I need to tell you all about a bank in The Colony, Texas that you should avoid like the proverbial plague. The Bank is 1st Convenience Bank. The branch in question is located in Wal-Mart in The Colony.
I opened an account in June of this year, and was informed that the account would not be charged service fee as long as I used my debit card at least five times per month. I asked about any other fees I should know about. The guy told me, “Oh no. That’s it.”
I did not get a chance to use the account the five times, and incurred the dreaded service charge. Okay, my bad.
I intended to put more money into the account, but had a few other things that came up, and the account sat there. By now I was about $8.00 in the hole give or take. I finally decided the other day to close the account. I contacted the bank and found out that to close it, I had to pay $89.34. I about dropped my teeth.
I asked them where they came up with that figure. I was told that there was a $2.49 charge per day after five days of having a negative balance. I looked at the fine print, and there it was. It was mentioned. Again, my bad for not reading the 20 pages of legal jargon that came with the account.
I thought I had the extra fees covered by asking if here were any other fees I needed to know about…
This bank uses deception, and bald face lies. These kind of fees are excessive, and ridiculous. I highly recommend that you give 1st Convenience Bank a pass if you are looking for a financial institution.
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Hello all. Here are the Friday movies. Nothing spectacular this week. Enjoy.
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis are wisecracking New York cops on the trail of Mexican toughs in this Kevin Smith-directed comedy.
The Crazies
Bad drinking water turns residents of a rural Iowa town into zombies, ones who manage to hang on to their human capabilities while turning nine shades of evil.
The Ghost Writer
Roman Polanski’s terrific new thriller burns with style and sophisticated technique. The story centers on a ghost writer whos hired to pen the autobiography of a prime minister with lots of skeletons in his closet.
Saint John of Las Vegas
Steve Buscemi plays a down-on-his-luck guy who faces his demons on a road trip through Oddsville, U.S.A. Also starring Romany Malco, Sarah Silverman and Peter Dinklage.
Fish Tank
Writer-director Andrea Arnold’s frank and powerful glimpse of a dead-end British teenage life follows Katie Jarvis as a girl on her way to a serious date with trouble.
COUNTDOWN TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS
Chat With the Experts: Join the movies staff’s weekly discussion on the Oscar nominees at noon today. This week’s category: best animated feature film.
Previous chats: Read the critics’ thoughts on the nominees for best supporting actor and actress and best leading actor and actress
AMC Best Picture Showcase: Catch all 10 best picture nominees at your local theater.
Full list of nominees: Study up on who’s up for which awards.
Oscars night on The Screening Room: Watch the show with the movies staff beginning at 7 p.m. March 7.
OPENING FRIDAY, MARCH 5 From Guidelive.com
44 Inch Chest: Ray Winstone’s wife cheated on him, and his friends put revenge into his hands.
Alice in Wonderland: Director Tim Burton takes on Lewis Carroll’s tale. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter.
Brooklyn’s Finest: Wesley Snipes (playing a drug dealer), Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere and Don Cheadle star in this crime drama from Antoine Fuqua (Training Day).
District 13: Ultimatum: Two partners reunite to save a volatile ghetto in this action sequel written by Luc Besson (Taken).
It looks likes this week, the only good possibility is with a new collaboration between veteran director Martin Scorsese, and Leonardo DiCaprio, whom Scorsese refers to as his “muse” . “Shutter Island” has DiCaprio portraying a Federal Marshal investigating the mysterious disappearance of a patient from a mental hospital. DiCaprio has previously worked with Scorsese in “The Aviator” (2004) and “The Departed” (2006) quite sussessfully. Time and the box office will tell if this film continues the trend.
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
A slow burning freak-out from director Martin Scorsese about two federal marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) investigating a disappearance at a mental hospital for the criminally insane.
The White Ribbon
Sinister things are happening, always with children around, in a quiet hamlet in pre-World War I Germany. Beautifully shot in black and white, this chilling film raises questions about the nature of evil.
Happy Tears
Directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, this film follows two sisters (Parker Posey and Demi Moore) who come together to care for their demented father.
Blood Done Sign My Name
Nate Parker stars in this drama about a relatively unknown murder in 1970 that helped galvanize the civil rights struggle in North Carolina.
There is finally something worth seeing at the theater! “The Wolfman”. This is the remake of the 1941 “The Wolf Man” which starred Lon Chaney as Larry Talbot the unfortunate victim of a werewolf bit from Bela Lugosi. That version also starred Claude Raines as Talbot’s father.
In this updated version, Benecio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, who gets bitten by a werewolf and changes into one every full moon. Anthony Hopkins play his father, and Emily Blunt portrays the love interest. Rick Baker, who created the terrifying effects for “An American Werewolf in London” (1981) contacted the producers when her heard that the film had bee greenlighted…insisting he had to do the makeup. He discovered that he was their fist choice all along. The film is rated R.
Other films include “Valentines Day”, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
A boy on the cusp of manhood discovers hes the son of Poseidon, and so begins a fantastical adventure full of Furies, satyrs and centaurs.
Valentine’s Day
Falling somewhere between the elegant goofiness of Love Actually and the grating calculation of He’s Just Not That Into You, this is the latest romantic comedy to feature more than a dozen well-known actors.
The Wolfman
This gory remake of the 1941 horror movie, starring Benicio del Toro, is gloomy, a little bit campy and respectful of its precedents without being slavish to them.
The Last Station
This lively period piece about the turbulent relationship between Leo and Sofya Tolstoy is dramatic, romantic and full of bawdy humor.
Creation
It’s difficult to make drama out of a life spent in solitary study, and this film, which deals with the life of Charles Darwin, shows the strain of that effort.
Beeswax
Austin-made indie film about two 20-something sisters with different personalities doesn’t follow traditional storytelling structures, which some will find charming and others infuriating.
My Name is Khan
Rizvan Khan, who suffers Asberger’s Syndrome, is an honorable Muslim man from India and falls unconditionally for the beautiful Mandira, a Hindu single mother. This film did not screen in advance.
OPENING WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 From Guidelive.com
Celine: Through the Eyes of the World: Celine Dion performs from five continents and 25 countries, with her family in tow.
OPENING FRIDAY, FEB. 19 From Guidelive.com
Happy Tears: Two sisters, Jayne (Parker Posey) and Laura (Demi Moore), return home to deal with their 70-something ailing father.
Police, Adjective: A Romanian cop (Dragos Bucur) is reluctant to arrest a teen suspected of possessing and possibly selling marijuana.
Saint John of Las Vegas: A compulsive gambler (Steve Buscemi) faces temptation and meets an assortment of odd characters when he travels to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance claim.
Shutter Island: Two U.S. Marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) travel to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a hospitalized murderer.
The White Ribbon: Germany’s Michael Haneke delivers a World War I mystery.
Sorry folks, not much to say about this weeks movies. I am looking forward to The Wolfman with Benicio Deltoro, and Anthony Hopkins next week though!
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
A mousey diplomatic assistant (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is paired with a real-life super spy (John Travolta) for a hazily defined mission involving drug dealers and terrorists.
Dear John
Young lovers are separated by war but keep their romance alive through letters. Lasse Hallström blandly directs his low-heat stars in this romantic drama based on the Nicholas Sparks novel.
Frozen
The fears in this low-budget and intermittently suspenseful film, in which a trio of friends are stranded in a ski lift, are rooted in the seemingly mundane reality of nature inexorably taking its course.
Killing Kasztner: The Jew Who Dealt With Nazis
This documentary pores over the life and legacy of Rudolf Kasztner, a leader of a Hungarian organization in World War II that helped Jewish refugees escape from Nazi-occupied Europe.
OPENING FRIDAY, FEB. 12 From Guidelive.com
Beeswax: Jeannie and her estranged business partner Amanda have a falling out leading Jeannie to bond more with her non-paralyzed twin Lauren.
Creation: Paul Bettany plays Charles Darwin as he wrestles with The Origin of Species. Real-life spouse Jennifer Connelly plays wife, Emma Darwin.
The Last Station: Christopher Plummer received an Oscar nomination for his role as Leo Tolstoy.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief: Greek god Poseidon’s half-human son Percy and his friends are caught between Mount Olympus’ warring factions in this film based on the popular young-adult novels.
Saint John of Las Vegas: A compulsive gambler (Steve Buscemi) faces temptation and meets an assortment of odd characters when he travels to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance claim.
Valentine’s Day: Julia Roberts and Jamie Foxx are just two of the actors in this star-studded movie about intersecting LA love stories on the titular day.
The Wolfman: Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins star in the much-anticipated (read: delayed) remake.
BOX OFFICE (Jan. 29-31)
Once again, there is not much to recommend at the theater. Mel Gibson has a new film out but it is a remake of a British miniseries from the 80’s. (I can attest that remaking a classic does not always work – Example: The confusing remake of Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner. Even with a cast led by Ian McKellan, and Jim Caveziel, the new mini sucked!)
However, as usual I digress…
Here is this weeks disappointing list of releases:
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
Mel Gibson stars as a lone widower cop whose daughter is killed in what everybody assumes was a hit meant for him. Further investigation suggests otherwise in this thriller based on the 1980s British miniseries.
When in Rome
Kristen Bell plays a woman looking for love who falls for the wrong man. After a drunken dip in a fountain where she steals some coins, the men who tossed them are instantly smitten with her.
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet
Director Frederick Wiseman takes his camera into the Palais Garnier in Paris for a film that’s a feast for ballet lovers, as well as one of the finest dance movies ever made.
Preacher’s Kids
Tired of being a preacher’s daughter and longing to experience more of life, 20-something Angie King strikes out on her own and joins a traveling gospel show. This film did not screen in advance for critics.
FILM FEATURES
New video, DVD and Blu-ray releases: Michael Jackson’s This Is It, Saw VI, Whip It and more
The Screening Room: Blogging views, news and nuggets on all things movies
More features: Find a theater | Festivals/screenings
OPENING FRIDAY, FEB. 5 From Guidelive.com
Dear John: Channing Tatum is a young soldier who falls in love with a college girl (Amanda Seyfried).
From Paris With Love: John Travolta puts on his U.S. intelligence agent face and tries to stop a terrorist attack in Paris. Jonathan Rhys Meyers also stars.
Killing Kasztner: This documentary examines assassinated Hungarian Jew Rezso Kasztner, who negotiated to save more than 1,600 Jews on a rescue train but was later accused of being involved in the deaths of thousands more.
Slim pickings this week on the movie front. We have a movie that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson must have lost a bet to star in, an apocalyptic story with Paul Bettany as the Archangel Michael. Remember him as the sinister hit man Silas in DaVinci Code? He was working for a secret order connected to the Catholic Church, and now he’s playing an Angel?
The only film that even looks remotel interesting is Extraordinary Measures with Harrison Ford, Brendon Fraser, and Kerri Russell. It’s bound to be a tearjerker with Fraser and Russel as parents of two children with a rare medical condition who get Ford as a research doctor to help. Based on a true story, it probably would have been better as a TV disease of the week movie.
Yes, folks, I know I am a little late on this one. Here you go.
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
Dwayne Johnson plays a cynical bruiser on a minor-league hockey team who is infamous for knocking out bicuspids. He is summoned to Fairyland, where he’s sentenced to two weeks of Tooth Fairy duty.
Extraordinary Measures
A sometimes moving, solid if unsurprising account of a father’s tireless efforts to use his business acumen to develop a cure for his children’s fatal genetic disorder.
35 Shots of Rum
A beguiling and keenly observational domestic drama from director Claire Denis in which a family on the outskirts of Paris copes with an unidentified tragedy. In French with English subtitles.
Legion
Paul Bettany plays the archangel Michael, who helps strangers turned compatriots in a battle to save humanity from God.
This film did not screen in advance for critics.
FILM FEATURES
New video, DVD and Blu-ray releases: Gamer, The Invention of Lying, Pandorum and more
The Screening Room: Blogging views, news and nuggets on all things movies
More features: Find a theater | Festivals/screenings
OPENING FRIDAY, JAN. 29 From Guidelive.com
Edge of Darkness: Mel Gibson stars in director Martin Campbells film version of his BBC miniseries.
La Danse: Using footage from the rehearsals and performances of seven productions, director Frederick Wiseman explores all aspects of the Paris Opera Ballet Company.
When in Rome: Kristen Bell takes a trip to Rome and finds many men fighting for her heart.
The White Ribbon: Germanys Michael Haneke delivers a World War I mystery.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
Director Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s acclaimed novel stars Saoirse Ronan as the adolescent girl who narrates from a perch just shy of heaven after she is murdered by a creepy neighbor.
The Book of Eli
Don’t let the post-apocalyptic setting fool you. What co-directors Albert and Allen Hughes have made is a 21st-century samurai film in which warrior hero Eli is on a quest to complete an urgent but elusive task.
The Spy Next Door
A mild-mannered pen salesman (Jackie Chan) is actually a superspy. He is courting a woman whose bratty kids look down on him for not being cool.
Black Dynamite
This is the story of 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite (Micheal Jai White), who is fighting “The Man.”
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
Bryce Dallas Howard plays a rich heiress in Tennessee whose father has done something criminal and scandalous. A party turns into an agonizing series of humiliations for her.
OPENING FRIDAY, JAN. 22 From Guidelive.com
35 Shots of Rum: A drama surrounding a suburban French family.
Extraordinary Measures: Harrison Ford stars in this story ripped from the headlines about a couple trying to cure their children of a rare fatal disease.
Legion: Paul Bettany plays the archangel Michael, who helps strangers turned compatriots in a battle to save humanity – from God.
The Tooth Fairy: Ex-wrestler Dwayne Johnson is an ex-hockey player who is now a tooth fairy.
Here are a list of movies opening today. Ho hum. I can’t wait for the spring blockbuster season.
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
The leader of a traveling show traded the soul of his daughter to the devil. Now the devil has come to collect his prize and a wager is made to save her. Terry Gilliam directs Heath Ledger‘s final film.
Daybreakers
Edward Dalton, a bloodsucker who doesn’t want to feed on humans, falls in with humans who have found a way to change vampires back to friendly mortals in 2019, when most of the world has already turned.
Leap Year
Amy Adams plays a woman with an elaborate plan to propose marriage to her noncommittal boyfriend in this romantic comedy. Matthew Goode shows up to throw a hitch in her plans.
Youth in Revolt
To win his true love, Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) dreams up an evil twin, Francois Dillinger, who dares to say and do everything Nick can’t.
OPENING FRIDAY, JAN. 15 From Guidelive.com
35 Shots of Rum: A drama surrounding a suburban French family.
Black Dynamite: Michael Jai White (Spawn!, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married) stars as Black Dynamite, who fights “The Man” as only a blaxploitation hero can.
The Book of Eli: Denzel Washington (with kung fu action) is a man on a mission in this apocalyptic tale.
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond: Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans flame on! star in a film based on a screenplay by Tennessee Williams.
The Lovely Bones: Peter Jackson tackles Alice Sebold‘s best-seller, narrated by a young girl who has been raped and murdered. Saoirse Ronan stars.
The Spy Next Door: Jackie Chan defends neighborhood children from spies.
BOX OFFICE (Jan. 1-3)
2. Sherlock Holmes
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
4. It’s Complicated
5. The Blind Side
Here is is. The last weekend of 2009. One or two look promising. “Sherlock Holmes” starring Robert Downey Jr, and Jude Law for example, and “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.
At any rate, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
The singing pre-teen chipmunk trio return to contend with the pressures of school, celebrity, and a rival female music group known as The Chipettes.
Sherlock Holmes
Purists may take offense at the down-and-dirty portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s master detective, but director Guy Ritchie has crafted a rip-roaring action-adventure film of high order.
It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin show the whippersnappers how it’s done in this breezy, tension-free comedy of infidelity and second chances.
Nine
Daniel Day-Lewis plays an Italian director struggling to make a new film with major distractions coming from the many women in his life. A remake of Federico Fellini’s masterpiece 8 1/2.
A Single Man
Fashion magnate Tom Ford makes an impressive directorial debut with this tale of George Falconer, a closeted gay man adrift in the ’60s.
Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges plays a dissolute, overweight, alcoholic country singer trapped on a dead-end concert circuit. Oscar-worthy Bridges makes this potentially repellent character both fascinating and endearing.
Broken Embraces
Director Pedro Almodóvar extends the riff from 2004’s Bad Education: the filmmaker as agent of both redemption and doom, returning to settle unfinished business. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Bacon Slices 