For sure, Tomorrowland is visually stunning, highly ambitious and benefits from a talented cast. But even with the solid performances and first-rate production efforts, Brad Bird's first big misfire can't escape from the clumsiness of its convoluted script. Coming from a studio that has found ways to entertain audiences of all ages for generations, it's surprisingly disappointing that this film will manage to annoy adults with its overbearing preachiness and bore children with its meandering story.
Full review at http://silverscreenfanatic.com/2015/05/23/tomorrowland/
The talented cast turns in an earnest effort, and director Gil Kenan supplies the film with a moody vibe that isn't without its moments. But while adding a few changes here and there without disrespecting the 1982 version, Poltergeist 2.0 doesn't really add anything of value and ultimately has a "been there, done that" feel in regard to just the supernatural thrillers of today and not even its own franchise that holds it back from being a truly effective remake.
Full review at http://silverscreenfanatic.com/2015/05/22/poltergeist/
Good Kill may not rise to the level that The Hurt Locker achieved, but it's still thought-provoking enough, and isn't as preachy about its themes of troubled conscience as you might think it is. With some genuinely tense moments and a terrific, complex performance from Ethan Hawke that anchors the entire film, this, while imperfect, is the best film Andrew Niccol's done in a decade since Lord of War.
Full review at http://silverscreenfanatic.com/2015/05/22/good-kill/
The Ring falls into its share of genre trappings, and though no fault of its own, it's kinda unfortunate that its reputation has taken a bit of a hit from the number of crappy, Americanized J-Horror wannabe that followed. That said, this is still an effectively creepy horror film thanks to Naomi Watts's committed performance and director Gore Verbinski's strong sense of style and atmosphere, eschewing the obligatory gore and jump scares, for the most part, in exchange for an unsettling mood that rarely lets up.
Full review at http://silverscreenfanatic.com/2015/05/19/benjamins-stash-72/
Lacking style, substance, subtext, dialogue, heart, depth, passion, humanity, energy, chemistry - hell, I'm sure even the guy that gets the coffee and donuts phoned in their responsibilities - Swept Away is a horrendous black mark on Guy Ritchie's career that has the stench of a massive, steaming pile of "WTF?!" smeared all over it. Not since Creedence foreplayed the hell out of a naive Brent with an ear of corn in Troll 2 has romance been this cringe-inducing. Needless to say, this shipwreck will have you envying all 1,500 victims the RMS Titanic dragged down to the bottom of the Atlantic.
Full review at http://silverscreenfanatic.com/2015/05/18/what-the-hell-were-they-thinking-72/
