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Here's a look at the new movies that I saw this week. A little bit better than the first weekend of 2011, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.

The Dilemma
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, and Winona Rider
Synopsis: Director Ron Howard has made some great films. One of my favorite films of all times is Howard's film "The Paper." This is not one of his best films. Vaughn seems to have slipped into the phase in his career where he makes domestic comedies. He and James are funny people, and they have a couple funny scenes in this film, but the story doesn't work that well. In fact, there are some scenes that are practically unwatchable because of how uncomfortable they are. One scene, in particular, was so uncomfortable I had to close my eyes. Thank you Vince Vaughn... This film leaves a lot to be desired and seems to waste the talents of its cast.
Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving sexual content.
Verdict: One star out of four.

The Green Hornet
Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, and Christoph Waltz
Synopsis: This has been the most surprising film of the year so far for me. I thought the trailers looked good, but there was a lot of negative buzz surrounding the film. It was also hard to picture Rogen as a superhero, so I didn't have high expectations for this film. However, Rogen makes it work in a unique way, the film doesn't take itself seriously, and it seems to have found the jokes that were missing from "The Dilemma." In short, this movie is a pleasant surprise and a decent hit. Rogen, who also co-wrote the screenplay, does a nice job in the lead role. Diaz has an interesting part, but handles it well, and Waltz is great at the black comedy. The real find in this movie might be Chou, who plays Rogen's sidekick Kato. I thought he was hilarious and added a lot to the production. The 3D effects in this film are marginal at best, but the film is a good popcorn movie.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

I have reviewed this before, but since it's opening in Paso Robles on Friday I thought I would add the review for "The King's Speech" once again. This is a great film and a major player this awards season.

The King's Speech
Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, and Guy Pearce
Synopsis: This film is based on the true story of King George IV (Firth) and the speech impediment that nearly derailed his career. It is about his struggle to overcome a debilitating stammer and the friendship he develops with his speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Rush). Director Tom Hooper ("The Damned United," "John Adams") does a great job of bringing the story to life. The performances from Firth and Rush are great, both earning Golden Globe nominations and both will likely be Academy Award nominees. Firth actually won the Golden Globe as best actor and is a front-runner for the Academy Awards. This film has some humorous moments and some beautifully raw, emotional moments. A well crafted film that should be a lock for a Best Picture nomination.
Rating: R for some language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

The annual Academy Award nominations are due out on Tuesday, Jan. 25. With that in mind, I thought I would suggest 10 films to see before the big award ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 27.

1. "The Social Network" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor. (On DVD).

2. "The King's Speech" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. (In Theaters).

3. "Inception" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. (On DVD).

4. "True Grit" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress. (In Theaters).

5. "The Black Swan" — probable nominations for Best Picture and Best Actress. (In Theaters).

6. "The Fighter" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. (In Theaters).

7. "Toy Story 3" — probable nominations for Best Picture and Best Animated Feature. (On DVD).

8. "Winter's Bone" — probable nominations for Best Actress. (On DVD).

9. "127 Hours" — probable nominations for Best Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Actor.

10. "The Kids Are All Right" — probable nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress.

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