By Joel Massie Co-Author: Mike A. Massie It’s got a great cast, an interesting setup, some hilarious dialogue… and space aliens. The Watch is stocked with immature humor, gross-out gags and crass conversations as one would expect, but once the otherworldly visitors appear, it simply doesn’t gel. The concept of defending against an extraterrestrial invasion has been successfully merged with humor before (see Men in Black, Mars Attacks! and Attack Read More ...
By Matt McDaniel If you have two fathers — one biological and one adopted — and if they both happen to be Oscar winners, they should both get a chance to offer you advice. Even if you are Superman. The first teaser for “Man of Steel,” next summer’s new big-screen version of the DC Comics hero, is in theaters with “The Dark Knight Rises.” Though in a unique turn, there Read More ...
By Joel Massie Co-Author: Mike A. Massie In an attempt to be grandiose with illimitable power and influence, and to simply outdo its predecessors, The Dark Knight Rises often forgets what’s most important – the story. Even with a twisting mystery and numerous new characters, the lengthy and overly complex plotline overshadows many of these fascinating elements. At close to three hours the film’s pacing is surprisingly good, but the Read More ...
By Charles J Hines I was one of the Spider-Man fans that thought a reboot was outrageous, and It sorta still is. But I’m pleased to say that The Amazing Spider-Man works on all cylinders! First off, every character has been recast from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. To be honest, now having seen the new film, I would very much prefer Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. We also have Emma Read More ...
Pixar has set the bar so high for computer animated features that judgment against them is particularly strict. This works against Brave, which is unfortunately a grandly mediocre accomplishment. For any other studio, it might have been enough to be cute and adventuresome, but for Pixar, audiences will demand emotional attachment, resourcefully funny humor, dramatic poignancy, and character development that begets unforgettable personas. Brave just doesn’t bring any of that Read More ...
From the concept of a former president’s double life as a monster slayer to the outrageously unhinged action sequences, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will test your suspension of disbelief. Films of this nature are often hard to digest in the first place, but a more careful attention to creating a coherent narrative and a greater focus on explanation over theatrics would have better prepared the mind for the outlandish situations Read More ...
By Crista White If you’re unfamiliar with my movie reviews, here’s the way it works: I go check out the latest movie everyone is talking about, drink an astonishing amount of diet soda, and then report back to you, looking for as many things to make fun of as this space allows, while trying to strike a balance with the positive highlights. Welcome. Let’s get started. THE GOOD: What we Read More ...
by Nicole Pedersen Not even close. For the second weekend in a row, DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is America’s number one attraction; down just 41% with an estimate of $35.5 million. Though down a much more substantial 60%, Fox’s Prometheus managed to hold on to second place thanks to two widely underperforming debuts. Those would be Rock of Ages and That’s My Boy which, even when combined, Read More ...
By Joel Massie Co-Author: Mike A. Massie Rock god Stacee Jaxx vents that he’s a slave to rock ‘n’ roll. His lament parallels the problems at the core of Rock of Ages; the story and characters are swallowed whole by the music – and when the pounding beat ebbs, there’s little left to attract us to what’s underneath. This won’t be a problem for many as the creative use of Read More ...
by Adam Chitwood A few new bits of marketing from The Amazing Spider-Man have now gone online. Two TV spots highlight the “vigilante” aspect of Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man as well as the web-swinging action, while a new featurette focuses on Rhys Ifans’s villain The Lizard. The latter is interesting in that it gives us our first taste of what it looks/sounds like when The Lizard speaks. I’m still wary of Read More ...
