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

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


unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .


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 .


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 .


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


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


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


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


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

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


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 .

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 '' .


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


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

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 .


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


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


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

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


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 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 .


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 .


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

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


it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .


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

a work of astonishing delicacy and force .


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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

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 .


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


hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .


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


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


a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .


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

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


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


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 .

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 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 .


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

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


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


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 .

credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .


sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


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

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


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


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 .

unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .


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 .


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

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


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

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


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 .


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

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


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


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 .


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 .


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

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 .


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


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

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


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


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


julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .

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


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 .


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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 .


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

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


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


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 .

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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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 .

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


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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 .


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 .

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


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


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 .


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

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


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


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 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 .


credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .


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

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


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 .

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


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 .


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


julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .


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


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


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


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .


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


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


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


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


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 .


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 .

a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


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


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 .

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


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

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


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


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 .


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

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


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


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 .

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


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


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


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 .


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

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


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 .


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

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


never -lrb- sinks -rrb- into exploitation .


gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !

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 .


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

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


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


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .

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


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


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

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


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 .

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 .


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


and in this regard , on guard delivers .

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 .


credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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

-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 .


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


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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 .


a work of astonishing delicacy and force .


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


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


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

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


another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .


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 .

sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


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 .


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

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


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


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 ...


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


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 .

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


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


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

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


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 .


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 .

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 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 .

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 .


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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 .

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


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .


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


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


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


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


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

a taut , intelligent psychological drama .


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


a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .

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 .


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


another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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 .


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 .


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

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


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


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 .

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


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


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

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 .


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


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


a tv episode inflated past its natural length .


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

a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .


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

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 .


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


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

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


hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .


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

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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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


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 .

julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .


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


it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .

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


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 .


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 .

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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 .


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 .

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 .


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


-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 .

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


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

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


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 .


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 .

a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


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 .

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


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 .


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


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


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

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


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 .


life is a crock -- or something like it .

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 '' .


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


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .

kinnear gives a tremendous performance .


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


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

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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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 .

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


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 .


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

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


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


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


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


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 .

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


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


another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .


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

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


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 .


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .

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 .


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


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 .

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


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


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

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


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 .


a taut , intelligent psychological drama .

gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !


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


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 .

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


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- .


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 .

the tenderness of the piece is still intact .


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


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 .

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


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


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .


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 .

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


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


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

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


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


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 .

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


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


sensitive , insightful and beautifully rendered film .


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


-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 .

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


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


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

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


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


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 .

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


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


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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


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 .

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 .


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 ...


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .


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

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 .


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


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

and in this regard , on guard delivers .


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

-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 .


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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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

it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .


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


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

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


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 .


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 .

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


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


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 .


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


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 .

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


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


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

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 .


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 .


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

the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


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


unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .

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


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 .


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

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


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


a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .


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


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

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


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


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 .


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

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


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


a turgid little history lesson , humourless and dull .

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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 .

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 .


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


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


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 .


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

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


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


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


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 harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .


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


despite some gulps the film is a fuzzy huggy .

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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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

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 .


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 .


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 .

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 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 .

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


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .


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

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


kinnear gives a tremendous performance .


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .

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


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 .


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

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


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


thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .

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 .


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


it 's fairly self-aware in its dumbness .

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


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


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

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


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 .


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

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


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 .


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

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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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


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 .


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- .

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 .


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 .


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

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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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 .


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


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


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

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


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

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 .


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

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


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 .


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 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 .


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


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


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


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 .

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


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


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 .

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 .


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


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 .

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


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 .

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 .


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


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


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


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

unfortunately , the picture failed to capture me .


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

never -lrb- sinks -rrb- into exploitation .


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

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 .


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 .


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

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


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


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 .


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 .


the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .

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


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 .


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

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


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 .


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 .

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 .


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


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 .


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


a work of astonishing delicacy and force .

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 .


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


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 .

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 .


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 .


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

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


a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .


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

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


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


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 .

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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


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

credibility sinks into a mire of sentiment .


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


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

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


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


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

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 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 .


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 .

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


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 .

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


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


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

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 .


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 .


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

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


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


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


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


a tv episode inflated past its natural length .


a taut , intelligent psychological drama .


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


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


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


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


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

a tv episode inflated past its natural length .


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


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

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


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


kinnear gives a tremendous performance .

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


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


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 .


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


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 '' .

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 .


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


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

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


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


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 .


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 .


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


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


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


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 .


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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 .

a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


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


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 .

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 .


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


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 .

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


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


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


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 .


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


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


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

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


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 .


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .

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


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


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


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


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

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


a tv episode inflated past its natural length .


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

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 .


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


never -lrb- sinks -rrb- into exploitation .


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

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


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


the tenderness of the piece is still intact .


creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .


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

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


a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .


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

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


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


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


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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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

hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .


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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


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


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 .


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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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

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


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


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

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 .


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


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

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


despite some gulps the film is a fuzzy huggy .


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 .


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


hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .

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


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


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


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

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


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 .


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 .

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


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


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

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


gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !


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 .

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


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

life is a crock -- or something like it .


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 .

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


and in this regard , on guard delivers .


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

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


this time kaufman 's imagination has failed him .


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 .


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


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

kinnear gives a tremendous performance .


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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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


julia is played with exasperating blandness by laura regan .

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 .


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 .


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

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


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


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

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


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

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


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


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

men in black ii has sequel-itis something fierce .


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 .


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 .

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