Sci-Fi, 109 Minutes, 2011
This is a good movie. It’s exciting, interesting and action-packed. Good performances, good direction and interesting pacing. It’s a good movie. Go ahead and watch it.
Because now I’m going to rip it all apart by taking it way too seriously.
Comedy, 97 Minutes, 2014
This one was trouble. Seth Rogan [IMDB] is great, Rose Byrne [IMDB] is great, Dave Franco [IMDB] is pretty good and Zac Efron [IMDB] is definitely there. These are all proven quantities that have (almost) all produced quality laughs in the past. The cast doesn’t seem to be the problem.
Action, 107 Minutes, 2013
There’s two movies here. One is pretty damn good, the other is pretty damn stupid. They’re intertwined, of course. but it still feels wrong; like the stupid movie forced itself on the good one in an alley. It’s not a pretty metaphor, but it’s apt.
Crime/Mystery, 115 Minutes, 2013
I like magic. Good magic, that is. I have an appreciation for the craft, science, dedication and sheer, brazen chutzpah that it takes to do magic well. Magicians spend nearly unbelievable amounts of time perfecting what most people would consider meaningless skills. Which is exactly why they get away with so much: people can’t believe anybody would spend so much time for apparently so little return.
“Adult Children of Divorce” on IMDB
Comedy, 88 Minutes, 2013
I so wanted to like this. It’s an amazing cast of some of the hottest names in comedy. Just look at that poster! Adam Scott [IMDB]! Richard Jenkins [IMDB]! Catherine O’Hara [IMDB]! Amy Poehler [IMDB]! Clark Duke [IMDB]! Jessica Alba [IMDB]! Jane Lynch [IMDB]! How could this go wrong?!
Crime/Drama, 138 Minutes, 2013
Con men Irving (Christian Bale [IMDB] playing the tubby, balding veteran) and Sydney (Amy Adams [IMDB] and her breasts as his brilliant protege) comfortably execute precise, just small-enough scores on people that probably deserve it. When they’re pinched by FBI agent Richie (Bradley Cooper [IMDB]), they’re forced to work with him to bring down some local hustlers.
Zombie alert!
See the review of “Cockneys vs Zombies” on our sister site, MoreBrains.com dedicated to all things zombie!
Horror, 112 Minutes, 2013
The movie is based on the reports of noted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. It presents them as learned, respected and heroic. They were none of these things. None of their evidence has ever stood up to investigation, and none of their claims have ever been confirmed. Most of their cases, such as the famous Amityville Horror, have been thoroughly debunked as hoaxes and the rest are highly explainable.
Family, 107 Minutes, 2014
The Muppets have honed their formula to perfection in the 35 years since the original “The Muppet Movie” [my review]. There have been rough patches, but all was set right with 2011’s big-budget revival “The Muppets” [my review]. Where that film spent significant time on new characters and human relationships, this one is a return to the basics. More songs, more gags and more Muppets.
Comedy, 87 Minutes, 2013
Luckily, very little of this movie is about coffee; I never did like the stuff. That doesn’t stop people from trying to get me to like it. They’ll say, “It’s an acquired taste!” as they stare glassily and talk about “beans” and “pods” and French things.
“In Time” on IMDB 
“Now You See Me” on IMDB 
“American Hustle” on IMDB 
“The Conjuring” on IMDB
