The latest attempt to capitalize on the young adult market that so loved the Harry Potter series steps up to the plate with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. It’s got great special effects, but doesn’t explain things as well as it might, and there’s a definite lack of adult supervision. See my full review at buzzymag.

An excerpt:
What glimpses ( Read more... )

A fun enough franchise, the new Percy Jackson film (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) fails to take any real risks, and any character growth seems forced. Mostly, it’s just a rehash of the “Am I good enough?” plotline from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. My full review is at buzzymag.

Ab excerpt:
Percy Jackson isn’t like a potato chip-you can ( Read more... )

Hugh Jackman is back in The Wolverine, bridging the gap between X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past. While not his best outing, it’s far from his worst, and there is enough here to recommend going to see. A detailed review is up at buzzymag.

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On the plus side, I cannot say enough good things about Yukio-the character as ( Read more... )

Yet another comic book adaption at the cinema, R.I.P.D. is lightweight fun with heavyweight effects. Watch Jeff Bridges vamp it up! Full review at buzzymag.

An excerpt:
R.I.P.D. was completely harmless, goofy fun that didn’t take itself too seriously. You shouldn’t either and you’ll have a great time. It’s Ghostbusters meets Men in Black meets ( Read more... )

When Guillermo del Toro gets passionate about a genre project, you just know it’s going to rock. His latest outing is every fanboy’s dream, and it doesn’t disappoint. Check out my review of Pacific Rim at buzzymag.

An excerpt:
From the moment I heard about Pacific Rim, I loved the concept: giant monsters invade us from under the sea and we build ( Read more... )

There’s a new term out in Hollywoodland: Geri-action. The epitome of it is RED 2, featuring the return of Frank Moses, [Retired, Extremely Dangerous C.I.A. Agent] and his equally badass, mature friends. The return of great characters, the introduction of others, with action galore and a convoluted plot that never stops and yet somehow works. One of ( Read more... )

The weird, violent Disney madness that is Tonto and his sidekick The Lone Ranger is a Johnny Depp romp. Read my review at buzzymag.

An excerpt:
My feelings about The Lone Ranger are decidedly mixed, but I can tell you if you’ll like it or not-that part’s easy. Just answer two questions for me: did you enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Was ( Read more... )

Or was it Magic Mike. I can nver be sure.

The second “Bad guys take over the White House” movie of the summer, White House Down delivered in some places, but not in others. I wanted to play Mr. Potato Head using it and Olympus Has Fallen to get one great action movie, picking and choosing actors and plot points.

It really hurt this one that it was ( Read more... )

This a low-budget, well-written, well-conceived well-acted thriller based on some clever manipulations of society. What would good people do under pressure and with no fear or reprisal? It’s an interesting look at a social experience gone terribly wrong.

Sequel The Purge 2 is already in the works, after The Purge made approx $34 million opening ( Read more... )

And four, well that’s even better. Especially when they’re really, really good and just a touch obnoxious.

And they have better tricks than anyone ever has. Is is real magic?

An excerpt:
The Four Horsemen are committing crimes. Or are they? What they’re doing is impossible, unless real magic somehow exists. When a bank robbery becomes a part of the ( Read more... )