ParaNorman (review)
Dismal, yet profound and pungent, ParaNorman makes its points in ways more sharp and brutal than other “children’s” films. This is a story about ostracism and bigotry taken to extremes, and about our...
View ArticleFrankenweenie (review)
The Tim Burton-est movie in a long while, not merely because it embodies all those wonderfully weird and humanist Burton attitudes but also because only Burton would think to make a stop-motion film in...
View ArticleMadagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (review)
This is sheer manic animated anarchy, endlessly frenzied and funny; tickles and surprises both visually and intellectually... (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleWreck-It Ralph (review)
Gets that we have a relationship with games that exists beyond the point at which play in any given game stops, that we have a relationship with gaming. (please click through for commenting, social...
View ArticleRise of the Guardians (review)
There’s genuine magic here. Dark magic, even. That’s a good thing. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleOscar Nominated Animated Shorts (85th Academy Awards) (review)
“Paperman” might be the most romantic movie of the year... (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleThe Croods (review)
Was this secretly produced by the Institute for Creation Research? (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleEpic review: you can’t stop the rot
Ironically, nothing feels organic here, and certainly nothing feels magical... (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View Article009 Re: Cyborg review: hasta la what now?
A whole lotta WTF folded into a derivative, misogynist, and just plain incoherent mess. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleMonsters University review: back of the class
Monsters, Inc. was in no way calling for a sequel, and here it is. (new DVD/VOD US/Can) (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleDespicable Me 2 review: a little bit despicable itself
In an almost terrifying reversal from the first film, this is crude, racist, and sexist, in entirely well-worn ways. (But the Minions are still funny.) (please click through for commenting, social...
View ArticleThe Smurfs 2 review: a smurfeit of Smurfs
I am haunted by the crazed desperation in Jayma Mays’ eyes. She may have been blinking out a Morse-code SOS, but I can’t be sure... (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and...
View ArticleFrom Up on Poppy Hill review: gentle as a seaside breeze
Joyously warm and gentle... though perhaps too gentle to be entirely satisfying. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticlePlanes review: crash commercialism
“Good” for nothing but the electronic babysitting of toddlers and fomenting consumer desire in impressionable children for the new line of made-in-China Dusty Crophopper extruded plastic. (new DVD/VOD...
View ArticleThe Congress review (London Film Festival)
A hugely ambitious film reminiscent of The Matrix and the works of Terry Gilliam while also carving out its own apocalyptic sci-fi space. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags,...
View ArticleFrozen review: I have chills
The showstopping central musical number is a glorious anthem to female power and ability... and so, in fact, is the whole wonderful movie. Disney is finally getting it. (new DVD/VOD US/Can) (please...
View ArticleWalking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie review: where is an extinction-level...
Sub-vaudeville 1950s sitcom humor and a horrifically dated message about boys as heroes and girls as the heroes’ property. You know, for kids! (please click through for commenting, social networking,...
View ArticleOscar Nominated Animated Shorts (86th Academy Awards) review
The French “Mr. Hublot” creates an utterly real yet completely fantastical world, a palpable steampunk environment of gorgeous mechanical loveliness. (please click through for commenting, social...
View ArticleThe Lego Movie review: take the brick pill
You’ve seen this all before -- it’s Toy Story meets The Matrix -- just not done in Legos. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
View ArticleThe Wind Rises review: Jiro dreams of flying
Visually ravishing, as you’d expect from Hayao Miyazaki, but there is, disappointingly, no drama and no conflict here. (please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)
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