3 out of 5

I recently watched 21 (2008,PG-13).  From ScreenIt!:

Recruited by one of his professors, a college student agrees to join an underground card-counting team, but must deal with the repercussions of getting too good at it, all of which draws the watchful eye of Vegas casino loss prevention specialists.

This was probably an interesting story to read, but it didn't work all that well for me as a film...especially Spacey's character.  It could have actually been on target for all I know, but it didn't feel like it to me.  I also don't understand how casino's could possibly get away with kicking the shite out of it's customers or why Ben wouldn't use a bank account.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Last night we watched Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992,PG) for family movie night.  From IMDB:

Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine unexpectedly starts working.

A bit of wisdom from the film:

There's one thing every kid knows: daddies mean fun, mommies mean business.

The kids enjoyed it.  I give it 3 out of 5.

Lisa was chaperoning a dance tonight, so the boys and I had dinner at Pizza Hut and then watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007,PG-13).  From ScreenIt!:

A teenage wizard must contend with changes at his school all while trying to get everyone to believe in and prepare for the return of a dangerous entity in this fifth installment of the "Harry Potter" series.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Tonight I finished watching Body of Lies (2008,R).  From Screen It!:

A Middle East based CIA field operative clashes with his supervisor back in the states as the two try to find and stop a terrorist ringleader.

We started it last weekend.  Lisa gave up on it pretty quickly with all of the non-stop gunfire at the beginning.  She missed the romance in the middle before the violence returned at the end.  It was OK...reminded me of The Kingdom. 

I give it 3 out of 5.

Tonight we watched Taken (2009,PG-13).  From ScreenIt!:

A former CIA agent uses every tool in his arsenal and leaves many bad guys in his wake as he tries to find and rescue his 17-year-old daughter who's been kidnapped into the sex slave trade while vacationing in Paris.

It’s chock full of violence and a bit too far-fetched over and over again.  Also, Lisa says the boys are never going to Europe alone.

I give it 3 out of 5.