Paycheck. a film that unites director action mastermind John Woo, a Phillip Dick story and several competent actors proves the old adage that no one knows nothing is true.

Despite everything Paycheck had going for it, it left me with the feeling that I’d seen it all before. And seen it I had, in another movie just last year about a bright guy in good shape who wakes up with amnesia, then gets involved with a non classic beauty type of girl. Together they try to piece together the wreckage of his former life as some dark figures try to assassinate our hero at every turn. Let me think, it’s coming back to me now…ah yes, The Bourne Identity. Only, The Bourne Identity did not suck.

Matt Damon was offered the starring role in Paycheck, and I think a lot more of Matt Damon for passing on the project. In fact, the more I see of Matt Damon, the more I realize he was the brains of the Damon-Affleck writing team all along. It’s also clear who will still be A-list in 5 years.

Ben Affleck plays two character types, aw shucks, and petulant frat boy. We’ve seen aw shucks in Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Chasing Amy, Daredevil and pretty much everywhere else except Good Will Hunting and Changing Lanes, which were petulant frat boy. Let’s hope petulant frat boy makes a reprise real soon, because aw shucks is done.

I’d like to say something nice about Uma Thurman, but the best I can manage is, Uma – never speak of this movie again. It wasn’t your fault.

The sidekick guy was good, Paul Giamatti. He really helped the film, but dude, don’t put this on your resume either.

If you must see Paycheck, rent this one at the library and let the government subsidize your viewing displeasure.

Tim Burton is an impressive talent whose films have run the gamut telling stories about some great and almost ridiculous, but still great characters. Big Fish is different. This is a film with a touching theme that cuts right to the heart of what makes us human, and it does it in such a brilliant and entertaining way, you don’t even care how hard he yanks on the heart strings. And he does tug. I heard tears behind me at the right places.

This is the big work, the kind every writer would love to have their name on, because not only does it work thematically, Tim Burton makes it work visually, and its fun. But don’t think this is just a comedy, it’s deeper than that.

Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney are great character actors, and there is lots of great acting in this movie. As far as the talent, everyone is exceptional in this except Billy Crudup. His performance was a little too sterile and detached for me. If my dad had a terminal illness, I think I’d be a little more emotional about it. However, a plus side to that, because Billy Crudup appeared detached, Albert Finney’s performance seemed even better.

The story is essence about a man’s attempt to understand with the colorful legacy of his father. It’s a legacy that as a boy he loved, and as a man he tried to reject, only to realize that what he was rejecting was himself. Like it or not, most of us aren’t so different from our parents. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a reason for that.

Let me frame this review by stating that I’m not huge fan of Hugh Grant. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is rich, great looking, has a good sense of comic timing and everyone likes him. No, those are admirable features. My issue with Hugh is that he ALWAYS plays the same proper, quick witted English gentleman, which come to think of it, he probably is in real life. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I wish I were a lot more proper and good looking myself. I’ll take a pass on the English part.

It’s probably his agent who’s to blame, or his manager. Maybe the people that bankroll movies don’t want to risk tainting his image – it’s worked very well for them so far.

I took my mom, stepfather and wife to this movie to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Mom loves Hugh Grant. Mom would like me to be a whole lot more like Hugh Grant.

This movie starts out with a wedding. Sure Hugh Grant has never done that before. But it gets better very quickly. The premise is that it follows a number of interconnected characters as they wrestle with love in it’s many stages against the backdrop of the Xmas season. Everything from a fresh crush to love worn down by years of a loathsome marriage. This film runs the gamut.

All the actors are terrific and the story is tight. One of my new favorite actresses is Martine McCutcheon who is paired with Hugh Grant. Note that she looks suspiciously like Elizabeth Hurley. Hugh Grant has never done that. Well, he doesn’t do that anymore.

The direction is good, the timing and pacing serve the movie very well. Guys, take note, you could probably win some points with your significant other if you take her to see this. If you don’t take her while it’s still in the theaters, rent it. Odds are good you’ll recognize some version of your own relationship in one of the stories. And you can laugh at the characters who crash and burn, and/or celebrate the winners.

Overall this is a nice light, comedy with a simple message and lots of screen time for Hugh Grant. Yep, Hugh Grant never does that.

The anticipation surrounding this movie was unprecedented. Millions of fans vied for a chance to see it on opening night. I won’t even try to speak for them, because I saw it ten days what looks like a many month streak at the box office.

What I did see was a top notch finale to the trilogy. There’s not enough positive adjectives to describe this movie, but I’ll try a few. How about stupendous, amazing and incredible. And that’s just the opening credits.

Moving on, the acting, as the other films in the series was rock solid. The direction, writing and pacing was proof that it is possible no matter how much money and hype surrounds a film, if the story is there – in the end, only the story matters. Double plus kudos to Peter Jackson for the cinematic achievement of a lifetime; delivering a trilogy where each film improved on the previous film.

I liked this movie. I liked it a whole lot. I’d see it again and pay full price. What’s most impressive to me about this film is that I’m probably the most novice fan of the Lord of the Ring books out there. I’ve tried seven times to read the Hobbit, never making it beyond page 72. But the films made the story a lot more appealing, so I’m ready to try it again. So go see Lord of the Rings, Return of the King. See it NOW!