martin at. Superb swordfights, invisible cars, ice structures that are melted by a giant space beam, fistfights in the middle of killer lasers, John Cleese as Q and a visit to Cuba for no reason other than that it's Cuba. Ladies and gentlemen, Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, the non-suck version. Welcome back, James.



TREASURE PLANET: 2 stars



Maybe I'm crotchety at the ripe old age of 20, but I was mostly bored by this latest animated oomph from Disney. There's something fundamentally sad about taking filmgoers to the edge of the universe, but the British-accented captain of the ship still needs a spot of tea. Or seeing the wonders of another planet, only to have all the focus on the oh-so-wacky robot B.E.N. (an ingratiating Martin Short) They spent a lot of money on talent and animation, so maybe I just don't appreciate kids movies anymore. Then again, maybe not. I loved Lilo and Stitch, I loved Emperor's New Groove and god help me I even liked Atlantis, the poor bastard child of Disney animation. But this film moved me not.

Maybe the characters could have been stronger. Maybe they should figure out better ways to combine cell animation and computer animation. Maybe they should shy away from yet another young, angsty, surfing/snowboarding/spaceboarding hero that produces nothing but groans from most of the audience. I counted references to The Goonies, Aliens, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Monsters Inc. and even Muppet Treasure Island. And yet, for every reference spotted, all I could help but think, "Wow, I wish I was watching that movie instead." Titan AE was better than this.