Nate Shepherd

While the original movie was very interesting and drew you into a new world of programs and users. In this new movie you are brought back into that world but evil is not found in master control but in a powerful program seeking perfection. This movie does take the old idea and apply new technology and a great soundtrack to provide some pretty amazing special effects.  The story is pretty interesting and I am very happy they didn't just remake an original classic but extended it to be mostly about Flynn's (main character) son. The one downside is it doesn't really have a lot to do with Tron himself. Which is a shame because he kicks trash. So get ready to watch and enjoy the games and the question is do you "fight for the users"? 

      Megamind had all the parts that make Dreamworks such a great studio.  The show was funny, entertaining and just a good story.  Will Ferrell acts the part of the diabolical evil genius Megamind who just doesn't fit in.  While his nemesis Metroman (Brad Pitt) has all the right moves and is just the perfect hero.  Things turn tables when Megmind defeats his nemesis and everything is perfect.  Or is it? you have to see what happens when Megmind discovers all he ever wanted isn't what makes him truly happy.  Enjoy this great ride and awesome entertainment. Megamind on DVD today. 

Wow this has to be the best TV series of the last decade.  I am serious even though it is a cartoon we fell in love with the characters and the entire story.  If you haven't seen it I highly recommend this series.  You meet Ang the young Avatar who is destined to save the world from a war that has been going on for 100 years.  He is found by a brother sister Katara and Saka whose team includes a giant flying Bison (weird but cool) and a lemur named MoMo.  I won't give away the story but the characters especially Saka, Uncle Iro and Taf are hilarious and the story heart warming and meaningful.  It actually has a lot of Buddhist monk teaching which was interesting and a great feeling the entire way though.   If you see one series (which I don't think I'm a real fan of anything currently on TV) Check this show out.

Prince of Persia was a disappointment with such great special effects and potential as an Indiana Jones almost feel.  Where this movie fell flat was that the hero wasn't really one.  The king brings you off the street and takes you into his home you would think he would be more likable.  The story was also pretty lame because it looks like he is someone who uses the power of this magic knife to really make a difference.  All it turned out to be was some punk gets a magic knife, stops his uncle from taking the throne and he falls in love.  wow that was just about the entire movie.  My wife who is the expert on love stories also points out that when he does go back to meet his love (who is the ruler of a peaceful city  he just invaded) seems to fall in love with a little too fast.  Especially considering he just led an army to kill many of her people. Sorry I will put this into the category of movie where the special effects is ...

Harry Potter is back and so are we as we pay tribute here to two of our favorite characters who die in this film (Dobby and Mad Eye Moody). Wow what a way to begin the epic finale to the greatest stories in our generation.  The movie did a pretty good job filling in some gaps from the previous movies so we at least met Bill Weasley and others.  The movie retains the charm of the characters especially Fred and George who are really quite hilarious.  We also get an opportunity to see if our three stars can pull off a large part of the movie with just them and the how they handle the daunting task before them of finding and destroying Horcruxes and they do it extremely well.  The final part of the movie where Dobby rescues them from the Malfoy house is amazingly well done on all aspects. For a couple small issues with the film.  The most prevalent is during the scene where Ron destroys the Horcrux you see Harry and Hermoine making ou...

I can honestly say that I have never really followed Star Trek but this movie payed great tribute to a classic series.   I will admit I was a little lost at the beginning of the movie but it all came together when Older Spock (Lenord Nemoy) comes in to explain everything.  The film was action packed but also full of character as you see both sides of the spectrum and calm and reason oriented Spock and a fly by the cuff emotional Kirk.  This was good show that combined Good acting, story, and special effects to make a good time.   I'm sure a couple intense Trekkies will have a greater opinion than me but I liked it and was glad for once that the non bad boy actually got the girl in this movie.  (It is about time).

Sydney White is a fun take on Snow White where instead of seven Dwarfs you have seven nerds and instead of a wicked queen you have a wicked student body president who watches her daily ranking on the "Hot or Not" list in order to see who's the fairest in the land.  The difference here is that Sydney White actually confronts the queen and in an Amanda Bynes way you see her help these nerds and the rest of campus overthrow the rule of the evil Witchburn! I am a fan of Amanda's fun personality and weird quirks and if you are too this is a great one!  Plus learn that we are all geeks.

Should I be ashamed that I got teary eyed during a cartoon?  Admittedly I do cry in movies a lot ( to Kill a Mockingbird and Remember the Titans to name a few. I guess I also cry from laughing so much in it's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World .)  So no I am not ashamed that over the course of the past ten years and three movies I have fallen in love with Andy's toys.  i really don't want to give away much of the plot of this great movie but Woody, buzz and the gang face some of there biggest challenges yet as Andy prepares to leave for college.  They are donated to a day care center where an evil toy plots and controls all that goes on within the center. Andy's toys are forced to work together with several of Woody's famous plans, in order to escape and return to Andy before he leaves.   The movie has its hilarious moments as well watch for Spanish Buzz and Ken.  That is all I will say about that.  If you have ever had that thing whether toy, blan...

Mari and I went and saw How to Train your Dragon this past week and we loved it.  DreamWorks has created another great movie.  This one is a little bit different from their traditional staples of Shrek, Monsters VS. Aliens and Kung Foo Panda (to name a few).  This is not a straight up comedy.  The story seems a little predictable with the dominating father figure who is everything a viking should be: strong and stubborn.  He has a son, Hiccup, who is a puny guy who wrecks everything he tries, but just wants his father's love.  Sounds like 100 other movies, right?  Well this one adds vikings and dragons and makes it a great movie.  Hiccup and his best friend, Toothless, change the dragon/viking relationship forever.  So If you like feel-good movies, 3D movies, or DreamWorks in general, this is a must see. Besides, it will be a better use of money and time than Iron Man 2!

For all those Pride and Prejudice fans here is the best version of this classic novel done Bollywood style. The fun music and native Indian culture makes this version more fun and extremely entertaining.  For those like me and my wife who can't stand the original version because of Mr. Darsey is a jerk and looser and opposed to popular opinion I don't see a change, here is a version where you actually see that he is a nice guy all  he  needed was to be exposed to another culture other than the wealthy business class of his American corporate life.  He comes to love India and you actually see that he loves  Lalita (Elizabeth in Indian) and comes to enjoy here perspective of life from a completely different point of view.   I am not a fan of Jane Austin but I loved this version and recommend it to all Jane Austin fans and those that aren't her biggest fans.  This is also a good movie to be exposed to for Bollywood style beca...

In my opinion, Disney has lost its beauty and wonder that used to be the Disney I know and remember from movies such as  Beauty and the Beast ,  Aladdin ,  Robin Hood  (my personal favorite) and so many more.  The movie does have funny moments and a couple memorable characters like the firefly and even the main character (although it goes to show you just how memorable when I can't even remember her name off the top of my head). The problem for me was the prince and the villain were not impressive. The prince was far from charming and the timeline was far too short to develop him into becoming anything different from what he was in the beginning. The villain was a little scary for kids. I would not let my kids watch that at a young age. The shadows grabbing people was a little much. Hopefully Rapunzel will be better.

This movie was a wonderful blend of the wild and zany imagery typical to Tim Burton.   This is not your typical Alice story. She has returned to Wonderland not remembering she had been there before.  She must help free this new world from the Red Queen and also discover what she really wants to do with her life. Be advised that this movie is only based on the Alice books; it is not a production of either of them. I know there were some who were going in thinking it was the Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking glass story, but it is something that takes place years later. If you do not like Tim Burton's style, you will not like this movie. If you love him, you'll love this. Either way the acting is enjoyable, and the music is very Danny Elfman (which is fantastic!) The storyline is fun, and the costumes/sets are perfect for the concept.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fun filled film about the adventures of a reformed chicken thief who goes through a midlife crisis. He is a family man now but wants to return to the good old days of thieving. so with the help of an odd array of characters he puts the entire area in jeopardy by ticking off the meanest business men in the area. With a fun combination of puppetry and claymation we enter a world created by Rohl Dahl and you just find it an enjoyable film to relax no real thought provoking parts it’s just a fun film for the family with some witty and strange characters. I do recommend this wonderful movie and book.

Wow this movie leaves you breathless and amazed at where technology and movies can take you. The world of Pandora is one that will captivate your imagination and really grabs you. The story is one that is pretty good but it is the visual experience that draws you in. I need to mention the funny irony of the movie is that there were three adds before the movie started for the Marines and National Guard (which I respect a great deal), but a large part of the story casts military people in a very bad light. The bad guy is a Military leader who typifies how we think of officers in the military. Now back to the actual movie. Jake Sully our main character is a crippled ex-marine who is scientifically given the ability to create a mental link with the body of the locals called Na’vi on the planet of Pandora and he comes to discover the beauty of their beliefs and simple but by no means easy lives. He learns to appreciate the beauty of nature and why it is worth protecting. For anybody w...