Taken

A spy relies on his old skill to save his estranged daughter.

"One of the most action movie this season.."

Review
A former spy (Neeson) relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter (Grace), who has been forced into slave trade. In "Taken", Neesson will play an ex-CIA "preventer" that faces his daughter is kidnapped by sex-traffickers while traveling in Paris, France. The soldier must track her down before she's shipped off and lost forever.

Taken Trailer

My rate & Comment	* * * * Great movie and great performance of Neesson. Great action and the story. There are also some sensitive / sentimental scenes. Worth to see.
Directed by	Pierre Morel
Produced by	Luc Besson
Written by	Luc Besson Robert Mark Kamen
Starring	Liam Neeson Famke Janssen Maggie Grace Xander Berkeley Holly Valance Katie Cassidy
Distributed by	20th Century Fox Europa Corp.
Release date(s)	France: February 27, 2008
Genre	Action, Thriller, Drama
Running time	93 min.
Country	France
Language	English, France
Budget	$45,000,000
Gross revenue	$61,144,470

Plot
The film follows an ex-CIA "preventer" faced with recovering his daughter after she is kidnapped by sex-traffickers in Paris, France.

Bryan (Liam Neeson) is a divorced, former US intelligence agent whose 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) lives with his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and her new husband Stuart (Xander Berkeley). The nature and dispositions of the major characters are established early in the film: Kim is a happy, affectionate girl who loves horses and has aspirations of being a singer, while her mother maintains a frosty, somewhat antagonistic demeanour towards her ex-husband. Bryan’s skill and quick-thinking are demonstrated when he agrees to escort a pop diva - Sheerah (Holly Valance) - the diva is attacked, but Bryan efficiently disables a knife-wielding assailant and gets her safely out of danger. Thankful, Sheerah expresses some interest in Bryan’s daughter and furnishes him with some contacts to get Kim’s career started.

The next day we discover that Kim wants to take a vacation in Europe with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) to follow U2’s European tour. Kim’s mother has no objections, but Kim also needs permission from her father. Fearing that the over-protective Bryan will not consent, Kim pretends (with her mother’s implicit agreement) that they will only stay in Paris to visit museums. Reluctantly, Bryan agrees, and only discovers their real itinerary at the airport.

Arriving in Paris, a seemingly friendly young man named Peter (Nicolas Giraud) proposes to share a taxi with Kim and Amanda to the house where they are staying; the girls agree gladly. However, the man works for an Albanian criminal organization to which he reports the address out of earshot.

In the house, Kim receives a phone call from her father which she answers in the bathroom. From the bathroom window she sees men entering the main room and abducting Amanda. Bryan is able to gain critical information about the kidnappers in the final moments after Kim is kidnapped by telling her to shout out everything about them that she notices. Briefly, Bryan talks to one of the kidnappers, warning him that unless Kim is released, he will pursue him and kill him; the kidnapper wishes him "good luck" before smashing the daughter’s phone.

Exploiting his contacts in the CIA and the business connections of his ex-wife’s husband, Bryan travels to Paris to find her, informed that the kidnappers are sex-slavers and that he has only 96 hours to recover his daughter before she will disappear forever. The particular kidnapper he talked to is revealed to be an Albanian named ‘Marco’.

Under the eye of Jean-Claude, himself a former operative and now deputy director of Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur, Bryan pursues the kidnappers. He uses digital photos from the smashed remains of Kim’s phone to locate Peter, who is hit by a truck while trying to escape. By hassling prostitutes Bryan gets himself threatened by an Albanian mobster, and is able to plant a covert listening device on him. With the help of a translator he discovers that the kidnappers have a brothel in a nearby construction site; before leaving, Bryan obtains an Albanian–English dictionary from the translator.

On arrival, Bryan acts like a customer; once inside he begins to search for Kim. Unfortunately, he finds only her jacket next to another woman. He is then discovered, and escapes under fire with the semi-conscious woman.

Nursing the girl back to health from an involuntary drug addiction, Bryan finds out where the kidnappers took her after she was abducted. Bryan heads to the address and poses as an official negotiating a new "rate" (i.e. a bribe) to overlook the illegal activities going on within. Before leaving he asks the apparent leader to translate from Albanian the words "good luck," which confirms his identity as Marco; he quickly subdues Marco and kills most of the kidnappers. He searches for Kim, but instead finds Amanda, handcuffed to a bed and dead of a drug overdose. Later, through torturing Marco, Bryan ascertains that Kim was sold to a man named Saint Clair.

Bryan visits Jean-Claude’s home and chats amicably with his wife while she prepares dinner. Jean-Claude, however, failing to have Bryan arrested for the mess he has caused at Paris, brings his gun to the dinner table. Jean-Claude angrily points the gun at Bryan when accused of complicity in Kim’s abduction, but to no avail: Bryan unloaded it earlier. To demonstrate that he is serious Bryan shoots Jean-Claude’s wife on her arm and, by holding Jean-Claude’s family hostage, extracts Saint Clair’s location from Jean-Claude.

By impersonating a police officer, Bryan gains entry to the building where new girls are being sold, and secures entry to one of the buyers’ viewing booths. When he sees his daughter being sold, he forces the client to bid for her, but is captured and knocked unconscious moments later. Suspended from the ceiling, Saint Clair questions his identity before leaving his security guards to execute him. Bryan escapes and kills the guards before finding Saint Clair, whom he kills after learning that his daughter is being taken by Arab clients. Bryan manages to follow the car his daughter is being taken in to see her being taken away on a large motorboat. He jumps on to the ship from a bridge and eliminates all the people inside, finally killing the client and freeing his daughter.

Back in the US, Kim is reunited with her mother. Bryan introduces Kim to the diva he saved at the beginning of the film, having arranged an audition with her vocal coach.

Plot source: Wiki

Juno

"A Fresh, Unusually Intelligent Comedy" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Review
Juno (Ellen Page) is a Mid-Western highschooler, who decides one day, out of boredom or curiosity, to have sex with with her friend Paulle Bleeker (Michael Cera), a member of her school's track team. She likes him well enough, but isn't hung up on him. This one time encounter results in Juno's pregnancy. She and her best friend Leah (Olivia Thiriby) decide to take control of the situation by browsing for prospective adoptive parents in the local Pennysaver newspaper, and Juno settles on seemingly the perfect, affluent couple mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) who is desperate to have a child.

Juno Trailer

My rate & Comment	* * * * Actually the reason I watched this film because of Jennifer Garner on it. But then I found this movie very interesting. The story is kinda slow but its different and not boring. This movie is cool.
Directed by	Jason Reitman
Produced by	John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
Written by	Diablo Cody
Starring	Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J. K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby
Distributed by	Fox Searchlight
Release date(s)	September 1, 2007 (Telluride) December 5, 2007 (limited) December 25, 2007 (wide)
Genre	Comedy - Drama
Running time	96 min.
Country	Canada United States
Language	English
Budget	$6.5 million
Gross revenue	$229,911,304

Plot

Sixteen-year-old Minnesotan high-schooler Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) discovers she is pregnant with a child fathered by her friend and longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). While at first she intends to have an abortion, she changes her mind and decides to make a plan for the child's adoption. With the help of her friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby), Juno searches the ads in the Pennysaver and finds a couple she feels will provide a suitable home.

Along with her father, Mac (J. K. Simmons), Juno meets the couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), in their expensive home and expresses a desire for a closed adoption.

Vanessa is extremely anxious around Juno and their initial interactions are uneasy. However, Juno and Leah happen to see Vanessa in a shopping mall being completely at ease with a child, and Juno encourages Vanessa to talk to Juno's baby in the womb, where it obligingly kicks for her. On the other hand, Juno more easily forms a friendship with Mark, with whom she shares tastes in punk rock and horror films. Mark, who has set aside his rock band youth (now confined to memorabilia displayed in the one room of the house allowed him by Vanessa), works at home composing commercial jingles. Juno hangs out with Mark a few times, ignoring a warning from her stepmother Bren (Allison Janney) that she should not spend time alone with a married man.

As the pregnancy progresses, Juno struggles with the emotions she feels for her baby's father, Paulie, who is clearly—although passively—in love with Juno. Juno maintains an outwardly indifferent attitude toward Paulie, but when she learns he has asked another girl to the prom, she is hurt and angrily confronts him. Paulie reminds Juno that it is at her request they remain distant and tells her that she broke his heart. He also suggests that she has feelings for him she is unable to admit.

Not long before her baby is due, Juno is again visiting with Mark when their interaction becomes strongly emotional. Mark then tells her that he will be leaving Vanessa. Vanessa arrives home, and, to her shock, Mark tells her he does not feel ready to be a father and that there are still things he wants to do first—dreams Vanessa does not share. Juno watches the Loring marriage fall apart, then drives away and cries by the side of the road before coming to a decision. Returning to the Lorings' home, she leaves a note.

After a heartfelt discussion with Mac, Juno accepts that she loves Paulie. Juno then tells Paulie that she loves him, and Paulie's actions make it clear that her feelings are reciprocated. At his track meet, when Paulie notices Juno is not in the stands and realizes she must be in labor, he rushes to the hospital to be with her (she had not told him because she did not want him to miss the meet). He arrives to find Juno has given birth, and comforts Juno as she cries. Vanessa comes to the hospital where she joyfully claims the newborn boy as a single adoptive mother. On the wall in the baby's new nursery, Vanessa has framed Juno's note—addressed only to her—which reads "Vanessa: If you're still in, I'm still in. —Juno."

The film ends in the summertime with Juno and Paulie playing guitar and singing together, followed by a kiss.

Plot source: Wiki

Jumper

The best scifi movie of the year" - Alex Markerson, E! Online

Review
A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.

Jumper Trailer

My rate & Comment	* * * * "Jumper" is a pretty okay action sci-fi movie. It's not that bad. You may not be totally satisfied at the end but you'll probably have fun.
Directed by	Doug Liman
Produced by	Simon Kinberg, Lucas Foster, Jay Sanders, Stacy Maes
Written by	Screenplay: David S. Goyer, Jim Uhls, Simon Kinberg Novel: Steven Gould
Starring	Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane, Max Thieriot, AnnaSophia Robb
Distributed by	20th Century Fox New Regency Productions
Release date(s)	February 14, 2008 (U.S.)
Genre	Action, Sci-fi
Running time	90 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	USD$85 million
Gross revenue

Plot
David Rice, a 15-year-old student in Ann Arbor, Michigan, discovers he has the ability to "jump", teleporting to any location he has seen after falling into a frozen river. He decides to leave his alcoholic father, his mother having left him when he was five, and goes to New York City, using his powers to rob a bank for funds. Eight years later, David lives a luxurious life from his penthouse apartment, its walls covered with pictures of places around the world which he "jumps" to on a daily basis. However, a lead from the bank robbery has finally led a man named Roland Cox to David, who knows of his ability and has the technology to disable him - electrified restraints. However, as Roland believes someone is protecting David, he hesitates in killing him long enough for David to escape. Roland tells his associates to be prepared at the various sites that David has on his walls.

Hayden Christensen to teleport himself anywhere - including the Great Pyramids of Egypt for lunch

David returns to Ann Arbor, and seeks out his old high-school girlfriend, Millie, working at a local bar. During their conversation, Mark, another classmate who bullied David in school, recognizes him and he and David get into a fight. Once out of sight of the onlookers, David teleports Mark to the bank vault in New York City, and returns. He invites Millie to join him on a trip to Rome, which she accepts. The two arrive in the city and sightsee. David uses his abilities to gain them access to the closed Colosseum, but runs into another Jumper, Griffin, who has been watching David for some time. Griffin explains that his flagrant jumping has attracted attention - two men who approach with weapons identical to Roland's. The ensuing battle displays both Griffin's Jumping talent and the hunters ability to sense Jumps, but Griffin is victorious, welcoming David to "the war" with a short explanation - the men are "Paladins". Paladins kill Jumpers. Griffin kills them first.

Rachel Bilson learns the truth behind the teleporting abilities of “Jumper” Hayden Christensen - in Rome

The battle has attracted attention, so David collects Millie and departs, but they are caught trespassing by the police, and David is put in jail. Mary, David's mother, shortly arrives and helps David get free, telling him he has little time, but does not give David any time to ask questions. David goes to find Millie, who is highly suspicious of David's behavior, but he is unable to explain, and makes sure she is safely aboard a plane back to the United States while he goes to Griffin for further explanation.

In JUMPER, a genetic anomaly allows Jamie Bell and Hayden Christensen to teleport anywhere in the world

At Griffin's desert lair, Griffin explains to David about the Paladins; they are fanatical religious fundamentalists who believe that Jumpers are an affront to God. They have been hunting Jumpers for centuries - Griffin attributes the Inquisition and witch hunts to them. Part of their method in hunting Jumpers is to target their loved ones as well; Griffin has been on a personal mission to kill Roland after he killed his parents.

David quickly jumps back to Ann Arbor to find his father mortally wounded; Roland had used the appearance of Mark in the bank vault to trace David to Ann Arbor. Realizing that Millie will not be safe when she lands, David asks for Griffin's help to meet her at the airport. However, they arrive to find that the plane landed an hour earlier; David jumps to Millie's apartment to find that Roland is waiting for him there. Before Roland can react, David grabs Millie and returns the two of them to Griffin's lair.

Samuel Jackson, stars as the leader of the Paladins, a secret sect sworn to destroy the “Jumpers.”

Griffin, who has been arming himself to fight Roland, is furious with David; the Paladins have a device that permits them to traverse the phenomena by which Jumpers teleport - David has just led Roland right to Griffin's lair. A battle ensues between the Jumpers and Paladins, but Griffin is able to drive the Paladins back to Millie's apartment with a flame thrower, though Millie has been captured as well. Griffin attempts to teleport a bomb to the apartment, but David tries to stop him; the two begin a world-spanning fight, but David eventually traps Griffin in a downed power transition tower. As David leaves, Griffin claims that Jumpers don't have the ability to protect their loved ones - he will die if he attempts the rescue.

Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson are trapped by the deadly Paladins, a secret sect sworn to destroy the “Jumpers.”

David jumps to Millie's apartment and is quickly snared by the Paladins. Risking his life, David manages to teleport the entire apartment to a nearby river, including Millie and the Paladins, but seemingly falls unconscious in the process. However, the couple are then teleported to the library where David made his first jump - along with Roland. David recovers first, grabs Roland and teleports him to a cave high above the Grand Canyon, noting to Roland he could have left him somewhere more dangerous ("...with the sharks"), proving that he is not the abomination Roland believes him to be. Sometime later, David and Millie travel to Mary's home, and learns that Mary herself was a Paladin; when David was five, he began jumping, so she left to avoid having to kill her own son. She asks him to leave, giving him a head start before she must hunt him down; David and Millie jump to an unknown location.

Plot Source: Wiki