Even though it always seems to be raining, the people of Pittsburgh should write director Rupert Wainwright a letter of thanks.
A modern, comic version of Ira Levin’s novel wasn’t going to be a classic, but what should have been a dark satire turns into an absurdly lame farce. You can actually pinpoint the moment when Paul Rudnick’s typically tame script becomes insultingly awful (it has to do with Bette Midler’s character and a load of not-so special effects).
Katsuhiro Ôtomo follows up ‘Akira’ with this listless, unremarkable 19th century fable about the quest to harness the power of water vapor. Not without a few interesting moments, but about as exciting as watching compressed air escape.
George Lucas learns from some mistakes and makes some others in this overwhelming and overwhelmingly flawed addition to the ‘Star Wars’ saga which features some of the best action and worst acting of the series. And that’s really saying something.
After the fervor surrounding the release of the trailer to ‘Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace’ months ago, George Lucas joked that he would release the new film in two and a half minute installments. In essence, this is what he did.
The stalwart Captain Picard and his crew tangle with yet another madman out to destroy us plucky humans. Standard fare, ranks as a good episode but only an average movie. For Trek completists only.
Co-writer/director Todd Phillips borrows the characters, style and macho swagger from the perennial 70s TV cop show, counting on the patented Ben Stiller-Owen Wilson camaraderie to keep the movie going. Occasionally, it works.
Only the star power of Dream Team Robert Redford and Brad Pitt can save director Tony Scott’s clumsy, predictable and ultimately pointless espionage thriller.
Sam Raimi and the whole Spidey-gang return for a triumphant sequel that is as good as if not better than the original, at once progressing the story and celebrating everything that brought it to the screen in the first place.
With the exception of a typically Hollywood climactic battle, director Sam Raimi creates a near-perfect comic book movie led by the spot-on casting of Tobey Maguire as the famous web-slinger.
