As a film, I think The Book Thief does enough to get half of that aforementioned hopeful goal to make people happy. The film has its respectful essence, but lacks a bit of the spirit and entertainment value.
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Like a great middle chapter should, this film escalates the tension, danger, and risk towards an as-yet-unseen climax that is sure to blow our socks off. Are the producers still milking us for three movies that could have fit into one? Probably, but, once again, I, for one, have the patience to respect what these filmmakers are up to and value what others might call tedious.
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For my website's 250th movie review, I'm proud to bring you an advance review of Saving Mr. Banks, the newest live-action feature film from Walt Disney Pictures.
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Shedding most of his action star attraction and playing a dedicated father and husband,Hours easily stands out as the best Paul Walker has ever been as an actor instead of just a movie star. With his unfortunate and untimely death, it will be a shame that we will never get to see him capitalize from this passion project and personal success. Hours is a film and performance to be proud of. It's nothing award-worthy, but a very solid effort that resonates.
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His new film, Nebraska, is his smallest and most nuanced film to date for Alexander Payne. Shot in black-and-white on a micro-budget and populated by mostly unknown performers instead of Hollywood A-listers, the film strives to slow things down and give you something interesting to follow and compare with your own family's generational gaps.
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Continuing the 2013 parade of science fiction on a smaller scale is The Last Days on Mars , the debut full-length feature film from Oscar-nominated short director Ruairi Robinson. After taking part in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival, it debuts in limited theatrical release on December 6th after primarily aiming for a Video On-Demand audience to stir up some buzz. Boasting a notable cast of steady performers and character actors, The Last Day of Mars , on premise alone, is aiming for that subtle suspense that made Moon and Sunshine surprise small-scale science fiction hits within the last decade. The result, however, is as laden with horror cliches as Saturn is encircled with rings.
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After seeing the second installment, the hotly anticipated The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, my gut feeling is that they are saving their best for their swan song and not the middle. While the budget and star power have increased with success and maturity from the comparatively modest first film 20 months ago, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire does not do enough to achieve that level of being a great middle trilogy film on the same scale as The Empire Strikes Back orThe Dark Knight.
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The Best Man Holiday pulls out many surprises, not the least of which is a heartfelt dramatic core that will warm your spirit and leave a lasting impression of friendship and fellowship. While it has its flaws and cheesy elements,The Best Man Holiday is one of the most flat-out entertaining and satisfying romantic comedy experiences to come to movies in years.
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BLIND SPOT REVIEW #6: All Quiet on the Western Front
Going back and seeing the movies I should have seen or always wanted to see, but missed.
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Bad Grandpa actually attempts to outline some semblance of a narrative around its pranks. Plenty of things want to be funny, but Bad Grandpa bites off more than its dentures can chew this time around.
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It's a shattering performance swinging between power and vulnerability minute-to-minute. It's the best Matthew McConaughey has ever been and might just be the role that puts him onstage at the Oscars this coming winter
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Dear Vince Vaughn,
Hey, buddy! How's it going? It's been a long time. I say that because I didn't see The Internship, The Dilemma, Couples Retreat, and covered my eyes in shameful embarrassment through most of The Watch. I don't know if I told you, but I ranked The Watch as the worst movie I saw in all of 2012.Sorry to open on a down note, but I wanted to be upfront about where I've been and wanted to come clean.
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