Movie Reviews
‘Man of Steel’ gets tied up in exposition and explosions
Unlike other recent superhero reboots, “Man of Steel” does not so much reflect the present human condition as it does the present condition of Hollywood, which wants everything bigger,
‘This is the End’ is wildly original, filthy and outrageously funny
Put simply, there is nothing else in theaters right now like the bizarre, dirty and hilarious “This is the End.” There probably never has been before, and there may never be again.
‘After Earth’ disappoints with predictable story, poor effects
“After Earth” is based on a story conceived by Will Smith, presumably intended to help launch his son Jaden to super-stardom.
‘The Hangover Part III’ returns to Vegas, but probably shouldn’t have
“The Hangover” really should have been left to stand alone as a raucous and original piece of dirty comedy.
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ puts new spin on familiar plot
“Star Trek Into Darkness” is the enjoyably kinetic sequel to the most unlikely sci-fi reboot ever.
‘The Great Gatsby’ is largely overwhelmed by wild style
Director Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” is the latest film adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.
‘Iron Man 3’ is high-flying action fun, but 3-D makes it all a blur
“Iron Man 3” moves Marvel’s superhero universe along nicely, with Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) still recovering from the events of “The Avengers.” Luckily, Stark&rs
‘42’ may be idealistic, but Robinson's story is perfect for film
Telling the true story of how Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play on a Major League Baseball team in the modern era, “42” is an unimpeachable feel-good film that p
‘Jurassic Park’ gets 3D re-release, brings magic back to big screen
“Jurassic Park” may be 20 years old, but its new 3D and IMAX re-release reminds you why it was a smash: This is a crowd-pleaser meant to be seen on the big screen.
‘Admission’ is insightful, but suffers from misleading promos
“Admission” proves that who is cast in the lead roles has a huge impact on the tone – and especially the marketing – of a film.
‘Olympus Has Fallen’ is hardly original, but its thrills still satisfy
“Olympus Has Fallen” is essentially a summer blockbuster delivered a few months early.
‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ brings laughs, but is far from magic
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” is the kind of bland, slightly dumb and goofy comedy that will happily find a home on basic cable for the next 10 years, alongside Steve Carell’s
‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ nails the fantasy, but lacks the heart
As Disney’s re-imagined prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” the new “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a fun slice of fantasy flashback.
‘Jack the Giant Slayer’: New adaptation is ‘Fee Fi Fo-rgettable’
The familiar “Jack and the Beanstalk” tale gets a CGI-heavy update in the over-long and underdeveloped “Jack the Giant Slayer,” from “X-Men” director Bryan Singe
And the Oscars go to...
On Feb. 24, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its awards for last year’s best achievements in film.
‘Die Hard’ series shows its age by sticking to old tricks in fifth film
In a modern movie landscape that now includes the smart, stylish likes of the high-tech Bourne and the re-vamped Bond, another old-fashioned adventure with John McClane (Bruce Willis) in “A G
‘Identity Thief’ stumbles through mean-spirited jokes
With Jason Bateman as a mild-mannered husband, father and financial employee, and Melissa McCarthy as the lunatic who steals his credit cards, “Identity Thief” is one of the meanest, na
Aging stars, tired jokes give ‘Stand Up Guys’ a stale flavor
In “Stand Up Guys” – a meditation on aging disguised as a comedic crime caper – Al Pacino and Christopher Walken seem to make a strong case for their own retirement, or at l
Surprisingly fun ‘Warm Bodies’ has clever premise, unique feel
Those expecting “Warm Bodies” to be simply “Twilight” with zombies may be disappointed, but the good news is that “Warm Bodies” is far more enjoyable than that,
Stylish ‘Gangster Squad’ suffers from chaotic tone, poor timing
Aiming for the old-fashioned film noir feel of “L.A.
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ dramatizes CIA, SEALs in thrilling fashion
The tough, no-nonsense filmmaking of director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal – both Oscar winners for “The Hurt Locker” – sets the tone of “Zero Dark Thirty.&rdq
Acting in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ surprises, but ending feels flat
The characters in “Silver Linings Playbook” rarely do or say what you expect, which makes them – and the actors playing them – so riveting to watch.
Epic, emotional ‘Les Misérables’ showcases powerful performances
The advantage of seeing a musical like “Les Misérables” on the big screen, versus on stage, is that the emotions are writ large – in this case, incredibly large – on
Aiming for comedy and emotion, ‘The Guilt Trip’ is all over the map
Barbra Streisand seems to have a blast playing Seth Rogen’s mother in “The Guilt Trip,” a cute, inter-generational on-the-road comedy that goes to predictable places but still lea
‘The Hobbit’ mixes playful and somber in lengthy trilogy-opener
Last seen in the massive “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Middle Earth returns to the screen in a big way with director Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.&rdquo
