Archive for movie review
Mike’s Review: ‘Final Destination 5’ Knows How To Have A Good Time In 3D
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GRADE: B-
As the genre continues its annual evolution of itself, “torture porn” has changed dramatically since the original Final Destination. Now, everybody is expendable and the violence has reached epic proportions. But much like the Saw franchise, Final Destination tried too hard to be the same and different with each installment. It took them a while to figure it out, but Final Destination 5 may be the first time they got it right in over a decade.
Barrett’s Review: J.J. Abram’s ‘Super 8’ is Why We Go to the Movies
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GRADE: A
There are few movies in recent memory that can make you laugh, tear up, clinch your seat and shreik with excitement. J.J. Abrams and Steve Spielberg have brought us just that film. As if we would expect any less from a legend and a new powerhouse, both who have an unrivaled affinity for science fiction, the supernatural and the unknown. Super 8 brings you back to a time where story and heart was the main draw of a summer blockbuster; this one also just so happens to feature cool and badass special effects. It’s simply a wonderful, wonderful film. This is why we go to the movies, people.
Barrett’s Review: ‘Thor’ is a Fun, Thoroughly Entertaining Superhero Blockbuster
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GRADE: A-
After months and months of trailers, interviews, set photos and posters, Thor finally hit theaters on Friday. Not knowing much about the Thor mythology, I was cautiously optimistic about the film; because a) it was directed by Shakespearean thespian Kenneth Branagh, who until now, hasn’t forayed into directing action blockbusters with huge scope. And b) I was fearful that Marvel’s need to intertwine the storyline with next year’s The Avengers would hinder the script. I was wrong. Thor is an absolute blast.
Barrett’s Review: ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ is an Entertaining, Well-Executed Legal Thriller
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GRADE: B+
I was cautiously optimistic before seeing The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillipe and Marisa Tomei earlier this week. I absolutely LOVE legal thrillers in all shapes and forms. Any film featuring large portions of the story set in a courtroom trial I am a complete sucker for. So that aspect had me jacked for this film. But then I took into account the actors involved. McConaughey CAN BE a great actor, but has made some seriously questionable choices over the last five or so years, appearing in mostly terrible romantic comedies – 90% of which seem to feature Kate Hudson. And then there’s Ryan Phillipe, who is just awful most of the time. But upon exiting the theater of our screening, I was pleasantly surprised by The Lincoln Lawyer and thoroughly entertained by it’s refreshing and captivating Hollywood crime story.
Barrett’s Review: ‘Red Riding Hood’ Falls Flat from ‘Twilight’ Syndrome
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GRADE: C-
Two hunky guys in their late teens pine over the affection of an innocent, fair-skinned young girl they both love. One is a mysterious outcast who said girl deeply loves in return, but his societal status creates major hurdles during their courtship. The other hunky guy is a stand-up gentleman who has her best interests at heart, and does everything in his power to protect her, even if she doesn’t love him in return. Oh, and one of the guys may or may not be a werewolf. No, I’m not talking about Twilight, but it is from the same director – Catherine Hardwicke. This simple premise pretty much sums up Warner Bros.’ “re-imagining” of the classic Red Riding Hood tale, in theaters today. And while there were some promising elements to this production and execution of a “darker” version of the legendary fable, the eye-rolling similarities to Twilight (i.e. bad dialogue, over-the-top dramatic acting) makes Red Riding Hood a film you should steer clear of at the multiplex.
Barrett’s Review: ‘Rango’ is a Quirky, Unusual and Refreshing Animated Adventure
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GRADE: B+
With Pixar and Dreamworks dominating the animated landscape over the last decade, it’s refreshing to have other studios adding their unique visions to the family adventure genre, such as last year’s Despicable Me from Universal, and most recently Rango from Nickelodeon – who hasn’t released a prominent animated feature in some time. I was pleasantly surprised by Rango, starring Johnny Depp, as it is a very original, quirky, entertaining and visually fantastic animated adventure that should please both kids and adults alike.
GRADE: C-
Living near a great independent theater has afforded me the ability to screen some fantastic independent films not shown elsewhere in the country. I’ll typically see one or two films over the course of a lazy weekend and have nothing but positive news to report. Contrary to previous delightful screenings at the theater, Alexei Popogrebsky’s new pseudo anti-drama How I Ended This Summer left me saying, “I just don’t get it.”
John’s Review: ‘Cedar Rapids’ is a Funny, Genuine Comedy
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GRADE: B+
Cedar Rapids (Directed by Miguel Artela and written by Phil Johnson) tells the heartfelt story of Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), an insurance salesman from small-town Brown Valley, Wisconsin as he journeys to the bustling metropolis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa to attend an important regional insurance convention. You’d think a sweet and simple premise like that would feature a PG rating, but you’d be mistaken: Cedar Rapids features some very raunchy R-rated humor, but executed in a smart, clever way that makes you care about the characters and will often have you splitting your sides.
Barrett’s Review: ‘Unknown’ is Cliché, Predictable and Not Worth Your Time
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GRADE: C-
What is it with Liam Neeson and revenge thrillers that take place in Europe? Not to knock the actor or the genre; I very much enjoyed Taken from 2008, and Neeson is set to reprise his role in that film for the sequel coming out in the next year or so – which should be fun. But his latest film, Unknown (directed by Jaume Collet-Serra) is a lazy stolen identity thriller that becomes extremely tiresome half-way through the film, and will surely have you rolling your eyes and even giggling at the over-intense acting and unsatisfying “twist” ending.
Matt’s Award Season Review: ‘The Kings Speech’ is F-Fa-Fantastic
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GRADE: A
Ok, the title is obviously a play on the main character’s issues with speaking ‘properly.’ Off the bat, I just have to say, Colin Firth is such a great actor. His performance in this film as King George VI, or Bertie as he is nicknamed, is so powerful it evokes almost every emotion out of the audience possible.
Watching Firth’s character struggle with a speech impediment was hard to swallow for 118 minutes. But that is part of the draw of this film, making the audience as desperate for resolution as the main character. I yearned for Bertie to properly manufacture the words he so desperately tried to deliver while talking with government officials, and most of all, while he was making important speeches to huge crowds. My attachment to this character’s monumental struggle is what made this film so great.
