Sex and the city movie (2008)

Go out and grab your girlfriends, a cosmo (or two or three), and sit back and enjoy the "chickflick" of all chickflicks. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and 'the girls' are back for one more shot at love, romance, and happiness.

We see Carrie and the girls 5 years later (from when the show ended) and between conversation and flashbacks we were caught up to what's been going on in their lives over the last few years. In short... Miranda is with Steve and they are having marital problems. Steve cheated on Miranda, she got mad and moved out. Charlotte is living her happily ever after married life, adopts a baby, has a bunch of really adorable dogs, and gets the best news of all...she's pregnant. Samantha has temporarily put her mojo to rest and is still with the same youngin' actor/model living in LA now. She's bored out there though and flyes back to NY every opportunity she gets. She also has a really hot naked neighbor. That leaves our girl Carrie. What happened to her since that kiss with Big (Chris Noth) - whose real name we finally find out - in Paris? Well...she and Big are together again (after many more breakups) and they finally decide to get married.

Get married???? WWHHHAAAATTTT!?!?!? That's right. Dream come true (you'd think). It started out as a small wedding, but because of the status and connections of Carrie and Big, the wedding process turns into a three ring circus. Unfortunately, Carrie is left at the alter. She's devestated. Crushed. Broken. Takes her girlfriends on her honeymoon with her. Doesn't help. You see Carrie heal and try to get over Big over the next few months. We've all been there. Been hurt. Try to recover and move on... But not really ever letting go. It's a tough road, and through it all we have our friends.

So how does this story end? Miranda and Steve try to work things out, Charlotte has her baby and is as happy as ever, and Samantha leaves her youngin' and moves back to NY where she belongs. Carrie, well Carrie in true 'Sex and the City' fashion, goes to get her shoes that are still in 'her and Big's' apt before the lease runs out and she looses her shoes forever and finds Big there, waiting. They get married - a small, circus free wedding this time and live happily ever after (I hope)

Overall, this movie was great. The emotions were real, the girls were back and in rare form and the clothes, bags, and shoes were all fabulous. Its an enjoyable, fun filled must see movie.

By Lauren Boykin

The Dark Knight (2008)

Batman aka Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) really was The Dark Night in this movie. It’s just a shame there wasn’t more of Batman without the armor. This movie was the sequel to Batman Begins. Usually when you hear the term ‘sequel’ you think, oh no, disaster. That was not the case in my opinion on this movie. Batman is on a quest, his usual quest of saving Gotham from it’s unusual villains, continue building his empire, and trying to get the girl as well.
The villain this time is ‘The Joker.’ He’s played by Heath Ledger. Let’s take a moment first to remember Heath Ledger. His role as The Joker in this movie was his last before his untimely death. He died just as the movie production was wrapping up, so there were no re-takes of any (or maybe very few re-takes) of his performance. His performance was amazing. He portrayed the most psycho-like Joker I have ever seen. From the way his head twitched, to his voice, to the way he licked his lips, to the way he held his knife. He was serious and focused. He knew what he wanted. One of those things he wanted was to hurt Batman – not just physically but emotionally as well.

As for the plot…Wayne Enterprises (Batman’s company) is negotiating with a Hong Kong based securities firm who also happen to be negotiating with Gotham’s mafia. Jim Gordon, the Lieutenant is trying to expose this scheme between the mafia and this firm while the new District Attorney – Harvey Dent (played by Aaron Eckhart) who the people of Gotham just adore and his girlfriend the other District Attorney – Rachel (played by Maggie Gyllenhall – who could not act at all in this movie) and who Batman is in love with – are trying to put behind bars. In the midst of all this the Joker comes in and ruins everyone’s life. He forces Batman to choose between saving Harvey or saving Rachel. Batman chooses. Rachel dies and half of Harvey’s face gets blown off (oops, did I just spoil the movie for you). Harvey then turns to the dark side to avenge everyone for the death of Rachel. (Nevermind how Batman must feel). At the end of the movie, Batman and the Joker have a fight typical of comic book characters brought to the big screen. I think we’ll have to wait until the next movie to find out what ‘really’ happens.

Batman himself gets an upgraded bat-suit, new car, motorcycle, and gadgets. He’s helped by Alfred, his long time butler, and Lucius Fox – head of the board at Wayne Enterprises. All of which I thought worked very well in the movie. ‘Batman: The Dark Night’ was action packed, had a fun cast of villains, some old friends, and made for a great summer blockbuster.

By Lauren Boykin