9 (2009)

Any full-length film that is based on a nine-minute animation is bound to be interesting. So interesting in fact, that I'm still not sure what to make of it, and it's been a month. 9 is a very surreal look into humanity's future in which the only remnant's of earth's dominant race exist in the form of nine small burlap dolls. The film will keep your interest, even if it is only because you are trying to figure out what is going on. However, where plot coherency fails, excellent graphic design picks up the slack.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violence and scary images.

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Directed by Peter Jackson, the man who so stunningly brought The Lord of the Rings to the big screen, The Lovely Bones is at least worth watching. The interesting plot revolves around Susie Salmon (yes, like the fish), a fourteen-year-old girl who is murdered by a man in the neighborhood. As an audience we get to see the devastating effects of the murder wrought upon Susie's family as well a few breath-taking glimpses into Susie's own personal afterlife. Vibrant colors, beautiful imagery and a moving score by Brian Eno all make The Lovely Bones worth a trip to the cinema.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language.

Avatar (2009)

While visually stunning (for the most part), this film does not pull any weight. The story-line is a combination of Disney's Pocahontas and the eco-friendly children's film Fern Gully.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.