Linda Cook Movie Reviews & Previews

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Official Websites:
kwqc.net/psl/lindacook.html

Linda Cook

""It keeps me sharp. On the edge. Where I belong." -- Heat."

Agrees with the Tomatometer 77% of the time.

Biography:: Have written reviews since 1987 for the Quad-City Times newspaper in Davenport, Iowa. Have appeared regularly since 1994 on KWQC-TV, local NBC affiliate; and STAR 93.5 FM. Teach criminal justice and composition at local university.
Favorites:: All time favorite: "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart. Other favorites: "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," "Babe," "E.T.," "Blazing Saddles," "Memento," "Gladiator," "L.A. Confidential," "Dead Man," "U-Turn," "El Mariachi," "Amelie," "The Women," "A.I.," "Minority Report," "A Beautiful Mind," "Spider-Man," "Jurassic Park," "Bambi," "The Sugarland Express," "A New Leaf," "Heat," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "sex, lies and videotape," "Thelma and Louise," "Man on Wire," "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," "Capturing the Friedmans," "Wall-E," "Lars and the Real Girl," and about a zillion others.
Publications:: KWQC-TV (Iowa) , Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
Critics' Group:: Broadcast Film Critics Association

Total Reviews:: 2038
Total QuickRatings:: 475

Location:: Iowa

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 1 - 50 of 2038

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date
1/4	46%	Pain & Gain (2013)	" Why Michael Bay tried to make a dark comedy out of a heinous true crime is beyond me." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted May 2, 2013
3/4	54%	The Company You Keep (2013)	" Talk about timing. Whether it's good or bad remains to be seen." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted May 2, 2013
0/4	8%	The Big Wedding (2013)	" Vulgar, witless, and an insult to its stars and its audience." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted May 2, 2013
3.5/4	78%	Iron Man 3 (2013)	" It's right there in the credits: We'll be seeing more of Tony Stark! " — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted May 2, 2013
3/4	77%	42 (2013)	" Solid and heartfelt, '42' is less the story of Jackie Robinson than the story of how those around him reacted to the man who broke the color barrier for Major League baseball." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Apr 20, 2013
.5/4	4%	Scary Movie 5 (2013)	" The only thing scary about 'Scary Movie 5' is the thought of a sequel." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Apr 20, 2013
3/4	57%	The Power Of Few (2013)	" I had never heard of screenwriter/director Leone Marucci before. But you can bet I will remember his name after seeing 'The Power of Few.'" — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Apr 1, 2013
3/4	74%	Rise of the Guardians (2012)	" An entertaining experience, whether you see it in 3-D or 2-D, 'Rise of the Guardians' is an enjoyable adventure for all ages." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
3/4	59%	The Last Stand (2013)	" No, he doesn't demonstrate a lot of 'Terminator'-style moves.But, hey, he doesn't have to. Schwarzenegger, now in his mid-60s, just needs to tote some weapons, seek revenge and utter a few one-liners, which is exactly what he does in 'The Last Stand.'" — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
3.5/4	61%	Jack Reacher (2012)	" 'Jack Reacher' is a lot smarter than you've been led to believe by the ads." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
3/4	81%	The Impossible (2012)	" If you're familiar with the true story on which 'The Impossible' is based, you'll know a little about the finale. In case you don't, I'm not going to spoil this real-life disaster movie about the effects of the 2004 Pacific tsunami on a family of five. " — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
.5/4	18%	Parental Guidance (2012)	" If 'Parental Guidance' is the drivel that's passing for family fare this winter, then it's best to just keep your family warm and entertained at home." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
4/4	88%	Life of Pi (2012)	" Mystical and endless as the number pi, 'The Life of Pi' works on a number of levels, all of them enchanting." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Feb 3, 2013
4/4	——	The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014)	" You may have seen Middle Earth before. But you haven't been IN Middle Earth.Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' has made it possible for you to feel like you're surrounded by the astonishing environment created by J.R.R. Tolkien." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
3.5/4	92%	Silver Linings Playbook (2012)	" I suppose the phrase 'serious romantic comedy' sounds like a paradox. But that's exactly what 'Silver Linings Playbook' is: an intelligent, edgy dark comedy with romance at its core. " — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
3.5/4	88%	Django Unchained (2012)	" Part-blaxploitation film, part-spaghetti Western and all-Tarantino, 'Django Unchained' comes charging at its audiences with guns a-blazin'. It's not quite up to par with 'Reservoir Dogs' or 'Pulp Fiction,' but it's still Tarantino - enough said." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
2.5/4	40%	Parker (2013)	" It's above-average because of its fascinating cast. 'Parker' will come as no surprise to fans of Jason Statham's other R-rated actioners. It's the assemblage of this ensemble piece that's a pleasant surprise." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
2.5/4	40%	Parker (2013)	" 'Parker' will come as no surprise to fans of Jason Statham's other R-rated actioners. It's the assemblage of this ensemble piece that's a pleasant surprise." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Feb 3, 2013
2.5	14%	Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)	" Uneven in tone and full of action, "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" is an above-average fever dream of a movie that's a grownup nod to a grim fairy tale." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 3, 2013
4/4	93%	Zero Dark Thirty (2013)	" One of the finest movies of the year is a thriller about the tracking and, finally, slaying of Osama bin Laden." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
3/4	32%	Gangster Squad (2013)	" Will it win any awards for 2013? Well, no. But 'Gangster Squad,' a shoot-'em-up nod to pulp thrillers, will provide solid entertainment for fans of crime dramas." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
3/4	65%	Mama (2013)	" Creepy and strangely compelling, 'Mama' isn't the junky horror flick you might expect." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
3.5/4	70%	Les Misérables (2012)	" A gorgeous film if not quite a classic, "Les Misérables" is a beautiful interpretation of the stage production based on the Victor Hugo novel. Not surprisingly, it's a sight to see, and it's directed by Tom Hooper, who helmed 'The King's Speech.'" — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
0/4	4%	Movie 43 (2013)	" It's tough to know how to begin addressing this swill of a so-called comedy." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
2/4	30%	Broken City (2013)	" Some corrupt politicians will stop at nothing to be elected." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Feb 2, 2013
2/4	39%	Here Comes the Boom (2012)	" An average made-for-TV-type movie that makes its way onto the big screen, 'Here Comes the Boom' doesn't pack much of a punch." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 20, 2012
4/4	——	Meerkats 3D ()	" Want to experience drama? Danger? Action? And superlative cuteness? Look no further than 'Meerkats 3D,' a marvelous National Geographic documentary " — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 20, 2012
.5/4	12%	Alex Cross (2012)	" It doesn't take a detective to determine it's not the fault of Tyler Perry that 'Alex Cross' is subpar." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 20, 2012
2.5/4	25%	Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)	" The chills are centered at the end of 'Paranormal Activity 4.' Even more creepy is the "cute factor" of little kids that permeates most of the movie. Although the franchise may be running out of steam, this segment is more than mediocre." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 20, 2012
.5/4	6%	Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)	" I can't imagine anyone who hasn't played the video game who would give a shout-out to the 'Silent Hill' sequel." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 20, 2012
2/4	49%	The Man With the Iron Fists (2012)	" Oh, how 'The Man With the Iron Fists' longs to be 'Kill Bill.' It isn't, but its environments, blood-letting and martial arts, along with an interesting score and soundtrack, make no bones about its filmmakers being Quentin Tarantino devotees." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 20, 2012
3/4	21%	Taken 2 (2012)	" Yeah, 'Taken 2' is pretty much the same movie that 'Taken' was. Like its predecessor, it's preposterous and over-the-top. And, boy, is this actioner ever just plain fun." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 20, 2012
4/4	79%	Flight (2012)	" This may be the most heavy-duty, and finest, Oscar-worthy performance yet from Denzel Washington." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 20, 2012
4/4	96%	Argo (2012)	" A brilliant thriller that's based on a historical incident, 'Argo' is one of the best films of 2012." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 19, 2012
3.5/4	86%	Wreck-it Ralph (2012)	" Don't worry. You won't be the only grownup seeing 'Wreck-It Ralph.' And if you want to take your family, you will be laughing just as hard as the younger viewers." — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 19, 2012
1.5/4	48%	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)	" Oh, my, what a cheat is in store for viewers of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.'" — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 19, 2012
3.5/4	94%	The Sessions (2012)	" Raw, unrestrained and sympathetic without giving in to melodrama, 'The Sessions' is about a man facing a physical challenge who decides he wants to become intimate with a woman." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 19, 2012
3.5/4	92%	Skyfall (2012)	" Even die-hard Sean Connery fans will have to admit there's another actor who can portray James Bond when they see 'Skyfall.'" — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Nov 19, 2012
4/4	89%	Lincoln (2012)	" Daniel Day-Lewis is picture-perfect as 'Lincoln.'" — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Nov 19, 2012
4/4	——	Country School: One Room - One Nation ()	" Let me share with you one of the Quad-City area's greatest secrets: Two of the best filmmakers in the United States are right here in our own backyard." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 29, 2012
3.5/4	74%	Big Miracle (2012)	" This is, well, huge." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
2/4	16%	The Watch (2012)	" Even though this script is cheap and often tiresome, I have to hand it to Vince Vaughn: I never get tired of seeing him onscreen." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
4/4	69%	Ted (2012)	" Raunchy, intentionally offensive and full of warm fuzzies (including its title character), 'Ted' is one of the funniest movies for grownups that's come along in years." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
2/4	31%	Total Recall (2012)	" It's more about memory than anything. If you recall the original, you're going to wonder why this remake was developed. If you don't, you'll wonder what the big deal is about this so-so actioner." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
2/4	50%	Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)	" Sure, your kids will think it's funny. But if they've seen many movies, they're going to know they're looking at lowbrow jokes that are cheap and easily written - the kind of stuff kids tell each other in the halls at school." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
3.5/4	74%	Hope Springs (2012)	" Wow. Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in an Ingmar Bergman film!" — KWQC-TV (Iowa) Posted Aug 15, 2012
3/4	56%	The Bourne Legacy (2012)	" Whether you like 'The Bourne Legacy' depends on what you think about 'link' movies." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
2.5/4	65%	The Campaign (2012)	" It's a satire of the election process and it also lampoons we the people ... you know, us voters." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Aug 15, 2012
3/4	43%	To Rome with Love (2012)	" Even a weak Woody Allen script is better than so many other less witty projects. 'To Rome With Love' is proof of that." — Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Posted Jul 20, 2012

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