Category: CPE
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Disney slightly improves The Jungle Book (***1/2)
To be sure, I am probably never going to own this film. I may watch it again, but I know there will be more sequels, more remakes and more attempts to improve on the profits of this property. I appreciate it for what it is, and I did like the way the characters look like…
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Slow West (***) aims for poignant, misses by that much
If one looks past the silliness of the story and takes a closer look at the heart, it’s not a bad film. It’s clear what Maclean wants to do, even if he doesn’t know how to do it and stay within the bounds of a consistent story. For now, it is nice that he has…
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Captain America: Civil War (*****) Goes where the Avengers cannot
The story surges ahead and it really is quite centered, despite the number of characters involved. The premise is a simple one, yet the questions it asks are profound. It really extends on the premise on how we want to be governed. Do we want to fulfill our own destiny, or do we want to…
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The VVitch (****1/2) stares back at you
It’s a raw film that feels every bit of the gravity of living and more.
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In The Heart of the Sea (*1/2) is doldrums
It’d be nice if he could find some way to get himself back into storytelling mode. Something similar to what Reiner has found with low budget gems like Flipped or anything that Jeff Nichols has done. It seems like he thinks he’s reached a status of auteur. These things happen when you make hack commercials…
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Daddy’s Home (***1/2) two are better than none
My teenage daughter and I spent much of the last 20 minutes laughing. Sometimes for the same reason. This is rare. If you like comedies, this will stand out. If you are suspicious of them, this will not win any awards, but it just might make you smile a time or two. You might even…
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The Good Dinosaur (***) is very average
How can Pixar release a film that is so average in the same year they release one of their best films? We don’t know either…
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Midnight Special (****) has a familiar shine
Nichols succeeds with this story, but not to the level of his previous work. The pace works, and the effects are in keeping with the rest of the story up until that big reveal. If you loved what Nichols has done before, you will like this one. That it’s not the groundbreaking work one would…
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Forgotten Gem: Starman (****1/2) is better than Dutch Apple Pie
John Carpenter’s Starman – 1984 Director John Carpenter Screenplay by Bruce A. Evans & Raynold Gideon Starring Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen, Dirk Blocker, M.C. Gainey In my mind’s eye, Starman is a big hit that was seen by everyone in the 1980’s. When Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Oscar as…
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (**) – Why build a miracle at all?
It’s not that I hate this film. It’s got some good, albeit disconnected moments. The task of entering the DC Universe mid-step means it will necessarily be different than the origin story heavy Marvel Universe. A used universe is fine with this reviewer. It just shouldn’t have to require one to watch Blade Runner to…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 