As Good As It Gets

A lot of fun.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

This is a very educational high on moral movie, and kids still love it. I showed it to many students as part of literature classes, the movie deals a lot with books and a certain writer - Jules Vern - and all the kids were mesmerised. In this age of short attention span it's an amazing feat which makes this a masterpiece of youth movie making.

Man, just too much be my pal, my daddy left me at an early age, feel sorry for me, come together as a family bit, overly sugar coating. Oh, here is a song to make your leg feel better.Was this thing supposed to be in 3D? I have only seen it on TV, but it definitely has staged awkward shots. That stupid throw the berries at my pulsating Pecs, "feed them", comes to mind, looks like it's just here for some nonexistent 3D, it comes off as just creepy, disturbing, too. This is totally pointless.The story line isn't Jules Verne worthy. I take issue with fire melting rocks surrounding you in water and you are not boiled like a lobster. An island that breaks apart on a cycle and reappears with a stone city enacted? What Hogwarts magic is this? This isn't even a good comic book story. My guess, preteens would enjoy it, adults could sit through it, this movie is just too much broken dysfunction family and it's all fixed by this yawn, it's too heavy handed, in your face with this, with a fantasy movie barely intruding on that."So, who's up for an adventure ", not me with this franchise. I rated as a 5, that is generous, the acting is not bad given the material. your kids could be watching worse.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012): Dir: Brad Peyton / Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Caine, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens: Entertaining family adventure with a title that not only refers to the adventure at hand, but also the relationship between a teenage male and his potential step-father. Josh Hutcherson plays the kid who receives a code from his grandfather who has been missing after an adventure. He learns that his grandfather has located the mysterious island and he desires to join him. Reluctant, his potential step-father Henk, played by Dwayne Johnson joins him after reassuring his fiancé. Director Brad Peyton previously made the terrible Cats and Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore. Here he is backed with an extremely corny yet detailed screenplay splashing the imagination with miniature elephants, giant insects, and a volcano that will spew gold. They must leave the island before it becomes drown completely in water. The cast elevate the characters beyond cookie-cutter level. Johnson plays off the toughness with a desire to be accepted by Hutcherson. In turn Hutcherson gets injured when riding a giant bee in fleeing from a giant bird. Michael Caine plays the grandfather, big on ideas while amateur in family communication. Luis Guzman plays a pilot accepting the challenge of transporting Johnson and Hutcherson to this island. Vanessa Hudgens plays Guzman's daughter who ends up crawling into a tight hole. Theme regards family and adventure and it works for that audience with its creative visuals and the mysterious world it presents. Score: 9 / 10

I was very disappointed. It seemed like it would be a good film for the whole family to enjoy for movie, but it was not. Within the first 15 minutes or so we are introduced to Vanessa Hudgens' character. You can tell that the main character really thinks that she is a good looking just by dialogue alone, and then they needlessly pan down to her chest.Why does this always happen to the female lead in action movies (ex Star Trek, GI Joe)? Always the damsel in distress, and the object of "affection" of the main male lead. The theme keeps going throughout the whole movie.Very disappointing, defiantly a skip for young audiences, male or female.