The Happening

Plot Summary: A science teacher and his wife take refuge in the countryside when a mysterious illness turns people into suicidal zombies.

Movie Groupie Jabber: Remember when I said Iron Man was the summer's best movie? Well, The Happening is the worst! I almost walked out and I never walk out on a movie. I have been an M. Knight Shyamalan fan since The Sixth Sense, and Signs is on my list of top 10, but his last four movies have been horrible and this one is the bottom of the barrel. Even Mark Wahlberg, one of today's more talented actors, was wooden and uninspiring. And the plot is a complete joke. It's unbelievable and at times even comical. Don't even bother renting this one on DVD unless you want a good laugh.

My Score: 32

Metacritic: 34

Rotten Tomatoes : 19

Hancock

Plot Summary: Unlikely hero John Hancock tries to redeem himself and improve his image by ridding L.A. of some of its worst criminal elements.

Movie Groupie Jabber: Another Will Smith July 4th movie, though I saw it with my friends on the 8th. The hype about this flick has been going on for quite a while, but when the movie finally premiered, the reviews were dismal. I had heard it was very "dark," and I was sure I wasn't going to enjoy it. Surprise, surprise! It was actually pretty fun! Some good lines and some good action. Jason Bateman was his usual awesome self and Charleze Theron handled her role well. And of course Smith's tongue-in-cheek humor brought more laughs than I expected. Hancock's PG-13 rating is for some non-bloody violence and language; it's a very mild PG-13. This movie does what movies should.... it entertained.

My score: 83
Metacritic score: 49
Rotten Tomato score: 35