|
B
|
83%
|
Don Jon (2013) |
"
Very funny and with some social commentary, "Don Jon" is an admirable first effort for Gordon-Levitt behind the camera."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Oct 3, 2013
|
|
A
|
88%
|
Rush (2013) |
"
... An incisive character study cloaked in a thrilling, adrenaline-fueled sports picture."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Oct 3, 2013
|
|
C+
|
60%
|
Riddick (2013) |
"
"Riddick" is a big step up from "Chronicles," with Twohy abandoning the failed epic scope of that movie and somewhat recapturing what made "Pitch Black" the cult hit it is."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Sep 12, 2013
|
|
D-
|
3%
|
Getaway (2013) |
"
"Getaway" is hilarious. Problem: It's supposed to be a gritty, edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Whoops."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 30, 2013
|
|
C
|
30%
|
Kick-Ass 2 (2013) |
"
"Kick-Ass 2," while it retains a tone that varies wildly - though new writer-director Jeff Wadlow doesn't marry the two sides as effectively as his predecessor - lacks that fresh energy ..."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 15, 2013
|
|
B
|
69%
|
The Wolverine (2013) |
"
With a contemplative tone and slower pace, "The Wolverine" doesn't feel much like a superhero movie, which isn't a bad thing considering how plentiful the genre has become ..."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 2, 2013
|
|
B
|
63%
|
2 Guns (2013) |
"
... There are two reasons why "2 Guns" is one of the more entertaining action-comedies in recent years: Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 2, 2013
|
|
B
|
86%
|
The Conjuring (2013) |
"
... An old-school spookfest, a surprisingly restrained, moody picture ..."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jul 21, 2013
|
|
B
|
67%
|
World War Z (2013) |
"
... Somehow ends up being an effective action-thriller."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jul 11, 2013
|
|
A
|
72%
|
Pacific Rim (2013) |
"
... Not only the movie of the summer, it's one of the best sci-fi action/adventure epics ever made."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jul 11, 2013
|
|
D
|
19%
|
The Hangover Part III (2013) |
"
... With a broad comedy like this, gut reactions generally rule. You either laugh or you don't, and "The Hangover Part III" simply isn't funny."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted May 23, 2013
|
|
A
|
54%
|
Oblivion (2013) |
"
Digital effects abound, but they are in service to the story, to an idea, instead of being the point. Good, smart sci-fi like this is increasingly rare."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Apr 20, 2013
|
|
B-
|
36%
|
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) |
"
In this entertaining yet inconsistent movie, Carrey is the incredible one."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Mar 15, 2013
|
|
B
|
59%
|
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) |
"
... Respects its origin while standing apart as its own satisfying adventure."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Mar 8, 2013
|
|
B
|
52%
|
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) |
"
... Shows what can happen when a first-rate director and an A-list cast tackle a fantastical story with an appropriate sense of wonder and whimsy."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Mar 1, 2013
|
|
D+
|
46%
|
Beautiful Creatures (2013) |
"
... As much of a chore to get through as any of those movies with the sparkly vampires."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 14, 2013
|
|
C-
|
14%
|
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) |
"
... The plot resembles a weak episode of "24," complete with a series of twists involving characters so under-developed that the double-crosses barely even register."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 14, 2013
|
|
B
|
51%
|
Die Hard 3: With a Vengeance (1995) |
"
... Highlighted by Irons, whose slick and sinister Simon is second only to Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber in the pantheon of "Die Hard" villains."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 12, 2013
|
|
A
|
84%
|
Side Effects (2013) |
"
I'm curious to see how the film holds up and changes on a second viewing because there is a lot at work here."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 12, 2013
|
|
A
|
66%
|
Die Hard 2 (1990) |
"
... Everything a good sequel should be."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 11, 2013
|
|
A
|
92%
|
Die Hard (1988) |
"
... Not only the best action movie ever made but one of the very best of any genre."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 10, 2013
|
|
D
|
20%
|
Identity Thief (2013) |
"
Watching "Identity Thief" made me feel bad for Jason Bateman."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 8, 2013
|
|
B
|
46%
|
Bullet to the Head (2013) |
"
... As direct and forceful as its title. And that's a good thing."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 1, 2013
|
|
B
|
81%
|
Warm Bodies (2013) |
"
... Not the stale "Twilight"-with-zombies movie you might think it is. It plays up the comedy of its absurd scenario without completely ignoring the decades of living dead lore preceding it."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Feb 1, 2013
|
|
C+
|
15%
|
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) |
"
By any serious measure, "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" is not a good movie. ... Yet I found this jumbled hodgepodge strangely entertaining."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 25, 2013
|
|
B
|
60%
|
The Last Stand (2013) |
"
It's too bad "The Expendables" stole its thunder because "The Last Stand" is a good enough shoot-'em-up to have been a minor event. It's a modern Western with lots of action ... and no aspirations to anything higher ..."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 22, 2013
|
|
B-
|
66%
|
Mama (2013) |
"
Cliches mount until the climax, which is strangely satisfying and anything but the happily-ever-after conclusion we have been bred to expect."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 18, 2013
|
|
D
|
32%
|
Gangster Squad (2013) |
"
... It's all surface level a backdrop for a big, dumb action movie that has more in common with "The Expendables" than "L.A. Confidential.""
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 11, 2013
|
|
A
|
93%
|
Zero Dark Thirty (2013) |
"
Though it surely takes some dramatic license, "Zero Dark Thirty" is a worthy document of that moment and the people who made it possible."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 11, 2013
|
|
C
|
19%
|
Texas Chainsaw (2013) |
"
Maybe it's due to ... lowered expectations, but I found "Texas Chainsaw 3-D" a mildly entertaining way to pass an hour and a half on a cold winter afternoon."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jan 8, 2013
|
|
A-
|
61%
|
Jack Reacher (2012) |
"
... A smart whodunnit punctuated by visceral action and sly wit."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 21, 2012
|
|
C
|
70%
|
Les Misérables (2012) |
"
Given the stage musical's immense popularity, there is a built-in audience for this that knows the story and won't care about narrative issues, such as a lack of focus and a running time that stretches beyond two-and-a-half hours."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 19, 2012
|
|
A
|
52%
|
This is 40 (2012) |
"
... Humor that flows naturally from the characters and where they are in their lives instead of relying on punchlines and pratfalls ..."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 19, 2012
|
|
B
|
87%
|
Life of Pi (2012) |
"
We're left, then, with a film that is a visual marvel, with an extraordinary story, that's dragged down by a very ordinary lead actor. A stronger performance could have made a good movie great."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 18, 2012
|
|
A-
|
92%
|
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) |
"
Funny without being glib, serious without being pretentious or depressing, this is a mature movie with fully realized characters and fine performances."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 15, 2012
|
|
A
|
65%
|
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) |
"
.. An absolute triumph, possessing all the magic, adventure and excitement of (the) landmark "Lord of the Rings" trilogy."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 13, 2012
|
|
B
|
63%
|
Hitchcock (2012) |
"
Though "Hitchcock" provides little new insight into the man of its title, it is valuable for finally giving the woman behind the man her due."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Dec 8, 2012
|
|
A
|
89%
|
Lincoln (2012) |
"
Spielberg understands Lincoln is bigger than him--bigger than any filmmaker, bigger than any of us--and showing him in this new, more human light only enhances his greatness."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Nov 16, 2012
|
|
A
|
84%
|
Seven (Se7en) (1995) |
"
... An unrelenting examination of the evil that may or may not be festering inside every one of us."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Oct 24, 2012
|
|
A
|
96%
|
Argo (2012) |
"
... Seamlessly blends elements of the thriller, political drama, heist movie and comedy, with none of those disparate elements undermining any of the others."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Oct 12, 2012
|
|
A
|
93%
|
Looper (2012) |
"
... Writer-director Rian Johnson never stops working, using the science-fiction setup and trappings to delve into the characters and give us a story with some real meat."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Oct 2, 2012
|
|
C-
|
51%
|
Trouble with the Curve (2012) |
"
... Feels outdated, as behind the times as co-workers accuse Gus, an octogenarian baseball scout with failing eyesight, of being."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Sep 25, 2012
|
|
C+
|
11%
|
House at the End of the Street (2012) |
"
... Typical of modern horror movies, jump-scares (which are startling, not scary--there is a difference) sprinkled throughout deflate the suspense before it builds much."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Sep 25, 2012
|
|
A
|
84%
|
Sleepwalk With Me (2012) |
"
Birbiglia has been a unique voice on the standup comedy circuit for several years now. "Sleepwalk with Me" indicates he could make an even bigger impact at the movies."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Sep 11, 2012
|
|
B
|
65%
|
The Campaign (2012) |
"
... What it lacks in incisive satire, it makes up in big laughs."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 14, 2012
|
|
B
|
56%
|
The Bourne Legacy (2012) |
"
Like the films that preceded it, this is a movie that, even its (brief) quieter passages, is all about momentum."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Aug 12, 2012
|
|
A
|
68%
|
Ted (2012) |
"
... One of the funniest movies I've ever seen."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jul 2, 2012
|
|
B
|
35%
|
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) |
"
... A clever, elegantly made melding of fact and fiction."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted Jun 22, 2012
|
|
C+
|
38%
|
Dark Shadows (2012) |
"
"... There is a been-there-done-that feeling permeating all of 'Dark Shadows,' no matter how entertaining it might be at times."
—
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Posted May 10, 2012
|
