In the end, this isn't just a good sequel. It's a great sequel. Right when you think one story angle can't get more exciting, a new ingredient or wrinkle is thrown in to make the tension and enjoyment that much greater. With a breathless sense of action that builds cliffhanger on top of cliffhanger, Star Trek Into Darkness fires on all cylinders to deliver arguably one of the best summer blockbusters we've ever seen.
Read MoreWhile some of the wackiness never lets up and carries into the course of our villainous conflict, the humor is always bubbling up to the surface. Iron Man 3 is, without a doubt, the most comedic of the Marvel superhero films. That affable effect helps mask many of the really preposterous events and flaws and keeps the whole Iron Man 3 effort extremely likeable and entertaining.
Read MoreThe breathtaking filmmaking vision on display is worth the patience to see through to the end. When it's all said and done, slower than its sequels or not, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will always be the place you seek to begin your cinematic adventure into this world. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is worthy of being placed beside the outstanding epics it will eventually lead towards.
Read MoreAs we enter our story set during the fall of 2008 in New Orleans, the window dressing of a mob movie is still here in Killing Them Softly. The late model cars, slicked back hair, ugly suits without ties, derogatory Italian terminology, leather jackets, hued sunglasses, and a constant cloud of exhaled cigarette smoke are everywhere to be seen, just as you might expect. However, the pulse of this setting is driven by the history of that year and season.
Read MoreArgo is a heroic story without requiring a studly action hero. Like its declassified true story, a team effort is conducted and celebrated with Argo. While this film will become "timely" by circumstance, once again, it earns its merit, attention, and appreciation without needing the boost.
Read MoreTrouble with the Curve has the cliched conveniences of a romantic comedy, but offers more than that to appreciate thanks to Clint Eastwood. He's always been an actor you can't help but enjoy watching, even if it's the same growl every time lately. Just when you think his routine doesn't have range, he still surprises you with his humor and heart.
Read MoreMovies have always been considered magic on some level, to make fiction appear to come to life. Some movies, though, just flat-out have more magic than others. Steven Spielberg's E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial is one of those movies. The film has more heart, finesse, performance, and magic in single scenes than some movies have in their entire running time, and does it with an animatronic special effect as a main character.
Read MoreFor this writer, Paul Thomas Anderson is a divisive tough sell. His movies, while technically sound and visually sharp, can frequently feel tiresome, bizarre, and vague to me. For many critics and cinephiles, those adjectives make him a courageous, risk-tasking genius instead. Such can be granted, but, with apologies, his nature and results can still make him exactly the former: tiresome, bizarre, and vague. The Master perpetuates that split sentiment.
Read MoreOverall, Lawless is on par with Public Enemies and is a worthy choice for those looking for a Western-like tale and a gangster film with a more rural and gritty country setting. For those modern folks out there, think of it as a prequel to FX's Justified.
Read MoreCo-directed and starring Gene Kelly, Singin' in the Rain is commonly regarded as the greatest Hollywood movie musical. It topped the American Film Institute's list of movie musicals and was most recently their #5 overall greatest film of all-time.
Read MoreSafety Not Guaranteed dares to keep your attention at every turn and really succeeds. The script is brilliant and deserves the praise it has already gotten. From diving deeper into Kenneth's world to seeing the different motivations that come to light, for both our time travelers and our magazine team tailing him, more and more layers of interest keep coming into play. All the while, you feel the countdown and are driven to wonder if Kenneth and his time machine are the real deal when the time comes to leave. This pace makes the movie breeze by and, unlike some other edgy indie movies that sell you with teases, the payoff is really rich and deserved.
Read MoreBrave is a fantastically empowering movie for mothers and daughters. Many daughters, young and old, can relate to this kind of story about the plans and expectations that their mothers have for them that differ from their own interests. The story is a bold one and devoid of cheese and syrup that can sometimes come with Disney's movies.
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