What a rough week it has been for critics here in Columbus. I count myself as one of the lucky ones, as I missed the first 3 of the 8 screening that were scheduled between Monday and Thursday. Apparently I wasn’t missing much. Of the movies I did see this week, the majority were utterly terrible. It has gotten so bad that I am actually looking forward to seeing Pride, the inspirational swimming movie starring Terrance Howard and Bernie Mac which releases next week. But alas, it is time to put my own disappointment aside — because as a movie critic, my job is to take the good with the bad and sit through every single release that Hollywood can throw together in a given calendar year. With that, I give you this weekend’s lineup:

Pick of the Week

300
Running Time: 117 min. Rated R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.
I know what you are thinking — “There is no way that you can pick 300 as your pick of the week again!” Yes, in fact, I can and I just did. Oddly enough, this is really less about the fact that I absolutely loved 300 and more about the fact that every new release this week is a turd. I did see some good flicks during the course of the week, but they don’t come out until next week. So with that in mind, if you are headed to the local cinema, consider seeing 300 again, as it is still your best option.
Read my entire review
Grade: | Trailer

Also Out this Week

Premonition
Running Time: 110 min. Rated PG-13 for some violent content, disturbing images, thematic material and brief language.
Sandra Bullock stars as a housewife who finds out that her husband has been killed in a terrible car crash, only to wake up the next day and find out that it hasn’t happened yet. It’s a story with a lot of promise, but the movie turns out to be severely under executed. Chick flick loving Sandy Bullock fans will be deeply disappointed in the films lack of warmth and suspense junkies will be turned off by the fact that the film makes almost no sense in the end. If you were planning on seeing this one, don’t let me stop you — just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.
Read my entire review
Grade: | Trailer

I Think I Love My Wife
Running Time: 90 min. Rated R for pervasive language and some sexual content.
This is not the first time that Chris Rock has written, directed and starred in a film, but it is certainly in the running as the worst film he has ever written, directed and starred in. Rock plays a married man who is bored with his life and considers making some changes in his sex life — namely, he would be having sex, just not with his wife. Kerry Washington does manage to bring some heat to the screen and Chris Rock gets a few laughs, but in the end this film plays out like a campy sitcom — just with a few more race jokes.
Read my entire review
Grade: | Trailer

Dead Silence
Running Time: 90 min. Rated R for horror violence and images.
When a film doesn’t get screened for critics it is not a good sign. When a horror film doesn’t get screened for critics, as is the case with this particular flick, it is even worse. Let me put it to you this way, they wouldn’t dare screen The Hills Have Eyes 2 because they know what we would do to it. And they say critics don’t influence box office performance. Ha! In this case a lack of press, whether good or bad, is the best prescription. Oh and as for what the film is all about — a bunch of Vaudeville puppets kill people and cut out their tongues. Sounds delicious!
Trailer

So there you have it, plenty of “choices” that will have you either repeating last week’s routine or settling onto your couch to watch Casino Royale on DVD. When it comes to the new movies this weekend, I always like to say that it can’t hurt to try something new — just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.