being author wells ' great-grandson , you 'd think filmmaker simon wells would have more reverence for the material .

this is a particularly toxic little bonbon , palatable to only a chosen and very jaundiced few .


moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .


like its two predecessors , 1983 's koyaanisqatsi and 1988 's powaqqatsi , the cinematic collage naqoyqatsi could be the most navel-gazing film ever .

the title 's lameness should clue you in on how bad the movie is .


if this movie were a book , it would be a page-turner , you ca n't wait to see what happens next .


proof that a thriller can be sleekly shot , expertly cast , paced with crisp professionalism ... and still be a letdown if its twists and turns hold no more surprise than yesterday 's weather report .

life is a crock -- or something like it .


-lrb- but it 's -rrb- worth recommending because of two marvelous performances by michael caine and brendan fraser .


what it lacks in originality it makes up for in intelligence and b-grade stylishness .


birot is a competent enough filmmaker , but her story has nothing fresh or very exciting about it .


anyone who can count to five -lrb- the film 's target market ? -rrb-

it would be hard to think of a recent movie that has worked this hard to achieve this little fun .


ms. fulford-wierzbicki is almost spooky in her sulky , calculating lolita turn .


if there 's a way to effectively teach kids about the dangers of drugs , i think it 's in projects like the -lrb- unfortunately r-rated -rrb- paid .

it will delight newcomers to the story and those who know it from bygone days .


the character is too forced and overwritten to be funny or believable much of the time , and clayburgh does n't always improve the over-the-top mix .


if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .

but in imax 3-d , the clichés disappear into the vertiginous perspectives opened up by the photography .


i watched the brainless insanity of no such thing with mounting disbelief .


nearly surreal , dabbling in french , this is no simple movie , and you 'll be taking a risk if you choose to see it .

the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .


there 's enough science to make it count as educational , and enough beauty to make it unforgettable .


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .

thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .


like those to rome , all roads in the banger sisters inevitably lead to a joke about hawn 's breasts , which constantly threaten to upstage the woman sporting them .


reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .


the movie exists for its soccer action and its fine acting .

mixes likeable personalities , inventive photography and cutting , and wall-to-wall toe-tapping music to paint a picture of a subculture that is at once exhilarating , silly , perverse , hopeful and always fun .


credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .


a taut , intelligent psychological drama .

a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .


leave it to rohmer , now 82 , to find a way to bend current technique to the service of a vision of the past that is faithful to both architectural glories and commanding open spaces of the city as it was more than two centuries ago .

this is a film brimming with detail and nuance and one that speaks volumes about the ability of the human spirit to find solace in events that could easily crush it forever .


overall , the film misses the brilliance of jelinek 's novel by some way .


zhang yimou delivers warm , genuine characters who lie not through dishonesty , but because they genuinely believe it 's the only way to bring happiness to their loved ones .

an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .


this film is so slick , superficial and trend-hoppy , that it 's easy to imagine that a new software program spit out the screenplay .


whether seen on a 10-inch television screen or at your local multiplex , the edge-of-your-seat , educational antics of steve irwin are priceless entertainment .

sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


egoyan 's movie is too complicated to sustain involvement , and , if you 'll excuse a little critical heresy , too intellectually ambitious .


barney has created a tour de force that is weird , wacky and wonderful .


the character is too forced and overwritten to be funny or believable much of the time , and clayburgh does n't always improve the over-the-top mix .


after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .


strong setup and ambitious goals fade as the film descends into unsophisticated scare tactics and b-film thuggery .


-lrb- newton -rrb- wanders through charlie completely unaware she needs to show some presence and star quality .

we are left with a superficial snapshot that , however engaging , is insufficiently enlightening and inviting .


it uses an old-time formula , it 's not terribly original and it 's rather messy -- but you just have to love the big , dumb , happy movie my big fat greek wedding .


the best you can say about it is it 's so uninspired , it barely gives one pause when considering some of the other dreck out there right now .

a great ending does n't make up for a weak movie , and crazy as hell does n't even have a great ending .


and in this regard , on guard delivers .


sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship -lrb- most notably wretched sound design -rrb- .


-lrb- davis -rrb- has a bright , chipper style that keeps things moving , while never quite managing to connect her wish-fulfilling characters to the human race .

the movie exists for its soccer action and its fine acting .


i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .


the latest installment in the pokemon canon , pokemon 4ever is surprising less moldy and trite than the last two , likely because much of the japanese anime is set in a scenic forest where pokemon graze in peace .


an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .

reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .


leave these flowers unpicked -- they 're dead on the vine .


could the whole plan here have been to produce something that makes fatal attraction look like a classic by comparison ?

not every animated film from disney will become a classic , but forgive me if i 've come to expect more from this studio than some 79-minute after-school `` cartoon '' .


smith 's approach is never to tease , except gently and in that way that makes us consider our own eccentricities and how they are expressed through our homes .


much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .


i doubt anyone will remember the picture by the time christmas really rolls around , but maybe it 'll be on video by then .


it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .

the comic performances are all spot on , especially lee ross 's turn as ken .


k-19 may not hold a lot of water as a submarine epic , but it holds even less when it turns into an elegiacally soggy saving private ryanovich .


a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .

compelling revenge thriller , though somewhat weakened by a miscast leading lady .


the picture , scored by a perversely cheerful marcus miller accordion\/harmonica\/banjo abomination , is a monument to bad in all its florid variety .


a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .

a distant , even sterile , yet compulsively watchable look at the sordid life of hogan 's heroes star bob crane .


i did n't laugh at the ongoing efforts of cube , and his skinny buddy mike epps , to make like laurel and hardy 'n the hood .


a candid and often fascinating documentary about a pentecostal church in dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services .

the result is mesmerizing -- filled with menace and squalor .


unless you are in dire need of a diesel fix , there is no real reason to see it .


ritchie 's treatment of the class reversal is majorly ham-fisted , from the repetitive manifestos that keep getting thrown in people 's faces to the fact amber is such a joke .

do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...


harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .

a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .


subversive , meditative , clinical and poetic , the piano teacher is a daring work of genius .

christians sensitive to a reductionist view of their lord as a luv-spreading dr. feelgood or omnipotent slacker will feel vastly more affronted than secularists , who might even praise god for delivering such an instant camp classic .


one hour photo is an intriguing snapshot of one man and his delusions ; it 's just too bad it does n't have more flashes of insight .


theirs is a simple and heart-warming story , full of mirth that should charm all but the most cynical .


this pep-talk for faith , hope and charity does little to offend , but if saccharine earnestness were a crime , the film 's producers would be in the clink for life .


a great ending does n't make up for a weak movie , and crazy as hell does n't even have a great ending .

the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship -lrb- most notably wretched sound design -rrb- .


and if the hours wins ` best picture ' i just might .


the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


i kept thinking over and over again , ' i should be enjoying this . '

i doubt anyone will remember the picture by the time christmas really rolls around , but maybe it 'll be on video by then .


more a load of enjoyable , conan-esque claptrap than the punishing , special-effects soul assaults the mummy pictures represent .


this self-infatuated goofball is far from the only thing wrong with the clumsy comedy stealing harvard , but he 's the most obvious one .

murder by numbers is like a couple of mediocre tv-movie - of-the-week films clumsily stuck together .


a well-made and often lovely depiction of the mysteries of friendship .


its underlying mythology is a hodgepodge of inconsistencies that pose the question : since when did dumb entertainment have to be this dumb ?


thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .

the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


the smug , oily demeanor that donovan adopts throughout the stupidly named pipe dream is just repulsive .


do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...

while the mystery surrounding the nature of the boat 's malediction remains intriguing enough to sustain mild interest , the picture refuses to offer much accompanying sustenance in the way of characterization , humor or plain old popcorn fun .


moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .


sunshine state lacks the kind of dynamic that limbo offers , and in some ways is a rather indulgent piece .

despite the premise of a good story ... it wastes all its star power on cliched or meaningless roles .


the result is mesmerizing -- filled with menace and squalor .


only an epic documentary could get it all down , and spike lee 's jim brown : all american at long last gives its subject a movie worthy of his talents .

flavorful and romantic , you could call this how martha got her groove back -- assuming , that is , she ever had one to begin with .


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


i 'd give real money to see the perpetrators of chicago torn apart by dingoes .

these are names to remember , in order to avoid them in the future .


flavorful and romantic , you could call this how martha got her groove back -- assuming , that is , she ever had one to begin with .

a taut , intelligent psychological drama .


watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .


unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .

it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .


everytime you think undercover brother has run out of steam , it finds a new way to surprise and amuse .


leave these flowers unpicked -- they 're dead on the vine .

with its hints of a greater intelligence lurking somewhere , the ring makes its stupidity more than obvious .


reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .

it 's a good film -- not a classic , but odd , entertaining and authentic .


but the characters tend to be cliches whose lives are never fully explored .


just like hearst 's enormous yacht , it 's slow and unwieldy and takes a long time to reach its destination .

the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .


stephen earnhart 's homespun documentary mule skinner blues has nothing but love for its posse of trailer park denizens .


smith 's approach is never to tease , except gently and in that way that makes us consider our own eccentricities and how they are expressed through our homes .


... -lrb- a -rrb- strained comedy that jettisons all opportunities for rock to make his mark by serving up the usual chaotic nonsense .


everytime you think undercover brother has run out of steam , it finds a new way to surprise and amuse .

this is cool , slick stuff , ready to quench the thirst of an audience that misses the summer blockbusters .


i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .


a turgid little history lesson , humourless and dull .


if you 're looking for comedy to be served up , better look elsewhere .


it 's one of the saddest films i have ever seen that still manages to be uplifting but not overly sentimental .


if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .


but it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds .

everything you loved about it in 1982 is still there , for everybody who wants to be a kid again , or show it to their own kids .


the best you can say about it is it 's so uninspired , it barely gives one pause when considering some of the other dreck out there right now .


guided more by intellect than heart , his story flattens instead of sharpens .

this self-infatuated goofball is far from the only thing wrong with the clumsy comedy stealing harvard , but he 's the most obvious one .


chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .


smith 's approach is never to tease , except gently and in that way that makes us consider our own eccentricities and how they are expressed through our homes .

thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .

a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .


when -lrb- de palma 's -rrb- bad , he 's really bad , and femme fatale ranks with the worst he has done .


it would be hard to think of a recent movie that has worked this hard to achieve this little fun .

we are left with a superficial snapshot that , however engaging , is insufficiently enlightening and inviting .


despite the premise of a good story ... it wastes all its star power on cliched or meaningless roles .


the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


an enchanting film that presents an audacious tour of the past and takes within its warm embrace the bounties of cultural artifacts inside st. petersburg 's hermitage museum .

a feel-good picture in the best sense of the term .


these are names to remember , in order to avoid them in the future .


despite some gulps the film is a fuzzy huggy .

i enjoyed the ride -lrb- bumps and all -rrb- , creamy depth , and ultimate theme .


plays less like a coming-of-age romance than an infomercial .


for benigni it was n't shakespeare whom he wanted to define his career with but pinocchio .

much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .


a distant , even sterile , yet compulsively watchable look at the sordid life of hogan 's heroes star bob crane .


every bit as bogus as most disney live action family movies are -- no real plot , no real conflict , no real point .


mr. parker has brilliantly updated his source and grasped its essence , composing a sorrowful and hilarious tone poem about alienated labor , or an absurdist workplace sitcom .

there 's enough science to make it count as educational , and enough beauty to make it unforgettable .


a turgid little history lesson , humourless and dull .


the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .

it 's best to avoid imprisonment with the dull , nerdy folks that inhabit cherish .


it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .


with its hints of a greater intelligence lurking somewhere , the ring makes its stupidity more than obvious .

... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .


this cuddly sequel to the 1999 hit is a little more visually polished , a little funnier , and a little more madcap .

the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


the saturation bombing of reggio 's images and glass ' evocative music ... ultimately leaves viewers with the task of divining meaning .


a feel-good picture in the best sense of the term .

the movie exists for its soccer action and its fine acting .


i doubt anyone will remember the picture by the time christmas really rolls around , but maybe it 'll be on video by then .


but hard-to-believe plot twists force the movie off track in its final half hour .


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .


from spiritual rebirth to bruising defeat , vincent 's odyssey resonates in a profound way , comparable to the classic films of jean renoir .

offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .


the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .


collateral damage is , despite its alleged provocation post-9 \/ 11 , an antique , in the end .

do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...


the film hinges on its performances , and both leads are up to the task .


every bit as bogus as most disney live action family movies are -- no real plot , no real conflict , no real point .


behind the snow games and lovable siberian huskies -lrb- plus one sheep dog -rrb- , the picture hosts a parka-wrapped dose of heart .


-lrb- two -rrb- fairly dull -- contrasting and interlocking stories about miserable scandinavian settlers in 18th-century canada , and yuppie sailboaters in the here and now .

overall , the film misses the brilliance of jelinek 's novel by some way .


it will delight newcomers to the story and those who know it from bygone days .


men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .

sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


the latest installment in the pokemon canon , pokemon 4ever is surprising less moldy and trite than the last two , likely because much of the japanese anime is set in a scenic forest where pokemon graze in peace .


any one episode of the sopranos would send this ill-conceived folly to sleep with the fishes .

the tug-of-war at the core of beijing bicycle becomes weighed down with agonizing contrivances , overheated pathos and long , wistful gazes .


the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .


thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .

it 's a beautifully accomplished lyrical meditation on a bunch of despondent and vulnerable characters living in the renown chelsea hotel ...


the two leads are almost good enough to camouflage the dopey plot , but so much naturalistic small talk , delivered in almost muffled exchanges , eventually has a lulling effect .


it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .


it 's one of the saddest films i have ever seen that still manages to be uplifting but not overly sentimental .


ostensibly celebrates middle-aged girl power , even as it presents friendship between women as pathetic , dysfunctional and destructive .

while benigni -lrb- who stars and co-wrote -rrb- seems to be having a wonderful time , he might be alone in that .


leave it to rohmer , now 82 , to find a way to bend current technique to the service of a vision of the past that is faithful to both architectural glories and commanding open spaces of the city as it was more than two centuries ago .


intriguing and beautiful film , but those of you who read the book are likely to be disappointed .

i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .


it wo n't be long before you 'll spy i spy at a video store near you .


those outside show business will enjoy a close look at people they do n't really want to know .

this is cool , slick stuff , ready to quench the thirst of an audience that misses the summer blockbusters .


none of this violates the letter of behan 's book , but missing is its spirit , its ribald , full-throated humor .


even if britney spears is really cute , her movie is really bad .

it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .


i admired it , particularly that unexpected downer of an ending .


... a weak , manipulative , pencil-thin story that is miraculously able to entertain anyway .


much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .


the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship -lrb- most notably wretched sound design -rrb- .

` enigma ' is a good name for a movie this delibrately obtuse and unapproachable .


a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .


the comic performances are all spot on , especially lee ross 's turn as ken .

maguire is a surprisingly effective peter\/spider-man .


plays less like a coming-of-age romance than an infomercial .


it 's a good film -- not a classic , but odd , entertaining and authentic .

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


it 's disappointing when filmmakers throw a few big-name actors and cameos at a hokey script .

the makers have forsaken the entertaining elements of the original and , instead , rehash old jokes and leave any life at the doorstep .


... a polished and relatively sincere piece of escapism .


... a polished and relatively sincere piece of escapism .

has a shambling charm ... a cheerfully inconsequential diversion .


we miss the quirky amazement that used to come along for an integral part of the ride .


technically , the film is about as interesting as an insurance commercial .

the saturation bombing of reggio 's images and glass ' evocative music ... ultimately leaves viewers with the task of divining meaning .


mr. parker has brilliantly updated his source and grasped its essence , composing a sorrowful and hilarious tone poem about alienated labor , or an absurdist workplace sitcom .


this road movie gives you emotional whiplash , and you 'll be glad you went along for the ride .

a taut , intelligent psychological drama .


a soggy , cliche-bound epic-horror yarn that ends up being even dumber than its title .


we are left with a superficial snapshot that , however engaging , is insufficiently enlightening and inviting .

it 's best to avoid imprisonment with the dull , nerdy folks that inhabit cherish .


do n't plan on the perfect ending , but sweet home alabama hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .

stephen earnhart 's homespun documentary mule skinner blues has nothing but love for its posse of trailer park denizens .


the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


though avary has done his best to make something out of ellis ' nothing novel , in the end , his rules is barely worth following .


while not all transitions to adulthood are so fraught , there 's much truth and no small amount of poetry in girls ca n't swim .


the impact of the armenian genocide is diluted by too much stage business in the modern day .


moore 's performance impresses almost as much as her work with haynes in 1995 's safe .


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .


it 's -lrb- ricci 's -rrb- best work yet , this girl-woman who sincerely believes she can thwart the world 's misery with blind good will .


while mcfarlane 's animation lifts the film firmly above the level of other coming-of-age films ... it 's also so jarring that it 's hard to get back into the boys ' story .


the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .

but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .


do n't plan on the perfect ending , but sweet home alabama hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .


by presenting an impossible romance in an impossible world , pumpkin dares us to say why either is impossible -- which forces us to confront what 's possible and what we might do to make it so .

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .


i did n't laugh at the ongoing efforts of cube , and his skinny buddy mike epps , to make like laurel and hardy 'n the hood .


this delicately observed story , deeply felt and masterfully stylized , is a triumph for its maverick director .


more a load of enjoyable , conan-esque claptrap than the punishing , special-effects soul assaults the mummy pictures represent .

it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .


before long , the film starts playing like general hospital crossed with a saturday night live spoof of dog day afternoon .


too timid to bring a sense of closure to an ugly chapter of the twentieth century .

this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


this is cool , slick stuff , ready to quench the thirst of an audience that misses the summer blockbusters .

what 's most striking about this largely celebratory film ... is the sense of isolation that permeates these bastions of individuality in an ikea world .


it 's a beautifully accomplished lyrical meditation on a bunch of despondent and vulnerable characters living in the renown chelsea hotel ...

while not as aggressively impressive as its american counterpart , `` in the bedroom , '' moretti 's film makes its own , quieter observations


though the violence is far less sadistic than usual , the film is typical miike : fast , furious and full of off-the-cuff imaginative flourishes .

i admired it , particularly that unexpected downer of an ending .


any one episode of the sopranos would send this ill-conceived folly to sleep with the fishes .


everything that has to do with yvan and charlotte , and everything that has to do with yvan 's rambunctious , jewish sister and her non-jew husband , feels funny and true .

sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


sunshine state lacks the kind of dynamic that limbo offers , and in some ways is a rather indulgent piece .


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .

there 's a disreputable air about the whole thing , and that 's what makes it irresistible .


being author wells ' great-grandson , you 'd think filmmaker simon wells would have more reverence for the material .


you can feel the heat that ignites this gripping tale , and the humor and humanity that root it in feeling .

this road movie gives you emotional whiplash , and you 'll be glad you went along for the ride .


one hour photo is an intriguing snapshot of one man and his delusions ; it 's just too bad it does n't have more flashes of insight .


k-19 may not hold a lot of water as a submarine epic , but it holds even less when it turns into an elegiacally soggy saving private ryanovich .


kinnear gives a tremendous performance .


if you 're like me , a sucker for a good old fashion romance and someone who shamelessly loves to eat , then mostly martha offers all the perfect ingredients to more than satisfy your appetite .


the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .


a work of astonishing delicacy and force .

if there 's a way to effectively teach kids about the dangers of drugs , i think it 's in projects like the -lrb- unfortunately r-rated -rrb- paid .


the vampire thriller blade ii starts off as a wild hoot and then sucks the blood out of its fun -- toward the end , you can feel your veins cringing from the workout .


well-written , nicely acted and beautifully shot and scored , the film works on several levels , openly questioning social mores while ensnaring the audience with its emotional pull .


a great ending does n't make up for a weak movie , and crazy as hell does n't even have a great ending .


it 's best to avoid imprisonment with the dull , nerdy folks that inhabit cherish .


theirs is a simple and heart-warming story , full of mirth that should charm all but the most cynical .


this delicately observed story , deeply felt and masterfully stylized , is a triumph for its maverick director .


the title 's lameness should clue you in on how bad the movie is .


it uses an old-time formula , it 's not terribly original and it 's rather messy -- but you just have to love the big , dumb , happy movie my big fat greek wedding .

moore 's performance impresses almost as much as her work with haynes in 1995 's safe .


before long , the film starts playing like general hospital crossed with a saturday night live spoof of dog day afternoon .


an experience so engrossing it is like being buried in a new environment .

has a shambling charm ... a cheerfully inconsequential diversion .


it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .


this version incarnates the prophetic book in a way even its exacting author might admire .

does what a fine documentary does best : it extends a warm invitation into an unfamiliar world , then illuminates it fully and allows the larger implications of the journey to sink in unobtrusively .


none of this violates the letter of behan 's book , but missing is its spirit , its ribald , full-throated humor .


in the process , they demonstrate that there 's still a lot of life in hong kong cinema .

the level of maturity displayed by this 33-year-old first-time feature director is astonishing , considering her inexperience and her subject matter .


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .


absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way .

but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .


a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .


the level of maturity displayed by this 33-year-old first-time feature director is astonishing , considering her inexperience and her subject matter .

it uses an old-time formula , it 's not terribly original and it 's rather messy -- but you just have to love the big , dumb , happy movie my big fat greek wedding .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


while the mystery surrounding the nature of the boat 's malediction remains intriguing enough to sustain mild interest , the picture refuses to offer much accompanying sustenance in the way of characterization , humor or plain old popcorn fun .

the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .


offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .


the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .


it 's a beautifully accomplished lyrical meditation on a bunch of despondent and vulnerable characters living in the renown chelsea hotel ...


the angst-ridden , affluent slacker characters are more grating than engaging .

it 's badly acted , blandly directed , and could have been scripted by someone who just graduated from elementary school .


a love for films shines through each frame and the era is recreated with obvious affection , scored to perfection with some tasty boogaloo beats .


while the isle is both preposterous and thoroughly misogynistic , its vistas are incredibly beautiful to look at .

an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .


if you 're not the target demographic ... this movie is one long chick-flick slog .


if this movie were a book , it would be a page-turner , you ca n't wait to see what happens next .

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


but the characters tend to be cliches whose lives are never fully explored .


to imagine the life of harry potter as a martial arts adventure told by a lobotomized woody allen is to have some idea of the fate that lies in store for moviegoers lured to the mediocrity that is kung pow : enter the fist .


even with all those rough edges safely sanded down , the american insomnia is still pretty darned good .


somehow we 're meant to buy that this doting mother would shun her kids , travel to one of the most dangerous parts of the world , don fatigues and become g.i. jane .

these are names to remember , in order to avoid them in the future .


you might not want to hang out with samantha , but you 'll probably see a bit of yourself in her unfinished story .


a hideous , confusing spectacle , one that may well put the nail in the coffin of any future rice adaptations .

the two leads are almost good enough to camouflage the dopey plot , but so much naturalistic small talk , delivered in almost muffled exchanges , eventually has a lulling effect .


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .


you 're better off staying home and watching the x-files .

just like hearst 's enormous yacht , it 's slow and unwieldy and takes a long time to reach its destination .


though the violence is far less sadistic than usual , the film is typical miike : fast , furious and full of off-the-cuff imaginative flourishes .


while not as aggressively impressive as its american counterpart , `` in the bedroom , '' moretti 's film makes its own , quieter observations

a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .


i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .


a tv episode inflated past its natural length .

it would be hard to think of a recent movie that has worked this hard to achieve this little fun .


pray 's film works well and will appeal even to those who are n't too familiar with turntablism .


none of this violates the letter of behan 's book , but missing is its spirit , its ribald , full-throated humor .

if this dud had been made in the '70s , it would have been called the hills have antlers and played for about three weeks in drive-ins .


barney has created a tour de force that is weird , wacky and wonderful .


the latest installment in the pokemon canon , pokemon 4ever is surprising less moldy and trite than the last two , likely because much of the japanese anime is set in a scenic forest where pokemon graze in peace .

behind the snow games and lovable siberian huskies -lrb- plus one sheep dog -rrb- , the picture hosts a parka-wrapped dose of heart .


anyone who can count to five -lrb- the film 's target market ? -rrb-


taken individually or collectively , the stories never add up to as much as they promise .

you 're better off staying home and watching the x-files .


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


birot is a competent enough filmmaker , but her story has nothing fresh or very exciting about it .

sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


kinnear gives a tremendous performance .

the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .


a clutchy , indulgent and pretentious travelogue and diatribe against ... well , just stuff .


what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .


it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .


not every animated film from disney will become a classic , but forgive me if i 've come to expect more from this studio than some 79-minute after-school `` cartoon '' .

taken individually or collectively , the stories never add up to as much as they promise .


occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .


` enigma ' is a good name for a movie this delibrately obtuse and unapproachable .

it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .


subversive , meditative , clinical and poetic , the piano teacher is a daring work of genius .


i doubt anyone will remember the picture by the time christmas really rolls around , but maybe it 'll be on video by then .

while mcfarlane 's animation lifts the film firmly above the level of other coming-of-age films ... it 's also so jarring that it 's hard to get back into the boys ' story .


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .


i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


barney has created a tour de force that is weird , wacky and wonderful .


others may find it migraine-inducing , despite moore 's attempts at whimsy and spoon feeding .

lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .


and in this regard , on guard delivers .


an amusing , breezily apolitical documentary about life on the campaign trail .

two generations within one family test boundaries in this intelligent and restrained coming-of-age drama .


being author wells ' great-grandson , you 'd think filmmaker simon wells would have more reverence for the material .


safe conduct , however ambitious and well-intentioned , fails to hit the entertainment bull 's - eye .

with its hints of a greater intelligence lurking somewhere , the ring makes its stupidity more than obvious .


the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


the saturation bombing of reggio 's images and glass ' evocative music ... ultimately leaves viewers with the task of divining meaning .

the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship -lrb- most notably wretched sound design -rrb- .


more a load of enjoyable , conan-esque claptrap than the punishing , special-effects soul assaults the mummy pictures represent .


unless you are in dire need of a diesel fix , there is no real reason to see it .

the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


while not as aggressively impressive as its american counterpart , `` in the bedroom , '' moretti 's film makes its own , quieter observations


this formulaic chiller will do little to boost stallone 's career .

none of this violates the letter of behan 's book , but missing is its spirit , its ribald , full-throated humor .


what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .

harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .


safe conduct , however ambitious and well-intentioned , fails to hit the entertainment bull 's - eye .


the smug , oily demeanor that donovan adopts throughout the stupidly named pipe dream is just repulsive .

watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .


the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .


this is a film brimming with detail and nuance and one that speaks volumes about the ability of the human spirit to find solace in events that could easily crush it forever .

kinnear gives a tremendous performance .


just like hearst 's enormous yacht , it 's slow and unwieldy and takes a long time to reach its destination .


everything you loved about it in 1982 is still there , for everybody who wants to be a kid again , or show it to their own kids .

you can feel the heat that ignites this gripping tale , and the humor and humanity that root it in feeling .


a tough go , but leigh 's depth and rigor , and his skill at inspiring accomplished portrayals that are all the more impressive for their lack of showiness , offsets to a notable degree the film 's often-mined and despairing milieu .

intriguing and beautiful film , but those of you who read the book are likely to be disappointed .


taken individually or collectively , the stories never add up to as much as they promise .


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


a film that takes you inside the rhythms of its subject : you experience it as you watch .


... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .


moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .


this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .

the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


this goofy gangster yarn never really elevates itself from being yet another earnestly generic crime-busting comic vehicle -- a well-intentioned remake that shows some spunk and promise but fails to register as anything distinctive or daring


the makers have forsaken the entertaining elements of the original and , instead , rehash old jokes and leave any life at the doorstep .

pumpkin sits in a patch somewhere between mirthless todd solondzian satire and callow student film .


do n't plan on the perfect ending , but sweet home alabama hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .

unless you are in dire need of a diesel fix , there is no real reason to see it .


a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .


after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .

pray 's film works well and will appeal even to those who are n't too familiar with turntablism .


to imagine the life of harry potter as a martial arts adventure told by a lobotomized woody allen is to have some idea of the fate that lies in store for moviegoers lured to the mediocrity that is kung pow : enter the fist .


though the film 's scenario is certainly not earthshaking , this depiction of fluctuating female sexuality has two winning lead performances and charm to spare .

-lrb- davis -rrb- has a bright , chipper style that keeps things moving , while never quite managing to connect her wish-fulfilling characters to the human race .


like its two predecessors , 1983 's koyaanisqatsi and 1988 's powaqqatsi , the cinematic collage naqoyqatsi could be the most navel-gazing film ever .


compelling revenge thriller , though somewhat weakened by a miscast leading lady .

a candid and often fascinating documentary about a pentecostal church in dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services .


the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .


never -lrb- sinks -rrb- into exploitation .

everything that has to do with yvan and charlotte , and everything that has to do with yvan 's rambunctious , jewish sister and her non-jew husband , feels funny and true .


while benigni -lrb- who stars and co-wrote -rrb- seems to be having a wonderful time , he might be alone in that .


the picture , scored by a perversely cheerful marcus miller accordion\/harmonica\/banjo abomination , is a monument to bad in all its florid variety .

anyone who can count to five -lrb- the film 's target market ? -rrb-


the movie has an avalanche of eye-popping visual effects .


it uses an old-time formula , it 's not terribly original and it 's rather messy -- but you just have to love the big , dumb , happy movie my big fat greek wedding .


... a weak , manipulative , pencil-thin story that is miraculously able to entertain anyway .


the title 's lameness should clue you in on how bad the movie is .

with a story inspired by the tumultuous surroundings of los angeles , where feelings of marginalization loom for every dreamer with a burst bubble , the dogwalker has a few characters and ideas , but it never manages to put them on the same path .


smith 's approach is never to tease , except gently and in that way that makes us consider our own eccentricities and how they are expressed through our homes .


barney has created a tour de force that is weird , wacky and wonderful .

a feel-good picture in the best sense of the term .


i 'd give real money to see the perpetrators of chicago torn apart by dingoes .


it will delight newcomers to the story and those who know it from bygone days .

if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .


julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .


chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .

i admired it , particularly that unexpected downer of an ending .


the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


this goofy gangster yarn never really elevates itself from being yet another earnestly generic crime-busting comic vehicle -- a well-intentioned remake that shows some spunk and promise but fails to register as anything distinctive or daring


an enchanting film that presents an audacious tour of the past and takes within its warm embrace the bounties of cultural artifacts inside st. petersburg 's hermitage museum .


say this for the soundtrack , it drowns out the lousy dialogue .

watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .


a film that takes you inside the rhythms of its subject : you experience it as you watch .

it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .


the saturation bombing of reggio 's images and glass ' evocative music ... ultimately leaves viewers with the task of divining meaning .


though it is by no means his best work , laissez-passer is a distinguished and distinctive effort by a bona-fide master , a fascinating film replete with rewards to be had by all willing to make the effort to reap them .


-lrb- but it 's -rrb- worth recommending because of two marvelous performances by michael caine and brendan fraser .

flavorful and romantic , you could call this how martha got her groove back -- assuming , that is , she ever had one to begin with .


say this for the soundtrack , it drowns out the lousy dialogue .


at its best early on as it plays the culture clashes between the brothers .

ms. fulford-wierzbicki is almost spooky in her sulky , calculating lolita turn .


proof that a thriller can be sleekly shot , expertly cast , paced with crisp professionalism ... and still be a letdown if its twists and turns hold no more surprise than yesterday 's weather report .


but in imax 3-d , the clichés disappear into the vertiginous perspectives opened up by the photography .

does what a fine documentary does best : it extends a warm invitation into an unfamiliar world , then illuminates it fully and allows the larger implications of the journey to sink in unobtrusively .


do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...


it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .

obvious politics and rudimentary animation reduce the chances that the appeal of hey arnold !


the film hinges on its performances , and both leads are up to the task .


the tug-of-war at the core of beijing bicycle becomes weighed down with agonizing contrivances , overheated pathos and long , wistful gazes .

i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .


you might not want to hang out with samantha , but you 'll probably see a bit of yourself in her unfinished story .

much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .


the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .


suffers from rambling , repetitive dialogue and the visual drabness endemic to digital video .

somehow we 're meant to buy that this doting mother would shun her kids , travel to one of the most dangerous parts of the world , don fatigues and become g.i. jane .


stephen earnhart 's homespun documentary mule skinner blues has nothing but love for its posse of trailer park denizens .


i watched the brainless insanity of no such thing with mounting disbelief .


we miss the quirky amazement that used to come along for an integral part of the ride .


pray 's film works well and will appeal even to those who are n't too familiar with turntablism .

-lrb- davis -rrb- has a bright , chipper style that keeps things moving , while never quite managing to connect her wish-fulfilling characters to the human race .


before long , the film starts playing like general hospital crossed with a saturday night live spoof of dog day afternoon .


hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .

this is a film brimming with detail and nuance and one that speaks volumes about the ability of the human spirit to find solace in events that could easily crush it forever .


you 'll be more entertained getting hit by a bus .


taken individually or collectively , the stories never add up to as much as they promise .


while not as aggressively impressive as its american counterpart , `` in the bedroom , '' moretti 's film makes its own , quieter observations


it virtually defines a comedy that 's strongly mediocre , with funny bits surfacing every once in a while .


more a load of enjoyable , conan-esque claptrap than the punishing , special-effects soul assaults the mummy pictures represent .


though the controversial korean filmmaker 's latest effort is not for all tastes , it offers gorgeous imagery , effective performances , and an increasingly unsettling sense of foreboding .

an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .


if you 're not the target demographic ... this movie is one long chick-flick slog .


though avary has done his best to make something out of ellis ' nothing novel , in the end , his rules is barely worth following .

a soggy , cliche-bound epic-horror yarn that ends up being even dumber than its title .


one hour photo is an intriguing snapshot of one man and his delusions ; it 's just too bad it does n't have more flashes of insight .

sunshine state lacks the kind of dynamic that limbo offers , and in some ways is a rather indulgent piece .


a love for films shines through each frame and the era is recreated with obvious affection , scored to perfection with some tasty boogaloo beats .


the whole thing plays out with the drowsy heaviness of synchronized swimmer wearing a wool wetsuit .

the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .


gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !


if this dud had been made in the '70s , it would have been called the hills have antlers and played for about three weeks in drive-ins .

the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .


do n't plan on the perfect ending , but sweet home alabama hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .


there 's enough science to make it count as educational , and enough beauty to make it unforgettable .

i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .


it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .


maguire is a surprisingly effective peter\/spider-man .

only an epic documentary could get it all down , and spike lee 's jim brown : all american at long last gives its subject a movie worthy of his talents .


plays less like a coming-of-age romance than an infomercial .


this is a very fine movie -- go see it .

an amusing , breezily apolitical documentary about life on the campaign trail .


like those to rome , all roads in the banger sisters inevitably lead to a joke about hawn 's breasts , which constantly threaten to upstage the woman sporting them .


it 's hard not to be seduced by -lrb- witherspoon 's -rrb- charisma , even in this run-of-the-mill vehicle , because this girl knows how to drive it to the max .

maguire is a surprisingly effective peter\/spider-man .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


a well-made and often lovely depiction of the mysteries of friendship .

zhang yimou delivers warm , genuine characters who lie not through dishonesty , but because they genuinely believe it 's the only way to bring happiness to their loved ones .


murder by numbers is like a couple of mediocre tv-movie - of-the-week films clumsily stuck together .


it 's one of the saddest films i have ever seen that still manages to be uplifting but not overly sentimental .

an exciting and involving rock music doc , a smart and satisfying look inside that tumultuous world .


might have been better off as a documentary , with less of mr. eyre 's uninspired dramatics and more of his sense of observation and outrage .


watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .


you can feel the heat that ignites this gripping tale , and the humor and humanity that root it in feeling .


julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .


though the violence is far less sadistic than usual , the film is typical miike : fast , furious and full of off-the-cuff imaginative flourishes .


obvious politics and rudimentary animation reduce the chances that the appeal of hey arnold !


thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


when -lrb- de palma 's -rrb- bad , he 's really bad , and femme fatale ranks with the worst he has done .

a tv episode inflated past its natural length .


it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .


pumpkin sits in a patch somewhere between mirthless todd solondzian satire and callow student film .


if this movie were a book , it would be a page-turner , you ca n't wait to see what happens next .


if you 're not the target demographic ... this movie is one long chick-flick slog .

nearly surreal , dabbling in french , this is no simple movie , and you 'll be taking a risk if you choose to see it .


occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .


this pep-talk for faith , hope and charity does little to offend , but if saccharine earnestness were a crime , the film 's producers would be in the clink for life .

men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .


a highly intriguing thriller , coupled with some ingenious plot devices and some lavishly built settings . .


i watched the brainless insanity of no such thing with mounting disbelief .

i 'd give real money to see the perpetrators of chicago torn apart by dingoes .


a picture that extols the virtues of comradeship and community in a spunky , spirited fashion .


the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .


ms. fulford-wierzbicki is almost spooky in her sulky , calculating lolita turn .

you might not want to hang out with samantha , but you 'll probably see a bit of yourself in her unfinished story .


sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


with youthful high spirits , tautou remains captivating throughout michele 's religious and romantic quests , and she is backed by a likable cast .

an exciting and involving rock music doc , a smart and satisfying look inside that tumultuous world .


... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .


as shaky as the plot is , kaufman 's script is still memorable for some great one-liners .

despite some gulps the film is a fuzzy huggy .


a soggy , cliche-bound epic-horror yarn that ends up being even dumber than its title .


lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .

the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


it could change america , not only because it is full of necessary discussion points , but because it is so accessible that it makes complex politics understandable to viewers looking for nothing but energetic entertainment .

this bold and lyrical first feature from raja amari expands the pat notion that middle-aged women just wanna have fun into a rousing treatise of sensual empowerment .


the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .


technically , the film is about as interesting as an insurance commercial .


while not all transitions to adulthood are so fraught , there 's much truth and no small amount of poetry in girls ca n't swim .


watching the film is like reading a times portrait of grief that keeps shifting focus to the journalist who wrote it .

do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...


it 's a beautifully accomplished lyrical meditation on a bunch of despondent and vulnerable characters living in the renown chelsea hotel ...


though it is by no means his best work , laissez-passer is a distinguished and distinctive effort by a bona-fide master , a fascinating film replete with rewards to be had by all willing to make the effort to reap them .

moore 's performance impresses almost as much as her work with haynes in 1995 's safe .


the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship -lrb- most notably wretched sound design -rrb- .


but if it is indeed a duty of art to reflect life , than leigh has created a masterful piece of artistry right here .

what 's most striking about this largely celebratory film ... is the sense of isolation that permeates these bastions of individuality in an ikea world .


say this for the soundtrack , it drowns out the lousy dialogue .


mixes likeable personalities , inventive photography and cutting , and wall-to-wall toe-tapping music to paint a picture of a subculture that is at once exhilarating , silly , perverse , hopeful and always fun .

mr. parker has brilliantly updated his source and grasped its essence , composing a sorrowful and hilarious tone poem about alienated labor , or an absurdist workplace sitcom .


but the characters tend to be cliches whose lives are never fully explored .


subversive , meditative , clinical and poetic , the piano teacher is a daring work of genius .


sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


overall , the film misses the brilliance of jelinek 's novel by some way .

k-19 may not hold a lot of water as a submarine epic , but it holds even less when it turns into an elegiacally soggy saving private ryanovich .


flavorful and romantic , you could call this how martha got her groove back -- assuming , that is , she ever had one to begin with .


what 's most striking about this largely celebratory film ... is the sense of isolation that permeates these bastions of individuality in an ikea world .

an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .


while the mystery surrounding the nature of the boat 's malediction remains intriguing enough to sustain mild interest , the picture refuses to offer much accompanying sustenance in the way of characterization , humor or plain old popcorn fun .


it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


none of this violates the letter of behan 's book , but missing is its spirit , its ribald , full-throated humor .


this is a very fine movie -- go see it .


the result is mesmerizing -- filled with menace and squalor .

a tough go , but leigh 's depth and rigor , and his skill at inspiring accomplished portrayals that are all the more impressive for their lack of showiness , offsets to a notable degree the film 's often-mined and despairing milieu .


-lrb- two -rrb- fairly dull -- contrasting and interlocking stories about miserable scandinavian settlers in 18th-century canada , and yuppie sailboaters in the here and now .


we can see the wheels turning , and we might resent it sometimes , but this is still a nice little picture , made by bright and friendly souls with a lot of good cheer .

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


the angst-ridden , affluent slacker characters are more grating than engaging .


while not all transitions to adulthood are so fraught , there 's much truth and no small amount of poetry in girls ca n't swim .

only an epic documentary could get it all down , and spike lee 's jim brown : all american at long last gives its subject a movie worthy of his talents .


life is a crock -- or something like it .


a picture that extols the virtues of comradeship and community in a spunky , spirited fashion .


but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .


shadyac shoots his film like an m. night shyamalan movie , and he frequently maintains the same snail 's pace ; he just forgot to add any genuine tension .

taken individually or collectively , the stories never add up to as much as they promise .


egoyan 's movie is too complicated to sustain involvement , and , if you 'll excuse a little critical heresy , too intellectually ambitious .


in the process , they demonstrate that there 's still a lot of life in hong kong cinema .


might have been better off as a documentary , with less of mr. eyre 's uninspired dramatics and more of his sense of observation and outrage .


after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .


plays less like a coming-of-age romance than an infomercial .

i 'd give real money to see the perpetrators of chicago torn apart by dingoes .


but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .

it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .


mr. parker has brilliantly updated his source and grasped its essence , composing a sorrowful and hilarious tone poem about alienated labor , or an absurdist workplace sitcom .


before long , the film starts playing like general hospital crossed with a saturday night live spoof of dog day afternoon .

we miss the quirky amazement that used to come along for an integral part of the ride .


even with all those rough edges safely sanded down , the american insomnia is still pretty darned good .


gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !

this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .


could the whole plan here have been to produce something that makes fatal attraction look like a classic by comparison ?


you 'll be more entertained getting hit by a bus .

overall , the film misses the brilliance of jelinek 's novel by some way .


there 's enough science to make it count as educational , and enough beauty to make it unforgettable .


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .

not every animated film from disney will become a classic , but forgive me if i 've come to expect more from this studio than some 79-minute after-school `` cartoon '' .


gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !


i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .

the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


you 'll be more entertained getting hit by a bus .


this is as powerful a set of evidence as you 'll ever find of why art matters , and how it can resonate far beyond museum walls and through to the most painfully marginal lives .

the movie has an avalanche of eye-popping visual effects .


and in this regard , on guard delivers .

this is a very fine movie -- go see it .


lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .


credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .

even if britney spears is really cute , her movie is really bad .


christians sensitive to a reductionist view of their lord as a luv-spreading dr. feelgood or omnipotent slacker will feel vastly more affronted than secularists , who might even praise god for delivering such an instant camp classic .


... -lrb- a -rrb- strained comedy that jettisons all opportunities for rock to make his mark by serving up the usual chaotic nonsense .

suffers from rambling , repetitive dialogue and the visual drabness endemic to digital video .


harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .


the powers team has fashioned a comedy with more laughs than many , no question .

chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .


the angst-ridden , affluent slacker characters are more grating than engaging .


if melville is creatively a great whale , this film is canned tuna .

any one episode of the sopranos would send this ill-conceived folly to sleep with the fishes .


for benigni it was n't shakespeare whom he wanted to define his career with but pinocchio .


the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .

the best you can say about it is it 's so uninspired , it barely gives one pause when considering some of the other dreck out there right now .


occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .


this film is so slick , superficial and trend-hoppy , that it 's easy to imagine that a new software program spit out the screenplay .

sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


a love for films shines through each frame and the era is recreated with obvious affection , scored to perfection with some tasty boogaloo beats .

reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .


there 's an audience for it , but it could have been funnier and more innocent .

the whole thing plays out with the drowsy heaviness of synchronized swimmer wearing a wool wetsuit .


and if the hours wins ` best picture ' i just might .

a film that takes you inside the rhythms of its subject : you experience it as you watch .


absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way .


it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .

egoyan 's movie is too complicated to sustain involvement , and , if you 'll excuse a little critical heresy , too intellectually ambitious .


a love for films shines through each frame and the era is recreated with obvious affection , scored to perfection with some tasty boogaloo beats .


the movie has an avalanche of eye-popping visual effects .

this delicately observed story , deeply felt and masterfully stylized , is a triumph for its maverick director .


its underlying mythology is a hodgepodge of inconsistencies that pose the question : since when did dumb entertainment have to be this dumb ?


christians sensitive to a reductionist view of their lord as a luv-spreading dr. feelgood or omnipotent slacker will feel vastly more affronted than secularists , who might even praise god for delivering such an instant camp classic .

the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .


i enjoyed the ride -lrb- bumps and all -rrb- , creamy depth , and ultimate theme .

stephen earnhart 's homespun documentary mule skinner blues has nothing but love for its posse of trailer park denizens .


unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .


sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...


offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .


the vampire thriller blade ii starts off as a wild hoot and then sucks the blood out of its fun -- toward the end , you can feel your veins cringing from the workout .

it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .


a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .


it wo n't be long before you 'll spy i spy at a video store near you .

the best you can say about it is it 's so uninspired , it barely gives one pause when considering some of the other dreck out there right now .


barney has created a tour de force that is weird , wacky and wonderful .


the people in dogtown and z-boys are so funny , aggressive and alive , you have to watch them because you ca n't wait to see what they do next .

maguire is a surprisingly effective peter\/spider-man .


collateral damage is , despite its alleged provocation post-9 \/ 11 , an antique , in the end .


offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .

this is as powerful a set of evidence as you 'll ever find of why art matters , and how it can resonate far beyond museum walls and through to the most painfully marginal lives .


the title 's lameness should clue you in on how bad the movie is .


while benigni -lrb- who stars and co-wrote -rrb- seems to be having a wonderful time , he might be alone in that .

the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .


without a strong script and energetic acting , dogma films can produce the same sleep-inducing effects as watching your neighbor 's home videos .

any one episode of the sopranos would send this ill-conceived folly to sleep with the fishes .


from spiritual rebirth to bruising defeat , vincent 's odyssey resonates in a profound way , comparable to the classic films of jean renoir .


while mcfarlane 's animation lifts the film firmly above the level of other coming-of-age films ... it 's also so jarring that it 's hard to get back into the boys ' story .

the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .


a feel-good picture in the best sense of the term .


every bit as bogus as most disney live action family movies are -- no real plot , no real conflict , no real point .


what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .


two generations within one family test boundaries in this intelligent and restrained coming-of-age drama .

gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !


... a weak , manipulative , pencil-thin story that is miraculously able to entertain anyway .


dazzling and sugar-sweet , a blast of shallow magnificence that only sex , scandal , and a chorus line of dangerous damsels can deliver .

while not all transitions to adulthood are so fraught , there 's much truth and no small amount of poetry in girls ca n't swim .


this pep-talk for faith , hope and charity does little to offend , but if saccharine earnestness were a crime , the film 's producers would be in the clink for life .


a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .

this is a very fine movie -- go see it .


technically , the film is about as interesting as an insurance commercial .


another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .


moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .


moore 's performance impresses almost as much as her work with haynes in 1995 's safe .

though the controversial korean filmmaker 's latest effort is not for all tastes , it offers gorgeous imagery , effective performances , and an increasingly unsettling sense of foreboding .


the weight of water uses water as a metaphor for subconscious desire , but this leaky script barely stays afloat .


while the isle is both preposterous and thoroughly misogynistic , its vistas are incredibly beautiful to look at .


i admired it , particularly that unexpected downer of an ending .

it 's hard not to be seduced by -lrb- witherspoon 's -rrb- charisma , even in this run-of-the-mill vehicle , because this girl knows how to drive it to the max .


we miss the quirky amazement that used to come along for an integral part of the ride .


a boring , formulaic mix of serial killers and stalk 'n' slash .

the smug , oily demeanor that donovan adopts throughout the stupidly named pipe dream is just repulsive .


with youthful high spirits , tautou remains captivating throughout michele 's religious and romantic quests , and she is backed by a likable cast .


what will , most likely , turn out to be the most repellent movie of 2002 .


after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .


a soggy , cliche-bound epic-horror yarn that ends up being even dumber than its title .

just like hearst 's enormous yacht , it 's slow and unwieldy and takes a long time to reach its destination .


it 's one of the saddest films i have ever seen that still manages to be uplifting but not overly sentimental .


even with all those rough edges safely sanded down , the american insomnia is still pretty darned good .


if you 're like me , a sucker for a good old fashion romance and someone who shamelessly loves to eat , then mostly martha offers all the perfect ingredients to more than satisfy your appetite .

thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .


if you 're not the target demographic ... this movie is one long chick-flick slog .


but the characters tend to be cliches whose lives are never fully explored .


dazzling and sugar-sweet , a blast of shallow magnificence that only sex , scandal , and a chorus line of dangerous damsels can deliver .


but it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds .


-lrb- two -rrb- fairly dull -- contrasting and interlocking stories about miserable scandinavian settlers in 18th-century canada , and yuppie sailboaters in the here and now .


the film hinges on its performances , and both leads are up to the task .

if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .


... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .


there 's a disreputable air about the whole thing , and that 's what makes it irresistible .

what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .


suffers from rambling , repetitive dialogue and the visual drabness endemic to digital video .


it 's badly acted , blandly directed , and could have been scripted by someone who just graduated from elementary school .

the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .


reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .

pray 's film works well and will appeal even to those who are n't too familiar with turntablism .


it 's hard to tell with all the crashing and banging where the salesmanship ends and the movie begins .


as shaky as the plot is , kaufman 's script is still memorable for some great one-liners .


behind the snow games and lovable siberian huskies -lrb- plus one sheep dog -rrb- , the picture hosts a parka-wrapped dose of heart .

while the isle is both preposterous and thoroughly misogynistic , its vistas are incredibly beautiful to look at .


the two leads are almost good enough to camouflage the dopey plot , but so much naturalistic small talk , delivered in almost muffled exchanges , eventually has a lulling effect .

absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way .


this is a raw and disturbing tale that took five years to make , and the trio 's absorbing narrative is a heart-wrenching showcase indeed .


it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .

zhang yimou delivers warm , genuine characters who lie not through dishonesty , but because they genuinely believe it 's the only way to bring happiness to their loved ones .


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .


with a story inspired by the tumultuous surroundings of los angeles , where feelings of marginalization loom for every dreamer with a burst bubble , the dogwalker has a few characters and ideas , but it never manages to put them on the same path .


harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .


a highly intriguing thriller , coupled with some ingenious plot devices and some lavishly built settings . .

... a polished and relatively sincere piece of escapism .


life is a crock -- or something like it .


these are names to remember , in order to avoid them in the future .

lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .


a picture that extols the virtues of comradeship and community in a spunky , spirited fashion .


does what a fine documentary does best : it extends a warm invitation into an unfamiliar world , then illuminates it fully and allows the larger implications of the journey to sink in unobtrusively .

it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .


a clutchy , indulgent and pretentious travelogue and diatribe against ... well , just stuff .


a clutchy , indulgent and pretentious travelogue and diatribe against ... well , just stuff .

with its hints of a greater intelligence lurking somewhere , the ring makes its stupidity more than obvious .


a sensual performance from abbass buoys the flimsy story , but her inner journey is largely unexplored and we 're left wondering about this exotic-looking woman whose emotional depths are only hinted at .


occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .

theirs is a simple and heart-warming story , full of mirth that should charm all but the most cynical .


-lrb- t -rrb- hose same extremes prevent us from taking its message seriously , and the stepford wives mentality does n't work in a modern context .

the title 's lameness should clue you in on how bad the movie is .


chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .


this is a particularly toxic little bonbon , palatable to only a chosen and very jaundiced few .

when -lrb- de palma 's -rrb- bad , he 's really bad , and femme fatale ranks with the worst he has done .


leave it to rohmer , now 82 , to find a way to bend current technique to the service of a vision of the past that is faithful to both architectural glories and commanding open spaces of the city as it was more than two centuries ago .


this bold and lyrical first feature from raja amari expands the pat notion that middle-aged women just wanna have fun into a rousing treatise of sensual empowerment .

this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .


absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way .


a sensual performance from abbass buoys the flimsy story , but her inner journey is largely unexplored and we 're left wondering about this exotic-looking woman whose emotional depths are only hinted at .

for benigni it was n't shakespeare whom he wanted to define his career with but pinocchio .


an exciting and involving rock music doc , a smart and satisfying look inside that tumultuous world .

a candid and often fascinating documentary about a pentecostal church in dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services .


proof that a thriller can be sleekly shot , expertly cast , paced with crisp professionalism ... and still be a letdown if its twists and turns hold no more surprise than yesterday 's weather report .


a lighthearted , feel-good film that embraces the time-honored truth that the most powerful thing in life is love .

even with all those rough edges safely sanded down , the american insomnia is still pretty darned good .


a boring , formulaic mix of serial killers and stalk 'n' slash .


life is a crock -- or something like it .

could the whole plan here have been to produce something that makes fatal attraction look like a classic by comparison ?


if you 're like me , a sucker for a good old fashion romance and someone who shamelessly loves to eat , then mostly martha offers all the perfect ingredients to more than satisfy your appetite .


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .

though the controversial korean filmmaker 's latest effort is not for all tastes , it offers gorgeous imagery , effective performances , and an increasingly unsettling sense of foreboding .


murder by numbers is like a couple of mediocre tv-movie - of-the-week films clumsily stuck together .

every bit as bogus as most disney live action family movies are -- no real plot , no real conflict , no real point .


by presenting an impossible romance in an impossible world , pumpkin dares us to say why either is impossible -- which forces us to confront what 's possible and what we might do to make it so .


this is a raw and disturbing tale that took five years to make , and the trio 's absorbing narrative is a heart-wrenching showcase indeed .

the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


it 's so underwritten that you ca n't figure out just where the other characters , including ana 's father and grandfather , come down on the issue of ana 's future .


has a shambling charm ... a cheerfully inconsequential diversion .

a picture that extols the virtues of comradeship and community in a spunky , spirited fashion .


when -lrb- de palma 's -rrb- bad , he 's really bad , and femme fatale ranks with the worst he has done .


... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .

julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .


being author wells ' great-grandson , you 'd think filmmaker simon wells would have more reverence for the material .

leave these flowers unpicked -- they 're dead on the vine .


but it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds .


like its two predecessors , 1983 's koyaanisqatsi and 1988 's powaqqatsi , the cinematic collage naqoyqatsi could be the most navel-gazing film ever .

strong setup and ambitious goals fade as the film descends into unsophisticated scare tactics and b-film thuggery .


this road movie gives you emotional whiplash , and you 'll be glad you went along for the ride .


proof that a thriller can be sleekly shot , expertly cast , paced with crisp professionalism ... and still be a letdown if its twists and turns hold no more surprise than yesterday 's weather report .

sunshine state lacks the kind of dynamic that limbo offers , and in some ways is a rather indulgent piece .


if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .


what it lacks in originality it makes up for in intelligence and b-grade stylishness .

though the film 's scenario is certainly not earthshaking , this depiction of fluctuating female sexuality has two winning lead performances and charm to spare .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


anyone who can count to five -lrb- the film 's target market ? -rrb-

lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .


mixes likeable personalities , inventive photography and cutting , and wall-to-wall toe-tapping music to paint a picture of a subculture that is at once exhilarating , silly , perverse , hopeful and always fun .


if there 's a way to effectively teach kids about the dangers of drugs , i think it 's in projects like the -lrb- unfortunately r-rated -rrb- paid .


it would be hard to think of a recent movie that has worked this hard to achieve this little fun .


if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .

this is cool , slick stuff , ready to quench the thirst of an audience that misses the summer blockbusters .


nearly surreal , dabbling in french , this is no simple movie , and you 'll be taking a risk if you choose to see it .


though the controversial korean filmmaker 's latest effort is not for all tastes , it offers gorgeous imagery , effective performances , and an increasingly unsettling sense of foreboding .


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .

an amusing , breezily apolitical documentary about life on the campaign trail .


it 's disappointing when filmmakers throw a few big-name actors and cameos at a hokey script .


like those to rome , all roads in the banger sisters inevitably lead to a joke about hawn 's breasts , which constantly threaten to upstage the woman sporting them .

these are names to remember , in order to avoid them in the future .


though it is by no means his best work , laissez-passer is a distinguished and distinctive effort by a bona-fide master , a fascinating film replete with rewards to be had by all willing to make the effort to reap them .


the movie exists for its soccer action and its fine acting .

it could change america , not only because it is full of necessary discussion points , but because it is so accessible that it makes complex politics understandable to viewers looking for nothing but energetic entertainment .


a taut , intelligent psychological drama .

what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .


men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .


leave it to rohmer , now 82 , to find a way to bend current technique to the service of a vision of the past that is faithful to both architectural glories and commanding open spaces of the city as it was more than two centuries ago .

a lighthearted , feel-good film that embraces the time-honored truth that the most powerful thing in life is love .


it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .


zhang yimou delivers warm , genuine characters who lie not through dishonesty , but because they genuinely believe it 's the only way to bring happiness to their loved ones .

it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .


a clutchy , indulgent and pretentious travelogue and diatribe against ... well , just stuff .


whether seen on a 10-inch television screen or at your local multiplex , the edge-of-your-seat , educational antics of steve irwin are priceless entertainment .

this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .


a soggy , cliche-bound epic-horror yarn that ends up being even dumber than its title .


without a strong script and energetic acting , dogma films can produce the same sleep-inducing effects as watching your neighbor 's home videos .


the character is too forced and overwritten to be funny or believable much of the time , and clayburgh does n't always improve the over-the-top mix .


strong setup and ambitious goals fade as the film descends into unsophisticated scare tactics and b-film thuggery .

... a weak , manipulative , pencil-thin story that is miraculously able to entertain anyway .


while the isle is both preposterous and thoroughly misogynistic , its vistas are incredibly beautiful to look at .


-lrb- newton -rrb- wanders through charlie completely unaware she needs to show some presence and star quality .

i watched the brainless insanity of no such thing with mounting disbelief .


offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .


the best you can say about it is it 's so uninspired , it barely gives one pause when considering some of the other dreck out there right now .

with a story inspired by the tumultuous surroundings of los angeles , where feelings of marginalization loom for every dreamer with a burst bubble , the dogwalker has a few characters and ideas , but it never manages to put them on the same path .


a taut , intelligent psychological drama .


sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .

well-written , nicely acted and beautifully shot and scored , the film works on several levels , openly questioning social mores while ensnaring the audience with its emotional pull .


to imagine the life of harry potter as a martial arts adventure told by a lobotomized woody allen is to have some idea of the fate that lies in store for moviegoers lured to the mediocrity that is kung pow : enter the fist .


-lrb- davis -rrb- has a bright , chipper style that keeps things moving , while never quite managing to connect her wish-fulfilling characters to the human race .

i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .


the only thing in pauline and paulette that you have n't seen before is a scene featuring a football field-sized oriental rug crafted out of millions of vibrant flowers .


i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .

you 're better off staying home and watching the x-files .


if you 're like me , a sucker for a good old fashion romance and someone who shamelessly loves to eat , then mostly martha offers all the perfect ingredients to more than satisfy your appetite .


an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .

has a shambling charm ... a cheerfully inconsequential diversion .


but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .


could the whole plan here have been to produce something that makes fatal attraction look like a classic by comparison ?

collateral damage is , despite its alleged provocation post-9 \/ 11 , an antique , in the end .


dazzling and sugar-sweet , a blast of shallow magnificence that only sex , scandal , and a chorus line of dangerous damsels can deliver .


much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .

sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...


it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .

this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .


a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .

... a polished and relatively sincere piece of escapism .


what will , most likely , turn out to be the most repellent movie of 2002 .


a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .

christians sensitive to a reductionist view of their lord as a luv-spreading dr. feelgood or omnipotent slacker will feel vastly more affronted than secularists , who might even praise god for delivering such an instant camp classic .


you 'll be more entertained getting hit by a bus .


a candid and often fascinating documentary about a pentecostal church in dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services .

chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .


the editing is chaotic , the photography grainy and badly focused , the writing unintentionally hilarious , the direction unfocused , the performances as wooden .


ritchie 's treatment of the class reversal is majorly ham-fisted , from the repetitive manifestos that keep getting thrown in people 's faces to the fact amber is such a joke .


after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .


harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .

the principals in this cast are all fine , but bishop and stevenson are standouts .


subversive , meditative , clinical and poetic , the piano teacher is a daring work of genius .


theirs is a simple and heart-warming story , full of mirth that should charm all but the most cynical .

with youthful high spirits , tautou remains captivating throughout michele 's religious and romantic quests , and she is backed by a likable cast .


a great ending does n't make up for a weak movie , and crazy as hell does n't even have a great ending .

it 's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that hollywood is n't laughing with us , folks .


two generations within one family test boundaries in this intelligent and restrained coming-of-age drama .


it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .


... -lrb- a -rrb- strained comedy that jettisons all opportunities for rock to make his mark by serving up the usual chaotic nonsense .


i kept thinking over and over again , ' i should be enjoying this . '


the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .