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Here's a look at some recent new releases.

Let Me In
Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, and Elias Koteas
Synopsis: This is an American re-make of the Swedish vampire film "Let the Right One In." The film, from "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves, does a nice job of offering a new adaptation on the story while remaining fairly consistent to the original vision. I did not care for the original story much. The idea of an insecure middle school age boy coming of age and making a connection with a tween vampire is unique, but it just didn't resonate with me. I had the same problem with this film. While Reeves and the performers do a credible job putting this film together and putting a somewhat unique spin on it, if you've seen the other film you know exactly what is going to happen which saps some of the mystery from this story. If you a fan of the genre, you will enjoy this film, and if you haven't seen the original this will be a different take on the genre. As for me, I'm growing weary of the whole glut of vampire films.
Rating: R for strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Social Network
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Rooney Mara
Synopsis: This film, written by Aaron Sokin and directed by David Fincher, is the best film I've seen so far this year. No one writes dialogue like Sorkin, and Fincher continues to grow as a director — having given audiences "Seven," "Zodiac," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" over the last 15 years. This is a crisply produced, sharply written, and moving story about the creation of Facebook. As founder Mark Zuckerberg, Eisenberg shines. He brings his typical goofy nerd persona and amps it up with some sharp one-liners and brings some dignity and humanity to the historical figure he portrays. Garfield, soon to be the new Spiderman, does a great job as co-founder Eduardo Saverin, while Timberlake continues to show off his acting chops and range as Sean Parker. This is a great film that should be a strong contender this awards season.
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

You Again
Starring: Kristen Bell, Odette Yustman, Sigorney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Betty White
Synopsis: Romantic comedies don't get more pathetic than this. The story is lame — a girl comes home for her brother's wedding only to discover he is marrying the girl that tormented her in high school, the same is true for her mother and the aunt of the bride — and the execution isn't much better. Bell is a fine actress who was brilliant on the small screen in "Veronica Mars," but she hasn't found much in terms of feature films. This isn't any better. Even Betty White, who has been on a roll for more than a year, can't help this film. This, in my opinion, is a pretty epic fail. It was so hard to watch, at times, I thought about taking a brief cruise to the lobby as a momentary relief. That's never a good sign.
Rating: PG for brief mild language and rude behavior.
Verdict: One star out of four.

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