July 09, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
There’s no question that “Borat” was a tough act to follow, but despite its best efforts, “Bruno” proves that lightning doesn’t strike twice. It has its moments – funny, outrageous, offensive, cringe inducing (sometimes all at once) – but on the whole, it pales in comparison to its fresh and far superior predecessor.
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June 30, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
A little more depth would have helped make “Public Enemies” more engaging than it actually is. On a visual scale, it’s technically proficient and impressive, but on an emotional level, it lacks the cinematic gravitas to stand alongside classic gangster epics like “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Untouchables.”
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June 23, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” is not a movie. It’s an endurance test — a two and a half hour drumroll from director Michael Bay, who pulls out all the stops to ensure that the sequel to the megahit from 2007 is the biggest, loudest, most obnoxious spectacle ever made.
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June 17, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
Talk about an offer you can’t refuse, “The Proposal” is one of the funniest movies of the summer (after “The Hangover”), and it’s one of the best romantic comedies in years.
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June 11, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
Should moviegoers rush out to the theater for “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” or wait for the DVD?
Access’ Scott “Movie” Mantz weighs in!
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June 05, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
Every summer, at least one would-be blockbuster turns out to be such a big fat bomb that it leaves a massive crater on the backlot of the Hollywood studio that produced it. Last year, “Speed Racer” left a gaping hole on the Warner Bros. lot, but this year, the turkey on the other end of that burning fuse is Universal’s “Land of the Lost.”
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June 03, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but in the hilarious summer comedy “The Hangover,” three groomsmen with throbbing headaches can’t remember what happened at all.
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May 28, 2009
By Scott Mantz
Pixar’s latest effort, “Up,” stands alongside the likes of “Toy Story 2,” “Finding Nemo,” and “WALL-E” as yet another brilliant gem and instant classic. It’s actually quite incredible how imaginative and visually stunning the Pixar movies continue to be, especially at a time when the Hollywood studios are too wrapped up in remakes, sequels and adaptations to be developing original material.
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May 20, 2009
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
If the third movie was better than it had any right to be, the fourth film isn’t nearly as lucky — and that’s because it’s a loud movie that doesn’t have a lot to say. In fact, if there’s anything to be learned from “Terminator Salvation,” it’s that a) McG likes to blow stuff up, and b) Christian Bale, who plays resistance leader John Connor, likes to shout — a lot.
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