Tom Cruise so desperately wants the action caper “Knight and Day” to be his ticket back to the A-list. Enlisting the bubbly Cameron Diaz for this flirty, globetrotting adventure helps his cause, but the film can’t overcome the nagging feeling that we’ve seen it all before. Call it “Mission: Impossible” for the Rom-Com crowd. Cruise […]
Cruise and Diaz try hard, kinda fail in predictable ‘Knight and Day’ Read More »
Second sequels aren’t supposed to be good. The very idea of a “Toy Story 3” should have been a major concern to the millions of adoring fans of the original “Toy Story” and its equally stellar sequel. Of course, this is Pixar we’re talking about, and “Toy Story 3” is yet another gem in the
Pixar winning streak continues with masterful ‘Toy Story 3’ Read More »
Like most children of the 80s, I consider the original “Karate Kid” to be a classic. While not exactly “Citizen Kane,” it was one of those VHS tapes in the house that got more play than the entire Disney library. So imagine the skepticism I had walking into the new “Karate Kid,” this one starring
New ‘Karate Kid’ kicked in the face by old ‘Karate Kid’ Read More »
Alongside the R-rated debauchery that is requisite in any Judd Apatow-produced comedy, “Get Him to the Greek” offers quite a few life lessons along the way. Example: When the party gets out of control, just take a deep breath and pet the fuzzy wall. British comedian Russell Brand stars as the horny, drug-riddled rock star
‘Get Him to the Greek’ a wild, worthwhile trip Read More »
Personal bias: I’m not a huge fan of this 3D movie fad. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer three-dimensional characters over some dragon swinging in front of my face, breathing fire into my personal bubble. My wife is the only person allowed to get within three inches of my face, and even then, her breath
Shrek, Technicolor 3D lens surprisingly not bad Read More »
Mere hours after the “Lost” series finale, Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara wrote about the episode as if she had never seen the show before. She criticized the final 10 minutes even though she obviously wasn’t paying attention to what actually happened. In a nutshell, McNamara dismissed the six-year story as a tropical
Brilliant ‘Lost’ finale defies lazy criticism Read More »
Just when it feels like the superhero genre needs a breather, along comes Robert Downey Jr. again as billionaire motor mouth Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. Like the 2008 original film, “Iron Man 2” flourishes when Downey banters with equally entertaining talents of Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson and franchise newcomers Don Cheadle and Sam
‘Iron Man 2’ Review: The banter is better than bullets Read More »
Thanks to the recent resurgence of a certain third dimension, going to the movies this summer will be costlier than ever. Ticket prices are up, and 3D presentations will take a few extra dollars out of your wallet. Say hello to the Budget-Friendly 2010 Summer Movie Preview, featuring a quick rundown of the season’s biggest
Summer Movie Preview. Now in 3-D! Read More »
The idea of paying to see a nature documentary at a movie theater certainly seems like an activity for children, retirees and people who don’t work for a living. The BBC series “Planet Earth” and networks like Animal Planet offer comparable programs in the living room, so why switch out of your pajamas? “Oceans,” the
Disneynature’s ‘Oceans’ is a spectacular sight Read More »
With the exception of billionaire Bruce Wayne, superheroes must possess a proven superpower to survive the onslaught of the world’s most gruesome criminals. Masked crusaders don’t exist in real life because they’d probably be shot in the face within 30 minutes of their first patrol. Such is reality in “Kick-Ass,” a funny, ultra-violent riff on
‘Kick-Ass’ a bloody good superhero epic Read More »
