One-minute reviews for August 2009 movies

The month of August 2009 is nearing its end, and it's time to go back and briefly look at the films I enjoyed and those I pretty much hated this month. These are one-minute reviews for all the films I've seen in theaters during August of 2009. Feel free to add yours in the comment section below.

• "Inglourious Basterds" - Quentin Tarantino's WWII drama is a true masterpiece, and even though the film doesn't offer us the usual Tarantino action, it boasts an intriguing atmosphere and a massive dose of brilliant, memorable dialogue. By the way, if Christoph Waltz doesn't get an Oscar nod, I'll eat a broom.

• "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" - Select action sequences are mildly enjoyable to watch in this crazy flick, but a nonexistent storyline and rather monotonous plot kept me from really rolling with this one. It's by no means a total disaster, but it could've easily been a better summer blockbuster.

• "Julie & Julia" - Even though Amy Adams's character was underdeveloped, I highly enjoyed this delicious little comedy, especially because of the exquisite performance by the great Meryl Streep. She and Stanley Tucci turned this film into a tasty big-screen experience boasting plenty of charm and light humor.

• "A Perfect Getaway" - Here's a film about people hiking and talking until the arrival of the big twist and showdown, but to be honest, I kind of figured out where the plot was heading early on. Select scenes deliver, but a ridiculously over-the-top ending and overall dragging plot failed to lift this one out of mediocrity.

• "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" - It didn't do well at the box office, but I had a great time watching Jeremy Piven and his gang goofing around on the big screen. "The Goods" is an utterly brainless flick, but the jokes worked for me, and I found it very easy to like the characters and follow their hilarious misadventures.

• "Extract" - This one won't open until Sept. 4, 2009, but it's a very refreshing Mike Judge comedy boasting superb performances and a solid dose of bizarre humor that will make for tons of laughs. Plus, Ben Affleck's side role as a pot-smoking bartender deserves a lot of praise; he really nailed this one!

• "District 9" - Without a doubt, this one is one of my favorite sci-fi films. Packed with a compelling story, interesting character development and plenty of suspenseful action sequences, "District 9" is one of those films I'll be thinking about for a long time. Plus, the visuals look stunning as well.

• "The Time Traveler's Wife" - I had a lot of troubles with this one, although I admit I really bought the great chemistry between Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. On the other hand, most of the plot really didn't make much sense to me, and I felt really bored watching the characters kiss and hug all the time...

• "Bandslam" - It completely tanked at the box office, but it's a film I enjoyed a lot more than those "High School Musical" flicks. The performances were mostly off and the plot was predictable enough, for sure, but the film features an interesting character development that makes up for some of its obvious flaws.

• "Shorts" - I loved what Robert Rodriguez did in his two first "Spy Kids" flicks, but "Shorts" really failed to impress me. The visuals kind of stink, a story is really nonexistent, and the plot as a whole is terribly boring. This is one strictly for the kids who like to see giant boogers on the big screen.

• "Post Grad" - This is definitely the worst film I've seen this month. Filled with characters who act like morons most of the time, this mix of romance and drama derails early on, completely failing to tell an inspiring story or amuse audiences with decent humor. Plus, pretty much every performance fell flat.

• "The Burning Plain" - This is certainly one of the best films I've seen in theaters all year. I adored "The Burning Plain" mostly for its incredibly intriguing character analysis, but performances by Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron, among many others, totally won me over as well. Look for this one to open in September.

• "The Final Destination" - Sure, the 3D effect is fun to a certain extent, but I found wearing off rather quickly. I mean, all you get to see for 80 minutes in this one is a bunch of body parts flying straight into your face. It's not really amusing, nor is it suspenseful. This "Destination" didn't impress me.

• "9" - My hopes were high for this one, but I left the theater a little disappointed. The visuals are stunning, yes, but a simplistic story and underdeveloped characters turned this one into a so-so experience. Luckily, the film includes a series of fast-paced, well-done action scenes.

• "Halloween II" - I didn't like the first Zombie remake, and I didn't like this sequel either. In fact, I preferred the first one to this one. Myers fans may appreciate his gruesome murders, but some scenes in this flick are just laughable, really. It's a very atmospheric flick, but it totally lacks suspense.

• "Big Fan" - Wow! This little drama probably won't make it far in theaters, but it's a film I totally recommend. Patton Oswalt is phenomenal in his dramatic performance of a football fan who gets beat up by his hero player, and the film delivers several twists and a wonderful character study you shouldn't miss.