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Speed Racer - PG
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I can appreciate that the Wachowskis tried to pull off something original here, but for me, aside from the visuals it wasn't very exciting and it wasn't as fun as it should have been. The humour fell flat and the actual races got monotonous but I did like the monkey.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - PG-13
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Not quite the return to form that I was hoping for, and really a bit of a mess, but the movie had some moments of brilliance including many of the action set pieces. If the ending hadn't felt so muddled and pointless, maybe I would have dug it a little more, but I certainly wouldn't call it a complete failure.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Hellboy 2) - PG-13
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This movie hit all the right notes for me, from the eye-popping visuals and insane creature designs, to the sense of humour and character interactions. This improved on the first Hellboy movie in my opinion and kept me enthralled from start to finish.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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The Dark Knight - PG-13
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Not much to say that hasn't been said. The Dark Knight lives up to the hype and proves itself to be the most high-brow superhero movie ever made. Well-written and human characters and fantastic performances set it so far beyond the other summer blockbuster fare it's not even funny.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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In Bruges - R
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Definitely an underrated little gem... it's a hitman movie that says away from stylish action and Guy Ritchie-esque cheeky dialogue. It's more of a character study and a dark comedy, beautifully shot, with a couple of interesting twists to carry you through to the end.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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The Strangers - R
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One of the year's most intense horror flicks, and go figure, it just happens to star Liv Tyler. Movies like this aren't concerned with deep stories, but rather amp up the atmosphere and tension instead. Don't expect much in the way of supernatural spooks, but this movie is likely to leave you feeling pretty unsettled, and OMG -- it's based on true events.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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American Teen - PG-13
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A privileged look at the lives of five kids in their senior year at high school. Lots of teenage drama and foolishness, but whether you loved or hated high school there is something to reflect on here. Parents, peer pressure and future dreams are the focus, and it's compelling and easy for just about anyone to identify with the struggles.
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August 10, 2008
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N/A
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Son of Rambow - PG-13
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Funny and sweet semi-autobiographical story about two kids growing up in the 80's in England who are inspired to make their own Rambo movie. Some of the movie's themes feel less original now thanks to the release of Be Kind Rewind, but this is ultimately a more personal, coming of age story.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) - Unrated
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Original and quirky documentary that tackles a heavy subject like violent kidnappings that plague Sao Paolo, Brazil, and explores it through a variety of unique characters including a frog farmer and a doctor who does reconstructive surgery on ears. Great soundtrack too.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Bee Movie - PG
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Definitely has a slightly different vibe than most CG animated flicks, and you can tell it was written primarily for adults. My main complaint is that it relied too much on bee-related puns and the actual story was a little too ridiculous even for a kids movie.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Iron Man - PG-13
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Iron Man may be getting a tiny bit of extra praise just because there have been so many terrible movies in theatres this year, but it was definitely a lot of fun. I think we can all agree that Robert Downey Jr was brilliant, and the movie balances comedy with a level of coherence and believability that most comic book movies lack. It was ultimately shallow and a bit predictable, but overall a great lead-off summer blockbuster.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Wristcutters - A Love Story - R
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Dark and quirky indie comedy with an imaginative concept and some funny moments, but overall it felt half-baked. Wlll Arnett's small role was one of the highlights.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Smart People - R
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A decent romantic comedy that is greatly enhanced by a supporting cast that includes Thomas Haden Church and Ellen Page. They both play roles we've seen from them before, but they're good at it, and they're funny. As for Dennis Quaid and Sarah Jessica Parker, I never really bought their relationship and didn't think their performances were all that great either.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) - PG-13
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Amazing cinematography used to tell a powerful story. This movie literally puts you in the head of a man who is completely paralyzed, and while it may be a bit slow and artsy for some, I think it's a magnificent achievement.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Forgetting Sarah Marshall - R
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It probably could have gone either way, but Judd Apatow's crew came through yet again with another relateable and heart-felt comedy about relationships. Jason Segel proves that he can headline a comedy (and write it as well), and injects a good balance of both broad and bizarre jokes to keep just about everyone happy. Probably the best comedy to come out so far this year.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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The War Room - PG
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Fascinating documentary about the Clinton campaign in the 90's directed by two very respected non-fiction filmmakers.You'll find plenty of interesting comparisons to be made to the current U.S. presidential campaigns.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Leatherheads - PG-13
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I love when George Clooney does comedy, and I thought he did a great job in this flick, which reminded me a lot of the Coens' Intolerable Cruelty and O Brother Where Art Thou. Fans of football won't find much gridiron action here, but as a period piece and a screwball comedy, I thought it delivered.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Shine a Light - PG-13
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Great concert film that does not quite rival Gimme Shelter, but still captures The Rolling Stones in an artistic and exciting way. They may be old, but even for a non-fan, it was an impressive performance. I still woul have preferred if it was more of an actual documentary though, either with more scenes involving Scorsese himself, or more Rolling Stones history.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Dan in Real Life - PG-13
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Despite the fact that it was marketed as sort of an art house indie dramedy, it's mostly a generic romantic comedy with predictable twists and a convenient ending. That said, Steve Carell's performance makes it worth watching, and Dane Cook actually does some acting in the film, believe it or not.
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May 19, 2008
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N/A
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Once - R
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An extremely creative and heartfelt musical with a fantastic soundtrack to boot. The documentary style makes it seem so much more personal and the love story avoids all cliches. Totally deserving of all the praise it has received in my opinion.
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May 18, 2008
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N/A
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The Grand - R
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More successful at delivering laughs than Zak Penn's previous mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness, but still not on the same level as Christopher Guest's films. Werner Herzog's character kind of steals the show but there are plenty of other smaller cameos to watch for. Woody Harrelson's main character was a bit bland though.
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May 18, 2008
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N/A
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Doomsday - R
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With Doomsday, Neil Marshall delivers a straight-up homage to the late 70's and early 80's post-apocalyptic genre, It's loud and chaotic and in your face, but it's also a lot of fun. If you're looking for a serious horror movie like The Descent, don't bother... but if you love Mad Max, Escape from New York or Army or Darkness, this was made for you!
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May 18, 2008
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N/A
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Young at Heart (Young@Heart) - PG
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More than just a cute and fun story about old people singing rock and roll tunes, it's a touching and heart-wrenching look at life and death. The style is fairly bland, but it doesn't matter... the characters and the performances are fantastic.
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May 18, 2008
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N/A
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Southland Tales - R
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Yep, it's as bad as all the critics say... the man behind Donnie Darko may be a visionary director, but in this case the vision is just a complete mess. His attempt at creative casting falls flat, and whatever message he might have intended gets lost in the shuffle.
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May 18, 2008
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N/A
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Into the Wild - R
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I had been intrigued by the Christopher McCandless story ever since I heard about it, and I was impressed by just about everything in this flick, from the direction to the cinematography to the acting. Sad and tragic, and yet uplifting and inspiring at the same time.
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April 5, 2008
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N/A
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169 ratings
107 reviews
