Power Rangers

The movie starts out as "The Dukes of Hazzard"-meets-"Crazy Taxi," and soon adds "The Breakfast Club" to that mix, before going all "Ultraman"-meets-"Transformers."

I'm hoping the inevitable sequel can squeeze in  "The Chipmunks," "The Walking Dead" and "Peppa Pig." 

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Lion

Okay, I've had some rough train transfers, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

Easily one of the best movies I've seen in a year or more.




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Fences

Without giving too many spoilers, I want to tell you that this is an adaption of the wonderful Broadway play, and not a documentary about fence construction.

Also, it is way better than that movie where Denzel played Sully Sullensully.




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The Man Who Knew Infinity

Even though Dev Patel plays the title character, I could tell it was Jeremy Irons they were trying to get an Oscar, as the cameras started to go low & swirly as that ol' guy started giving a speech.

Now, the speech itself was hardly award-worthy, but give Irons the award, anyhow--not really for this movie, no, but because he was Scar the Lion!



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Kingsman: The Secret Service

Here it is, the movie that asks, "can the later Roger Moore James Bond films be out-overdone?"; the answer, as it turns out, is "oh, hell, yes"--but why, I ask, would one actually WANT to?

I started out mildly amused, but at some point grew to hate the entire thing.


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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Barely watchable, due to its unending display of extreme beard fetishism.  

On the positive side, it was mostly intelligible, and it really made me want to go back & watch the original version of the film.

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Silver Linings Playbook

Anyone who's sat through the preview already know this movie has something to do with dysfunction, I mean, what with the guy jogging around in a Hefty bag & all.

I think what the film points out, though, is we're every single one of us "nuts" in our own way--and football fans most of all--word.

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Cloud Atlas

Between Tom Hanks trying to act to the degree that shoppers at the Target next door could feel it in their molars, and the neo-blackface makeup attempts, this movie is a lot to try to take in.

By the time the guy from The Matrix--the one who is not either Lawrence Fishburne or Keanu--showed up trying to play an Asian dude, we bailed.

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Argo

If you don't love the great drama, you'll love the sci-fi-takeoff-cheesy bits; if neither of those appeals to you, you'll marvel at the real-life roots if the story.

If none of those is the case, to hell with you.

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The Amazing Spider-Man

Whoa-- "Amazing" is right!

Super-exciting & fun, with lots of surprises, even for spider-fans (SPOILER ALERT: Uncle Ben still dies).

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Blue Like Jazz

Starts out in a mildly-promising way, but soon crashes & burns, leaving its weak writing and performances well exposed.

Unfit for anything but forced viewings within church youth groups.

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Bernie

It's funny... for a good long while. 

I'd recommend taking a break after Bernie's car gets blocked on the driveway, & having someone come & get you while the credits are rolling to catch that stuff.

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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

As much as there is to like in this picture, I really wish Kristin Scott Thomas had more screen time.

That British-Jane-Lynch thing of hers really is infectious.

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

What a hilarious comedy!

It's like a very special road trip episode of "The Golden Girls," but with a much-bigger budget.

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The Secret World of Arrietty

Wait, did I just see a family-friendly movie that had NO FART HUMOR?

What it did have was plenty of suspense, whimsy and action, and I can’t wait for the next movie from Studios Ghibli.

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

It takes longer to recite the title than it does to lose all interest in the film. 

The movie does open a bit explosively, but then proceeds to open up your options to a nice, long quiet nap.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 U.S. version)

The James Bond-style opening sequence was silly & head-spinning, but the film itself was well-done, & a fine remake.

Nothing about it, though, could do anything but confirm that this "instant remake" was completely unnecessary.

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The Descendants

A really engaging film, even surprisingly so.

Of course, I may have well just been hypnotized by the stunning views of Hawaii.


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Moneyball

I'm thinking this would be really great-- for people who give a crap about baseball.

The good news is, this movie IS a lot more interesting--and concise--than an actual baseball game.


















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The Ides of March

He may be no Martin Sheen, but I'd vote for George Clooney for President.

At least he's not weighed down by that fool Charlie.




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