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B
|
Bottoms
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
This fight club group's final actions in the movie reminded me a bit of the final defiant actions in Animal House. The fight club's final stand is not quite as pointless as that of Delta Tau Chi's, but it is equally outrageous.
Posted Sep 13, 2023
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B
|
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
You have to expect a lot of violence in a movie like this, but the overly graphic way the violence is presented did put me off a bit, even so. Still, it is a good, solid action movie, and a worthy sequel.
Posted Sep 13, 2023
|
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B
|
Blue Beetle
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
This superhero origin/adventure tale packs equal amounts of action, social commentary, family drama and Hispanic pride.
Posted Aug 26, 2023
|
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B
|
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
I'm not really a fan of this franchise, in that I haven't seen all the films, nor have I read any of the comic books, but dang, this film is a lot of fun, even for a non-fan like me.
Posted Aug 15, 2023
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C+
|
Meg 2: The Trench
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
The exceptional 3D quality of this movie, and the goofy action, are the main reasons to see this movie. 3D haters and other pirate viewers may not care for it, since it does take some time to get much traction.
Posted Aug 15, 2023
|
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C
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Haunted Mansion
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
This is not a serious film, though it sometimes tries to be. It is harmless, mildly amusing fun, for the most part, but while it is getting somewhat better reviews than the 2003 film, it is still nowhere near as good as any of the Ghostbusters movies.
Posted Aug 09, 2023
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B
|
Oppenheimer
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
If it does nothing else, this movie reminds us that the world still sits on the brink of global thermonuclear war, and international political and military leaders have repeatedly demonstrated they are no wiser today than world leaders were 78 years ago.
Posted Aug 01, 2023
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C+
|
Barbie
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
It is clever and funny at times. The look of the movie, with its vibrant Barbieland colors, is a wonderful change from the bland way most movies look nowadays.
Posted Aug 01, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Fortunately, there is also a lot of action surrounding the overcomplicated, inconsistent story. The action, like the plot itself, is not believable, but it is entertaining, nonetheless, featuring daring stunts, good effects, and big scale battle scenes.
Posted Jul 12, 2023
|
|
A
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Close
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
The acting is excellent by everyone, particularly by Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele and Émilie Dequenne (who plays Sophie, Rémi's mother). The writing, direction and editing are all superb and spare. Every scene, every shot, counts.
Posted Jul 12, 2023
|
|
B
|
Asteroid City
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Despite the film's disjointed narrative structure, I found the characters, with their vulnerability, confusion and longing, quite appealing.
Posted Jul 03, 2023
|
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B
|
The Flash
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
It is a complicated story, but it makes sense within its own space. I hope that Ezra Miller continues to play The Flash. He is a fine actor. If you don't think so, just check out his performance in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' sometime.
Posted Jun 28, 2023
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|
C+
|
Elemental
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
While there are problems with the story, the artwork is excellent. There is a lot of visual imagination on display here. While the elements of air and earth get little attention, the elements of water and fire are given lavish attention.
Posted Jun 28, 2023
|
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B
|
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Much of the appeal of this movie is due to the efforts of talented and attractive actors, Dominique Fishback and Anthony Ramos. Both have a strong screen presence and plenty of emotional range for the roller coaster of events their characters go through.
Posted Jun 21, 2023
|
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B
|
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
There may be a point to all the far-fetched complications in the multiple story lines of this movie, but we'll have to wait until next year to find out if there is.
Posted Jun 13, 2023
|
|
B
|
The Little Mermaid
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
I enjoyed this remake of “The Little Mermaid,” and I think the live action realism enhances the romance of the story.
Posted Jun 06, 2023
|
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B
|
Fast X
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Like many previous F&F movies, this one is a globe-trotting action and spy thriller, much like the James Bond movies. The action scenes in this movie are sometimes crazy, but not as crazy as they were in F9. Action is the only reason to watch this movie.
Posted Jun 03, 2023
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B
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
There is plenty of humor, along with a bit of romance, some cliffhangers, some pathos and a lot of action in this fast-paced story. It is a good example of why Marvel movies are so popular.
Posted May 12, 2023
|
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B
|
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
The action scenes are well-staged, and there is plenty of suspense in the rescue scenes, too. Gyllenhaal, one of the best actors of his generation, shines in this role. He plays a man more haunted than idealistic.
Posted Apr 30, 2023
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B
|
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
The main reason this story is compelling is that the characters are complex and captivating. Edgin and Simon, in particular, are flawed, and are not naturally heroic. They just stubbornly keep trying to succeed and to be better.
Posted Apr 05, 2023
|
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B
|
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Aside from spectacular fights, it really doesn't have much else to recommend it. There is little character development, and the story is kind of loopy. But you know what you are going to get with this kind of film, and it does deliver what it promises.
Posted Mar 31, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
While this movie is not as good as the original 2019 film, it is still entertaining in terms of action, humor and spectacle.
Posted Mar 27, 2023
|
|
B
|
Leave No Trace
(2018)
|
Robert Roten
|
The writing and direction by Debra Granik is sharp and sure. This has the lean, spare look of a low-budget independent film, but it is emotionally rich and powerful.
Posted Mar 21, 2023
|
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B
|
Creed III
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
Despite the well-worn path this story travels, it is very well acted and directed. As usual in this series, the fight scenes are expertly staged, but it isn't all about blood, violence, anger and hatred. It is also about love, friendship and respect.
Posted Mar 16, 2023
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C+
|
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
(2023)
|
Robert Roten
|
As far as superhero action movies go, this one works well enough. There is plenty of action and plenty of imaginative eye candy. The acting is good. The soundtrack is also solid. It should prove to be a popular addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Posted Feb 22, 2023
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A
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The Tale
(2018)
|
Robert Roten
|
Laura Dern, Common, Isabelle Nélisse, Burstyn, Debicki and Ritter all give strong, convincing, performances in this film, creating these strong relationships between these diverse characters. This is a powerful drama, well written, directed and acted.
Posted Feb 18, 2023
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B
|
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
(2004)
|
Robert Roten
|
The perfectly matched comic pair of Harold and Kumar's reactions to the adventures they share during the course of the movie powers this story and provides the basis for this very funny stoner road trip comedy.
Posted Feb 09, 2023
|
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B
|
Triangle of Sadness
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Best projectile vomiting of 2022.
Posted Feb 01, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Blonde
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
It's an O.K. movie, despite its faults, but I think I would have rather seen more of the real Norma Jeane and less of the sad, exploited victim.
Posted Feb 01, 2023
|
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C+
|
My Policeman
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
There are some holes in the plot. It seems unlikely this drama would have continued for so many years without confrontations. The actors are all very good and very convincing, and that helps make up for the shortfall in the story.
Posted Feb 01, 2023
|
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C+
|
Pleasure
(2021)
|
Robert Roten
|
As you would expect, this film features a lot of nudity and depicts various sex acts. It is rated R, but if I was rating it, it would be NC-17, adults only. You would expect it to rise up at least a little bit over its subject matter, but it doesn't.
Posted Jan 29, 2023
|
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C+
|
Beba
(2021)
|
Robert Roten
|
I think that time will tell if the old “life is unfair” perspective is a good enough explanation for airing petty grievances in a movie. This all depends on who Beba is and what she makes of her life and her art.
Posted Jan 29, 2023
|
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B
|
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
(2018)
|
Robert Roten
|
Veteran actor Sam Elliot gives a strong performance as Calvin Barr, a man haunted by his past as an assassin. The end of the film is puzzling, but we do get a good sense of who Calvin is. He reminds me of one that Elliot played in the "The Hero" (2017).
Posted Jan 29, 2023
|
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B
|
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Dreams, reality, animation, historical video, here, it all blends together. Did Stanley see the first steps on the moon? Did he sleep through this historic moment? Did he step onto the moon himself? All of this seems real -- quite a trick.
Posted Jan 28, 2023
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B+
|
Emergency
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
The story, while encompassing the basic elements of a stoner comedy, also has real dramatic power.
Posted Jan 28, 2023
|
|
B
|
Causeway
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Lawrence gives a great performance in this film as a flawed character. Brian Tyree Henry gives an equally good performance as another flawed character. Their chemistry in the many scenes they play together is very strong.
Posted Jan 28, 2023
|
|
D+
|
Aftersun
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
It combines the worst elements of a slow-moving art film and a found footage film. While there is clever camera work in the film, especially in the last scene, I found the visual elements of the film to be too repetitive and not illuminating enough.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
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B
|
Broker
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
While the overly busy and improbable plot didn't make much sense to me, the characters are compelling and the main actors are quite appealing. The actors are quite convincing in forming these unlikely, complex, feel-good relationships with each other.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
A
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Nanny
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
This film is both too positive and not horrible enough for most fans of horror movies, but that is precisely why I like it so much. Instead, it is subtle, iconoclastic and exquisitely crafted.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
B
|
Wildcat
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Filmmakers Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh have captured both a compelling human story and a wildlife story. The jungle is a scary place, with many dangers, but even darker dangers lie deep within the human soul, and both are explored in this film.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
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B+
|
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Some say this movie is a series of senseless scenes, but I think there is a lot of truth in it, and a lot of those scenes are very impressive and imaginative. This is a well-acted, thought-provoking movie about the nature of human existence.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
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B+
|
The Territory
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
This movie, directed by Alex Pritz, effectively shows both the efforts of those to save the rain forests, and those who are trying to carve out farms from the rain forest by cutting and burning the land. Both sides have their dreams.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
B
|
RRR
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
This big epic action movie reminds me of some of those Fast and Furious movies because of the really outlandish action sequences, but this film has the added attraction of Bollywood style musical numbers and a showy dance off.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
C
|
Crimes of the Future
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
As far as comparisons to the two other Cronenberg films I think are similar, "Crash" and "eXistenZ," I think this is inferior in terms of quality and budget. The budgetary issues show up mostly in terms of low-rent sets and other production compromises.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
C
|
EO
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
How you choose to treat animals, and how you choose to portray animals in movies says more about you than it does the animals. This movie is no exception to the rule.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
B
|
Decision to Leave
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
The ending of this crazy star-crossed love story is even crazier than the rest of the plot, and that's very hard to do.
Posted Jan 23, 2023
|
|
C
|
The Pale Blue Eye
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Top notch acting is overcome by an unbelievable, somber plot and overly dark visuals.
Posted Jan 23, 2023
|
|
B
|
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
Case solved and justice dispensed in bizarre, spectacular, and unconvincing ways. It is an entertaining and amusing movie, but a step down from its immediate predecessor.
Posted Jan 23, 2023
|
|
A
|
All That Breathes
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
The cinematography in this film is amazing (by Ben Bernhard, Riju Das and Saumyananda Sahi). The cameras seem to capture every bit of life in the city, from the smallest spider, to the horses, monkeys, camels, pigs, goats and cows that roam the streets.
Posted Jan 22, 2023
|
|
C+
|
No Bears
(2022)
|
Robert Roten
|
The story keeps adding more twists and more layers in this movie-within-a-movie-within-a-movie. It is almost like standing between two mirrors and seeing multiple reflections of yourself.
Posted Jan 22, 2023
|
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