Flipped (2010)

Your first childhood crush, the first time you felt that funny butterflies in your stomach, you wonder why she/him is on your mind all the time. Do you remember you first crush? Rob Reiner's 'Flipped' captures the essence of first love perfectly. Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) is new to the neighborhood and he is greeted by Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll), who instantly falls in love with the cute boy with the mesmerizing eyes. The movie is narrated from viewpoint of both Bryce and Juli as they grow up through grade school and get to know each other better. I really liked the way the movie presented both sides of the story, really letting you into the minds of the main characters. 'Flipped' does play the cute emotional card, but it doesn't abuse it to the point of making you feel sick. Watching 'Flipped' felt like watching a group of cute puppies playing with each other. It's so cute that you just can't turn away and you can't help but to smile. So if you like cute puppies, go ahead and give 'Flipped' a try.

IMDB-7.4/10

Metascore- 45/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 57%, Audience- 76%

Yong's Rating- 3.5/5 stars

Morning Glory (2010)

In 'Morning Glory', Rachel McAdams plays a career driven woman who has dedicated her life to producing morning news programs. When she is unexpectedly fired from her job due to cutbacks, she gets an opportunity to revive a struggling morning news programs. She is given the task of breathing new life into a dying show, and she is willing to do anything to get the job done. Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford play an unlikely pair of co-hosts, who are complete opposites of each other. I thought the two veteran actors shared good chemistry on screen. And McAdams is charming enough to keep you interested in the storyline. Will she revive ratings for the show? Will she make some time to find love? Will she be happy? I'll let you watch the movie to find out for yourself. 'Morning Glory' won't blow you away, but it isn't a complete waste of time either.

IMDB-6.6/10

Metascore-57/100

Rotten Tomatoes- critics- 54%, audience- 56%

Yong's rating- 3/5 stars

Never Let Me Go (2010)

There's a serene quality about the way Carey Mulligan carries herself which makes her the perfect leading actress for a film like 'Never Let Me Go'. It moves with a calm slow pace and gives the viewers the time to take everything in. If you are not a fan of movies with slow pace and not much action (as in things going boom), then this movie probably isn't for you. The movie centers around three children growing up in a peaceful English countryside boarding school. Ruth(Kerira Knightley), Kathy(Carey Mulligen) and Tommy(Andrew Garfield) are close childhood friends whose fates are intertwined with each other in more ways than one.

The movie is told from the perspective of Kathy recalling her past and pondering what is to become of her future. As the film takes you back to her childhood and up to the present, you find out about the mystery surrounding her childhood. The dark secrets, romance, and tension buried between Kathy, Ruth and Tommy all come into light as well. The slow pace and beautiful backdrop of the countryside really made watching this movie just delightful. 'Never Let Me Go' is a smart, thoughtful film I would recommend to anyone willing to give it a try.

IMDB- 7.3/10

Metascore-69/100

Rotten Tomatoes- critics-68%, audience- 72%

Yong's rating- 5/5 stars

The Town (2010)

With the tough Boston neighborhood as its backdrop, 'The Town' delivers a very powerful crime thriller. It is a great ensemble piece with an all-around excellent cast. I was impressed with Affleck's directing in this movie. I got much more than the average bank heist movie that I was expecting to see. Maybe he can get a pass for giving himself the best role and having the same expression throughout the entire movie. Yet again, Jeremy Renner delivers another amazing intense performance. He is one of those special actors who can make any role his own. The film centers around two close childhood friends born into a tough neighborhood known for producing bank robbers. Tensions rise when Affleck's character seeks to leave behind the criminal business and start fresh with a girl (Rebecca Hall). With each job bringing more heat from the FBI, time is running out for Affleck to make his departure before it is too late. There's plenty of tension, action and drama packed into this movie for everyone to enjoy. While it is better than the average crime thriller, it just didn't have that extra juice to put it into the same class with the greats like 'Goodfellas' and 'The Departed'. Maybe that's asking too much? That's what you get for being better than average. Overall, 'The Town' is definitely worth your time. Go see for yourself and see if you agree with my assessment.

IMDB-8/10

Metascore-74/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 94% Audience-84%

Yong's Rating- 3 1/2 out of 5 stars