it inspires a continuing and deeply satisfying awareness of the best movies as monumental ` picture shows . '

generally , clockstoppers will fulfill your wildest fantasies about being a different kind of time traveler , while happily killing 94 minutes .


whaley 's determination to immerse you in sheer , unrelenting wretchedness is exhausting .


a pleasant enough romance with intellectual underpinnings , the kind of movie that entertains even as it turns maddeningly predictable .

what better message than ` love thyself ' could young women of any size receive ?


it 's another video movie photographed like a film , with the bad lighting that 's often written off as indie film naturalism .


of course , by more objective measurements it 's still quite bad .

comes ... uncomfortably close to coasting in the treads of the bicycle thief .


jones ... does offer a brutal form of charisma .


very special effects , brilliantly bold colors and heightened reality ca n't hide the giant achilles ' heel in `` stuart little 2 `` : there 's just no story , folks .


the subtle strength of `` elling '' is that it never loses touch with the reality of the grim situation .

it has charm to spare , and unlike many romantic comedies , it does not alienate either gender in the audience .


sit through this one , and you wo n't need a magic watch to stop time ; your dvd player will do it for you .


the overall effect is less like a children 's movie than a recruitment film for future hollywood sellouts .

shaky close-ups of turkey-on-rolls , stubbly chins , liver spots , red noses and the filmmakers new bobbed do draw easy chuckles but lead nowhere .


having had the good sense to cast actors who are , generally speaking , adored by the movie-going public , khouri then gets terrific performances from them all .


in exactly 89 minutes , most of which passed as slowly as if i 'd been sitting naked on an igloo , formula 51 sank from quirky to jerky to utter turkey .

jason x is positively anti-darwinian : nine sequels and 400 years later , the teens are none the wiser and jason still kills on auto-pilot .


escaping the studio , piccoli is warmly affecting and so is this adroitly minimalist movie .

an important movie , a reminder of the power of film to move us and to make us examine our values .


by getting myself wrapped up in the visuals and eccentricities of many of the characters , i found myself confused when it came time to get to the heart of the movie .


challenging , intermittently engrossing and unflaggingly creative .

fresnadillo 's dark and jolting images have a way of plying into your subconscious like the nightmare you had a week ago that wo n't go away .


it 's a grab bag of genres that do n't add up to a whole lot of sense .


sticky sweet sentimentality , clumsy plotting and a rosily myopic view of life in the wwii-era mississippi delta undermine this adaptation .

sam mendes has become valedictorian at the school for soft landings and easy ways out .


an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .


the wild thornberrys movie is a jolly surprise .

ramsay , as in ratcatcher , remains a filmmaker with an acid viewpoint and a real gift for teasing chilly poetry out of lives and settings that might otherwise seem drab and sordid .


it 's hampered by a lifetime-channel kind of plot and a lead actress who is out of her depth .


based on a devilishly witty script by heather mcgowan and niels mueller , the film gets great laughs , but never at the expense of its characters

the movie does a good job of laying out some of the major issues that we encounter as we journey through life .


hit and miss as far as the comedy goes and a big ole ' miss in the way of story .


a synthesis of cliches and absurdities that seems positively decadent in its cinematic flash and emptiness .

i 'll bet the video game is a lot more fun than the film .


this surreal gilliam-esque film is also a troubling interpretation of ecclesiastes .


the performances take the movie to a higher level .

although german cooking does not come readily to mind when considering the world 's best cuisine , mostly martha could make deutchland a popular destination for hungry tourists .


a tv style murder mystery with a few big screen moments -lrb- including one that seems to be made for a different film altogether -rrb- .


it ca n't decide if it wants to be a mystery\/thriller , a romance or a comedy .


the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .


if you 've ever entertained the notion of doing what the title of this film implies , what sex with strangers actually shows may put you off the idea forever .

a broad , melodramatic estrogen opera that 's pretty toxic in its own right .


atom egoyan has conjured up a multilayered work that tackles any number of fascinating issues


... nothing scary here except for some awful acting and lame special effects .


affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .


true tale of courage -- and complicity -- at auschwitz is a harrowing drama that tries to tell of the unspeakable .

a quiet treasure -- a film to be savored .


a bloated gasbag thesis grotesquely impressed by its own gargantuan aura of self-importance ...


whaley 's determination to immerse you in sheer , unrelenting wretchedness is exhausting .

by getting myself wrapped up in the visuals and eccentricities of many of the characters , i found myself confused when it came time to get to the heart of the movie .


... a magnificent drama well worth tracking down .


it haunts you , you ca n't forget it , you admire its conception and are able to resolve some of the confusions you had while watching it .

a rarity among recent iranian films : it 's a comedy full of gentle humor that chides the absurdity of its protagonist 's plight .


every time you look , sweet home alabama is taking another bummer of a wrong turn .


... a hollow joke told by a cinematic gymnast having too much fun embellishing the misanthropic tale to actually engage it .

in the end , the movie collapses on its shaky foundation despite the best efforts of director joe carnahan .


slapstick buffoonery can tickle many a preschooler 's fancy , but when it costs a family of four about $ 40 to see a film in theaters , why spend money on a dog like this when you can rent a pedigree instead ?

in exactly 89 minutes , most of which passed as slowly as if i 'd been sitting naked on an igloo , formula 51 sank from quirky to jerky to utter turkey .


beautifully observed , miraculously unsentimental comedy-drama .


it 's great escapist fun that recreates a place and time that will never happen again .


the script kicks in , and mr. hartley 's distended pace and foot-dragging rhythms follow .


` easily my choice for one of the year 's best films . '

falls neatly into the category of good stupid fun .


it 's a grab bag of genres that do n't add up to a whole lot of sense .


suffocated by its fussy script and uptight characters , this musty adaptation is all the more annoying since it 's been packaged and sold back to us by hollywood .

with virtually no interesting elements for an audience to focus on , chelsea walls is a triple-espresso endurance challenge .


i just loved every minute of this film .


perceptive in its vision of nascent industrialized world politics as a new art form , but far too clunky , didactic and saddled with scenes that seem simply an ill fit for this movie .

a tv style murder mystery with a few big screen moments -lrb- including one that seems to be made for a different film altogether -rrb- .


a pleasant enough romance with intellectual underpinnings , the kind of movie that entertains even as it turns maddeningly predictable .


i 'll bet the video game is a lot more fun than the film .


candid and comfortable ; a film that deftly balances action and reflection as it lets you grasp and feel the passion others have for their work .


i just loved every minute of this film .

the terrific and bewilderingly underrated campbell scott gives a star performance that is nothing short of mesmerizing .


every nanosecond of the the new guy reminds you that you could be doing something else far more pleasurable .


it 's a cookie-cutter movie , a cut-and-paste job .

no way i can believe this load of junk .


mr. tsai is a very original artist in his medium , and what time is it there ?


an important movie , a reminder of the power of film to move us and to make us examine our values .

a giggle-inducing comedy with snappy dialogue and winning performances by an unlikely team of oscar-winners : susan sarandon and goldie hawn .


instead of hiding pinocchio from critics , miramax should have hidden it from everyone .


... is an arthritic attempt at directing by callie khouri .

a broad , melodramatic estrogen opera that 's pretty toxic in its own right .


based on a devilishly witty script by heather mcgowan and niels mueller , the film gets great laughs , but never at the expense of its characters


dull , lifeless , and amateurishly assembled .

determined to be fun , and bouncy , with energetic musicals , the humor did n't quite engage this adult .


though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .


-lrb- lawrence bounces -rrb- all over the stage , dancing , running , sweating , mopping his face and generally displaying the wacky talent that brought him fame in the first place .

blanchett 's performance confirms her power once again .


made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss .


we know the plot 's a little crazy , but it held my interest from start to finish .

it deserves to be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in the events shaping the world beyond their own horizons .


pumpkin means to be an outrageous dark satire on fraternity life , but its ambitions far exceed the abilities of writer adam larson broder and his co-director , tony r. abrams , in their feature debut .


it all drags on so interminably it 's like watching a miserable relationship unfold in real time .

vera 's technical prowess ends up selling his film short ; he smoothes over hard truths even as he uncovers them .


impostor has a handful of thrilling moments and a couple of good performances , but the movie does n't quite fly .

the film 's few ideas are stretched to the point of evaporation ; the whole central section is one big chase that seems to have no goal and no urgency .


a big , gorgeous , sprawling swashbuckler that delivers its diversions in grand , uncomplicated fashion .


though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .

reign of fire looks as if it was made without much thought -- and is best watched that way .


manages to show life in all of its banality when the intention is quite the opposite .


sade is an engaging look at the controversial eponymous and fiercely atheistic hero .

` easily my choice for one of the year 's best films . '


the humor is forced and heavy-handed , and occasionally simply unpleasant .


the format gets used best ... to capture the dizzying heights achieved by motocross and bmx riders , whose balletic hotdogging occasionally ends in bone-crushing screwups .

despite the 2-d animation , the wild thornberrys movie makes for a surprisingly cinematic experience .


here 's yet another studio horror franchise mucking up its storyline with glitches casual fans could correct in their sleep .


it 's hampered by a lifetime-channel kind of plot and a lead actress who is out of her depth .

while the resident evil games may have set new standards for thrills , suspense , and gore for video games , the movie really only succeeds in the third of these .


it seems like i have been waiting my whole life for this movie and now i ca n't wait for the sequel .


for starters , the story is just too slim .


the film is quiet , threatening and unforgettable .

-lrb- lawrence bounces -rrb- all over the stage , dancing , running , sweating , mopping his face and generally displaying the wacky talent that brought him fame in the first place .


every time you look , sweet home alabama is taking another bummer of a wrong turn .


martin and barbara are complex characters -- sometimes tender , sometimes angry -- and the delicate performances by sven wollter and viveka seldahl make their hopes and frustrations vivid .

the subtle strength of `` elling '' is that it never loses touch with the reality of the grim situation .


... is an arthritic attempt at directing by callie khouri .


affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .

true tale of courage -- and complicity -- at auschwitz is a harrowing drama that tries to tell of the unspeakable .


his last movie was poetically romantic and full of indelible images , but his latest has nothing going for it .


you do n't have to know about music to appreciate the film 's easygoing blend of comedy and romance .

an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .


a tv style murder mystery with a few big screen moments -lrb- including one that seems to be made for a different film altogether -rrb- .


reign of fire looks as if it was made without much thought -- and is best watched that way .

but taken as a stylish and energetic one-shot , the queen of the damned can not be said to suck .


made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss .


there is n't nearly enough fun here , despite the presence of some appealing ingredients .


a must-see for the david mamet enthusiast and for anyone who appreciates intelligent , stylish moviemaking .


the script kicks in , and mr. hartley 's distended pace and foot-dragging rhythms follow .

it takes a certain kind of horror movie to qualify as ` worse than expected , ' but ghost ship somehow manages to do exactly that .


may be far from the best of the series , but it 's assured , wonderfully respectful of its past and thrilling enough to make it abundantly clear that this movie phenomenon has once again reinvented itself for a new generation .


good old-fashioned slash-and-hack is back !

the lion king was a roaring success when it was released eight years ago , but on imax it seems better , not just bigger .


slapstick buffoonery can tickle many a preschooler 's fancy , but when it costs a family of four about $ 40 to see a film in theaters , why spend money on a dog like this when you can rent a pedigree instead ?


moretti 's compelling anatomy of grief and the difficult process of adapting to loss .

at its worst , it implodes in a series of very bad special effects .


challenging , intermittently engrossing and unflaggingly creative .


indifferently implausible popcorn programmer of a movie .

whaley 's determination to immerse you in sheer , unrelenting wretchedness is exhausting .


visually imaginative , thematically instructive and thoroughly delightful , it takes us on a roller-coaster ride from innocence to experience without even a hint of that typical kiddie-flick sentimentality .


the title not only describes its main characters , but the lazy people behind the camera as well .

it showcases carvey 's talent for voices , but not nearly enough and not without taxing every drop of one 's patience to get to the good stuff .


in a way , the film feels like a breath of fresh air , but only to those that allow it in .


the film is beautifully mounted , but , more to the point , the issues are subtly presented , managing to walk a fine line with regard to the question of joan 's madness .


all that 's missing is the spontaneity , originality and delight .


on this tricky topic , tadpole is very much a step in the right direction , with its blend of frankness , civility and compassion .


a by-the-numbers patient\/doctor pic that covers all the usual ground


a giggle-inducing comedy with snappy dialogue and winning performances by an unlikely team of oscar-winners : susan sarandon and goldie hawn .

has a lot of the virtues of eastwood at his best .


this is not the undisputed worst boxing movie ever , but it 's certainly not a champion - the big loser is the audience .


audrey tatou has a knack for picking roles that magnify her outrageous charm , and in this literate french comedy , she 's as morning-glory exuberant as she was in amélie .

a beguiling splash of pastel colors and prankish comedy from disney .


the cold turkey would 've been a far better title .


it 's a demented kitsch mess -lrb- although the smeary digital video does match the muddled narrative -rrb- , but it 's savvy about celebrity and has more guts and energy than much of what will open this year .

true tale of courage -- and complicity -- at auschwitz is a harrowing drama that tries to tell of the unspeakable .


the best that can be said about the work here of scottish director ritchie ... is that he obviously does n't have his heart in it .


an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .

the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .


feels haphazard , as if the writers mistakenly thought they could achieve an air of frantic spontaneity by simply tossing in lots of characters doing silly stuff and stirring the pot .


this is n't even madonna 's swept away .


we know the plot 's a little crazy , but it held my interest from start to finish .


adults will wish the movie were less simplistic , obvious , clumsily plotted and shallowly characterized .

detox is ultimately a pointless endeavor .


affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .


atom egoyan has conjured up a multilayered work that tackles any number of fascinating issues

this surreal gilliam-esque film is also a troubling interpretation of ecclesiastes .


although huppert 's intensity and focus has a raw exhilaration about it , the piano teacher is anything but fun .


a valueless kiddie paean to pro basketball underwritten by the nba .

it takes talent to make a lifeless movie about the most heinous man who ever lived .


though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .


wince-inducing dialogue , thrift-shop costumes , prosthetic makeup by silly putty and kmart blue-light-special effects all conspire to test trekkie loyalty .

determined to be fun , and bouncy , with energetic musicals , the humor did n't quite engage this adult .


the movie does a good job of laying out some of the major issues that we encounter as we journey through life .


the structure the film takes may find matt damon and ben affleck once again looking for residuals as this officially completes a good will hunting trilogy that was never planned .

it 's great escapist fun that recreates a place and time that will never happen again .


verbinski implements every hack-artist trick to give us the ooky-spookies .


the film flat lines when it should peak and is more missed opportunity and trifle than dark , decadent truffle .

it 's another stale , kill-by-numbers flick , complete with blade-thin characters and terrible , pun-laden dialogue .


the performances take the movie to a higher level .


what better message than ` love thyself ' could young women of any size receive ?


slapstick buffoonery can tickle many a preschooler 's fancy , but when it costs a family of four about $ 40 to see a film in theaters , why spend money on a dog like this when you can rent a pedigree instead ?


in a way , the film feels like a breath of fresh air , but only to those that allow it in .

it 's a demented kitsch mess -lrb- although the smeary digital video does match the muddled narrative -rrb- , but it 's savvy about celebrity and has more guts and energy than much of what will open this year .


for starters , the story is just too slim .


this is wild surreal stuff , but brilliant and the camera just kind of sits there and lets you look at this and its like you 're going from one room to the next and none of them have any relation to the other .

if steven soderbergh 's ` solaris ' is a failure it is a glorious failure .


in the end , the movie collapses on its shaky foundation despite the best efforts of director joe carnahan .


candid and comfortable ; a film that deftly balances action and reflection as it lets you grasp and feel the passion others have for their work .

the best revenge may just be living well because this film , unlike other dumas adaptations , is far more likened to a treasure than a lengthy jail sentence .


and that 's a big part of why we go to the movies .

-lrb- a -rrb- n utterly charming and hilarious film that reminded me of the best of the disney comedies from the 60s .


offers much to enjoy ... and a lot to mull over in terms of love , loyalty and the nature of staying friends .

you do n't have to know about music to appreciate the film 's easygoing blend of comedy and romance .


it 's clear the filmmakers were n't sure where they wanted their story to go , and even more clear that they lack the skills to get us to this undetermined destination .


` de niro ... is a veritable source of sincere passion that this hollywood contrivance orbits around . '

will amuse and provoke adventurous adults in specialty venues .


not only unfunny , but downright repellent .


drops you into a dizzying , volatile , pressure-cooker of a situation that quickly snowballs out of control , while focusing on the what much more than the why .


the piquant story needs more dramatic meat on its bones .


nonsensical , dull `` cyber-horror '' flick is a grim , hollow exercise in flat scares and bad acting .

i can take infantile humor ... but this is the sort of infantile that makes you wonder about changing the director and writer 's diapers .


an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .


dense with characters and contains some thrilling moments .

a big , gorgeous , sprawling swashbuckler that delivers its diversions in grand , uncomplicated fashion .


but the power of these -lrb- subjects -rrb- is obscured by the majority of the film that shows a stationary camera on a subject that could be mistaken for giving a public oration , rather than contributing to a film 's narrative .


with virtually no interesting elements for an audience to focus on , chelsea walls is a triple-espresso endurance challenge .

if you 've ever entertained the notion of doing what the title of this film implies , what sex with strangers actually shows may put you off the idea forever .


highbrow self-appointed guardians of culture need not apply , but those who loved cool as ice have at last found a worthy follow-up .

it 's refreshing to see a girl-power movie that does n't feel it has to prove anything .


the words , ` frankly , my dear , i do n't give a damn , ' have never been more appropriate .


sit through this one , and you wo n't need a magic watch to stop time ; your dvd player will do it for you .

trite , banal , cliched , mostly inoffensive .


the cold turkey would 've been a far better title .

although huppert 's intensity and focus has a raw exhilaration about it , the piano teacher is anything but fun .


it inspires a continuing and deeply satisfying awareness of the best movies as monumental ` picture shows . '


rare birds has more than enough charm to make it memorable .

the film is quiet , threatening and unforgettable .


this is a shameless sham , calculated to cash in on the popularity of its stars .


it showcases carvey 's talent for voices , but not nearly enough and not without taxing every drop of one 's patience to get to the good stuff .

but it 's too long and too convoluted and it ends in a muddle .


rare birds has more than enough charm to make it memorable .


a by-the-numbers patient\/doctor pic that covers all the usual ground


having had the good sense to cast actors who are , generally speaking , adored by the movie-going public , khouri then gets terrific performances from them all .

holm ... embodies the character with an effortlessly regal charisma .


it made me want to wrench my eyes out of my head and toss them at the screen .


it 's refreshing to see a girl-power movie that does n't feel it has to prove anything .

the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .


jones ... does offer a brutal form of charisma .

the characters are interesting and often very creatively constructed from figure to backstory .


hit and miss as far as the comedy goes and a big ole ' miss in the way of story .


for the first time in years , de niro digs deep emotionally , perhaps because he 's been stirred by the powerful work of his co-stars .

for the most part , director anne-sophie birot 's first feature is a sensitive , extraordinarily well-acted drama .


its well of thorn and vinegar -lrb- and simple humanity -rrb- has long been plundered by similar works featuring the insight and punch this picture so conspicuously lacks .


highbrow self-appointed guardians of culture need not apply , but those who loved cool as ice have at last found a worthy follow-up .


the piquant story needs more dramatic meat on its bones .


a quiet treasure -- a film to be savored .

offers much to enjoy ... and a lot to mull over in terms of love , loyalty and the nature of staying friends .


a valueless kiddie paean to pro basketball underwritten by the nba .


it has charm to spare , and unlike many romantic comedies , it does not alienate either gender in the audience .

it 's refreshing to see a girl-power movie that does n't feel it has to prove anything .


it 's dumb , but more importantly , it 's just not scary .


even the finest chef ca n't make a hotdog into anything more than a hotdog , and robert de niro ca n't make this movie anything more than a trashy cop buddy comedy .

it 's hampered by a lifetime-channel kind of plot and a lead actress who is out of her depth .


what better message than ` love thyself ' could young women of any size receive ?

the terrific and bewilderingly underrated campbell scott gives a star performance that is nothing short of mesmerizing .


slapstick buffoonery can tickle many a preschooler 's fancy , but when it costs a family of four about $ 40 to see a film in theaters , why spend money on a dog like this when you can rent a pedigree instead ?


this is n't even madonna 's swept away .


awesome creatures , breathtaking scenery , and epic battle scenes add up to another ` spectacular spectacle . '


because of an unnecessary and clumsy last scene , ` swimfan ' left me with a very bad feeling .

but the power of these -lrb- subjects -rrb- is obscured by the majority of the film that shows a stationary camera on a subject that could be mistaken for giving a public oration , rather than contributing to a film 's narrative .


so , too , is this comedy about mild culture clashing in today 's new delhi .


the inspirational screenplay by mike rich covers a lot of ground , perhaps too much , but ties things together , neatly , by the end .

a difficult , absorbing film that manages to convey more substance despite its repetitions and inconsistencies than do most films than are far more pointed and clear .


even the finest chef ca n't make a hotdog into anything more than a hotdog , and robert de niro ca n't make this movie anything more than a trashy cop buddy comedy .


a swashbuckling tale of love , betrayal , revenge and above all , faith .


determined to be fun , and bouncy , with energetic musicals , the humor did n't quite engage this adult .


majidi is an unconventional storyteller , capable of finding beauty in the most depressing places .

the inspirational screenplay by mike rich covers a lot of ground , perhaps too much , but ties things together , neatly , by the end .


tries to add some spice to its quirky sentiments but the taste is all too familiar .


falls neatly into the category of good stupid fun .


pacino is brilliant as the sleep-deprived dormer , his increasing weariness as much existential as it is physical .

-lrb- lawrence bounces -rrb- all over the stage , dancing , running , sweating , mopping his face and generally displaying the wacky talent that brought him fame in the first place .


made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss .


taylor appears to have blown his entire budget on soundtrack rights and had nothing left over for jokes .


when leguizamo finally plugged an irritating character late in the movie .

not only unfunny , but downright repellent .


an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .


the story and structure are well-honed .

a swashbuckling tale of love , betrayal , revenge and above all , faith .


a working class `` us vs. them '' opera that leaves no heartstring untugged and no liberal cause unplundered .

a strangely compelling and brilliantly acted psychological drama .


it 's difficult to imagine the process that produced such a script , but here 's guessing that spray cheese and underarm noises played a crucial role .


blanchett 's performance confirms her power once again .

has a lot of the virtues of eastwood at his best .


feels haphazard , as if the writers mistakenly thought they could achieve an air of frantic spontaneity by simply tossing in lots of characters doing silly stuff and stirring the pot .

suffocated by its fussy script and uptight characters , this musty adaptation is all the more annoying since it 's been packaged and sold back to us by hollywood .


the film 's welcome breeziness and some unbelievably hilarious moments -- most portraying the idiocy of the film industry -- make it mostly worth the trip .


the movie does a good job of laying out some of the major issues that we encounter as we journey through life .


trite , banal , cliched , mostly inoffensive .


villeneuve spends too much time wallowing in bibi 's generic angst -lrb- there are a lot of shots of her gazing out windows -rrb- .

because of an unnecessary and clumsy last scene , ` swimfan ' left me with a very bad feeling .


unlike the speedy wham-bam effect of most hollywood offerings , character development -- and more importantly , character empathy -- is at the heart of italian for beginners .


comes ... uncomfortably close to coasting in the treads of the bicycle thief .

vera 's technical prowess ends up selling his film short ; he smoothes over hard truths even as he uncovers them .


it seems like i have been waiting my whole life for this movie and now i ca n't wait for the sequel .


the film tries too hard to be funny and tries too hard to be hip .

comes ... uncomfortably close to coasting in the treads of the bicycle thief .


the characters are interesting and often very creatively constructed from figure to backstory .


it appears that something has been lost in the translation to the screen .

no way i can believe this load of junk .


... designed to provide a mix of smiles and tears , `` crossroads '' instead provokes a handful of unintentional howlers and numerous yawns .

instead of hiding pinocchio from critics , miramax should have hidden it from everyone .


candid and comfortable ; a film that deftly balances action and reflection as it lets you grasp and feel the passion others have for their work .


not an objectionable or dull film ; it merely lacks everything except good intentions .

manages to show life in all of its banality when the intention is quite the opposite .


offers much to enjoy ... and a lot to mull over in terms of love , loyalty and the nature of staying friends .


very special effects , brilliantly bold colors and heightened reality ca n't hide the giant achilles ' heel in `` stuart little 2 `` : there 's just no story , folks .


an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .


pumpkin means to be an outrageous dark satire on fraternity life , but its ambitions far exceed the abilities of writer adam larson broder and his co-director , tony r. abrams , in their feature debut .

it 's a cookie-cutter movie , a cut-and-paste job .


a working class `` us vs. them '' opera that leaves no heartstring untugged and no liberal cause unplundered .


not only unfunny , but downright repellent .


based on a devilishly witty script by heather mcgowan and niels mueller , the film gets great laughs , but never at the expense of its characters


another in-your-face wallow in the lower depths made by people who have never sung those blues .

this is n't even madonna 's swept away .


the vivid lead performances sustain interest and empathy , but the journey is far more interesting than the final destination .


a full world has been presented onscreen , not some series of carefully structured plot points building to a pat resolution .

a taut psychological thriller that does n't waste a moment of its two-hour running time .


feels haphazard , as if the writers mistakenly thought they could achieve an air of frantic spontaneity by simply tossing in lots of characters doing silly stuff and stirring the pot .


despite all evidence to the contrary , this clunker has somehow managed to pose as an actual feature movie , the kind that charges full admission and gets hyped on tv and purports to amuse small children and ostensible adults .

-lrb- t -rrb- here 's only so much anyone can do with a florid , overplotted , anne rice rock 'n' roll vampire novel before the built-in silliness of the whole affair defeats them .


-lrb- lawrence bounces -rrb- all over the stage , dancing , running , sweating , mopping his face and generally displaying the wacky talent that brought him fame in the first place .


its well of thorn and vinegar -lrb- and simple humanity -rrb- has long been plundered by similar works featuring the insight and punch this picture so conspicuously lacks .


this surreal gilliam-esque film is also a troubling interpretation of ecclesiastes .


if you are an actor who can relate to the search for inner peace by dramatically depicting the lives of others onstage , then esther 's story is a compelling quest for truth .

for the most part , director anne-sophie birot 's first feature is a sensitive , extraordinarily well-acted drama .


michael gerbosi 's script is economically packed with telling scenes .


not an objectionable or dull film ; it merely lacks everything except good intentions .


-lrb- t -rrb- here 's only so much anyone can do with a florid , overplotted , anne rice rock 'n' roll vampire novel before the built-in silliness of the whole affair defeats them .


the inspirational screenplay by mike rich covers a lot of ground , perhaps too much , but ties things together , neatly , by the end .


i can take infantile humor ... but this is the sort of infantile that makes you wonder about changing the director and writer 's diapers .

it 's clear the filmmakers were n't sure where they wanted their story to go , and even more clear that they lack the skills to get us to this undetermined destination .


candid and comfortable ; a film that deftly balances action and reflection as it lets you grasp and feel the passion others have for their work .


worth watching for dong jie 's performance -- and for the way it documents a culture in the throes of rapid change .

it seems like i have been waiting my whole life for this movie and now i ca n't wait for the sequel .


once the 50 year old benigni appears as the title character , we find ourselves longing for the block of wood to come back .


i thought my own watch had stopped keeping time as i slogged my way through clockstoppers .

not only unfunny , but downright repellent .


one of those energetic surprises , an original that pleases almost everyone who sees it .


just embarrassment and a vague sense of shame .

an unclassifiably awful study in self - and audience-abuse .


the vivid lead performances sustain interest and empathy , but the journey is far more interesting than the final destination .


i thought my own watch had stopped keeping time as i slogged my way through clockstoppers .


more romantic , more emotional and ultimately more satisfying than the teary-eyed original .

in a way , the film feels like a breath of fresh air , but only to those that allow it in .


the movie , directed by mick jackson , leaves no cliche unturned , from the predictable plot to the characters straight out of central casting .


vera 's three actors -- mollà , gil and bardem -- excel in insightful , empathetic performances .

a full world has been presented onscreen , not some series of carefully structured plot points building to a pat resolution .


indifferently implausible popcorn programmer of a movie .


very special effects , brilliantly bold colors and heightened reality ca n't hide the giant achilles ' heel in `` stuart little 2 `` : there 's just no story , folks .

in the end , the movie collapses on its shaky foundation despite the best efforts of director joe carnahan .


a taut psychological thriller that does n't waste a moment of its two-hour running time .


will amuse and provoke adventurous adults in specialty venues .

the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .


i do n't think i laughed out loud once .


awesome creatures , breathtaking scenery , and epic battle scenes add up to another ` spectacular spectacle . '


the cold turkey would 've been a far better title .


trademark american triteness and simplicity are tossed out the window with the intelligent french drama that deftly explores the difficult relationship between a father and son .

the structure the film takes may find matt damon and ben affleck once again looking for residuals as this officially completes a good will hunting trilogy that was never planned .


and when you 're talking about a slapstick comedy , that 's a pretty big problem .

comes ... uncomfortably close to coasting in the treads of the bicycle thief .


not since tom cruise in risky business has an actor made such a strong impression in his underwear .

for the first time in years , de niro digs deep emotionally , perhaps because he 's been stirred by the powerful work of his co-stars .


the heavy-handed film is almost laughable as a consequence .


a beguiling splash of pastel colors and prankish comedy from disney .

this is wild surreal stuff , but brilliant and the camera just kind of sits there and lets you look at this and its like you 're going from one room to the next and none of them have any relation to the other .


the story and the friendship proceeds in such a way that you 're watching a soap opera rather than a chronicle of the ups and downs that accompany lifelong friendships .


the words , ` frankly , my dear , i do n't give a damn , ' have never been more appropriate .

it showcases carvey 's talent for voices , but not nearly enough and not without taxing every drop of one 's patience to get to the good stuff .


having had the good sense to cast actors who are , generally speaking , adored by the movie-going public , khouri then gets terrific performances from them all .


it takes a strange kind of laziness to waste the talents of robert forster , anne meara , eugene levy , and reginald veljohnson all in the same movie .

manages to be both repulsively sadistic and mundane .


sade is an engaging look at the controversial eponymous and fiercely atheistic hero .


but the power of these -lrb- subjects -rrb- is obscured by the majority of the film that shows a stationary camera on a subject that could be mistaken for giving a public oration , rather than contributing to a film 's narrative .

mattei is tiresomely grave and long-winded , as if circularity itself indicated profundity .


whether you like rap music or loathe it , you ca n't deny either the tragic loss of two young men in the prime of their talent or the power of this movie .


writer\/director joe carnahan 's grimy crime drama is a manual of precinct cliches , but it moves fast enough to cover its clunky dialogue and lapses in logic .

a poignant , artfully crafted meditation on mortality .


if looking for a thrilling sci-fi cinematic ride , do n't settle for this imposter .

however it may please those who love movies that blare with pop songs , young science fiction fans will stomp away in disgust .


it 's a stunning lyrical work of considerable force and truth .


at its worst , it implodes in a series of very bad special effects .

but it 's too long and too convoluted and it ends in a muddle .


worth watching for dong jie 's performance -- and for the way it documents a culture in the throes of rapid change .


while the resident evil games may have set new standards for thrills , suspense , and gore for video games , the movie really only succeeds in the third of these .


atom egoyan has conjured up a multilayered work that tackles any number of fascinating issues


just embarrassment and a vague sense of shame .


the terrific and bewilderingly underrated campbell scott gives a star performance that is nothing short of mesmerizing .


every nanosecond of the the new guy reminds you that you could be doing something else far more pleasurable .


awesome creatures , breathtaking scenery , and epic battle scenes add up to another ` spectacular spectacle . '


a difficult , absorbing film that manages to convey more substance despite its repetitions and inconsistencies than do most films than are far more pointed and clear .

reign of fire looks as if it was made without much thought -- and is best watched that way .


no way i can believe this load of junk .


with rabbit-proof fence , noyce has tailored an epic tale into a lean , economical movie .

the characters are interesting and often very creatively constructed from figure to backstory .


made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss .


no way i can believe this load of junk .

some of their jokes work , but most fail miserably and in the end , pumpkin is far more offensive than it is funny .


the best revenge may just be living well because this film , unlike other dumas adaptations , is far more likened to a treasure than a lengthy jail sentence .


the iditarod lasts for days - this just felt like it did .

if you 've ever entertained the notion of doing what the title of this film implies , what sex with strangers actually shows may put you off the idea forever .


the film is quiet , threatening and unforgettable .


it is great summer fun to watch arnold and his buddy gerald bounce off a quirky cast of characters .

it proves quite compelling as an intense , brooding character study .


an unclassifiably awful study in self - and audience-abuse .


for the most part , director anne-sophie birot 's first feature is a sensitive , extraordinarily well-acted drama .

it is great summer fun to watch arnold and his buddy gerald bounce off a quirky cast of characters .


adults will wish the movie were less simplistic , obvious , clumsily plotted and shallowly characterized .


a good piece of work more often than not .

even if you do n't think -lrb- kissinger 's -rrb- any more guilty of criminal activity than most contemporary statesmen , he 'd sure make a courtroom trial great fun to watch .


the film tries too hard to be funny and tries too hard to be hip .


trite , banal , cliched , mostly inoffensive .

whaley 's determination to immerse you in sheer , unrelenting wretchedness is exhausting .


generally , clockstoppers will fulfill your wildest fantasies about being a different kind of time traveler , while happily killing 94 minutes .


reggio 's continual visual barrage is absorbing as well as thought-provoking .

i just loved every minute of this film .


sticky sweet sentimentality , clumsy plotting and a rosily myopic view of life in the wwii-era mississippi delta undermine this adaptation .


blanchett 's performance confirms her power once again .


comes ... uncomfortably close to coasting in the treads of the bicycle thief .


a broad , melodramatic estrogen opera that 's pretty toxic in its own right .

a dumb movie with dumb characters doing dumb things and you have to be really dumb not to see where this is going .


` de niro ... is a veritable source of sincere passion that this hollywood contrivance orbits around . '


pumpkin takes an admirable look at the hypocrisy of political correctness , but it does so with such an uneven tone that you never know when humor ends and tragedy begins .

but it 's too long and too convoluted and it ends in a muddle .


-lrb- a -rrb- n utterly charming and hilarious film that reminded me of the best of the disney comedies from the 60s .


two hours fly by -- opera 's a pleasure when you do n't have to endure intermissions -- and even a novice to the form comes away exhilarated .

the wild thornberrys movie is a jolly surprise .


if you dig on david mamet 's mind tricks ... rent this movie and enjoy !

a full world has been presented onscreen , not some series of carefully structured plot points building to a pat resolution .


although huppert 's intensity and focus has a raw exhilaration about it , the piano teacher is anything but fun .


it 's a stunning lyrical work of considerable force and truth .

though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .


-lrb- t -rrb- here 's only so much anyone can do with a florid , overplotted , anne rice rock 'n' roll vampire novel before the built-in silliness of the whole affair defeats them .


it 's a grab bag of genres that do n't add up to a whole lot of sense .

if you 've ever entertained the notion of doing what the title of this film implies , what sex with strangers actually shows may put you off the idea forever .


it 's refreshing to see a girl-power movie that does n't feel it has to prove anything .


a tv style murder mystery with a few big screen moments -lrb- including one that seems to be made for a different film altogether -rrb- .

the words , ` frankly , my dear , i do n't give a damn , ' have never been more appropriate .


if you dig on david mamet 's mind tricks ... rent this movie and enjoy !


while the resident evil games may have set new standards for thrills , suspense , and gore for video games , the movie really only succeeds in the third of these .


one of the most significant moviegoing pleasures of the year .


verbinski implements every hack-artist trick to give us the ooky-spookies .


affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .


vera 's technical prowess ends up selling his film short ; he smoothes over hard truths even as he uncovers them .

here 's yet another studio horror franchise mucking up its storyline with glitches casual fans could correct in their sleep .


the film is beautifully mounted , but , more to the point , the issues are subtly presented , managing to walk a fine line with regard to the question of joan 's madness .


this surreal gilliam-esque film is also a troubling interpretation of ecclesiastes .

the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .


it 's dumb , but more importantly , it 's just not scary .


the piece plays as well as it does thanks in large measure to anspaugh 's three lead actresses .

audrey tatou has a knack for picking roles that magnify her outrageous charm , and in this literate french comedy , she 's as morning-glory exuberant as she was in amélie .


it 's hampered by a lifetime-channel kind of plot and a lead actress who is out of her depth .


once the 50 year old benigni appears as the title character , we find ourselves longing for the block of wood to come back .

the piquant story needs more dramatic meat on its bones .


it proves quite compelling as an intense , brooding character study .


while -lrb- hill -rrb- has learned new tricks , the tricks alone are not enough to salvage this lifeless boxing film .

i thought my own watch had stopped keeping time as i slogged my way through clockstoppers .


ramsay , as in ratcatcher , remains a filmmaker with an acid viewpoint and a real gift for teasing chilly poetry out of lives and settings that might otherwise seem drab and sordid .


yakusho and shimizu ... create engaging characterizations in imamura 's lively and enjoyable cultural mix .


pumpkin means to be an outrageous dark satire on fraternity life , but its ambitions far exceed the abilities of writer adam larson broder and his co-director , tony r. abrams , in their feature debut .


a poignant , artfully crafted meditation on mortality .

a quiet treasure -- a film to be savored .


an unclassifiably awful study in self - and audience-abuse .


a bloated gasbag thesis grotesquely impressed by its own gargantuan aura of self-importance ...

but it 's too long and too convoluted and it ends in a muddle .


so , too , is this comedy about mild culture clashing in today 's new delhi .


the film 's few ideas are stretched to the point of evaporation ; the whole central section is one big chase that seems to have no goal and no urgency .

a by-the-numbers patient\/doctor pic that covers all the usual ground


although german cooking does not come readily to mind when considering the world 's best cuisine , mostly martha could make deutchland a popular destination for hungry tourists .


it deserves to be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in the events shaping the world beyond their own horizons .


the film flat lines when it should peak and is more missed opportunity and trifle than dark , decadent truffle .


puts a human face on a land most westerners are unfamiliar with .

the structure the film takes may find matt damon and ben affleck once again looking for residuals as this officially completes a good will hunting trilogy that was never planned .


may be far from the best of the series , but it 's assured , wonderfully respectful of its past and thrilling enough to make it abundantly clear that this movie phenomenon has once again reinvented itself for a new generation .

for the first time in years , de niro digs deep emotionally , perhaps because he 's been stirred by the powerful work of his co-stars .


for all its impressive craftsmanship , and despite an overbearing series of third-act crescendos , lily chou-chou never really builds up a head of emotional steam .


by getting myself wrapped up in the visuals and eccentricities of many of the characters , i found myself confused when it came time to get to the heart of the movie .


a beguiling splash of pastel colors and prankish comedy from disney .


intriguing documentary which is emotionally diluted by focusing on the story 's least interesting subject .

it 's refreshing to see a girl-power movie that does n't feel it has to prove anything .


feels haphazard , as if the writers mistakenly thought they could achieve an air of frantic spontaneity by simply tossing in lots of characters doing silly stuff and stirring the pot .


though only 60 minutes long , the film is packed with information and impressions .


a bloated gasbag thesis grotesquely impressed by its own gargantuan aura of self-importance ...


does little more than play an innocuous game of fill-in - the-blanks with a tragic past .

while -lrb- hill -rrb- has learned new tricks , the tricks alone are not enough to salvage this lifeless boxing film .


highbrow self-appointed guardians of culture need not apply , but those who loved cool as ice have at last found a worthy follow-up .


a must-see for the david mamet enthusiast and for anyone who appreciates intelligent , stylish moviemaking .

an important movie , a reminder of the power of film to move us and to make us examine our values .


even with a green mohawk and a sheet of fire-red flame tattoos covering his shoulder , however , kilmer seems to be posing , rather than acting .


the characters are interesting and often very creatively constructed from figure to backstory .


it takes talent to make a lifeless movie about the most heinous man who ever lived .


here 's yet another studio horror franchise mucking up its storyline with glitches casual fans could correct in their sleep .

jason x is positively anti-darwinian : nine sequels and 400 years later , the teens are none the wiser and jason still kills on auto-pilot .


jones ... does offer a brutal form of charisma .


instead of hiding pinocchio from critics , miramax should have hidden it from everyone .

the best that can be said about the work here of scottish director ritchie ... is that he obviously does n't have his heart in it .


it 's great escapist fun that recreates a place and time that will never happen again .


it has charm to spare , and unlike many romantic comedies , it does not alienate either gender in the audience .


it appears that something has been lost in the translation to the screen .


uses high comedy to evoke surprising poignance .

whether you like rap music or loathe it , you ca n't deny either the tragic loss of two young men in the prime of their talent or the power of this movie .


despite all evidence to the contrary , this clunker has somehow managed to pose as an actual feature movie , the kind that charges full admission and gets hyped on tv and purports to amuse small children and ostensible adults .


this is a shameless sham , calculated to cash in on the popularity of its stars .

the moviegoing equivalent of going to a dinner party and being forced to watch the host and hostess 's home video of their baby 's birth .


it 's a stunning lyrical work of considerable force and truth .


it takes talent to make a lifeless movie about the most heinous man who ever lived .

but it 's too long and too convoluted and it ends in a muddle .


even if you do n't think -lrb- kissinger 's -rrb- any more guilty of criminal activity than most contemporary statesmen , he 'd sure make a courtroom trial great fun to watch .

the vivid lead performances sustain interest and empathy , but the journey is far more interesting than the final destination .


this is a shameless sham , calculated to cash in on the popularity of its stars .


it proves quite compelling as an intense , brooding character study .


it all drags on so interminably it 's like watching a miserable relationship unfold in real time .


... a magnificent drama well worth tracking down .

the performances take the movie to a higher level .


the humor is forced and heavy-handed , and occasionally simply unpleasant .


a tender , witty , captivating film about friendship , love , memory , trust and loyalty .

with rabbit-proof fence , noyce has tailored an epic tale into a lean , economical movie .


it 's difficult to imagine the process that produced such a script , but here 's guessing that spray cheese and underarm noises played a crucial role .

at its worst , it implodes in a series of very bad special effects .


a celebration of quirkiness , eccentricity , and certain individuals ' tendency to let it all hang out , and damn the consequences .


the terrific and bewilderingly underrated campbell scott gives a star performance that is nothing short of mesmerizing .

far more imaginative and ambitious than the trivial , cash-in features nickelodeon has made from its other animated tv series .


sam mendes has become valedictorian at the school for soft landings and easy ways out .


there is n't nearly enough fun here , despite the presence of some appealing ingredients .

it 's dumb , but more importantly , it 's just not scary .


and that 's a big part of why we go to the movies .


jason x is positively anti-darwinian : nine sequels and 400 years later , the teens are none the wiser and jason still kills on auto-pilot .

even with a green mohawk and a sheet of fire-red flame tattoos covering his shoulder , however , kilmer seems to be posing , rather than acting .


a good piece of work more often than not .


visually imaginative , thematically instructive and thoroughly delightful , it takes us on a roller-coaster ride from innocence to experience without even a hint of that typical kiddie-flick sentimentality .


the cold turkey would 've been a far better title .


this is human comedy at its most amusing , interesting and confirming .

will amuse and provoke adventurous adults in specialty venues .


it appears that something has been lost in the translation to the screen .


this is not the undisputed worst boxing movie ever , but it 's certainly not a champion - the big loser is the audience .

american chai encourages rueful laughter at stereotypes only an indian-american would recognize .


may be far from the best of the series , but it 's assured , wonderfully respectful of its past and thrilling enough to make it abundantly clear that this movie phenomenon has once again reinvented itself for a new generation .


villeneuve spends too much time wallowing in bibi 's generic angst -lrb- there are a lot of shots of her gazing out windows -rrb- .


every time you look , sweet home alabama is taking another bummer of a wrong turn .

a dumb movie with dumb characters doing dumb things and you have to be really dumb not to see where this is going .


manages to show life in all of its banality when the intention is quite the opposite .

the humor is forced and heavy-handed , and occasionally simply unpleasant .


a pleasant enough romance with intellectual underpinnings , the kind of movie that entertains even as it turns maddeningly predictable .