If I was a strung out hippie, I would’ve loved this movie. It didn’t make up its cost at the box office, but I actually did enjoy it somewhat even though it is a musical and I’m morally opposed to musicals. To put it simply, Across the Universe takes an original story and puts it to Beatles music. The characters are named after Beatles songs (Jude, Prudence, Lucy, etc.) and the tunes are interwoven – sometimes stitched in haphazardly – through the story.

The film is stunning in its own right, focusing on bright, vibrant colors and strong visual imagery – the scene with the strawberries comes to mind first and foremost. The acting is good from several relatively unknowns (Jim Sturgess’s film career is blossoming as we speak) and, although somewhat disorganized, it’s a fun love story set to some of the most well-known pop music in history. I struggled with giving this a 3.5, so I settled for a 3 because I just can’t get around the awkward placement of “Dear Prudence” and the clunky subplot that brings about its inclusion in the film.

SO. Creepy. Colin Hanks was great in Orange County, but here he was just so scary as a stalker who keeps track of the object of his affection by planting wireless video cameras around her apartment. The film itself is very well done, and the subject matter is relevant to our society as technology continually breaks barriers for really messed up stuff like this to happen. For its social commentary, its something you might want to see. But this is not the kind of thing I’d show kids because it gets really intense at certain parts, and Hanks takes being a creeper to a new limit. I like seeing him take on roles in indie films like this, because goodness knows Colin could probably pull much bigger parts based on his father’s track record alone.

Adaptation is a movie written by Charlie Kaufman, about a man named Charlie Kaufman who is writing a movie based on a book about flowers, that is exactly like the movie Adaptation. It’s actually more complicated than that, but I hesitate to say more for fear that your minimal cognitive abilities will fold into and implode upon themselves, leaving nothing but empty blackness where your soul once was. Never before have I seen a movie about itself, that was so much like itself. It was amazing. The only reason I didn’t give this movie a 5 is because not only is Nicholas Cage in it (shudder)… he’s in it twice. You’ll have to watch it to see what I mean.

Will Ferrell proves yet again in this movie that he is a funny, funny, messed up person. I have to say I was disappointed. Don’t get your curtains all in a bunch, because I’m not saying this wasn’t a hilarious movie. It was just a lot less hilarious than I thought it was going to be. I just didn’t laugh all that much, and if you know me you’re well aware that I laugh at just about everything. In any case, see this movie if you’re into the whole “retro news anchor loses job to woman, then gains it back in a stunning turn of events” genre. Otherwise, still see it but don’t be mad that I sort of just gave away the entire story.

It seems Adam Sandler has made enough films in the past few years to spawn his own sub-genre of comedy, but the addition of Jack Nicholson took this movie a step beyond the rest. With Sandler as the executive producer, it’s only natural that you’d expect to see the usual medley of friends given small parts in the movie; SNL’s Kevin Nealon, tennis player John McEnroe, and actor John Turturro are a few. The thing I enjoyed most about this picture was its twist ending, which I would never have expected from a Sandler movie. It just goes to show you how conniving and manipulative some women can be when given the chance. You’ll know what I mean after you see the movie. On our awesomeness scale I’m giving it 1 for quality, 1 for an original ending, 1 for comedy and 1 more because Jack Nicholson is cool. A four.