May 07, 2008
by Scott Mantz
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“Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer! He’s a demon on wheels!”
If you can sing the rest of that song — or at least, the very next verse (“he’s a demon, and he’s gonna be chasing after someone!”) — then the odds are that you’ll be disappointed by the big screen version of “Speed Racer.” And if you aren’t disappointed, then you’ll at least walk away with a very big headache.
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Apr 28, 2008
by Scott Mantz
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Up until now, it was a foregone conclusion that while Iron Man was certainly one of the more popular Marvel Comics superheroes created by Stan Lee to emerge from the early 60s, he wasn’t an instantly recognizable icon like Spider-Man, the Hulk or the Fantastic Four. It was also safe to say that while Robert Downey Jr. was widely looked upon as one of the finest actors of his generation, he wasn’t an A-list star like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts, whose names above the title were guaranteed to open a movie.
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Apr 16, 2008
by Scott Mantz
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Another player from the Judd Apatow hitmaking team knocks it out of the park in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” — a heartfelt and hilarious R-rated comedy from the makers of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.”
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Apr 09, 2008
by Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif --
If cliches were bullet holes, then “Street Kings” would look like the victim of a drive-by.
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Apr 03, 2008
by Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif --
"Clooney Drops the Ball"
After making an impressive directorial debut with 2002’s “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” and following it up with the near-masterpiece that was 2005’s “Good Night, and Good Luck,” George Clooney fumbles with “Leatherheads.”
Talk about a film that’s literally and figuratively all over the field, Clooney’s third directorial effort is a wildly uneven romantic comedy that strays too far out of bounds and needlessly runs into overtime.
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Mar 28, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
'Stop-Loss,' '21,' and 'Run Fatboy Run' open this weekend.
Which should you check out?
Access brings you the verdicts from all of the critics!
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Mar 21, 2008
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif --
I don’t know what’s worse – trying to watch “Drillbit Taylor” without thinking about the alleged suicide attempt of its star late last summer, or the fact that this lame attempt at a comedy came from the filmmakers behind last year’s critically-acclaimed and commercial hits “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.”
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Mar 07, 2008
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif --
The good news for director Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow”) is that “10,000 B.C.” is the funniest movie of his career. The bad news is that it’s not supposed to be a comedy. That’s because “10,000 B.C.” is B.A.D. 10,000 times over – the acting is horrible, the dialogue is cheesy, the story is formulaic, the characters are bland and the special effects look a little too phony for a spectacle that cost more than $100 million to make.
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Feb 22, 2008
By Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
The biggest night in Hollywood almost didn’t happen at all – at least, not in the traditional sense – but now that the writers strike is over, it will be business as usual on Sunday, February 24, at the 80th Academy Awards!
So, if you're in an Oscar pool, have no fear; I'm here to help!
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Feb 14, 2008
by Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
The 2008 movie season officially kicked into high gear with the release of the first official teaser trailer for the fourth “Indiana Jones” adventure, titled “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
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Feb 01, 2008
Scott Mantz
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of digging the peripheral effect the Writers Strike is having on all the awards shows this season.
I, for one, would not mind one bit if the Oscars kept it tight and lean, but on the other hand, we are talking about the Oscars here, and it would be a crying shame if “the biggest night in Hollywood” could not live up to its well-deserved reputation. Yes, we all know what that means – tons of nonsensical questions to the well-dressed attendees on the red carpet. But in the end, the awards themselves will prevail, especially if the winners in the major categories shape up to look something like this —
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Jan 10, 2008
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If I knew that I had just 6 months left to live, and I had to make a list
of all the things that I wanted to do before I died, watching “The
Bucket List” would not be one of them. Granted, I say that now, after I
already spent 97 minutes watching the darn thing, but what can I say —
we all have our regrets.
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Dec 24, 2007
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If the first "National Treasure" was better than it probably deserved to be, then the sequel is worse than it has any right to be. Where the 2004 original was a fresh, fun and exciting Indiana Jones-style adventure that beat "The Da Vinci Code" to the cinematic punch by almost 2 years, “Book of Secrets” feels like just another stale, lazy, uninspired sequel. That’s something of a disappointment, since it was produced, written and directed by many of the same players that made the first film a surprise hit that grossed $347 million worldwide.
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Dec 17, 2007
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The year is 2007, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger star on the planet than Will Smith. He’s so big, in fact, that maybe he should change his nickname from “Big Willie” to “Really Big Willie,” thanks to a worldwide box office tally that’s more than $4 billion (and counting) and an incredible run of success that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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Dec 10, 2007
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Every year during the Holiday Season, I run into the same problem – compiling
my list of the top 10 best movies of the year. As we all know, truly great films
are hard to come by, so I take a great deal of responsibility in trying to come
up with a list that I won’t look back on and wonder, “What the hell was I
thinking?”
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Dec 10, 2007
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“Charlie Wilson’s War” manages to do what none of the other politically themed dramas this fall did — it makes a powerful statement about the War on Terror without beating you over the head for 2 straight hours. And it does so while being first and foremost an immensely entertaining, razor-sharp satire that isn’t even about the current war, but a war of the past — the Cold War.
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Dec 05, 2007
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It’s a foregone conclusion that “The Golden Compass” is a great looking movie, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about for a lick ‘o beans. Based upon the book “Northern Lights” — the first installment of the “His Dark Materials” fantasy trilogy written by Philip Pullman — the film is chock full of the best special effects that a reported $180 million budget can buy. But unless you are even vaguely familiar with the mythology found in the novels, then you’re going to need a real compass to find your way around the densely convoluted story.
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Nov 27, 2007
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With the Writers Strike in full swing, it seems somehow appropriate that one of the best-written movies of the year would come along to remind the Hollywood establishment just how crucial writers are to the whole filmmaking process in the first place. After all, it starts with the script. And if it isn’t good, well, there goes the neighborhood. If William Shakespeare were alive today, he would probably agree with the words “the script’s the thing” emblazoned across his picket sign.
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Nov 26, 2007
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Magic movie on the wall — who is the fairest of them all?
That would be Amy Adams, the irresistible star of Disney’s “Enchanted” — a delightful, witty and very funny new family comedy that has the words “instant classic” written all over it. Talk about a charming crowd-pleaser, “Enchanted” has something for everyone, since it’s a fairy tale in the classic Disney mode that cleverly pokes fun at other fairy tales in the classic Disney mode.
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Nov 15, 2007
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“Just don’t take any course where they make you read Beowulf!” — Alvy Singer (Woody Allen), “Annie Hall” (1977)
The above quote may be more well-known than the literary classic it’s making fun of, but what do you expect? “Beowulf” is the oldest tale in the English language, but it’s also one of the most tedious, which is why a lot of people tend to shrug it off after having it shoved down their throats back in high school.
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Nov 09, 2007
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Captain’s Log: Stardate, November 9, 2007 – If a picture says a thousand words, then the picture you see before you says it all
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Nov 06, 2007
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In the last month, two New York-based crime dramas — “We Own the Night” and “American Gangster” — opened to mostly positive reviews that drew comparisons to the classics directed by legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet.Now, on the 50th anniversary of his first film as a director with “12 Angry Men,” Lumet shows ‘em how it’s really supposed to be done with “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” a superbly-crafted morality play that stands alongside “Serpico,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “The Verdict” as one of the finest films of his career.
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Oct 31, 2007
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After being the master of his domain for almost a decade – and 9 years after his top-rated TV sitcom bowed out gracefully – Jerry Seinfeld returns to the spotlight with his much-buzzed-about big screen venture, “Bee Movie.” And quite frankly, it stings. Not that it matters, since families are bound to swarm around it anyway. But considering that Seinfeld also co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay, the resulting film is not nearly as funny, clever or witty as one would have hoped.
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Oct 31, 2007
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In an era where 24-hour news coverage can burn out even the most politically-minded individuals, how do you get those very same people to see a movie about the war in Iraq and the war on terror when both are still raging at full throttle (and with no end in sight)?
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Oct 22, 2007
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Talk about a match made in heaven – does it get any better than Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott?
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Oct 10, 2007
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“It’s too bad she won’t live. But then again, who does?” - Gaff (Edward James Olmos), “Blade Runner”
With those haunting words, “Blade Runner” came to a rather uneventful close, ending its less than spectacular run at the box office. Actually, that’s putting it mildly. Grossing just $14 million during its initial theatrical release in the summer of 1982, the film cost more than twice that, making it an expensive flop, especially when compared to the other sci-fi blockbusters that filled movie theaters around the same time – specifically, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Poltergeist” and, of course, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.”
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Oct 02, 2007
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“We Own the Night” doesn’t bring anything new to the table where big city crime dramas are concerned, but that’s probably the best thing about it. Deftly written and directed by James Gray, the gripping, entertaining, rock-solid mob thriller feels like a throwback to a bygone era, when directors like Martin Scorsese, William Friedkin and Sidney Lumet were at the top of their game.
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Sep 25, 2007
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Some remakes manage to build upon the premises of the films that inspired them, while others go so far off in another direction that they feel like completely different movies. If the recent update of “3:10 to Yuma” falls into the former category, then the new version of “The Heartbreak Kid” very much falls into the latter. And that’s fine — at least, for a little while.
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Sep 18, 2007
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I’m a huge Beatles fan, so I was excited when I heard that visionary filmmaker Julie Taymor was going to direct “Across the Universe” – a musical that used the lyrics of the Fab Four to tell an epic love story set against the backdrop of the 60s. Well, I should have known better, because despite lofty ambitions, stylish direction and a whimsical approach, the result is an awkward, uneven film that could best be described as a beautiful disappointment.
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Sep 13, 2007
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In “The Brave One,” Jodie Foster plays Erica Bain, a radio host from New York City who goes through more trauma in just a few months than most people experience in a lifetime. It all starts when she and her fiancé (Naveen Andrews) are beaten up in a vicious attack that leaves him dead and her close to it. Almost as soon as she gets out of the hospital, she wanders into a convenience store just moments before a hold-up. If that wasn’t enough, she’s soon taunted by a couple of knife-wielding thugs while riding home on the subway.
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Sep 04, 2007
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The title pretty much says it all in “Shoot 'Em Up,” an over-the-top thrill ride that delivers the explosive goods in a big, loud, fun way. That’s not to say that it’s for everybody — clearly, it isn’t — but if stylish action scenes, hyper-violent shootouts, excessive carnage and an exceptionally high body count are your cup of tea, then “Shoot 'Em Up” fires on all cylinders. Try to imagine John Woo’s classic “Hardboiled” on steroids, and you get the idea.
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Aug 28, 2007
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Since the earliest days of the medium, film history has been littered with villains that were more fun to play (and, as a result, more fun to watch) than their more likable (and, dare I say it, more boring) protagonists. Take Darth Vader in “Star Wars”; Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”; Alonzo Harris in “Training Day”; Hans Gruber in “Die Hard”; Harry Lime in “The Third Man.”
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Aug 17, 2007
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The summer may be over, but get ready to laugh ‘til it hurts. Not only is “Superbad” one of the funniest movies of the year, but it also ranks up there with “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Risky Business” and “American Pie” as one of the best teen sex comedies ever made.
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Aug 16, 2007
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Don’t believe the bad buzz — "The Invasion" is actually a pretty decent movie. It’s not great or anything, but it’s a lot better than I expected it to be. And that’s a pleasant surprise, given all the drama surrounding its production.
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Aug 07, 2007
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In “Rush Hour 3,” Inspector Lee (played by martial arts maven Jackie Chan) slides down a high-rise building and onto the busy streets of downtown Los Angeles, where he jumps across a slew of freeway overpasses while in hot pursuit of the evasive assassin who just shot the Chinese ambassador. When he finally catches up with him, they duke it out in a decrepit back alley — until Chan lets him go, much to the chagrin of his old buddy, streetwise LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker).
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Jul 25, 2007
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Just when you thought you've seen it all in terms of action movies this summer, along comes “The Bourne Ultimatum” — the best installment yet in the popular franchise that has grossed more than $500 million worldwide. Adapted from the third in the series of spy novels written by the late Robert Ludlum — following 2002's “The Bourne Identity” and 2004's “The Bourne Supremacy” — “Ultimatum” successfully caps off a trilogy of intelligent, adrenaline-fueled espionage thrillers that raised the bar for the genre and made an action hero out of Matt Damon.
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Jul 19, 2007
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There’s no question about it: “Hairspray” is, by far, the most fun you’ll have at the movies all summer long. The big screen version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit musical, which itself was based on the 1988 cult classic directed by John Waters, is a groovy, bouncy, irresistible slice of pop-culture that will leave a smile on your face for hours, if not for days.
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Jul 16, 2007
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Written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle — the creative team behind 2002's terrifying “28 Days Later” — “Sunshine” has to be one of the most derivative sci-fi movies to come along in years. And that's okay for a little while, since it stylistically navigates through top genre classics like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Alien” and both versions of “Solaris.” But once it veers off course into “Event Horizon” and “Supernova” territory, it all but implodes, betraying the cerebral intelligence that it so effectively earned during its first hour.
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Jul 16, 2007
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It must have looked funny on paper.
In “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,” Kevin James plays Larry Valentine, a widowed New York firefighter who pretends to be gay and marries his fellow firefighter, Chuck Levine, in an effort to reap the insurance benefits for his kids. Chuck reluctantly goes along with his best friend's charade, but when it interferes with his love life and prevents him from scoring with the gorgeous attorney (Jessica Biel) assigned to their case, hilarity ensues.
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Jul 02, 2007
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I pride myself on being a non-conformist, which is probably why my favorite Michael Bay movie is the one that made the least amount of money (by far). That would be 2005's “The Island,” which cost more than $125 million to make, yet made less than $36 million at the box office (though, to be fair, it more than tripled its domestic take overseas).
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Jun 25, 2007
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Nineteen years after the first film turned Bruce Willis into a movie star, the time has come for the “Die Hard” series to play dead.
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Jun 21, 2007
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The timing couldn't be better for “You Kill Me,” a quirky mob comedy that arrives in theaters just after “The Sopranos” bows out gracefully from HBO after 8 nerve-wracking years. Not that a mere 92-minute movie could come close to filling those very big shoes, which is why it's best to think of it as a rich, tarty desert after a hefty, delectable main course.
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Jun 15, 2007
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If hindsight is twenty-twenty, then looking back, I may have been a little too unforgiving in my initial review of the first “Fantastic Four.”
Then again, I probably expected a lot, since it followed the likes of 2003's “X2: X-Men United,” 2004's “Spider-Man 2” and 2005's “Batman Begins,” which were all graced with more emotional depth and maturity than a superhero flick probably deserves. I had no idea that I was in for a cheesy, lighthearted romp that was geared more towards families, so of course I was disappointed. But when I saw it again on cable about a year later, I realized that it wasn't half bad, and I was able to appreciate it for what it was.
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Jun 06, 2007
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Another big summer weekend, another big summer sequel — or, in this case, threequel, which arrives in theaters just a few days after last month's gigantic Hollywood blockbuster, “Spider-Shrek of the Caribbean 3,” broke all sorts of box office records around the world.
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May 30, 2007
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Dead men tell no tales — but if they did, they would probably make more sense than the “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels.
If you thought last year's “Dead Man's Chest” was a bloated, jumbled, incoherent mess, then brace yourself for the most baffling installment yet — “At World's End.” That hardly matters, since it's bound to match the box office booty of its predecessor, which navigated past the rough waters of poor reviews to sail away with more than $1 billion worldwide (making it the third-highest grossing movie of all time behind “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”).
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May 14, 2007
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The first two “Shrek” films were wildly popular, grossing more than $1.4 billion worldwide, and for good reason – they were charming, funny and very smart. But if the latest adventure is any indication, the not-so-jolly green giant might be due for – dare I say it – a make-ogre. There’s no doubt that “Shrek the Third” will rule the box office when it opens on May 18, but on a creative level, it’s not nearly as good as its predecessors, lacking the clever edge that made them so appealing to moviegoers of all ages.
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May 08, 2007
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With the great power of one studio's huge summer blockbuster comes the even greater responsibility of another studio to provide effective counter-programming. On May 11, Universal rises to the occasion with "Georgia Rule," hoping that it will appeal to female moviegoers who could not care less about Sony's "Spider-Man 3," which is bound to rule the box office when it opens a week earlier.
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Apr 23, 2007
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Have no fear, webheads — your friendly neighborhood “Spider-Man 3” is finally here, and it's the biggest, most exciting Spidey of 'em all! Swinging into theaters on May 4 — about 5 years to the day that the first film opened with a then record-breaking $115 million — “Spider-Man 3” effectively launches the summer 2007 movie season on a spectacular note while bringing the $1.6 billion franchise to an immensely entertaining, emotionally satisfying and action-packed conclusion.
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Mar 29, 2007
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If you're reading this review and don't know what a "grindhouse" movie is, then read no further — the odds are that the outrageous new double-feature co-directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez is not for you. Taken one step further, if you do know what a "grindhouse" movie is, but are easily grossed out by excessive levels of bloodshed and violence, then this $53 million-budgeted tribute to the exploitation flicks of the 70s is still not for you.
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Mar 01, 2007
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Hard to believe that it's been five years since David Fincher's last film (that would be 2002's "Panic Room"), but the visionary director is back with a doozie the sweeping $75 million-budgeted serial killer thriller "Zodiac." Though the super-intense subject matter is bound to invite comparisons to Fincher's best-known film, 1995's groundbreaking "Se7en," "Zodiac" is actually much closer in tone and spirit to the 1976 classic "All the President's Men" right down to the newsroom setting, the presence of a Deep Throat-style informant and an effective musical score composed by that film's David Shire.
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Feb 23, 2007
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The good news for Jim Carrey fans is that after staying out of the public eye for more than a year (since the release of 2005's "Fun with Dick and Jane"), Carrey is back with his funniest comedy in years. The bad news is that it's supposed to be a psychological thriller.
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Feb 20, 2007
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This may not come as a total surprise, but "Ghost Rider" is not a great movie. In fact, it's not even a good movie. But since we are talking about a campy '70s comic character whose skull is on fire and who rides a motorcycle that leaves a trail of flame, it's an okay movie — you know, for what it is.
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Feb 19, 2007
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Even in today's crowded, congested, competitive marketplace, it's still possible for a little movie to go a long way. For proof of that, look no further than the biggest "little" movie of 2006, "Little Miss Sunshine."
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Feb 12, 2007
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When it comes to chemistry in romantic comedies, either two people have it, or they don't. It's that simple. Unfortunately for "Music and Lyrics," Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore don't have it. And without it, there's not much of a movie.
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Jan 24, 2007
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There was a lot of back-and-forth as to whether or not Lindsay Lohan would take time off from rehab to promote "Chapter 27" at Sundance, but there's no reason for her to be here in the first place. She has a very small role, and no one would have asked her about it anyway.
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Dec 28, 2006
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There's nothing like a little doom and gloom to ring in the Holidays.
To that extent, you can consider the latest from visionary director Alfonso Cuarón ("Y tu mamá también," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") as the cinematic equivalent of a Christmas present a gift to passionate moviegoers who thrive on films that are simultaneously entertaining, thrilling, topical and provocative. Based on the best-selling novel by P.D. James, the exhilarating "Children of Men" is a spectacular work of art that stands alongside "Blade Runner" as one of the most compelling, mesmerizing and visceral sci-fi movies ever made.
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Dec 21, 2006
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If good things come to those who wait, I'm sure glad that I didn't have to wait that long for Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima." Originally slated to open next February four months after the release of Eastwood's other Iwo Jima epic, "Flags of Our Fathers" "Letters" was hastily moved up earlier to December, which now puts the Oscar-winning director in the enviable (or unenviable) position of having two brilliant masterworks compete against each other during the highly competitive awards season.
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Dec 18, 2006
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Admit it; when you first heard that Sylvester Stallone was stepping back in the ring for a sixth "Rocky" movie, you thought to yourself, you're kidding me, right? Who needs another "Rocky" movie? Didn't we suffer enough through "Rocky V?" Well, yes, but that was 16 years ago, and times have changed for both Stallone and the former Italian Stallion.
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Dec 14, 2006
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I can't remember the last time I walked out of a movie feeling so mesmerized, giddy and excited that I couldn't wait to see it again as soon as humanly possible.
Actually, I can it was four years ago, when "Chicago" cast the same sort of irresistible spell with its dazzling energy, lavish production values and powerful musical numbers. No surprise then that it grossed more than $170 million at the box office (making it the second-biggest movie musical of all time behind "Grease") and won six Academy Awards (including Best Picture).
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Dec 07, 2006
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Perhaps the best way to start this review is by saying this: If you liked 2003's "Love Actually," you will probably love "The Holiday." I did not like "Love Actually," so I'm guessing you know where I stand on "The Holiday."
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Nov 14, 2006
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First there was Sean Connery. Then there was George Lazenby. Then it was Connery again, followed by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and, most recently, Pierce Brosnan.
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Oct 31, 2006
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Moviegoers, take note. If you are male, female, Jewish, Christian, white, black, Hispanic, Democrat, Republican, gay or straight?well, basically, if you breathe air and are easily offended, then "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" is not for you. (And, consequently, neither is this review.)
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Oct 23, 2006
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I always thought it would be a bad idea to meet my heroes, but I'm happy to say that in my 6 years with Access Hollywood, my heroes were even nicer in person than I hoped they would be — especially William Shatner, Paul McCartney, and now (lo and behold!) BORAT (that's me on the right)!
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Oct 20, 2006
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"Are you watching closely"? asks the question that kick-starts "The Prestige," director Christopher Nolan's ambitious follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed and commercially successful superhero epic, "Batman Begins." Turns out it wasn't just a question — it was a warning. That's because the big screen version of Christopher Priest's 1996 novel of the same name — adapted by Nolan with his screenwriting brother Jonathan — is a baffling, complex, all-too-serious affair that requires your undivided attention from the get-go.
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Oct 16, 2006
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It may sound cliché to say, but it's true: Two-time Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood isn't getting older — he's getting better. That would certainly explain why the 76-year-old Hollywood legend has been on something of a roll lately, thanks to modern classics like 2003's haunting "Mystic River" and 2004's tragic "Million Dollar Baby," the latter of which won 4 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director).
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Oct 05, 2006
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Thanks to an assured slight of hand, a deftly-written screenplay and superb performances from some of the most elite members of the Hollywood Boys Club, "The Departed" easily fits the bill as Martin Scorsese's finest directorial effort since 1990's "Goodfellas." After over-playing his hand just a bit in an attempt to woo Academy voters with his last two films — 2002's sprawling "Gangs of New York" and 2004's overly ambitious biopic "The Aviator" — Scorsese finds himself back in his comfort zone with a crime epic about loyalty and deception that's deeply engaging and viciously entertaining from start to bloody finish.
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Aug 25, 2006
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Forget about Superman, who returned after all these years to fight for truth, justice, and all that stuff. Forget about Captain Jack Sparrow, who locked swords with the rest of those swashbuckling pirates over some stupid chest. Forget about Dr. Robert Langdon, who risked his life and a horrible hairstyle to expose the biggest cover-up in human history.
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Aug 18, 2006
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After months of pre-release hype that's unlike anything the movie business has ever seen, the pop-cultural phenomenon "Snakes on a Plane" is finally slithering its way into theaters. And I'm happy to say that it's even better than expected, exceeding the hype in every possible way.
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Aug 17, 2006
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'Twas the night before Friday, and all through the theater, not a creature was stirring, not even…a snake?
That's right folks, after months of deafening pre-release buzz that's unlike anything the movie business has ever seen, "Snakes on a Plane" finally slithers its way into theaters tomorrow. Now the big question is, how's it gonna do?
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Aug 15, 2006
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Far be it for me to post a review for a movie that doesn't open in theaters until December 21, but based on the 20-minute preview I saw the other night, the long awaited big screen version of the musical "Dreamgirls" is poised to be a huge critical and box office hit that could give 2002's Best Picture-winner "Chicago" a run for its money.
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Aug 14, 2006
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Will Ferrell’s “Talladega Nights” won the box office race for the second straight week, holding the number one spot with $23 million. That brings its big 10-day total to $91.2 million, which puts “Talladega” on track to pass the $100 million mark sometime this week.
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Aug 11, 2006
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Up until a few days ago, I’ll bet most people had their minds made up that they would not see “World Trade Center,” which opened in theaters on Wednesday, August 9.
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Aug 08, 2006
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Four months after "United 93" opened in theaters amidst a storm of "it’s too soon" controversy, and just one month shy of the 5th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, it’s time to relive the horrors of 9/11 once again. Well, sort of.
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Jul 28, 2006
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After directing exceptionally sophisticated and highly entertaining adult dramas like 1992’s ?The Last of the Mohicans,? 1995’s masterpiece ?Heat? and 1999’s Best Picture-nominee ?The Insider,? Michael Mann comes full circle for the feature film based on the seminal TV series that he executive produced back in the 80’s, ?Miami Vice.? But given how little the film has in common with that groundbreaking pop cultural phenomenon, one has to wonder why he even bothered calling it ?Miami Vice? in the first place.
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Jul 25, 2006
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I’m sure you’ve noticed that there’s a common formula to be found in the stories we do on Access Hollywood. Sure, we cover red carpet premieres, awards shows, set visits to films and TV shows and backstage coverage of today’s top music acts. But beyond that, our coverage of the entertainment business basically comes down to who’s wearing what, who’s getting married, who’s getting divorced, who’s having a kid and who’s getting married to someone else’s kid (and what they’re wearing to the wedding).
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Jul 20, 2006
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It’s a foregone conclusion that writer-producer-director M. Night Shyamalan does not like film critics.
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Jul 20, 2006
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Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s?one of the worst movies of the year!
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Jul 07, 2006
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Abandon hope, all ye who read this review.
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Jun 23, 2006
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Since a magical remote control turns out to be the cause of Adam Sandler’s problems in his latest comedy, I couldn’t help but hope that a real fast-forward button would appear out of nowhere and bail me out of the last 40 minutes.That’s because despite an amusing set-up that aims higher than you’d expect from a Sandler comedy, "Click" tunes out with an ending that’s sappy, redundant and not nearly as funny as the hour or so that preceded it.
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Jun 20, 2006
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Faster than a speeding film projector! More powerful than a major Hollywood studio! Able to break box office records in a single weekend! Look?up on the big screen! It’s Tom Cruise?it’s Johnny Depp?no, it’s ?Superman Returns!?
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Jun 09, 2006
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When legendary filmmaker Robert Altman revealed at the Academy Awards that he had a heart transplant back in 1995, it could have been seen as one of Oscar night's biggest surprises or a bizarre publicity stunt to promote his latest ensemble project, "A Prairie Home Companion," based on Garrison Keillor's long-running radio show.
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Jun 05, 2006
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A few days ago, every studio exec in town predicted that last week’s box office champ, “X-Men: The Last Stand,” would be number one again with around $40 million, while “The Break-Up,” starring real-life lovebirds Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, would open in a distant second with around $25 million.
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