Category: Movies

Movie Review: Riddick

Movies
Comments

IMDB, Riddick“Riddick” on IMDB

Science-Fiction, 119 Minutes, 2013

I’m a huge fan of the Riddick movies and of director David Twohy [IMDB]. Riddick has the kind of over-the-top, comic-book cool that’s been missing from a genre more interested in epic run-times than fun. He was introduced in “Pitch Black” [IMDB], a near-perfect sci-fi monster thriller and expanded in 2004’s muddled, but still terrific, “The Chronicles of Riddick” [IMDB]. Vin Diesel [IMDB] clearly believes in the character: he finagled a deal to gain ownership of the franchise from Universal and produced this film independently.

(more…)

Movie Review: Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa

Movies
Comments

IMDB, Bad Grandpa“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” on IMDB

Comedy, 93 Minutes, 2013

Every once in a while, whether they would like to admit it or not, everybody can benefit from a good, big dose of old-fashioned, plain-vanilla, purely analog stupid. The kind of stupid that makes your problems seem just a little smaller and your troubles just a little bit easier. The kind of stupid that the “Jackass” crew gleefully spews from every orifice.

(more…)

Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Movies
Comments

IMDB, The Hobbit, The Desolation of SmaugThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on IMDB

Fantasy/Adventure, 161 Minutes, 2013

This is the continuation of Thorin Oakenshield’s quest to reclaim the throne of his forefathers from the powerful dragon Smaug. Bilbo the Hobbit has proven his worth and courage and is a true member of the company. The movie picks up as the last ended, with the company being hunted by Azog’s orc pack.

(more…)

Movie Review: Europa Report

Movies
2 Comments

IMDB, Europa Report“Europa Report” on IMDB

Science-Fiction/Thiller, 90 Minutes, 2013

If you liked “Gravity” (my review) then you’re a smart, discerning and, if I may say, strikingly attractive individual. You’ll also love “Europa Report”. The movie presents a highly realistic space mission; in this case a multi-year, multi-national mission to Europa, Jupiter’s sixth moon. All our (actual) evidence indicates that Europa is home to massive, warm water-oceans under its geologically active crust of ice. It’s generally understood to be our best legitimate shot of finding extraterrestrial life in the solar system.

(more…)

Movie Review: Would You Rather

Movies
1 Comment

IMDB, Would You Rather“Would You Rather” on IMDB

Horror, 93 Minutes, 2012

A group of people, all of whom are down on their luck, are invited to dinner at a posh mansion by a mysterious benefactor who promises that can solve all of their financial problems. When they arrive they’re given some time to mingle and get to know one another before the true purpose of the evening is revealed: a sadistic, fatal game of “Would you Rather” for the amusement of their wealthy host. The winner is set for life, the rest lose their lives.

(more…)

Movie Review: The English Teacher

Movies
Comments

IMDB, The English Teacher“The English Teacher” on IMDB

Drama/Comedy, 93 Minutes, 2013

Miss Sinclair (Julianne Moore [IMDB]) is a dedicated high-school English teacher in a small, Pennsylvanian town. Her encompassing love of literature has given her an overactive romantic sensibility and little patience for ordinary relationships. She’s perfectly content being left alone with her teaching, her cats and her books.

(more…)

Movie Review: The Oranges

Movies
Comments

IMDB, The Oranges“The Oranges” on IMDB

Comedy/Drama, 90 Minutes, 2011

The Walling and Ostroff families have lived across their suburban street from one another for years. Dads David and Terry (Hugh Laurie [IMDB] and Oliver Platt [IMDB]) are best friends and moms Paige and Cathy (Catherine Keener [IMDB] and Allison Janney [IMDB]) raised their daughters together. Everybody has settled into comfortable,  if not particularly happy, ruts.

(more…)

Movie Review: Red 2

Movies
1 Comment

IMDB, RED 2“RED 2” on IMDB

Action, 116 Minutes, 2013

I’m a big fan of the original “Red” [IMDB] and, in general, of everybody involved with it. The comics are pretty damn sweet too. For those that don’t know, the story revolves around Frank Moss (played by Bruce Willis [IMDB]) a former CIA operative marked “RED” for “Retired: Extremely Dangerous”. The first movie covered how Frank met the love of his life, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker [IMDB]), got his old team together and foiled a conspiracy that reached to the highest levels of government.

It was pretty great.

(more…)