This is the eighth and final installment of the famed “Harry Potter” film series. There are no more books to provide the basis for more, unless author J.K. Rowling decides to take pen in hand again for the next generation – an intriguing possibility which she distinctly leaves open at the end.
OK, so it’s not very exciting. But there’s a sublime kind of satisfaction to watching this well-made documentary about one loggerhead turtle, who remains nameless, but for ease of storytelling, let’s give it a shot: Deborah.
You have to enter with low expectations. This is an Adam Sandler comedy, and Kevin James is in his overweight, slightly bewildered and occasionally overwhelmed Everyman persona. He plays Griffin, who works at the zoo, and is one of those “gentle with animals” guys who talks to them when he feeds them and brings them little gifts just to do something nice for them.
“Cars 2” is one of those sequels that works OK, but somehow fails to live up to the charm of the original. It’s sweet and harmless, but falls somewhat short of magical.
“Buck” is a documentary about Buck Brannaman, the real “Horse Whisperer,” endorsed by Robert Redford himself. Buck is a sixtysomething cowboy who has been hanging around corrals and barns all his life, who does indeed have a remarkable way with horses.
“Larry Crowne” is a movie that “Can’t Miss.” First, it’s Tom Hanks, who’s practically incapable of making a bad movie. He’s this generation’s Jimmy Stewart, the Everyman whom everybody roots for and has affection for, and we love him so much that we’ll even allow him his occasional moments where he’s less than glamorous. Somehow that only adds to his universal appeal.
This is one of those “niche” films that will appeal to a specific target audience (mostly younger males), but have a very limited draw with other segments of the moviegoing market (like grandmothers).
Wow, this one will put you through the wringer. Especially if you are a parent, and tried to raise a child, and realized full well that the “product” which emerges is its own person, over which you have painfully limited influence.
First, a disclaimer: this is a comic book hero that I loved as a kid. Maybe because he’s human, he has to use his imagination, and he’s part of a greater good. Plus, that requirement of having to recharge the ring every day gives rise to all manner of good analogies. (Fill in your own similes here.)
“Bad Teacher” is not worth your time. Now, the easy thing would be just to leave it at that. It’s a comedy and it isn’t funny. But the self-respecting critic buried deep within demands a fuller explanation. What makes “Bad Teacher” so bad?
The story line in this film might sound way too agenda-driven to be enjoyable: adult son’s mother dies of cancer, then his father announces that he is coming out of the closet.
The great thing about prequels is that it includes everybody. You don’t necessarily have to be a big fan of the “X-Men” comic book series to understand what’s happening – and, hopefully, it doesn’t disappoint the die-hard fans too much if the backstory doesn’t meet all their high expectations.
It’s easy to see why this film was an Oscar nominee for best foreign film this year. It packs a real wallop. But it will probably suffer lack of exposure in the United States.
The fourth installment of this series recovers some of the swagger and fun of the earlier versions, perhaps because of the welcome addition of Penelope Cruz.
“Last Night” spends a lot of time building up the tension….is it gonna happen or not…..finally offers some incomplete resolution, then invites the viewer to finish the story.
Most of us men are socially incomplete. We have certain insecurities, some of which we can name and compensate for, and of course, some days are better than others.
