ACTION
RYAN: This movie comes just months after The Legend of Hercules and in the middle of the Game of Thrones popularity and stars the regularly bankable Dwayne The Rock Johnson, yet it’s an unfortunate film. CAROLINE: I can’t say I’m surprised. It looks like standard schlock fare. RYAN: It starts off brilliantly. The effects are cool and ..
ACTION
RYAN: This is the sequel to the Planet of the Apes reboot, beginning with Rise of the… and this time around it actually feels like it’s an Ape planet. The movie opens like a sorta monkey-Braveheart where they, alone, populate the earth and there are subtitles for the monkey-speak at which point I was thinking, ..
FAMILY
RYAN: I’m thrilled to be joined in this review by my niece, Gaby. Earth to Echo is a new sci fi/adventure family film that’s really more for the tween set than the whole family. It features an alien who’s like a cute, little, robotic owl that was actually my favorite thing in the movie. GABY: I know ..
ACTION
RYAN: Ad so enters into our lives the 4th installment of the most unnecessary franchise in movie history – Transformers – only Michael Bay is calling this one a reboot instead of a “number 4.” It’s a continuation as far as I’m concerned having suffered through them all. And while this one is better than the ..
FAMILY
RYAN: As I’ve been off interviewing stars for their new movies next week, I took time off from reviewing and sent associate Chuck Walker to screen this one. I know you loved the first installment. How was it? CHUCK: You’re so right – I have anxiously been anticipating this movie since even before the credits ..
ACTION
RYAN: Finally a great Tom Cruise movie and one of his best, at that! He plays an officer in the army and it’s kids like many years in the future, sic fir blockbuster, could-be sequel to A Few Good Men and Top Gun. MICHAEL: Totally. It’s a mash-up of Groundhog Day and Starship Troopers. RYAN: I actually like it better ..
SCI FI / FANTASY
RYAN: Wow. Maleficent. Finally. Since we knew this film was in the making, it has been something to look forward to and what a thrill to actually see it. It’s all about Angelina Jolie and those cheekbones and horns and eyes! CHUCK: Oh those cheekbones. RYAN: This film falls into my number one genre – ..
ACTION
RYAN: This is the new X-Men conglomerate sequel because it’s the proper sequel to X-Men: First Class but also a sequel to the original X-Men movies. It ties everything together and it’s most satisfying for coming so full circle to so many movies. If you, like I, have seen all of the X-Men and Wolverine ..
ACTION
RYAN: This first-ever 3D Godzilla hits screens and my initial reaction is that this is the year of the best special effects because after Captain America, The Amazing Spider-Man 2… well even last year’s Gravity, I mean, effects just can’t get any better! CHUCK: But I remember thinking that with Avatar too. They just keep evolving. RYAN: I was ..
SCI FI / FANTASY
RYAN: My instincts were right about this movie and I’m sorry to report that. CAROLINE: …this just in – you don’t have to be sorry. RYAN: I love going into a movie with low expectations but then being pleasantly surprised; but I went in with low expectations for this one and they were met! CAROLINE: ..
ACTION
RYAN: This is the latest franchise based on a young adult, best selling book series, along the lines of The Hunger Games. I haven’t read the books. We screened this right after interviewing the cast and author on the red carpet at the Chicago premiere (interviews can be seen here) and I loved it. I wanna read ..
DRAMA
RYAN: Winter’s Tale is a new romantic fantasy starring Colin Farrell who’s gorgeous in the movie. I’ve never been attracted to him before but he had a very wen McGregor in Moulin Rouge thing going on here. The whole cast is stellar and it’s a profoundly deep and spiritual movie that makes you believe in the power ..
