In Theaters

(500) Days of Summer
Release Date: July 17, 2009
Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg and Minka Kelly
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Highlight: “In a summer of big-budget blockbusters, it is the small independent films that are dominating with fantastic cinematic quality. Colorado Springs Gazette guest critic, Brandon Fibbs takes a look at the latest example, the sensational atypical romance story, “(500) Days of Summer.”

Grade: B-

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Release Date: July 14, 2009
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent and Helena Bonham Carter
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Highlight: “Under a dark cloud of mystery and impending doom, the sixth installment of the second best franchise in motion picture history, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” magically unfolds and establishes this film as the best in the legendary series.”

Grade: A

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bruno
Release Date: July 10, 2009
Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer and Jeff Schaffer
Studio: Universal Pictures
Highlight: “While clever in some spots, Sasha Baron Cohen’s followup to “Borat” is a brutal, over-top-top, voyeuristic and visceral debacle. Guest critic, Brandon Fibbs of the Colorado Springs Gazette gives his take on Baron Cohen’s controversial work.”

Grade: B

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Hurt Locker
Release Date: July 9, 2009
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Highlight: “This examination of war among a group of bomb technicians is a white-knuckle thriller that will turn you stomach into knots. Guest critic, Brandon Fibbs of the Colorado Springs Gazette takes a look at director Kathryn Bigelow’s war masterpiece.

Grade: A-

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Moon
Release Date: July 9, 2009
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott and Rosie Shaw
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Highlight: “After a promising start, “Moon” slows down to methodical, sleep-inducing crawl. Despite Rockwell’s best efforts, even he can’t overcome the film’s plodding screenplay that puts one in the mind of “2001: A Space Odyssey” – without the creativity and quality.”

Grade: B

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Public Enemies
Release Date: July 17, 2009
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi and Billy Crudup
Studio: Universal Pictures
Highlight: “John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) likes being a gangster. He likes driving fast and wearing “good clothes,” robbing banks and eluding the cops again and again. He especially likes being a celebrity. This much is clear during a brief moment in “Public Enemies,” after he’s been captured.”

Grade: B-

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Release Date: June 12, 2009
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro and Luis Guzman
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Highlight: “Despite the presence of Washington and Travolta and a suspenseful crackling script, “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ becomes bogged down trying to stay too close to the story’s original source material. Surprisingly for a Tony Scott film, the tension between the two leads never gets on track.

Grade: C+

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Imagine That
Release Date: June 12, 2009
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi and Nicole Ari Parker
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Highlight: “Featuring a star-making performance by adorable newcomer Yara Shahidi, this story of an ad executive who is line for a major promotion thanks to his daughter’s “magic blanket” is probably Eddie Murphy’s most solid film to date and totally upstages the veteran comedian – “Imagine That.”

Grade: B-

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Away We Go
Release Date: June 5, 2009
Cast: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janney
Studio: Focus Features
Highlight: “Director Sam Mendes expertly balances comedy and drama in this tender, introspective and funny look at a young couple trying to find a new home to raise their newborn. Full of energy and vitality, “Away We Go” is a revelation and one of the year’s best films!

Grade: A

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Hangover
Release Date: June 5, 2009
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Heather Graham
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Highlight: “Taking the phrase “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” just a little too far, this updated version of “Bachelor Party” is an uproarious send-up that owes much of it’s success to it’s ultra-creative screenplay and ballsy group of stars.”

Grade: B+

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To read more reviews, click here!