Chris Sawin Movie Reviews & Previews

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Chris Sawin

Agrees with the Tomatometer 72% of the time.

Publications:: Examiner.com

Total Reviews:: 187

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 1 - 50 of 187

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date
3/10	8%	Runner Runner (2013)	" Runner Runner" is a lifeless dramatic crime thriller that is never able to wake up from hibernation. It's like a tasteless alcoholic concoction that no amount of shaking or stirring could possibly add any sort of flavor to. " — Examiner.com Posted Oct 4, 2013
3/10	8%	Argento's Dracula 3D (2013)	" Argento's Dracula 3D is an absolute travesty of a film completely devoid of creativity or imagination. It's like taking your favorite folklore, stripping it of everything you love, making it as dull as possible, and then lighting it on fire." — Examiner.com Posted Oct 4, 2013
8.5/10	98%	Gravity (2013)	" A dizzying vision of space, amazing cinematography, and staggering sensation of being alone. The sense of helplessness in Gravity is unlike anything experienced in film before; an endless struggle to survive only heightened by excellent 3D effects." — Examiner.com Posted Oct 3, 2013
7/10	78%	Good Ol' Freda (2013)	" Good Ol' Freda feels like a peek behind the curtain of one of the biggest bands in history. If this is the last true story of The Beatles, then it's a remarkable tale full of magnificent triumphs, devotion, sorrow, and maturity." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 27, 2013
7.5/10	83%	Don Jon (2013)	" Don Jon" is obnoxiously funny, effortlessly identifiable, unusually tender, obscenely amusing, and an enjoyable R-rated comedy that is sure to captivate both sexes. " — Examiner.com Posted Sep 27, 2013
5/10	60%	+1 (2013)	" Imagine Project X taking place in the world of Another Earth and you get +1. While there are interesting aspects within the film's sci-fi elements, it seems repressed thanks to so much emphasis being put on raunchy college behavior." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 27, 2013
8.5/10	88%	Rush (2013)	" Rush will reel you in with its heart pounding racing sequences, but the film will win you over with its compassion. Absolutely exhilarating, amusing, and passionate to the very end, Rush is a film that has no right to be as good as it is." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 27, 2013
7/10	——	The Last Tycoon (2013)	" The Last Tycoon is one of the most explosive films to come to DVD and Blu-ray this year, but it's a bit disappointing that it features two of Hong Kong's most iconic action stars without letting them put that on display as often as you'd like." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 20, 2013
9/10	80%	Prisoners (2013)	" Prisoners is one of the most contemplative and fulfilling films of the year. It may be lengthy, but the performances are outstanding and the journey is never not intriguing." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 20, 2013
4/10	35%	Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)	" Insidious: Chapter 2 has a slower pace and a lighter tone than the original film. The jump-out scares have been tucked away and are more methodical in execution. However the sequel will likely not be as much of a crowd-pleaser as Insidious." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 13, 2013
4/10	34%	Adore (2013)	" Adore is able to capture the indecisive nature of human desire rather effortlessly, but it's as if the drama purposely makes that indecisiveness unbearable. There's really no arguing that Adore is nothing more than a glorified chick flick." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 8, 2013
7/10	——	FLU (2013)	" The Flu can best be described as South Korea's answer to Contagion. If it wasn't for the film's massive amount of theatrics in an already harrowing story, The Flu would be the best disaster film to come along since The Tower." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 8, 2013
5/10	83%	From Up On Poppy Hill (2013)	" From Up on Poppy Hill may be able to boast about its outstanding music and smooth animation, but it's far too flat to leave much of an impression." — Examiner.com Posted Sep 7, 2013
3/10	3%	Getaway (2013)	" Getaway is like a modern take of Speed blended with the Gone in Sixty Seconds remake, but is ruined by a limitless amount of redundant car crashes and an annoying little girl." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 30, 2013
5/10	80%	Drinking Buddies (2013)	" Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde give some passionate performances, but Drinking Buddies is otherwise nothing more than a drunken blur that you'll likely forget about by morning. " — Examiner.com Posted Aug 30, 2013
6.5/10	84%	Prince Avalanche (2013)	" While the story may have weak legs, the relationship between Alvin and Lance is strong enough to make Prince Avalanche a lonely road worth traveling." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 30, 2013
5/10	75%	You're Next (2013)	" The characters are written so absent-mindedly that it's on the verge of world record stupidity. Its poor writing, bad acting, and stupidly predictable outcome ruin the few good things You're Next has going for it." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 23, 2013
9/10	89%	The World's End (2013)	" With a ton of heart, sentimentality, and a huge emphasis on friendship, The World's End puts a spin on the imperfections all humans have and delivers a film that is near perfect because of it." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 23, 2013
1/10	4%	Scary Movie 5 (2013)	" Scary Movie 5 is a reprehensible excuse of a comedy and should barely be considered a film since it's of such poor quality. They don't make a dunce cap big enough for individuals this idiotic." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 19, 2013
6/10	25%	The Guillotines (2013)	" The Guillotines is an overdramatic and fluffy piece of cinema that has a few decent moments, but is otherwise forgettable." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 18, 2013
8/10	——	Blue Exorcist The Movie (2013)	" With shades of Fullmetal Alchemist and Berserk, Blue Exorcist The Movie is an extremely captivating and beautifully animated feature." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 16, 2013
9/10	95%	The Hunt (2013)	" The Hunt is like a low blow that keeps on swinging even when you're down and out. It is constantly putting your emotions in the crosshairs and seems to flourish the most whenever you feel your stomach drop from the hell that Lucas is put through." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 16, 2013
6/10	30%	Kick-Ass 2 (2013)	" Saying Kick-Ass 2 stands in the shadow of its predecessor is an understatement. Its monotonous writing restrains the sequel from enhancing the story the way that it should. Kick-Ass 2 lacks maturity and no amount of Union J can fix that." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 16, 2013
8/10	100%	A Werewolf Boy (2012)	" Even though it may draw comparisons to Twilight, A Werewolf Boy has a more genuine demeanor with well-developed characters and an overpowering sense of benevolence." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 16, 2013
7.5/10	68%	Elysium (2013)	" Elysium is genuine at heart, but its story structure is so futuristically torqued that nothing seems to affect you the way that it should. Despite a strong attempt, Elysium doesn't impact your emotions the way District 9 did." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 9, 2013
6/10	98%	Blackfish (2013)	" While Blackfish isn't exactly riveting, it is thought-provoking and leaves you with the urge to admire nature in its natural habitat rather than in a contained environment." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 2, 2013
9/10	72%	Grabbers (2013)	" Grabbers combines horror and comedy into one extremely satisfying octopus-like baby that results in some of the most fun you'll have with any film this year." — Examiner.com Posted Aug 2, 2013
6.5/10	69%	The Wolverine (2013)	" The Wolverine tries so hard to be the best live-action film incarnation of Wolverine out there and it mostly succeeds, but its little issues are just enough to keep the film from being exceptional." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 25, 2013
6/10	24%	In Dreams (1999)	" In Dreams harshly blends dreams with reality in a way that's both distorting and gratifying, but witnessing Claire's downward spiral is unintentionally humorous while the film completely loses focus and slowly inflates into illogical territory." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 21, 2013
8.5/10	97%	Drug War (2013)	" Drug War is gripping from its opening shot and doesn't loosen its mesmerizing hold on its viewer until its closing credits. Johnnie To delivers an aggressive slice of crime cinema that isn't afraid to take risks and is very rewarding because of it." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 21, 2013
3/10	14%	R.I.P.D. (2013)	" When Jeff Bridges being thrown under a bus is the best thing a film has to offer, that's when you know that that paved cinematic road ahead of you is going to be unreasonably rough." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 20, 2013
8/10	40%	Only God Forgives (2013)	" Only God Forgives is a bizarre crime thriller that is slow-building, intensely crafted, and riveting. Like you've come to expect from Nicolas Winding Refn, its brutality knocks you to the ground like a frying pan to the skull." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 19, 2013
7/10	86%	The Conjuring (2013)	" The Conjuring establishes a thick, rich, and terrifying atmosphere that is sure to leave audiences biting their nails and choking back screams. James Wan has delivered another horror film that is sure to leave one hell of an impact on its viewers." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 18, 2013
8/10	61%	Byzantium (2013)	" With a magnetic performance from Saoirse Ronan, a surprisingly excellent performance from Gemma Arterton, and a deliciously peculiar spin on familiar lore, Byzantium is a refreshing take on vampires." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 13, 2013
9/10	72%	Pacific Rim (2013)	" Pacific Rim will tickle every Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion loving fiber in your body. Guillermo del Toro has created a giant monster infested ecstasy that will send chills up your spine." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 12, 2013
6/10	85%	Sightseers (2013)	" Sightseers is a brilliantly grim and reasonably amusing comedy that is also wonderfully unpredictable and constantly pushing unforeseen circumstances." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 12, 2013
6/10	85%	The Way Way Back (2013)	" Once it finds its groove, The Way, Way Back is a fairly entertaining dramatic comedy. Sam Rockwell is at his absolute best." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 12, 2013
8/10	47%	Maniac (2013)	" Thrilling and fueled by plenty of bloody carnage, Maniac is a horror film that knows how to wear its influences on its sleeve and capitalize on them." — Examiner.com Posted Jul 5, 2013
8/10	40%	Tai Chi Hero (2013)	" Surprisingly heartbreaking at times, Tai Chi Hero adds some much needed depth to an already well-established and vividly distinguishable action franchise." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 30, 2013
7/10	83%	Berberian Sound Studio (2013)	" It messes with your head in ways that is impressive, but it also seems too abstract for its own good at times. Its unsettling atmosphere and strong performances make Berberian Sound Studio one of the more distinct psychological thrillers out there." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 28, 2013
6/10	96%	The History Of Future Folk (2013)	" The lack of emotional connection with any of the characters hurts the film the most. The History of Future Folk attempts to be this fun musical comedy, but falls flat thanks to its shortcomings." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 21, 2013
6/10	67%	World War Z (2013)	" The film has too many noticeable issues; too many cooks in the kitchen without a satisfying recipe for disaster. Semi-decent for what it is, World War Z doesn't accomplish anything 28 Days Later didn't 11 years ago for 1/25 of the budget." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 20, 2013
6/10	40%	Skull World ()	" Skull World is absolutely never boring, centered on one of the most original real-life characters to ever be filmed, and something that demands to be seen all the way through to the end." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 19, 2013
7/10	52%	Hatchet III (2013)	" Hatchet III feels more like the "old school American horror" the original film promised that violently shoves comedy in the back seat while gruesome terror gets behind the wheel." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 19, 2013
6/10	——	Chinese Zodiac ()	" Chinese Zodiac is incredibly frustrating at times and is mostly disappointing overall, but throws in just enough of what Jackie Chan used to be like in his prime to be somewhat satisfying." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 17, 2013
6/10	57%	American Mary (2013)	" Watching Mary's unpleasant journey is intriguing and each character having identifiable quirks is a strong point, but unfortunately American Mary isn't really anything all that special otherwise." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 17, 2013
8.5/10	56%	Man of Steel (2013)	" Man of Steel is a chill-inducing visual spectacle that is absolutely Herculean in nature with a downright glorious performance by Michael Shannon, an epic score, and extremely intense action." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 13, 2013
8/10	37%	Southland Tales (2007)	" Unusual and extremely ambitious with an alternate reality that is entirely absorbing; Southland Tales is Richard Kelly's magnum opus that only a small few are able to recognize. Thankfully, those small few are pimps. And pimps don't commit suicide." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 11, 2013
4/10	27%	Escape From Planet Earth (2013)	" Escape from Planet Earth doesn't even try to make itself memorable. It's like a generic case of really uncomfortable indigestion that you'll forget about as soon it ends." — Examiner.com Posted Jun 4, 2013

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