The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review
This second "Hobbit" film is a worthy entry in the Jackson/Tolkien canon. But after almost three hours in the theater, having an incomplete story feels like a cheat.
This second "Hobbit" film is a worthy entry in the Jackson/Tolkien canon. But after almost three hours in the theater, having an incomplete story feels like a cheat.
The latest Coen Brothers film is not their best, but it is much closer to it than it is to their worst. Considering that their worst isn’t bad at all, you are safe in assuming that it’s definitely worth a view.
An A-list cast explore the depths of hopelessness in this uninspired rust-belt tale of revenge.
Director Alexander Payne almost attains the heights of "Sideways", and Bruce Dern may have the role of his lifetime.
Nelson Mandela is portrayed as more than human, yet a brilliant performance by Idris Elba and fine direction from Justin Chadwick overcomes whatever other shortcomings there are.
Judi Dench portrays an elderly woman who had her child taken from her fifty years earlier. She wants to know whatever happened to him, but it is not a quest filled with bitterness, and that is part of why this works.
Vince Vaughn’s latest moves him from goofy comedy to goofy feel-good comedy with light messaging included at no extra cost.
The second installment in the “Hunger Games” series is here and it takes the franchise to new heights.
This coming-of-age tale set in Nazi Germany extols the power of words, but manages to say very little.
The mightiest Avenger returns, along with his girlfriend and his mischievous brother, to battle for the fate of the universe once again.
| ★★★★★ | Perfection |
| ★★★★☆ | Outstanding |
| ★★★☆★☆ | Excellent |
| ★★★☆☆ | Very good |
| ★★☆★☆☆ | Good |
| ★★☆☆☆ | OK |
| ★☆★☆☆☆ | Pretty Bad |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Poor |
| ☆★☆☆☆☆ | Blech! |
| No Stars | Fail! |