|
65%
|
The Expendables 2 (2012)
|
"Perhaps we're pawns in an elaborate homage to excess and macho stupidity. It's purposefully - even wilfully - bad. Given that I can't prove that Simon West isn't actually that kind of wheels-within-wheels genius, he earns benefit of my doubt."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
51%
|
John Carter (2012)
|
"John Carter is a fantastic fusion of old-fashioned adventure excitement and modern blockbuster spectacle. In short, it's wonderful. "
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
84%
|
The Raid: Redemption (2012)
|
"The combination of a great premise, brilliantly-inventive direction, incredible fight sequences and spirited performances makes it easy for us to already proclaim that The Raid is the action movie of the year."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
94%
|
The Secret World of Arrietty (2012)
|
"While this is a deeply rewarding film, people with short attention spans might not get as much out of it. Those willing to let these wonderful little characters into their hearts however, will find a film they won't soon forget."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
82%
|
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
|
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes really is a great film that proves that today's blockbusters can be so much more than just empty spectacle."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
35%
|
Immortals (2011)
|
"With Immortals, Tarsem has created a beautiful and sumptuous mythological epic with visual strengths that far outweigh the weaknesses of its fairly standard script."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
55%
|
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
|
"Maybe Stone's growth as a filmmaker mirrors that of Gordon's as a person; having had time to calm down a bit over the years, he seems to have settled into a more relaxed state."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
93%
|
Drive (2011)
|
"It's a film that has its finger on the pulse of what's current and in style, and one that has solidified its place as the coolest film of the year."
|
Stephen Lambrechts
|
|
96%
|
The Social Network (2010)
|
"Fincher has constructed a wonderfully balanced tale of a young narcissistic genius in want of status and recognition."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
86%
|
Buried (2010)
|
"Buried does do a hell of a lot with very little. Through clever camerawork, it's surprising how much action and tension can be built."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
43%
|
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
|
"Dinner for Schmucks, while not as instantly iconic and defined as [Jay Roach's] previous work, still delivers a lot of entertainment. "
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
85%
|
Easy A (2010)
|
"The writing definitely reserves the wittiest lines for Stone, who comes off as a winner above all other cast members. Her delivery and physical comedy really underline her skills in ways that other comediennes just can't touch."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
78%
|
The Other Guys (2010)
|
"While Anchorman still stands as Adam McKay's high watermark, The Other Guys manages to take a worn concept and make it feel fresh and lively in a stale mainstream comedy market."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
81%
|
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
|
"It's audacious and youthful -- and a film that squarely targets geek culture and revels in it playfully."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
41%
|
The Expendables (2010)
|
"It's a bitter pill to swallow, but it's a dark day indeed when a film can bring together so many promising elements and, when the curtains close, leave you wondering exactly what the heck you just sat through -- and if you even enjoyed it at all."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
74%
|
Splice (2010)
|
"It's a shame -- there's a lot of enjoyment to be extracted from Splice, but it remains a Frankenstein's monster of piecemeal storytelling."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
86%
|
Inception (2010)
|
"Indeed, Hollywood's obsession with 3D has extended to the storytelling process, and with Inception, it also reminds us that story and characterization still rule in the land of a thousand digital vistas."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
69%
|
The Runaways (2010)
|
"The Runaways succeeds in being as brash and trashy as the source material, and just as fun. "
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
72%
|
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
|
"An overdose of pop-culture and some memorable set-ups make this a very amusing commentary on the foibles of rock stardom."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
35%
|
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
|
"With the plot so under-nurtured, the action sequences needed to be spectacular, but many audiences will probably leave the cinema unsatisfied."
|
Beth Wilson
|
|
49%
|
The Losers (2010)
|
"It builds slowly and rhythmically, and leaves audiences with a lot of fuss-free fun that holds its own, and then some, in the face of the blockbuster season. "
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
30%
|
The Kings of Mykonos ()
|
"A messy comedy, Wog Boy 2 pitches itself at a demographic that, incredibly, it also alienates with cultural insensitivities and stupidity."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
15%
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
|
"It's not a good film, but if you're feeling jaded and just want to watch a demonic killer pound his fist through the chest of some hapless, cardboard teenager, then this might just scratch that itch."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
43%
|
Robin Hood (2010)
|
"Robin Hood merely dots the lines in a tale that, despite wanting to add new dimensions to a worn character, and perhaps kick-start a franchise, still feels like a retread."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
97%
|
Animal Kingdom (2010)
|
"This is restrained, powerful filmmaking on all fronts."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
73%
|
Iron Man 2 (2010)
|
"Like Tony Stark himself, Iron Man 2 is a sleek and cheeky number that almost certainly trumps the fun-factor of Jon Favreau's 2008's surprise hit."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
28%
|
Clash of the Titans (2010)
|
"A constant stream of computer animation that flies at you so quickly and heavy-handedly that you'll eventually tune it out, intentionally or otherwise."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
63%
|
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
|
"It's not high brow stuff, but Hot Tub Time Machine is a comedy with genuine laughs and surprising personality."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
51%
|
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
|
"Alice in Wonderland is a lovingly filmed and meticulously crafted interpretation of Lewis Carroll's treasured tale, rife with fantasy, coated in gothic iconography and presented by a superb cast who nail their characters' portraits."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
76%
|
Kick-Ass (2010)
|
"Can this genre make fresh inroads? 'Kick-Ass' proposes an answer of sorts through a marriage of Disney Channel wholesomeness and the kind of foul-mouth dialogue and bloodletting that would make Tarantino proud."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
68%
|
Shutter Island (2010)
|
"You'll enjoy it casually -- as a career curio, maybe -- but as it stands, it's a far cry from his best. Put simply, Scorsese missed the mark on this one."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
91%
|
Up in the Air (2009)
|
"Up in the Air is mostly honest and sometimes raw. There is power in that kind of storytelling."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
90%
|
Zombieland (2009)
|
"The one-liners and rapid-fire jokes pull Zombieland back in line when the love hearts begin to fill the screen."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
75%
|
The Road (2009)
|
"One of the most important and moving films to come along in a long time."
|
James O'Connor
|
|
58%
|
The Invention of Lying (2009)
|
"It's a shame that the air gets let out of this one so suddenly, as if The Invention of Lying's backbone gets ripped out of the film as the final act kicks into gear."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
89%
|
A Serious Man (2009)
|
"It's also a dark, sometimes profound film that almost certainly sits amongst the best of this year and it's yet another badge on the decorated jackets of Hollywood's most accomplished filmmaking duo."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
39%
|
2012 (2009)
|
"Terrible; wonderfully terrible."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
83%
|
Paranormal Activity (2009)
|
"The suspense that's missing from so many horror films is there. It's a genuinely scary film -- and that's a rare thing to accomplish in front of today's blase, switched-off audiences."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
45%
|
The Box (2009)
|
"It may fall short of Donnie Darko's clever storytelling, but for his third feature film, Kelly plays confidently with suspense and lays down the right hooks at the right time to keep you drawn into his creepy world."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
64%
|
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
|
"Doctor Parnassus parallels Terry Gilliam and his most recent work: many complex ideas, grand intentions and miserable luck leading him down a path to nowhere, forcing him to start over with nothing one more time."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
68%
|
Funny People (2009)
|
"While not Judd Apatow's finest hour, Funny People still strikes the same rich vein of well-produced drama-comedy as previous efforts."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
90%
|
Moon (2009)
|
"In an era when grey-shaded Hollywood drudge can cost hundreds of millions and deliver nothing, Moon stands out -- and it does so with dignity."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
91%
|
District 9 (2009)
|
"Completely absorbing and intense. As audiences are compelled early in the film to "learn from what has happened", Blomkamp uses District 9 to quietly remind us that it's too late for some."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
68%
|
Public Enemies (2009)
|
"A decent look at Dillinger, then, but by no means the masterpiece it could have been."
|
James O'Connor
|
|
51%
|
Observe and Report (2009)
|
"It's not consistently on-the-money, but Observe and Report's subversive humour should be applauded - even if it isn't as witty as it thinks it is."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
38%
|
X-Men Origins - Wolverine (2009)
|
"Hugh Jackman is this film's biggest redeemer - a truly likeable lead actor with screen presence and menace."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
64%
|
Watchmen (2009)
|
"It's the Watchmen movie you always wanted to see but never expected to get."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
94%
|
The Dark Knight (2008)
|
"Heath Ledger's Joker is, in many ways, symbolic of Nolan's overall success with The Dark Knight; subtle and restrained, but always two shakes shy of bloody holocaust and a masterpiece of cinema that time will verify."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
67%
|
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
|
"It's a step in the right direction with some top-notch moments, and hardcore fans will still walk away with a giddy smile - but it's not in the same sort of league as Spider-Man 2, Iron Man or Batman Begins."
|
Patrick Kolan
|
|
78%
|
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
|
"When Indy swings a punch or delivers a biting retort, audiences sit up and listen with looks of adoration and reverence. It's all one big spectacle, after all - so why begrudge the old guy one last adventure?"
|
Patrick Kolan
|
72%
21%
63%
85%
46%
40%
