|
1.5/4
|
40%
|
Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) |
"
Shot either in extreme, eye-swelling close-ups or in excessively composed, arty landscapes, I now know more about the blood vessels in these actors' noses than I care to."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Vanaprastham (2001) |
"
That old story again: Boy pretends to be mythological figure, girl digs mythological figure, girl sort of digs boy because of his mythological role-playing expertise."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Sam dung (Tempting Heart) (1999) |
"
A fascinating idea -- that the concept and retelling of a romance is far more attractive to people than the real thing. It's like dissecting a film from the inside out."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
67%
|
Siam Sunset (2003) |
"
Many of the jokes are big production numbers that appear out of nowhere, and some are appallingly cruel in a brawny, slap-your-back kind of way."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
86%
|
Chunhyangdyun (2000) |
"
Reminded of 'Ever After,' a film that took a standard western myth and updated it with wit, verve and relevance. This is in that league, and rather more elegant and adult."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
83%
|
George Washington (2000) |
"
Oh, you could analyze and debate and dissect the individual vignettes to smithereens, which is what makes it literary, I 'spect. But that would be too much like homework."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
——
|
Muro-ami (Reef Hunters) (2000) |
"
Instead of an unfolding, classic tragedy that reeks of cruel fate, out of our hands, the film has the bedeviling but slight inevitability of an overdue homework assignment."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
——
|
History of the Sons of Hawaii (2004) |
"
What sets 'Sons' apart is not the depth of the subject matter - at 80 minutes, it's an epic - but the resonance it strikes with every level of modern Hawaiian culture."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
58%
|
To End All Wars (2002) |
"
Will be well-received on Sunday-school movie night at church, particularly during group discussions afterward. For the rest of us, alas, it doesn't quite hang together."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
——
|
Beonjijeompeureul hada (2001) |
"
Compare everyday social customs to ours: In this case, it's teenage dating in South Korea, where much is made of smoking -- the chicks dig it! -- and of metaphysical babble."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Still, the Children are Here (2004) |
"
It appears to be objective documentary, one that observes without comment as a kind of visual anthropology ... see it, and appreciate your meal afterward, you big fat American."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
South of the Clouds (Yun de nan fang) (2004) |
"
Not a Mao jacket or sooty sky to be seen, but the grinding privation under the weight of monolithic political machinery can still be heard, however faintly."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
——
|
USS Poseidon: Phantom Below (2006) |
"
A crew of covert techs, one of whom is the dead man's suspicious sister, a naval officer who, thank goodness, strips down to tight, damp T-shirts when her temperature goes up."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Massie Affair (2005) |
"
No lessons to impart, no epigrams; the documentary simply trails off by noting these awful people got away with murder, while righteously pointing the finger at white racism."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
4/4
|
73%
|
Flags of Our Fathers (2006) |
"
Possibly the richest testament Hollywood has yet made about the paroxysm of World War II ... an astounding movie on every level, not the least of which is its common humanity."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
82%
|
Linda Linda Linda (2005) |
"
The movie provides a fine, shiny reminiscence of school days, when learning three guitar chords in the right order was the most important thing in the world."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
83%
|
Sione's Wedding (Samoan Wedding) (2006) |
"
Actor Oscar Kightley bears a remarkable resemblance to teenage actor Daniel "Harry Potter" Radcliffe, if Radcliffe were in his mid-30s, bald and Samoan. Uncanny."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
——
|
Beautiful Son () |
"
Objectivity and distance aren't what documentarians are all about. The result of that tension has resulted in this passionate and, yes, beautiful film."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
58%
|
Year of the Fish (2007) |
"
Making the film 'animated' creates a remove from the harshness of reality, like erecting a scrim between performer and audience, but it also makes for a certain glow."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Kuro-obi (Black Belt) (2007) |
"
Like a 1962 martial-arts movie, influenced by the landscape of American Westerns and relying on A-to-B storytelling, villains and heroes unfettered by backstory or motive."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
39%
|
Dark Matter (2008) |
"
Xing is surprised to discover Western academics are just as ruthless as communist apparatchiks and, ill equipped emotionally to handle humiliation, he takes his guns to town."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority () |
"
It doesn't pull any punches either, particularly over fallings-out with Hawaii Democratic officials. One of those films in which the subject outshines the production values."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
75%
|
Dirty Hands: The Art & Crimes of David Choe () |
"
Although too long by far-it arcs about 20 minutes shorter than the actual end-it's always entertaining, even if it's passing-by-a-car-crash fascinating"
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Wings of Defeat () |
"
One pilot recalled his feelings, as he was ordered to fly that day's suicide mission, 'Well, I'm screwed.'"
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
A Village Called Versailles () |
"
A broad, boosterish documentary that looks at the molding of this community, tempered by war and hurricane, and how it fits into the larger concept thought of as America. "
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
75%
|
John Rabe (2010) |
"
A serious, large-budget treatment of Rabe's exploits and a moving, terrific film about trying to maintain one's decency amidst horrors."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
——
|
24K () |
"
Mostly charming and meandering and observational about the dynamics of camaraderie, but then it takes a sudden, off-road swerve into mysterious melodrama and simply quits. "
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
——
|
20-seiki shônen: Saishû-shô - Bokura no hata (20th Century Boys 3: Redemption) (2009) |
"
Yes, there are giant robots creating mayhem. Not enough of them, alas. The steam seems to have run out of the franchise during this third part, and it's simply an OK capper."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
66%
|
The Blind Side (2009) |
"
A living tribute to fundamental Christian motivations, although the point is hammered home with an extraordinarily soft touch: Love thy neighbor."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
87%
|
Earth (Disneynature's Earth) (Planet Earth) (2009) |
"
When Disney gets involved in making things green, we're talking about the color of money."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
49%
|
Atlantis - The Lost Empire (2001) |
"
It's too rich with invention and characterization, too packed with juice, and it gallops right along breathlessly. Even so, it manages moments of lyricism and visual elegance."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
61%
|
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) |
"
Brendan Fraser's physical dexterity and comic timing are laid out in good order here, and "Journey" is pretty much a Frasermobile. Without him, it just doesn't go anywhere."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
1/4
|
13%
|
The Informers (2009) |
"
Brad Renfro in his last movie role, playing a wannabe film actor who sprays out filthy perspiration like a collie emerging from a sewer. It's possible this role killed Renfro."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
First Squad: The Moment of Truth (Fâsuto sukuwaddo) (2009) |
"
That the blood and thunder is being carried out by big-eyed children is a little creepy, but then, the Great Patriotic War was no day at the amusement park."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
3.5/4
|
——
|
Made in China (2009) |
"
A thoroughly charming, quirkily funny independent film with a standout performance that would never have been touched in a million years by a major studio."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
18%
|
Princess Ka'iulani (2010) |
"
There's little passion, damn little fire in the belly, and what there is is wasted on a pleasant romance conjured up by the script, aimed at the My Little Pony market."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jul 5, 2011
|
|
4/4
|
——
|
Gui lin rong ji (My Rice Noodle Shop) () |
"
Although Chinese films can be overtly weepy, My Rice Noodle Shop is more smartly sentimental than mawkish."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 23, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Via Satellite (1998) |
"
An enormous Family Secret manages to suck the oxygen out of the room. Indeed, all the characters get the pinched, bloody-eyed look test animals get in pressure chambers."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 23, 2011
|
|
4/4
|
94%
|
The King's Speech (2010) |
"
It is a rare movie indeed that successfully uses empathy rather than sympathy. We feel what the character feels, instead of feeling for them."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
10%
|
Season of the Witch (2011) |
"
Guns are fun in movies, but bashing about with broadswords speaks to the 12-year-old in all of us. "
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
92%
|
Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster (2011) |
"
It's a second installment of a film bio of Ip Man, and it's pretty much made-up nonsense, but few will care, as it's also great fun. "
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
84%
|
The Terrorist (1999) |
"
Ayesha Dharkar commands the center. She has expressive, liquid eyes to die for, as well as an out-of-whack sense of inner gravity. And water beads up on her spectacularly."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
——
|
The Recipe (2010) |
"
A runaway killer is captured by the police because he's moony about some bean-paste stew he's eaten. His last request before execution? He wants some more of that stew ..."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
1/4
|
63%
|
Mammuth (2011) |
"
Depardieu is a very shaggy beastie in this film, deliberate and bullish, blown up to prehistoric size and pretty much headed for extinction at the hands of French bureaucracy."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
1/4
|
88%
|
Honey (2011) |
"
Citybound film aestheticists will suck on their cigs and drone on about the crushing inevitability of despair and the horror of nature unbound. The rest of us think, bummer."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 22, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
26%
|
Green Lantern (2011) |
"
It's unremittingly average, high-caloric and indigestible junk food for the restlessly stupefied. We've all been there."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 16, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Only the Brave (2006) |
"
Only the Brave is a little movie, but a good, powerful, haunting feature nonetheless. And it's way overdue, the last 442nd/100th movie was Go For Broke, 1951."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 16, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
96%
|
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011) |
"
They emerged with a film that is supposed to be an art documentary, but is really a kind of immersive fever dream and time machine."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 14, 2011
|
|
4/4
|
91%
|
City of Life and Death (2011) |
"
A work of grim art told with relentlessly restless curiosity about the human capacity for survival."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 10, 2011
|
|
2/4
|
19%
|
Just Go with It (2011) |
"
I have to warn you, there are two precocious children in it of the species that only exist in Hollywood's imagination, and they are truly horrible."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
77%
|
Tiny Furniture (2010) |
"
Tiny Furniture is more drifty than plotted, a character study of a young person without great options standing at a crossroads. None of the paths look promising."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
90%
|
Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2010) |
"
Chazelle is more interested in having fun with this witty melange than in hammering home a filmic style lesson. So enjoy."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
55%
|
Top Gun (1986) |
"
Among the first generation of films influenced by the cutting techniques of music videos, a progression of oversaturated, meaty images, embarrassing dialogue and awful music."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
33%
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) |
"
It all goes on and on, and becomes excessively complicated without becoming clever, and there's a real sense of arrogant laziness about the whole production."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
34%
|
The Hangover Part II (2011) |
"
If you laughed your butt off in the first film, you'll laugh half your butt off here, and even that is generally worth the price of admission these days."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
88%
|
Even the Rain (Meme La Pluie) (2011) |
"
If you can handle a few scenes of hammeringly obvious metaphor, "Even The Rain" is a rich, multi-layered film that gives an involved viewer much to think about."
—
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Posted Jun 3, 2011
|
73%
21%
63%
85%
46%
40%
