• Clash of the Titans

    Clash of the Titans

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Go ahead and release your inner Kraken. more

  • The Last Song

    The Last Song

    ½ Waffle (Out of 4) - You can tell Miley Cyrus is trying to show her character is filled with dramatic, painful agony because she scrunches up her face like a Cabbage Patch Doll (or Renee Zellweger). Good luck with that acting career. more

  • Hot Tub Time Machine

    Hot Tub Time Machine

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - How can anyone screw this up? We have a hot tub. We have a time machine. We have 80's classic music (and big hair). What went wrong? more

  • How To Train Your Dragon

    How To Train Your Dragon

    3 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - I was able to see this in IMAX 3D, which is highly highly highly recommended if you have one near you. Just make sure you bring some sort of sanitizer (I have a travel size one with me at all times) because they re-use all of the glasses from show to show, and I hope they... more

  • Chloe

    Chloe

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - I want to make something clear to you perverts out there who assume the worst from me (not that I haven't justified it). When I say Amanda Seyfried has big eyes, I really mean she has big EYES. It's not a euphemism. more

  • Bounty Hunter

    Bounty Hunter

    1 Waffle (Out of 4) - Poor Jennifer Aniston. She is soooooo pretty, but her movies are so ugly. It's like she made a deal with the devil to have eternal beauty and a career in movies, but he pulled the old switcheroo by making those movies ones like The Bounty Hunter. more

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Zachary Gordon stars as Greg Heffley - a young kid entering middle school with plans to be one of the cool kids. Along the way, he has to navigate the childhood dangers of nefarious cheese, no doors on the bathroom stalls, where to sit at lunch time, and the hazing by older... more

  • The Green Zone

    The Green Zone

    3 Waffles (Out of 4) - Don't worry. Despite having the word "Green" in the title, Matt Damon is not some eco-warrior trying to destroy an evil polluter, save the dolphins or attempting to take down Toyota (they seem to be doing that all on their own). It's a war movie, so stuff is going to blow... more

  • She's Out Of My League

    She's Out Of My League

    3 Waffles (Out of 4) - It's funny, and kinda sweet, but they shouldn't classify it as comedy. It's sci-fi/fantasy. more

  • Remember Me

    Remember Me

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - The ending is one you will either love or hate, so put me in the hate category. I hate the ending. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it with the passion of 1000 burning suns. I hate it more than Kim Basinger hates Alec Baldwin. I hate it more than... more

  • Brooklyn's Finest

    Brooklyn's Finest

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - In the 1970's, 80's and 90's, New York City and Brooklyn were portrayed in movies as dens of iniquity where evil (and rats) lurked in the shadows of every alley. That's why we believed each case on Cagney and Lacey, NYPD Blue and Law & Order could really happen (and often... more

  • Alice in Wonderland

    Alice in Wonderland

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Poor Tim Burton. When his name gets attached to a film, the expectations and the hype explode beyond the stratosphere, and you can't live up to it every time (kind of like having a date with Megan Fox and finding out she's a nice girl who needs to be home by 11 PM). more

  • The Crazies

    The Crazies

    3 Waffles (Out of 4) - You know how much I hate nepotism and would rather mock the rich and the famous than laud them or even give them the faintest of praise. However, I can't deny the obvious (and it is killing me to my core). The spawn of Michael Eisner can direct. He must have made a second... more

  • Cop Out

    Cop Out

    1 Waffle (Out of 4) - It's like Beverly Hills Cop meets Die Hard, except we like those movies. more

  • Shutter Island

    Shutter Island

    3 Waffles (Out of 4) - This is the movie where Leonardo DiCaprio proves he is committed to recycling. After practicing, studying and spending all of that money on lessons to speak with a Southie Boston accent in The Departed, he brings it back for Shutter Island! more

  • Valentine's Day

    Valentine's Day

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Call it the romantic in me, or label me a sap, but I didn't hate it. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. more

  • Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

    Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - The people behind Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief are trying to follow the Harry Potter formula to make some box office magic (even bringing in the director of the first 2 Harry Potter movies), but this film is not even as exciting as a rabbit being pulled... more

  • From Paris With Love

    From Paris With Love

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - From Paris With Love is a movie that shows you better have good writing if you want to be a traditional action thriller. Otherwise, just blow stuff up with a vengeance and let people enjoy the ride. more

  • Dear John

    Dear John

    ½ Waffle (Out of 4) - Dear John is a movie that shows you how shallow people have become in 2010. This isn't a movie about a man and woman falling in passionate, life-changing, mesmerizing and everlasting love. It's a movie about a great set of abs falling in lust with a great pair of ... legs. more

  • When in Rome

    When in Rome

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Stop me if you have heard this one before (and, you have). Kristen Bell stars as Beth - a hot young blonde in New York City who works so hard, she doesn't take time for love. Suddenly, while preparing for the most important art show she will ever put on for her employer,... more

  • Edge of Darkness

    Edge of Darkness

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Forget about Dirty Harry or Chuck Norris being your go-to tough guys when the audience wants to see some slime ball agents of evil get blown away with a vengeance. Mel "The Australian Madman" Gibson is ready to kick some booty. Do you feel lucky, mate? Do ya? more

  • Extraordinary Measures

    Extraordinary Measures

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - If you see the ads for Extraordinary Measures, you quickly realize the marketing team isn't sure what they have and they don't trust the product they must sell. Sometimes, I see ads that make Extraordinary Measures seem like a potboiler of a thriller where two guys go... more

  • Tooth Fairy

    Tooth Fairy

    0 Waffles (Out of 4) - I am a big fan of Dwayne "I Will Always Call You The Rock" Johnson, so I hope he was paid well for this one. In fact, I hope he went into the negotiations with a list. more

  • The Lovely Bones

    The Lovely Bones

    2 Waffles (Out of 4) - Set in 1973, Saoirse Ronan stars as Susie Salmon - a young high school girl who has a great life ahead of her. She is experiencing her first crush. She has a loving family. She's passionate about photography and shows some real potential. And, Susie is about to be brutally... more

  • The Book of Eli

    The Book of Eli

    2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - He has won Oscars, starred on Broadway and still ranks as one of the coolest men on the planet. What is left for him to accomplish? Denzel wants to kick some boo-tay! more

  • Youth in Revolt

    Youth in Revolt

    4 Waffles (Out of 4) - Michael Cera stars as Nick Twisp - an aspiring teen novelist in Oakland who lives with his mother, Estelle (Jean Smart), and whatever loser guy she might be dating at the time. Right now, that loser guy is Jerry (Zach Galifianakis) and he has found himself in the middle of... more

  • Daybreakers

    Daybreakers

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Set in 2019, Ethan Hawke stars as Edward Dalton - a humanitarian vampire scientist trying to invent an alternative to human blood (he's part MacGyver, part Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and part Robert Pattinson, but he keeps his shirt on). See, some sort of virus infected... more

  • Leap Year

    Leap Year

    1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4) - Yes, January is the time for movies with ridiculous premises that make you believe every studio exec in Hollywood is engaging in Amy Winehouse levels of drug use. Leap Year doesn't disappoint. It's a movie that makes you think you stepped back into 1950, which makes me... more

  • A Single Man

    A Single Man

    Set in 1962, Colin Firth stars as George - a college professor suffering from the tragic loss of his beloved partner, Jim (Matthew Goode). Finally at his wit's end and full of pain that won't go away, George has decided to end it all, but life keeps getting in the way. more

  • It's Complicated

    It's Complicated

    Meryl Streep stars as Jane - a restaurateur who doesn't spend a great deal of time in the restaurant because her love life is starting to explode (I guess flirting with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin is more interesting than rolling out some croissants). She got divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin)... more

  • Sherlock Holmes

    Sherlock Holmes

    If you are a fan of Basil Rathbone as a stuffier, cooler, calmer Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey, Jr. might not exactly be your cup of tea. He is more of a Dr. House-like Sherlock Homes, which works just fine for me (and anyone who has no idea who Basil Rathbone is). more

  • Nine

    Nine

    Nine is a movie with oodles of flash, loads of style, and a Penelope Cruz song and dance number that will leave every man in the audience needing a very cold, cold shower. more

  • The Young Victoria

    The Young Victoria

    The Young Victoria is a movie about British history for those who love soap operas, and don't care alot about British history. Why let those pesky details and accuracy get in the way of looking at some pretty dresses? more

  • Did You Hear About the Morgans?

    Did You Hear About the Morgans?

    Now, I am starting to understand why Hollywood continues to deliver up sequels and remakes. If these are the new and groundbreaking ideas, there is no hope for originality. more

  • Me and Orson Welles

    Me and Orson Welles

    Set in 1937, Zac Efron stars as Richard - a high school kid who dreams of acting professionally. In a classic entertainment biz twist of good fortune, Richard finds himself passing by the Mercury Theater as Orson Welles (Christian McKay) is going on one of his frequent tirades and bursts of genius. more

  • The Princess and The Frog

    The Princess and The Frog

    In a world where everything is computer generated, in 3-D and full of big name stars who want to collect fat paychecks for little work (OK, we all want that), The Princess and The Frog feels like a classic Disney movie made during the age of Bambi and Snow White. Rejoice! more

  • Invictus

    Invictus

    I kind of feel sorry for Clint Eastwood and the gang this week. Invictus is a traditional, dramatic sports movie about honorable people, and we'd rather see The Tiger Woods Story this week. Honest, reputable competition doesn't stand a chance against multiple affairs, sexy text messages, salacious... more

  • Up In The Air

    Up In The Air

    When I grow up, I want to be George Clooney. Even when he's miserable, going gray and possibly wearing dentures, women think he is a sexy beast. more

  • Brothers

    Brothers

    Tobey "Sign Me Up For a Spider-Man Sequel" Maguire stars as Captain Sam Cahill - one of the best Marines in The Corps, a husband, and the father of two adorable kids. Just as his troublesome brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), is getting paroled from prison, Sam has been called back for a second tour... more

  • Everybody's Fine

    Everybody's Fine

    Robert De Niro stars as Frank - a recently widowed man trying to figure out what to do with his life. All of his children were closer to his wife, and he has been feeling sick lately, so he invites everyone to come back home for a big barbecue. Of course, each of the kids comes up with a last... more

  • Ninja Assassin

    Ninja Assassin

    If bloody mayhem is your idea of fun, this movie could cause you to explode in joy. more

  • The Road

    The Road

    If you have had a bad day, your girlfriend dumped you, you have troubles at work or might be feeling down because someone swiped the last piece of cake you had been dreaming about all day long, The Road is the movie that will drive you over the edge, so hide all sharp objects before you buy a... more

  • The Fantastic Mr. Fox

    The Fantastic Mr. Fox

    If I have said it once, I will say it a million times. Talking animals are funny. more

  • The Twilight Saga:  New Moon

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon

    The werewolves are BACK! The vampires are BACK! The angst is BACK! more

  • The Blind Side

    The Blind Side

    I should hate this movie with every ounce of my being (and that's alot of ounces). Yet, it has a certain charm that draws you in like the girl next door, when she has her hair up in a pony tail and smiles at you like you're George Clooney, Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron all rolled into one. more

  • The Messenger

    The Messenger

    Don't call it a comeback because Woody Harrelson never went away! While he has been active for many years, it feels like Harrelson is on a big career upswing with Zombieland and this smaller independent film that will remind everyone how good of an actor he is. more

  • Willie Waffle Interviews Rain from "Ninja Assassin"

    Willie Waffle Interviews Rain from "Ninja Assassin" Video

    Willie Waffle, DC50 Movie Maven, sits down with Rain, the star from the new movie "Ninja Assassin". more

  • "The People Speak" Documentary

    "The People Speak" Documentary Video

    Chris Moore, Executive Producer, discusses his new documentary titled "The People Speak" at George Washington University. more

  • 2012

    2012

    It's the movie that wants to let us know the Mayans were right, and the world will come to an end in 2012, so don't worry about paying those credit card bills, losing weight or sucking up to your boss to get a promotion! It's time to party like it's 1999! more

  • Precious

    Precious

    Every once in a while, a movie is so heartbreaking even a tough guy like Chuck Norris or Simon Cowell will break out into tears. The rest of us will need an entire box of tissues to survive, but it is worth it. more

  • Ten9Eight:  Shoot for the Moon

    Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon

    Given all of the shenanigans and despicable activities we have seen destroy the economy, I wouldn't hold it against you if you had a bad opinion of CEOs and businesspeople (especially the ones who walked away from failed companies with multi-million dollar bonuses in their pockets). However,... more

  • Lee Daniels Interview - "Precious"

    Lee Daniels Interview - "Precious" Video

    Willie Waffle and Lee Daniels chat about the movie "Precious" more

  • The Men Who Stare At Goats

    The Men Who Stare At Goats

    Set in 2003, Ewan McGregor stars as Bob Wilton - a reporter in Ann Arbor who wants to shake up his life after his marriage takes a turn for the worst, and he starts to question the decisions he has made. To prove something to himself and his estranged wife, Bob decides to become a war reporter... more

  • The Fourth Kind

    The Fourth Kind

    After the most buzzworthy film of the year (Paranormal Activity) came out of nowhere to become the #1 movie in America, the marketing team behind The Fourth Kind is going to great lengths to make us believe the events depicted in this movie are real (just like the guys behind Paranormal Activity... more

  • A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol

    I know you hear the names Walt Disney and Jim Carrey and start to think this is going to be some G-rated safe animated version of A Christmas Carol your 4-year old precious little bundle of joy will want to see because it will provide holiday memories for a lifetime (until those memories are... more

  • The Box

    The Box

    I hope Cameron Diaz has been saving her money. A few more movies like this and she'll be knocking on Drew Barrymore's front door begging for a Charlie's Angels 3, and Drew will sneaking out the back to avoid her. more

  • This is it

    This is it

    Going into the movie, I had a couple questions rattling around in my head. more

  • Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

    Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

    It's Twilight with training wheels! more

  • Astro Boy

    Astro Boy

    I used to be a huge Nicolas Cage fan, but am I the only person who just hears his voice or sees his face in a commercial and assumes the movie will be a dreadful, horrible, failure of a film? Seeing a trailer for Astro Boy haunted me for weeks and caused me to have all sorts of flashbacks to... more

  • Amelia

    Amelia

    If there have ever been two people on the face of the planet who I never wanted to see kiss each other on a massive movie screen, it is Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. It's like watching a ferret kiss a horse. more

  • The Damned United

    The Damned United

    This movie has box office poison written all over it like graffiti on all of those building you pass when riding the Red Line towards Silver Spring. It's about soccer. It's British. The only thing it is missing is subtitles! To win over American audiences, The Damned United has to be The... more

  • Law Abiding Citizen

    Law Abiding Citizen

    Gerard Butler stars as Clyde Shelton - a mysterious figure who wants vengeance after his wife and child are murdered during a home invasion. The brash assistant district attorney, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), cuts a plea bargain deal with the more sadistic of the two killers, which angers Clyde, and... more

  • Where The Wild Things Are

    Where The Wild Things Are

    Reactions to Where The Wild Things Are tend to break into two categories. On the one hand, people are excited for the movie because they read the book. On the other hand, people are scared because they read the book (and don't want to see those childhood memories destroyed by some cold-hearted... more

  • New York, I Love You

    New York, I Love You

    I want to review this movie, but it is such a mess, I don't know where to begin. Not even an appearance by Blake Lively was enough to make me happy when I went to see New York, I Love You, so you know there is no hope. more

  • Paranormal Activity

    Paranormal Activity

    You have heard the buzz, seen the commercials and probably had a friend or two check it out at one of those midnight shows, but is it too... more

  • A Serious Man

    A Serious Man

    If you believe most movie critics and stuffy film aficionados, the release of a Coen Brothers movie is akin to the birth of Jesus compelling fans to sing alleluia and buy their tickets with Frankincense and Mir. Don't buy into the hype! I might be at risk of having my movie critic card stripped... more

  • Couples Retreat

    Couples Retreat

    Am I the only one who thinks Couples Retreat was just an excuse for the producers, director and stars to spend a few months having fun on the beaches of Tahiti? After seeing the results, I think it is pretty clear they did more partying than working, and still got paid millions of dollars. I... more

  • "Capitalism: A Love Story" Review and Moore Interview

    "Capitalism: A Love Story" Review and Moore Interview Video

    Among all of the filmmakers out there in the world today, it's hard to find one who gets as much attention as Michael Moore (although, Roman Polanski... more

  • The Boys Are Back

    The Boys Are Back

    Clive Owen stars as Joe - a disconnected father and sports reporter who suddenly becomes the only parent for his 6-year old son (Nicholas... more

  • Whip It

    Whip It

    Whip It is like the prom queen girl next door who puts on too much mascara, gaudy lipstick and a skirt so short she would be kicked out of... more

  • Fame

    Fame

    When you remake a classic and people like it, your movie is an homage that honors the original. When your remake turns into this week's Fame,... more

  • Pandorum

    Pandorum

    What does Pandorum mean? I think it is Latin for stinky movie. more

  • No Impact Man

    No Impact Man

    It is the rare masochistic person who wants to go to the movies to be preached at, so I can understand why you might be afraid to see No... more

  • The Informant

    The Informant

    What is it with Matt Damon and his overwhelming desire to wear all sorts of makeup, goofy noses and funny glasses? According to legend and rumor (all lawyers should note the RUMOR and... more

  • Love Happens

    Love Happens

    Are we supposed to take the title Love Happens as a positive or a negative? On the one hand, it sounds whimsical and magical like any time you... more

  • Big Fan

    Big Fan

    Patton Oswalt stars as Paul - a thirtysomething parking garage attendant who lives in Staten Island with his mother, but truly lives for his... more

  • Extract

    Extract

    Late summer is a time of the year when studios have run out of blockbusters, so it is a chance to discover those hidden gems and surprise treasures like Little Miss Sunshine.... more

  • White Out

    White Out

    I kind of wish they used some whiteout on the boring parts of the script, or maybe over the title of this movie on the list of films the studio... more

  • All About Steve

    All About Steve

    I know someone somewhere thought it was cute play on words (and famous movie titles) to call this one, All About Steve, but it's a movie that is really something about Mary,... more

  • World's Greatest Dad

    World's Greatest Dad

    If you follow movies, you might have noticed World's Greatest Dad is part of a growing trend. Instead of debuting in a handful of movie theaters in New York and Los Angeles,... more

  • Play The Game

    Play The Game

    There have been many things in this world I never thought I would see, and watching Andy Griffith receive, umm, "oral pleasure" was one of them until I saw Play The Game. What... more

  • Taking Woodstock

    Taking Woodstock

    For the holidays, I am buying a calendar for every studio and marketing exec in Hollywood. They put out Halloween movies in August. Christmas movies come out at Halloween. I... more

  • Post Grad

    Post Grad

    After the disasters known as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and Post Grad, Alexis Bledel will be calling Lauren Graham and begging for a Gilmore Girls reunion film. Maybe a... more

  • Inglourious Basterds

    Inglourious Basterds

    With (intentional) bad spelling and historical errors, Inglourious Basterds will be the bane of English teachers and World War II buffs everywhere. Unfortunately, the bigger... more

  • The Goods

    The Goods

    The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is a movie so vulgar even babies and angels from heaven appearing in the film are cursing. I guess if a toddler dropping the F-bomb makes you... more

  • The Time Traveler's Wife

    The Time Traveler's Wife

    Let me get this straight. A beautiful, smart woman like Rachel McAdams is willing to put up with a dude who disappears on a whim and leaves her alone for days and weeks on end?... more

  • District 9

    District 9

    District 9 is for every person who walks out of the cineplex complaining that they want to see something different and original. That doesn't mean it is awesome, but it is... more

  • A Perfect Getaway

    A Perfect Getaway

    This could be one of the most awful movies of the year. Then, it gets worse. more

Willie's Blog

  • George Clooney Coming Back To DC?!?!?!?!

    Thumbnail image for clooneyandgirlfriend.jpgWhat's a bigger deal to us DC folks?  Transformers 3 shooting for 3 days on The Mall (and the possibility Abraham Lincoln is an Autobot?), or George Clooney directing Farragut North?  DC Ladies, let the swooning commence! 

    Cinematicalis reporting Clooney will start shooting the movie next February...

  • Summer Movie Attendance Lowest Since 1997, I Blame Marmaduke

    movietickets.jpgIf you believe the Hollywood spinmeisters, this was the best summer movie season ever! 

    Disney has become the first studio to release two $1 Billion movies in one year (Alice in Wonderland and Toy Story 3). 

    Box office take was $4.35 Billion for the summer, up 2.4% from last year, and setting a...

  • The American - Review

    americanposter.jpgI know many people think George Clooney is a walking talking special effect all by himself, but we need more than his bare chest and rugged jaw to make The American interesting.

    Clooney stars as Jack - an assassin on the run.  His boss, Pavel (Johan Leysen), has sent him to a remote Italian town...

  • Morning Glory - Trailer


    Is it just me, or is Morning Glory attempting to be this generation's Broadcast News?

    Rachel McAdams seems to have the Holly Hunter role down cold, but I am worried about Harrison Ford. Is he overdoing it early on, but delivering the dramatic goods late? Will he get an Oscar for Best Hair?

    What do we think? Oscar material? Date night material? Not-even-on-DVD material?

  • Paris Hilton Busted With Coke In Purse

    parishilton.jpgNo, we're not talking about the refreshing caffeinated drink in that oh so sexy curvy bottle. 

    We're talking about the nose candy.  Blow.  Snow.  The Powder.

    In a scene straight out of a Cheech and Chong movie, Hilton and her boyfriend, Cy Waits, were driving down the Vegas strip Friday night in a...

  • The Last Exorcism - Review

    lastexorcismposter.jpgIf you watch the commercials for The Last Exorcism, you'd think it was just another, run of the mill, B-level horror movie destined for the discount DVD bin at Wal-Mart.   

    You might even think it is a sequel to The Exorcist.

    However, The Last Exorcismis the kind of brilliant movie that doesn't come...

  • Takers - Review

    takersposter.jpgMy favorite part of watching Takers was the moment before the film started, when the Cineplex decided to lower and raise the lights as if we were at the opera.  Takers isn't the worst movie ever, but it's not like we were getting ready to see La Traviata.  

    Jesse (Chris Brown), Jake (Mike Ealy), A....

  • The Oscars Moving To Monday? I Don't Like Mondays

    oscar.jpgCinematical broke my heart this morning when I read The Academy is considering a move back to Monday nights for the first time since 1999. 

    As you already know, the Oscar ceremony is likely to come earlier in 2012 as The Academy tries to stop all of these other awards like the SAGs and The Globes...

  • Original Kermit The Frog At The Smithsonian

    kermitwrctv4.jpgIn 1955, a University of Maryland freshman with a love and skill for puppetry created a 5-minute program for WRC-TV 4 here in Washington, DC. 

    Sam & Friendsfrom Jim Henson was featured in an afternoon kids programming block hosted by Willard Scott, but the program's biggest attractions were these...

  • Transformers 3 In DC September 27!

    transformers3pic.jpgGet ready for your Shia LaBeouf and Michael Bay sightings. 

    Maybe even a flash of Josh Duhamel and Tyrese for the ladies?

    The week of September 27 is shaping up as the week Transformers 3will take over the streets around the Mall, and I couldn't be more excited.  Multiple sources are reporting some...