Category Archives: Film Reviews

Film reviews and analyses. Most recently published is in front.

The Avengers

Critics and filmmakers are going to study and pick apart The Avengers (officially Marvel’s The Avengers) for years as an example of how to make a successful franchise film, and a film with “too many” major characters. As it stands, … Continue reading

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The Hunger Games

I find myself in an unusual position in regard to the latest box office phenomenon. I haven’t read the books, and don’t intend to (no time and no interest, in that order). I approach it not looking for how well … Continue reading

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Like Crazy

Like Crazy (2011) is an indie film about young love and young lovers.  She’s an English student, he an American one. They fall in love, make one big wrong decision (among many smaller stupid ones), and then get bounced around by … Continue reading

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Act of Valor

Act of Valor can’t be looked at like other films, as it fits in its own created category. It’s the best film about Navy SEALs starring Navy SEALs, which of course tells you nothing. It’s a little like Courageous (really … Continue reading

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Going to Movies (Part Three)

Food You’re watching a movie, and you have to undo a candy wrapper. If you can’t cover it with a jacket or something, just, for Pete’s sake, do it quickly. It is majorly irritating to have sometime take 47 seconds … Continue reading

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Going to Movies (Part 2)

Reprinted with permission from How to Act Like a Grown-Up (http://actlikeagrownup.com/category/interactions/page/2/). If you’re with a group, everyone gets that you’re with a group. But don’t think that being one of 4 or 6 or even more gives you the right … Continue reading

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Going to the Movies, Part One

Reprinted with permission from How to Act Like a Grown-Up (http://actlikeagrownup.com/category/interactions/page/2/). Watching movies at home is one thing. But once you go into a movie theater, the rules change. (Trust me on this—I’m a film professor and I know about … Continue reading

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The Artist

What a delight. It definitely helps being a total film nerd when you see it. There are so many film references that make it all the more fun. I noticed references to Singin’ in the Rain, What Price Hollywood?, every … Continue reading

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Red Tails

Red Tails is rousing, brave, extremely well intentioned, a throwback, and historically revisionist. It’s the tale of the Tuskegee Airmen, African-American fighter pilots in World War II. According to producer George Lucas, the film was to be a throwback to … Continue reading

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The Iron Lady

The buzz about The Iron Lady is that Meryl Streep is fantastic and the film, just so-so. That’s correct. Sometimes a good film highlights a performance, and that performance is what you walk away remembering. Sophie’s Choice—still in my thinking … Continue reading

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