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The Princess and the Frog - G
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Disney comes back strong with a classic feeling animated film. With some exceptions there hasn't been one this good since The Lion King. A comedy musical like the early 90's Disney films it keeps the spirit of what Disney has always been about alive. Great fleshed out characters, wonderful music, amazing artistic animation, and a story that pulls you in hangs on to you and doesn't let you go till it's over. The New Orleans setting makes room for plenty of exciting and fun jazz music and the bayou is a great setting for the classic Frog Prince story. Lots of fun, lots of laughs, and a great story. It's good to see Disney really come back.
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December 15, 2009
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N/A
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The 39 Steps - PG
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A witty cat-and-mouse chase caper of false accusement, romance, and action. Hitchcock really tells a great story in this film and keeps us constantly moving - never getting to comfortable to any locale (just as it would be for Robert Donat's wonderfully acted character). A great thriller with laughs and excitement and has sweeping cinematography that has Hitchcock's signiture all over it. An intriguing villian (with a James Bond villian "deformity") and a clever mystery that keeps you guessing till the end. An early Hitchcock but in his A-list films.
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December 15, 2009
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N/A
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Fantastic Mr. Fox - PG
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Great cast and was surprisingly fun and enjoyable - in the moment at least. Felt a bit tedious and really wasn't the deepest plot (rather simplistic really). Very original though but not one I plan to go back to for a while. Just doesn't have the captivation that lasts after it's over like many films do. Many say it's a very intellectual film, but I just don't see that. It is clever and original but pretty straight-forward and simplistic in many ways, though it does gear itself to more adult-like tendencies. Good film just not, well, fantastic.
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December 11, 2009
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N/A
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The Killing - Unrated
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A great film noir that uses back and forth time to tell a single event. Varied characters and a good premise make it interesting and there is a nice kind of "twist" so to say. When it's all over you can really feel that it was a Kubrick film even though it's one of his early ones. Ingenious though the "Dragnet" like narration could be eliminated especially since it doesn't carry throughout the whole film.
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December 9, 2009
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N/A
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Boogie Nights - R
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Great photography and editing. The story is interesting but after the 70s it gets a little harder to follow or care about. Great acting (recognizable faces consistantly pop up) and a unique feel to the whole thing.
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December 9, 2009
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N/A
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2012 - PG-13
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A decent story, good acting, and more destruction than I had ever seen before in a movie!!! Intense and action-packed it's truely for fun and enjoyment and fills those of us who love disaster movies up completely. I almost had disaster intake overload watching this on the big screen. A disaster movie lover's dream come true; a special effect wonder; and a serious film critic nightmare! Very fun!!!
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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Contact - PG
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Yet another good film from Zemeckis. This one deals with very real issues about faith even when there is seemingly no proof. Enjoyable and focuses on plot. Seems shorter than it is but in a good way. Foster is good as always.
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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Old Dogs - PG
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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Brothers - R
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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The Twilight Saga: New Moon - PG-13
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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A Single Man - R
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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Invictus - PG-13
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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The Majestic - PG
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Jim Carrey turns in one of his better performances in a well done film. Feels somewhat average but has a story to tell and it tells it sincerely and passionately. It has characters you care about and a story that doesn't have to twist too much to be enjoyable. A good touching story that has great cinematography. (love the Bruce Campbell clips too!)
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Santa Claus - The Movie - PG
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A delightful and fun way of showing the origins of Santa Claus. The beginning hints at the real life Saint Nick and then moves into how he became known as Santa worldwide. Dudley Moore is the highlight of the film as he adds extra humor and fun but John Lithgow adds a big part himself as the greedy villian who cares about nothing but money. David Huddleston plays a great Santa and is matched nicely with Judy Cornwell as Mrs. Claus. The reindeer are enjoyable, the music is incredible and adds volumes to the film and the whole thing is a wonderful seasonal treat.
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier - PG
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A fun and well-done look at the real but legendary Davy Crockett. Fess Parker plays the American hero in a larger than life way while still showing the compassion and sensability of the frontiersman. From volunteer in the Creek Indian War to his final adventure at the Alamo this film highlights the life of Crockett. Buddy Ebsen (Beverly Hillbillies) stars as a supporting sidekick to Parker's Crockett and the two work nicely together.
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Babes in Toyland (March of the Wooden Soldiers) - Unrated
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Laurel and Hardy are hilarious in this feature film of theirs. Enjoyable songs for the most part but the real treat is seeing the fairy tales and nursery rhymes come alive. The characters are classic especially the cat and the fiddle, the mouse, and the three little pigs. Henry Brandon plays a great old man in Barnaby and Felix Knight has a great operatic voice. Once again the film is made by Laurel and Hardy as they play with peewees, fight the bogeymen, and lead an army of wooden soldiers to battle along with the rest of Toyland! Lots of fun and lots of laughs with colored in film to make it even more vivid and wonderful. Great to watch anytime but Christmas time is a great setting for it just for the soldiers part - its not a seasonal film at all. One of Laurel and Hardy's best. Makes me laugh every time Barbaby gets hit with the rolling pin! A great operetta that's gaurenteed to at least bring a smile to your face.
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Up - PG
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Disney/Pixar can't miss and this is no exception. Whether toys, bugs, monsters, robots or an old man and a boy scout Pixar shows they can make anything likeable. Up has some suprisingly emotional content and deals with some decently heavy issues in a very powerful way. Up shows all times of life and reminds us that adventures can happen anywhere and that includes our own lives even if we never leave our own backyard. We can feel that we waste life only to find out we were not aware of the big adventure we were having during it. Funny and brilliantly animated as always it is a clever film which will lift the corners of you mouth into a smile and tug at your heart at the same time. SQUIRREL!!!
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Pete's Dragon - G
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Great character actors like Jim Dale, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters, and Mickey Rooney add to the fun of this classic Disney musical. Touching and funny it is a great one for kids and adults alike. The musical numbers are great and fitting and the film is just a lot of fun. The use of animation throughout a live-action film was pretty amazing for the seventies and the special effects are very good.
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Where the Wild Things Are - PG
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No one can dispute the visuals, the costumes, makeup, direction, or the source material. However, as visually stunning and breathtaking as it was it left me a bit empty. Heavy and hard to deal with issues were brought up in real and at times 'frightening' ways but it never feels like that big revelation comes. You don't feel that the journey really helped anything but Max. Max has more of an understanding of himself but the wild things seem to be in about the same way. Strays monumentally from the book other than specific lines being said here or there. A bit depressing for children maybe and even a bit scary for them. The issues raised and answered are subtle and evident to the vigiliant viewer but young children may never pick up on the lessons to be learned. A visually amazing film, but not as filling a plot. Worth the watch but not necessarily for young children. Feels more geared to adults who have grown up loving the book.
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November 20, 2009
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N/A
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The Informant! - R
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A clever and humorous look at a real life story. Matt Damon is superb in the lead role and brings quite a flair to the character. Scott Bakula plays an FBI agent and does a good job of showing his willingness to work with Damon's character even at the times he's extremely frustrated with Damon. Says a lot about human nature and the whole film is nicely executed. The music is quirky and fun and fits the tone and feel of the film perfectly.
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November 20, 2009
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N/A
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - R
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November 18, 2009
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N/A
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The Blind Side - PG-13
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November 18, 2009
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N/A
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The Men Who Stare at Goats - R
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Random and rather funny. It serves its purpose well enough but a lot of it seems to get lost in the shuffle. Kevin Spacey as the antagonist of the film is never fully achieved or pulled off. Clooney and McGregor really work well together and are the crutch of the film helping it to move along. Good but in no means great.
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November 16, 2009
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N/A
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The Absent-Minded Professor - G
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Hilarious, clever and original. Fred MacMurray is great in anything and this is no exception. Classic Disney and it lives up to all that Disney is. Great effects and comedic timing work in the film's favor and it has that classic Disney villian: Alonzo Hawk (who also appeared in the sequel Son of Flubber and the second Herbie - Herbie Rides Again. Set at Medfield College (also home to Merlin Jones and Dexter Riley for you real Disney fans out there) it follows the absent-minded Professor Brainerd who discovers flying rubber (the same night he was supposed to get married - for the third time). Things take off when he realizes he can cause a car to fly or basketball players to literally jump up to the basket. However, trouble arises when his girlfriend begins to see a rival school professor and the only one to believe in his discovery is Alonzo Hawk (out to make money by hook or by crook). The scene where Professor Brainerd is landing his Model-T on the rival professors car is hilarious and the whole film is just humorous moment after humorous moment. Not too mention the fact that the film contains father Ed Wynn and son Keenan Wynn! Smart and stays focused where it needs to. An entertaining and enjoyable film which delivers exactly what it sets out to!
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November 15, 2009
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N/A
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The Phantom - PG
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Fun and unique superhero movie. With a moral hero who takes on evil without flinching and with a quip to boot this is a supernatural adventure that is quite enjoyable. One of the few heroes out there who doesn't have any superhuman abilities. Stealth and confidence are his main weapons and with his wolf and horse he protects the jungle. He adapts to city life easily having been raised there. An ode to the comics of old where there was easy distinctions between good and bad. The villian is like those old comic villians in that he is truely sinister and evil, but slightly humorous (Batman comics anyone?). Good 'ol fun that has a decent plot as well.
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November 8, 2009
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N/A
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1436 ratings
720 reviews
