The only reason I gave this movie 1/2 star is I don't think it's possible to give it 1/4 star. Dreck. Total incomprehensible, simplistic, credulity-stretching dreck. Some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time, and a thoroughly unearned...
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The only reason I gave this movie 1/2 star is I don't think it's possible to give it 1/4 star. Dreck. Total incomprehensible, simplistic, credulity-stretching dreck. Some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time, and a thoroughly unearned sense of relevance and self-importance. Shyamalan knows how to frame a scene and create a mood, but he seriously needs to hire some writers. Save your time with this one- go rent a dvd of "What's Happening" instead. Go, Rerun!

This was not the Farrelly Borthers' finest hour: their writing was uneven and strained, and much of the humor was definitely of the lowest-common-denominator variety. The saving grace of this film for me was Ben Stiller's crack comic timing. NO...
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This was not the Farrelly Borthers' finest hour: their writing was uneven and strained, and much of the humor was definitely of the lowest-common-denominator variety. The saving grace of this film for me was Ben Stiller's crack comic timing. NO ONE does awkward like this guy- he has elevated it to a patented art form. He rescued so many scenes that otherwise would have fallen flat with his fearless, risk-taking,unselfcnscious performance. What can I say... I laughed out loud...several times. Not nearly a classic, but an enjoyable diversion. Bonus points for a killer classic rock soundtrack.

It's really not fair of me to compare this to other superhero films, but I will anyway: Not as bad as the first Hulk, but not nearly as good as Iron Man. Or Spider Man. Or Batman Begins. Or...ok, you get it. The script is decent, but no one has...
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It's really not fair of me to compare this to other superhero films, but I will anyway: Not as bad as the first Hulk, but not nearly as good as Iron Man. Or Spider Man. Or Batman Begins. Or...ok, you get it. The script is decent, but no one has yet been able to capture the tragedy and pathos at the heart of this story: a man trapped in the body of an unpredictable beast, hunted ruthlessly and misunderstood, feared by his own kind. Hulk's blind rage and Bruce Banner's impotent fear and frustration are never quite captured the way they were in the comic books, or even in the fine TV series. That said, the movie was entertaining and highly watchable. Why, oh why, though, can't anyone make The Hulk look more realistic and less obviously CGI? It bothered me in the first movie and it bothered me all through this one. And the climactic battle needed some more work; it seemed inconsistent and poorly executed in spots.

This movie by all rights should have gotten 4 stars- period, end of story- but this is Indy...sooo, an extra half-star. It's all about respect, peoples. I'm the first to admit that this is not the classic of the series (Lost Ark is clearly the...
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This movie by all rights should have gotten 4 stars- period, end of story- but this is Indy...sooo, an extra half-star. It's all about respect, peoples. I'm the first to admit that this is not the classic of the series (Lost Ark is clearly the superior entry in the franchise, with Last Crusade running a close second for me) but it is a worthy, if slavishly derivative addition to the Indy canon.

*****************SPOILERS AHEAD*************** Yeah, it's derivative. It's a self-conscious, self-referential rehash of the previous Indy films; as a matter of fact, this is like a Spielberg highlight reel: all of his favorite tropes appear here. I even half-expected the alien ship to emit the tones from Close Encounters. But I can't get too mad at the brotha for cannibalizing his own work- at least he stole from the best.

Shia Lebouf is watchable, as always. It was great to see Karen Allen again. But I quickly tired of the "Indy discovers he has a son and awkwardly tries to relate to him" plotline. And Karen Allan was underutilized. The crazy professor bit by John Hurt was overdone and unrealistic- there were too many times he became lucid just in time to assist a plot point. Indy's turncoat "friend" was equally credulity-stretching (do you really think Indy would get duped by this guy ONCE, let alone twice?), but I liked Cate Blanchett's evil Russian portrayal. Still, this movie badly needed Sean Connery.

Look, if you're an Indiana Jones fan, go see this movie. You'll get your money's worth- Speilberg and Lucas are too professional to make a movie devoid of entertainment value. They know what the audience wants and they deliver it solidly here. It's just that it's impossible to live up to the standard set by Lost Ark. If you go expecting that, prepare to feel somewhat let down.

This movie is solid entertainment, a (slight) cut above the usual blockbuster, popcorn fare, thanks to a typically thoughtful, nuanced performance by Robert Downey Jr. and a smart, funny script. The special effects are pretty much seamless, and...
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This movie is solid entertainment, a (slight) cut above the usual blockbuster, popcorn fare, thanks to a typically thoughtful, nuanced performance by Robert Downey Jr. and a smart, funny script. The special effects are pretty much seamless, and the supporting cast members(including the always entertaining Jeff Bridges) are likeably competent. As others have said, stay after the ending credits for a surprise that will blow any Marvel fan away!

There is a certain formulaic, predictable quality to certain films that dooms them; but sometimes, if that formula is executed with skill and flair, you don't mind. Scent of a Woman is an unabashedly sentimental coming-of-age-story wrapped in a...
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There is a certain formulaic, predictable quality to certain films that dooms them; but sometimes, if that formula is executed with skill and flair, you don't mind. Scent of a Woman is an unabashedly sentimental coming-of-age-story wrapped in a Lonely Loser character study- but, wow, what style is on display here!

Perfectly cast and superbly acted, this film offers Al Pacino at his proudly overacting best (I mean that in a good way) in a role that was made for him, and Chris O'Donnell ably portraying the tricky role of Charlie, which could have been cutesy in less capable hands. Surrender to the ample charms of this movie, and you will find yourself entertained when all is said and done.

Meh...just meh. PLEASE DON'T MAKE ANOTHER ONE!!!

Part of the problem with this film was my unbelievably high expectations of it; I don't know that any movie could have lived up to what I was led to expect from the hype surrounding this one. If you don't expect this flick to change your life,...
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Part of the problem with this film was my unbelievably high expectations of it; I don't know that any movie could have lived up to what I was led to expect from the hype surrounding this one. If you don't expect this flick to change your life, it's a perfectly acceptable diversion. But if you are looking for a worthy cinematic treatment of the seminal short story that spawned this and 2 other films, prepare to be somewhat disappointed. Will Smith turns in a wonderful, affecting performance. The concept is fascinating. For the first half, the movie had me hooked...then problems arose for me. The CGI monsters a) looked phony and b) weren't really all that scary. The plot started to run out of steam and threatened to become boring. There were lapses in logic and believability that began to bug me. And I really wanted to see more of the backstory of the breakdown of civilization than we were made privy to. Plus, the ending just blew...

But the animated extras on DVD were fantastic...that actually added a star to the rating. Don't skip them!

The Departed has that rare quality among films: you can watch it time and time again and derive more enjoyment out of it with each viewing. The many expertly staged, edge-of-your-seat moments and the abundance of towering performances make this...
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The Departed has that rare quality among films: you can watch it time and time again and derive more enjoyment out of it with each viewing. The many expertly staged, edge-of-your-seat moments and the abundance of towering performances make this film one for the ages. Yes, I'm a sucker for Jack Nicholson in full-on scenery-chewing mode, but there were a slew of Oscar-worthy performances in this film- I even have to give the usually wooden Marky Mark props for his surprisingly good turn as Dignam. HBO has had this movie on endless repeats this month, but I've still found myself glued to the screen whenever it's on, especially during some of the most hard-hitting scenes. Maybe it's not Scorsese's crowning achievement (I'll leave it up to you to argue which film is; I can't decide) but it is a worthy addition to his body of work, and might just be the most purely entertaining film he has made to date.

The tiny town of Barrow, Alaska will not see the sun again for 30 days. Anyone devoting time to this movie will see not see those 113 minutes of their lives ever again. A brilliant graphic novel and a unique premise are squandered by giving them...
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The tiny town of Barrow, Alaska will not see the sun again for 30 days. Anyone devoting time to this movie will see not see those 113 minutes of their lives ever again. A brilliant graphic novel and a unique premise are squandered by giving them the standard Hollywood treatment. Yeah, the vampires in this movie are lightning-fast killing machines, and yeah this movie is plenty gory, but I musta missed something- aren't these things supposed to be, like, scary? What IS truly scary is watching Josh Hartnett attempt to act. I eagerly awaited this film, and I am supremely disappointed. What could have been a great horror movie is just watchable.

Critics love to trash this movie for its misogynist message and its seeming racial buffoonery. I'll concede that Pryor's character is a misogynist, but I would ask people to remember that the source material was written by a WOMAN, and that the...
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Critics love to trash this movie for its misogynist message and its seeming racial buffoonery. I'll concede that Pryor's character is a misogynist, but I would ask people to remember that the source material was written by a WOMAN, and that the film was made in 1977-so put it in context. I would also ask one to look at the film more closely...the women in the movie all end up leaving Pryor's womanizing character deservedly alone and making lives for themselves as independent women. How sexist is that? As for the buffoonery, that was Pryor's schtick...his foul-mouthed, cowardly, bug-eyed Everyman was the stock character in most of his admittedly uneven film output. I don't think there was anything patently racial about it, except that it was a black man doing broad physical comedy...why does the name Stepin Fetchit(misunderstood in his own right)always get bandied about in these situations?

Is this a classic work of art for the ages? No. Is this Richard Pryor's best film? No. But it is worth a watch for fans of Pryor. The multiple roles he plays are funny (and a clear precursor to Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor). The supporting cast is very good, including a radiant Lonette McKee. And there are laugh-out-loud moments aplenty...if you don't worry too much about what anyone thinks of you for laughing at this politically incorrect trifle.

The first 2 were better IMO, but that's one of the problems with a threequel...you get stuck in formula. But this is nevertheless a top-notch action film on its own merits. My one complaint is that some of the stunts were a little over-the-top and...
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The first 2 were better IMO, but that's one of the problems with a threequel...you get stuck in formula. But this is nevertheless a top-notch action film on its own merits. My one complaint is that some of the stunts were a little over-the-top and stretched believability in order to amp up the action factor.

There is nothing exceptional about this film, but the special effects are entertaining and the performance by Jeremy Irons is full of conviction and fire. A generally entertaining movie, but it falls far short of the Lord of the Rings status it...
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There is nothing exceptional about this film, but the special effects are entertaining and the performance by Jeremy Irons is full of conviction and fire. A generally entertaining movie, but it falls far short of the Lord of the Rings status it clearly aspires to.

Loved the acting by all of the principals, especially Jackie Earle Haley, who turns in a powerful, heartbreaking performance. But the standard, suburbia-is-a-soul-sucking-morally bankrupt-hell plot was tiring. Ditto the director's unsuccessfull...
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Loved the acting by all of the principals, especially Jackie Earle Haley, who turns in a powerful, heartbreaking performance. But the standard, suburbia-is-a-soul-sucking-morally bankrupt-hell plot was tiring. Ditto the director's unsuccessfull attempts to lend a novelistic gravity to the film. Final note: lose the portentious, pretentious voice-over, and maybe you could squeeze another half-star out of me.

A beautiful, moving story featuring earnest, powerful performances from the talented cast and expert, sensitive direction by Werner Hertzog. Incredibly uplifting, especially considering that it is based on true events.

A stirringly suspenseful, well-crafted film featuring a towering performance from Forest Whitaker based on the riveting true story of Idi Amin. Why then, did the filmmakers take the cowardly, safe route of centering the story around a non-existent...
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A stirringly suspenseful, well-crafted film featuring a towering performance from Forest Whitaker based on the riveting true story of Idi Amin. Why then, did the filmmakers take the cowardly, safe route of centering the story around a non-existent (and White) character instead of entrusting the very people the story is purportedly about to tell their own story? And even the fictional Dr. Garrigan had a more interesting real-life counterpart, Bob Astles. A solid movie, but I still would have liked to see this story get a different treatment.

It's official: Paul Giamatti could make reading the phone book high drama. He sinks his teeth into the lead role in M. Night's so-so fairy tale with the ferocity of a rogue Scrunt, and never lets go. Ditto the rest of the fine supporting cast who...
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It's official: Paul Giamatti could make reading the phone book high drama. He sinks his teeth into the lead role in M. Night's so-so fairy tale with the ferocity of a rogue Scrunt, and never lets go. Ditto the rest of the fine supporting cast who treat this somewhat underwritten story with the seriousness of Shakespeare. But don't write Shyamalan off just yet...there are some genuinely gripping moments in this film, some great atmospheric touches, and some deftly handled humorous asides. This guy definitely knows his stuff as a director(he's not a bad actor either)- this just was not his finest hour as a writer.

Stanley Kubrick holds a mirror up to the viewer...what you see largely reflects who you are at the time. I was a teenager when I first saw this film (in the theatre, the way I think it should be seen). I was simply blown away...but overwhelmed and...
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Stanley Kubrick holds a mirror up to the viewer...what you see largely reflects who you are at the time. I was a teenager when I first saw this film (in the theatre, the way I think it should be seen). I was simply blown away...but overwhelmed and confused as to what I had just seen. Rewatching it years later, I was again mesmerized by the haunting beauty of Kubrick's visual compositions and the sense of awe inspired by many of the film's scenes. I still didn't understand exactly what the director was trying to say to the audience, and I still found parts of the movie incomprehensible and other parts flat-out boring. But it still held up for me as an all-time classic. Watching it many more times down through the years, I continue to re-discover forgotten details, remain awe-struck at the magnificent whole of this film, begin to understand it a little more clearly, and remain convinced that it is a landmark achievement in cinema. I've also learned to fast-forward through the stultifyingly boring parts.

It is hard to overstate the importance of 2001. Its fanatical adherence to realism and its visual aesthetic have been the blueprint for probably every other serious space film made since. The metaphysical questions it raises speak to the timeless mysteries of mankind itself, and bear significant debate. And, most of all, it still works as sheer entertainment. All of us watching this movie at some point become like Dave Bowman/Star Child: struck dumb with wonder and amazement.

Mesmerizing performances by Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillipee are the reasons to see this movie. The rest of the movie would be standard Hollywood fare, except that the story is based on actual events.

First of all, big up's to bigb89's EXCELLENT review and recap: read it. Second of all, this is a fun movie. This flick exudes fun, and watching it, you can just believe that everyone on that set, from the actors to the crew, had a blast. You will...
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First of all, big up's to bigb89's EXCELLENT review and recap: read it. Second of all, this is a fun movie. This flick exudes fun, and watching it, you can just believe that everyone on that set, from the actors to the crew, had a blast. You will too, if you don't expect too much from this admitted trifle.

A pretty good 3-star movie that I gave an extra star for Tom Cruise's not-to-be-missed performance. If you ever doubted his acting chops, you won't after this film- the boy can act! As for the film surrounding his performance- it's maddeningly...
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A pretty good 3-star movie that I gave an extra star for Tom Cruise's not-to-be-missed performance. If you ever doubted his acting chops, you won't after this film- the boy can act! As for the film surrounding his performance- it's maddeningly uneven. Oliver Stone wrote and directed some powerful, haunting scenes for this movie...but he also presided over some that are preachy, overstylized and heavy-handed. We already get that war is hell and the Vietnam war was a costly mistake that polarized the country. The truly great films about this conflict air a variety of views from all sides of the debate, tell compelling human stories and present new information or present old information in new ways. They also deal in subtlety and nuance. Oliver Stone's heart-on-his sleeve fervor is admirable, but sometimes it interferes with his ability to provide entertaining, balanced storytelling. Bottom line: watch the move for Cruise's performance.

4 stars? Gimme a break- maybe if you're a 13 year-old male. Disturbia is reasonably escapist fun, if you don't expect anything you haven't seen before in every other genre thriller of the past decade. But Shia LaBeouf definitely has an engaging...
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4 stars? Gimme a break- maybe if you're a 13 year-old male. Disturbia is reasonably escapist fun, if you don't expect anything you haven't seen before in every other genre thriller of the past decade. But Shia LaBeouf definitely has an engaging screen presence that is always interesting to watch- it's nice to see a rising star in the making.

I honestly can't tell you exactly why I didn't absolutely hate this movie. I'm certainly not in the target audience demo- I'm black, over 50 and haven't smoked weed for several decades. But I found myself laughing out loud several times during...
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I honestly can't tell you exactly why I didn't absolutely hate this movie. I'm certainly not in the target audience demo- I'm black, over 50 and haven't smoked weed for several decades. But I found myself laughing out loud several times during this film... when I wasn't groaning at the truly awful moments that are also plentiful in this flick. I guess the thing that clearly translated to film was the sincere love of music and the genuine joy of making what had to be their dream film project together shown by Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Laurel and Hardy (or even Jay and Silent Bob) these guys aren't, but their music is credible and Jack has a surprisingly good voice.

A trifle of a movie, but it does what it sets out to do- takes a nice concept to a reasonably satisfying conclusion, with a few laughs thrown in along the way. Kudos to Luke Wilson for an endearing, if cutesy, performance and to Rainn Wilson for...
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A trifle of a movie, but it does what it sets out to do- takes a nice concept to a reasonably satisfying conclusion, with a few laughs thrown in along the way. Kudos to Luke Wilson for an endearing, if cutesy, performance and to Rainn Wilson for some of the film's truly funny moments. And who knew Uma Thurman had the kind of comic timing she displays here in a bravely vanity-free performance. Decent special effects and production values round out the picture for this surprisingly enjoyable movie.