SNAPSHOTS - Battle, Mars and Red Riding Hood?

A quick snapshot this morning -- full reviews go live later today.

Battle: Los Angeles
Fun, popcorn film. The aliens are coming but we are strong! Fight them!!!! Do you realize it's been 15 years (this year) since Independence Day? This will not break any groundbreaking film standards, and some people might not like it...but dang...I just felt this was a non-stop action, fun film! (B)

Mars Needs Moms
This is a neat little kids film, well kinda. The ending might bother the youngest...but it shows EVERYONE needs their Mom. (B-/C+)

Red Riding Hood
Ok, the title means this is going to be a tame and nice fairy tale, right? RIGHT? NO! this is for the teens trying to make the Big Bad Wolf hip! Yes, there is blood and stuff. It's like the Twilight of Big Bad Wolf movies...did I just say that? (C+/C)

I'll be on Real Milwaukee this morning talking about some of these titles, then over to KMOX this afternoon to chat with Mark Reardon on the new movies....and the full reviews will be up tonight.

SNAPSHOTS - Bieber, Sandler, Tatum and Gnomes!

So the full reviews won't be posted until later this evening...sorry but a Thursday screening with a bad final reel and some personal things slowed them down...but here's your snap shot at what's coming.

I didn't get to see the full Justin Bieber film, but I did see the first hour (Double booked by the studios...DRAT) and I MEAN THAT -- the first hour was pretty good, and definitely an EXPERIENCE I'll not soon forget. While I don't have "Bieber Fever" I"m sure I have at least a "Bieber Cold".

Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker (yes remember Brooklyn Decker, I WILL) -- Just Go With It is for the Sandler fans out there, amusing but very predictable stuff here.

Channing Tatum is up in The Eagle, a film that wasn't awful...but wasn't great EITHER -- it was the perfect example of a film that was just ok....

And Finally....the gnomes....yes I said it gnomes -- the individuals that were at my screening seemed happy to come out of the film, and they really liked it...me? I never got it...might be the perfect film to show to the little kids though....I really don't know....send me a gnome and I'll look into it.

More to come....but those are your SNAPSHOTS if this weekend's NEW films!

SNAPSHOTS - Harry Potter and the rest.

Remotely accessing the blog, so the full reviews won't go online until this evening...but here's the SNAPSHOTS.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - scary for some, this will take Harry Potter fans to the brink with a solid, yet unspectacular setup for the final film next year. Much like the early chapters of a book, there is a lot of exposition that goes on and it can sometimes be confusing for the casual fan. A solid, yet unspectacular effort. B

The Next Three Days - Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks in a Paul Haggis film about a woman in jail for murder and her husband that will do anything to get her back. A little out there at times, but definitely a solid popcorn flick. Quick and hard driving action sequences will definitely get the blood going. B-

127 Hours - Now reaching out in wider release, this has one of the performances of the year from James Franco. The one scene may make you uncomfortable, but it should. Franco takes viewers through the whole range of emotions in this award worthy performance. A man trapped goes through feelings like no other. A-

Fair Game - Also now rolling into its wider release window, this is the Valerie Plame story brought to the screen by Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. It's a faster paced thriller type as it's framed and that's not a bad thing. Definitely worth checking out. B-

Those are your SNAPSHOTS on this week's new offerings -- Look for these as we go forward Every Friday at 12:01 AM -- with full reviews to follow! If you don't have time for the full review, always take a peek at the Common Guy's Snapshots.