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Family Relation

Ping Pong Playa

score: 
B-
Director: 
Jessica Yu
Cast: 
Jimmy Tsai, Andrew Vo, Khary Payton, Jim Lau, Elizabeth Sung
Running Time: 
96
Rated: 
PG-13
Though immensely stereotypical in both its story and characters, Ping Pong Playa scores high marks for its witty dialogue and clever style. As a result, what could have been seen as a sleep fest quickly proves itself as a film of intelligence and should be respected for what it has, not what it has not.

Transsiberian

score: 
A
Director: 
Brad Anderson
Cast: 
Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega
Running Time: 
111
Rated: 
R
As time passes, Emily Mortimer is slowly becoming the 'it' girl in independent cinema. From her roles in Dear Frankie and Match Point to Lars and the Real Girl and Redbelt, the quickly rising star has turned in some brilliant performances in some of the best indie films. Thankfully, she is at it again, this time opposite Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley in Brad Anderson's soon-to-be-classic, Transsiberian.

Choke

score: 
A-
Director: 
Clark Gregg
Cast: 
Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad Henke, Clark Gregg
Running Time: 
92
Rated: 
R
Over the years, novelist Chuck Palahniuk has received vast acclaim for his creative, artistic yet psychotic work. After the success of Fight Club, which stars Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, more Palahniuk novels were sure to be made into feature films. However, no one could have guessed that the next film would be Choke.

Burn After Reading

score: 
A-
Director: 
Joel and Ethan Cohen
Cast: 
George Clooney, Francis McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt
Running Time: 
95
Rated: 
R
With such iconic films as Fargo and No Country for Old Men to their credit, writer/directors Joel and Ethan Cohen have little left to prove. However, like true veteran filmmakers, the real-life brothers have decided to try their hand at another genre – comedy. Enlisting the help of George Clooney, Francis McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt, the guys have created Burn After Reading, a quirky, innovative and fresh-faced film that is bound to entertain and please the masses.

Henry Poole is Here

score: 
D-
Director: 
Mark Pellington
Cast: 
Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines
Running Time: 
101
Rated: 
PG
Henry Poole is looking for an escape. Emotionally shattered by the news that his life is quickly coming to an end, the upset Poole purchases a generic house in a middle-class neighborhood in order to get away from people and things in which surround him. However, after Esperanza, Henry's nosey neighbor, discovers a mysterious stain on the side of Henry's house, his desire for solitude becomes nonexistent. In the meantime, Henry can't help but notice his other neighbors, Dawn and her eight-year-old daughter, Millie, both of which bring a light to his life that he thought was gone forever.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

score: 
B-
Director: 
Eric Brevig
Cast: 
Brendan Fraser, Anita Briem, Josh Hutcherson
Running Time: 
92
Rated: 
PG
When you think of Tom Sawyer, Atticus Finch or even Ebenezer Scrooge, you quickly think of works of literature. But when you hear about Professor Lidenbrock from Jules Verne's 'Journey to the Center of the Earth,' you don't think about books, hell you might not even thing about movies; yet, the story that surrounds the professor is as amazing as that of Tom, Atticus and Ebenezer.

Swing Vote

score: 
C+
Director: 
Joshua Michael Stern
Cast: 
Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper
Running Time: 
119
Rated: 
PG-13
Back in November of 2000, when all eyes went to Florida and their voting process, everyone began to reconsider their stance on the motto that every vote counts. However, as shown in 2004, the mind boggling event that held the country in limbo for over a month seemed to have lost its flair as many decided not to vote for the next President. Now, as the 2008 election begins to come into focus, Kevin Costner and company look to remind everyone just how important the judicial system really is with their comedic film, Swing Vote.

CJ7

score: 
C+
Director: 
Stephen Chow
Cast: 
Stephen Chow, Xu Jiao, Kitty Zhang Yugi
Running Time: 
86
Rated: 
PG
Though targeted at kids and their explosive imagination, CJ7 misses the mark as the story is advanced and presented with subtitles causing many members of the younger audience to become lost and uninterested.

Married Life

score: 
B
Director: 
Ira Sachs
Cast: 
Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson
Running Time: 
90
Rated: 
PG-13
Though extremely predictable and little too happy-go-lucky, Married Life was surprisingly impressive as it played to the strengths of its cast and story; never outdoing itself and always relying on instinct over theatrics.

College Road Trip

score: 
D-
Director: 
Roger Kumble
Cast: 
Raven Symone, Martin Lawrence, Donny Osmond
Running Time: 
87
Rated: 
G
Handicapped by a story too advanced for its targeted G-suitable audience, College Road Trip fails to connect with its viewers and thus loses them in the beginning and makes them suffer through an otherwise boring and dull film.

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