Category: 4.5 Stars
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CPE and Em (and El): You don’t have to save the world to be Brave
Brave – 2012 Directed by Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman Starring (voices) Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd, Robbie Coltrane, John Ratzenberger Screenplay by Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Irene Mecchi Expectations for Pixar lowered significantly over the last year. Cars 2 was the kind of film released when a company is out…
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21 Jump Street takes a different, better turn
21 Jump Street – 2012 Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Ellie Kemper, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube Screenplay Michael Bacall It’s not that I did not ever watch the original television show, I just didn’t ever make it a point to watch 21 Jump Street. All of the hullabaloo…
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Cool Papa E Reviews the Spider-Man movie series
On July 3, 2012, the newest incarnation of Spider-Man spins its web on the public. Some people, including me, think its a little too soon to be coming up with a reboot of the Tobey Maguire / Sam Raimi blockbuster series, given that the last one was released just in 2007. Whether the new one…
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Prometheus: Sail into the mystery
Prometheus – 2012 Directed by Ridley Scott Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charleze Theron, Guy Pearce. Idris Elba, Logan-Marshall Green, Rafe Spall, Sean Harris, Patrick Wilson, Kate Dickie, Benedict Wong Screenplay by Damon Lindelof, Jonathan Sphaits Early on in the classic film, The Player, there is one long, magnificent scene in which we get to see a number…
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The Avengers: A bold initiative that delivers on every level
The Avengers – 2012 Written & Directed by Joss Whedon Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Gweneth Paltrow, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Clark Gregg When Marvel announced, in 2005, that there was a plan to develop The Avengers into a major motion picture, most people outside of…
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CPE and Em: War Horse, or Em’s most eagerly anticipated film of the year
War Horse – 2011 Directed by Steven Speilberg Starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston Screenplay by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall based on War Horse by Michael Morpurgo From the first time a commercial for this film happened upon our screen, Em has bugged her mother and (especially) me to let her watch this movie.…
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CPE and Em: The Way A vibrant tale beautifully told
The Way – 2011 Directed by Emilio Estavez Starring Martin Sheen, Emilio Estavez, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, Tchéky Karyo Screenplay Emilio Estavez The thing that sets some actors and actresses apart is how they are able to exist on-screen when there is no dialogue. Do they have to natter incessantly, like, say, Woody Allen?…
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Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is artistically recreated
The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo – 2011 Directed by David Fincher Starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Robin Wright, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård Screenplay Steven Zaillian From the moment it was revealed that David Fincher was going to remake the 2009 Swedish original of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, mixed feelings abound. The first run through was…
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Hell and Back Again: Desiring only to serve
Hell and Back Again – 2011 Directed by Danfung Dennis Documentary regarding Nathan and Ashley Harris, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan There is a moment in the midst of Hell and Back Again where Nathan Harris, while driving in his car, decides he is tired of hearing his wife’s joking around in the…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 