Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides represents the fourth entry in this unlikely series. Not bad for a series whose source material is a Disney theme park ride. They are, perhaps, the face of disposable, inconsequential summer films, but On Stranger Tides has the faint stink of a phoned-in… Continue reading

Rango (2011)

Rango (2011)

Let this be said right off the top: Rango is a visual masterpiece and one of the finest works of computer animation to date. Seen theatrically on a DLP projector, one can only sit in awe of the attention to detail, lush locations, and incredible textures. It’s all so amazing… Continue reading

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine (2010)

From the “guaranteed to depress” files comes Blue Valentine, writer/director Derek Cianfrance’s exhaustive dissection of a relationship from beginning to end. Put an accent on “end,” because the film spends much of its runtime wallowing in its own misery and piling catastrophe upon catastrophe. Where Cianfrance does succeed, however, is… Continue reading

TRON: Legacy (2010)

TRON: Legacy (2010)

Watching TRON: Legacy, the long-awaited follow-up to 1982’s TRON, I was reminded of Siskel’s and Ebert’s 1995 roasting of Jumanji. Ebert stated that special effects have to be “at the service of the story.” It was correct then, and it is correct now. There will be very little debate regarding… Continue reading

The Other Guys (2010)

The Other Guys (2010)

The Other Guys has, arguably, the funniest first thirty minutes of any film this year. Had the rest of the film been as consistently funny, I may have needed oxygen. The problem: the following hour isn’t nearly as funny, or even as clever. The screenplay doesn’t have enough gas, resorting… Continue reading

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

A quick search on IMDb reveals that no less than twenty-three adaptations, including this one, of Alice in Wonderland have been produced over the years. That would at least partially explain why Tim Burton’s big-budget refitting feels so familiar, but it doesn’t quite explain why it’s so bland. On paper… Continue reading

Valentine’s Day (2010)

Valentine's Day (2010)

It’s always a worrisome proposition when an upcoming film touts nothing but its cast. Granted, Valentine’s Day has a doozy of a cast; probably the biggest ensemble in years. While the credits are impressive, the film is very mediocre. Trying desperately to be the next Love Actually (possibly the best… Continue reading