|
3/4
|
92%
|
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) |
"
A genre-bending concoction of horror, action and comedy -- a big ball of Evil Dead, Scream, Matrix, The Hunger Games, Scooby Doo, Zombieland, and a lot of season 4 of Buffy."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Apr 13, 2012
|
|
3.5/4
|
85%
|
The Hunger Games (2012) |
"
A dark and engaging action/drama laced with social critique and dystopian sci-fi. But most of all, it's the story of a girl and crushed innocence."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 23, 2012
|
|
1.5/4
|
60%
|
Real Steel (2011) |
"
Some audiences will enjoy the film for what it is; they will bob and weave with fun robot fight scenes. But I found little here that is truly inspiring."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Oct 7, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
29%
|
Machine Gun Preacher (2011) |
"
Provocative, faith-affirming, and challenging, it models what Christian-made films could be. Childers's Christianity is shown as the dynamic and intricate force that it is."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 23, 2011
|
|
3/4
|
90%
|
Winnie the Pooh (2011) |
"
One of the film's new songs really sums it up: "Everything is honey and life is sweet.""
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 2, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
79%
|
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) |
"
It serves its chief end to introduce the character, and Evans fills the role nicely. But as a stand-alone adventure, it's not captivating enough. I expect more from this genre."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 2, 2011
|
|
1.5/4
|
21%
|
Gulliver's Travels (2010) |
"
There aren't many reasons to see Gulliver's Travels. In trying to fill several different identities, it fails at all of them."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Feb 25, 2011
|
|
2.5/4
|
35%
|
The Grace Card (2011) |
"
The film is powerful when operating on the personal level of two men working out faith, but disappointing that their story is buried in a heavy-handed, manipulative plot. "
—
Christianity Today
Posted Feb 25, 2011
|
|
3.5/4
|
90%
|
Tangled (2010) |
"
Disney has always done big spectacle and epic visuals well, and does the same here. But Tangled's complexity works because of its attention to detail and the smaller moments. "
—
Christianity Today
Posted Dec 17, 2010
|
|
3/4
|
78%
|
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010) |
"
It's the closest the HP movies will get to a reserved character drama. My favorite parts are the tiny, dialogue-less character moments packed with emotional undercurrents."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 18, 2010
|
|
1.5/4
|
28%
|
Takers (2010) |
"
There are so many laughable and tiring cop/criminal clichés it's like they were writing a Police Squad-like spoof and then made it sincere. Save it for Spike TV or FX someday."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 24, 2010
|
|
3.5/4
|
94%
|
The Town (2010) |
"
Ben Affleck's visionary story-telling, top-shelf acting, deep characters, and emotional weight put some hefty meat on the tired bones of the action genre. "
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 24, 2010
|
|
2.5/4
|
47%
|
The A-Team (2010) |
"
This remake is cheesy, preposterous, geeky, corny . . . and completely fun."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jun 11, 2010
|
|
2.5/4
|
33%
|
To Save a Life (2010) |
"
Will the vague messages get across? Will viewers take anything out other than a missive to be kind and inclusive? Some certainly will. Some won't."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 5, 2010
|
|
2.5/4
|
49%
|
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) |
"
While this flick may not have Harry Potter's complex world and multiple layers, it also doesn't have the angst and darkness. It replaces them with one thing in bulk: Fun."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 5, 2010
|
|
3.5/4
|
83%
|
Avatar (2009) |
"
Full of that rare movie magic which can transport, entertain and intrigue, this sci-fi fantasy is a fun amusement park ride that ignites your imagination."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Dec 20, 2009
|
|
2/4
|
54%
|
Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) |
"
It feels like Zemeckis wanted to make one movie (a socially relevant ghost story) and Disney wanted another (a Polar Express-type movie). It doesn't work."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 6, 2009
|
|
3/4
|
91%
|
District 9 (2009) |
"
A bold and inventive science fiction vision that mostly excels but stumbles in the details."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Aug 18, 2009
|
|
3/4
|
45%
|
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Ice Age 3) (2009) |
"
Reminded me of the simple fun of old Bugs Bunny cartoons. And that's what Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is able to accomplish%u2014a sense of good old fun."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jul 2, 2009
|
|
1.5/4
|
20%
|
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) |
"
Convenient story leaps, shamefully inappropriate elements, completely incoherent action, and frustratingly lowest-common denominator "comic" relief."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jun 24, 2009
|
|
2/4
|
33%
|
Terminator Salvation (2009) |
"
An acceptable summer popcorn flick, but I want more from this franchise. With the depth of storytelling in the previous films, this is a disappointment."
—
Christianity Today
Posted May 21, 2009
|
|
2.5/4
|
72%
|
Sunshine Cleaning (2009) |
"
Seeing the results of a good cleaning is one thing, but actually watching the transformation occur during a good hard scrubbing leads to far more fulfillment."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 13, 2009
|
|
3.5/4
|
92%
|
Frost/Nixon (2008) |
"
A fine actors' showcase, and a scintillating story about the different motivations that control our actions when cornered in the ring."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Dec 16, 2008
|
|
2.5/4
|
49%
|
Twilight (2008) |
"
While there are some great touches, I don't think the film does much for the uninitiated or adults. Boys will really only like the big fight at the end%u2014if they're still awake."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 20, 2008
|
|
2/4
|
0%
|
House (2008) |
"
The film doesn't achieve the horror or creep factor it could have%u2014or that the trailer seems to promise%u2014mainly because of strange stylistic choices."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 7, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
53%
|
City of Ember (2008) |
"
The movie brings DuPrau's visionary world of wonder alive with fervor and energy. The story moves quickly: hitting plot points at a sprint and creating great tension."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Oct 10, 2008
|
|
1.5/4
|
34%
|
Miracle at St. Anna (2008) |
"
Miracle doesn't seem to have any one point of view, and without a united, central perspective to hold things together, the storyline feels very random and meandering."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 29, 2008
|
|
1.5/4
|
36%
|
Igor (2008) |
"
By the time kids are old enough for some of the film's content, I'm not so sure they'll care about the lackluster Igor."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Sep 22, 2008
|
|
2/4
|
63%
|
Traitor (2008) |
"
Forced plot twists, head-scratching jumps in logic, and a plan by the hero that would sound great in a seventh grade short story but could never work out in real life."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Aug 29, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
91%
|
Transsiberian (2008) |
"
It's got that classic thriller feel where characters are slowly caught in a mousetrap and they have to find their way out. It's a slow, menacing burn."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Aug 15, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
70%
|
American Teen (2008) |
"
In many ways, Nanette Burstein's approach of editing documentary footage into narrative works better than a lot of scripted teen fiction. The characters are actually complex."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jul 25, 2008
|
|
4/4
|
94%
|
The Dark Knight (2008) |
"
Under the fun summer blockbuster sheen lives an unnerving, serious, complex and ambitious crime epic about three good men with the courage to stand against evil."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jul 17, 2008
|
|
2/4
|
51%
|
Get Smart (2008) |
"
Get Smart features near-perfect casting with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, and it largely captures the spirit of the original show. But it's just not funny."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jun 19, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
68%
|
Girls Rock! (2007) |
"
Girls Rock! is a success story because of the earnest heart with which it introduces us to some girls who don't realize how much they really do rock."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 7, 2008
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
Definitely, Maybe (2008) |
"
An often-fun, above-average romantic comedy with a unique twist."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Feb 14, 2008
|
|
3.5/4
|
77%
|
Cloverfield (2008) |
"
Cloverfield puts you on the ground level of a disaster: face-to-face with the dangers of this night. It's a fun, fast ride, but also poignant and strangely affecting."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jan 18, 2008
|
|
2.5/4
|
39%
|
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008) |
"
Imparts the Bible-inspired storytelling parents and kids have come to expect from VeggieTales in a less obvious but as-fun-as-always package"
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jan 11, 2008
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
I Am Legend (2007) |
"
Had I Am Legend kept its personal, human and contemplative atmosphere over the loud, crowd-pleasing whiz-bang action, these messages of faith may have carried more weight and heart."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Dec 14, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
93%
|
Enchanted (2007) |
"
Wonderful performances by Amy Adams and James Marsden as the real-life versions of a classic Disney princess and her prince charming. They are magnificent."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 21, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
37%
|
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) |
"
Because of inspiring discussions of death and belief%u2014and truly creative moments of warmth and wonder%u2014the movie ultimately overcomes its flaws to charm, inspire and satisfy."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 18, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
80%
|
American Gangster (2007) |
"
Ridley Scott leverages the unique qualities of the story, its nuances of reality, and stellar acting into a well-crafted and gritty drama that hits all the right strides."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Nov 2, 2007
|
|
2/4
|
47%
|
Rendition (2007) |
"
Rendition's approach feels additionally preachy and one-noted because its message is bigger than both the story and the human element."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Oct 19, 2007
|
|
4/4
|
94%
|
Gone Baby Gone (2007) |
"
By marrying an intense thriller with bigger issues and a three-dimensional lead, Gone Baby Gone isn't only hard-hitting, it's also meaningful, emotional and resonating."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Oct 19, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
76%
|
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) |
"
More comparable to the quietly contemplative films of Terrance Malick (The Thin Red Line, The New World) than it is to most gunslinging westerns."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Oct 12, 2007
|
|
2/4
|
16%
|
Underdog (2007) |
"
It's just average family entertainment with the normal messages: friendship, unconditional love, family, and believing in yourself."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Aug 6, 2007
|
|
2/4
|
50%
|
Nancy Drew (2007) |
"
It feels like some Nickelodeon-like teen detective script. In fact, with new character names, this just as easily could have been called Veronica Mars: The Early Years."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Jun 20, 2007
|
|
3.5/4
|
72%
|
Fracture (2007) |
"
A showcase of acting's present and future: one of the greatest living actors cast as the wily, wise vet, and one of Hollywood's most promising young talents as the rising star."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Apr 27, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
85%
|
The Hoax (2007) |
"
The tagline, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story," leaves viewers with a nagging suspicion that it may have also been an unintended mission statement."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Apr 8, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
63%
|
Reign Over Me (2007) |
"
Sandler gives his best performance yet (at least my favorite) by creating a very real person who's screwed up%u2014but realistically and sympathetically screwed up."
—
Christianity Today
Posted Mar 23, 2007
|
75%
80%
62%
52%
26%
4%
