Movie Review
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Smart People - Miramax - Rated R
Smart People, while not awful, has only glimmers of greatness. It has a good script, and Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church shine, but Dennis Quaid stumbles in the lead role and holds back what should have been a better film. It's not a total waste of time, but the relationship challenged black comedy might have been much better if the focus were more on Page and Church.
3 Stars Out of 5
Smokin' Aces
Gleeful in it's over the top excessive violence, Smokin' Aces is a cross between Oceans 11 and Pulp Fiction. The all star ensemble cast is pretty good, with Alicia Keys showing she's got a future in acting. The film's almost a farce until the twist ending in the last five minutes when everything turns deadly serious and ruins all the fun.
3 Stars Out of 5
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes On A Plane does what it sets out to do. It entertains. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but does give its share of thrills. It's funny, campy, and a great time. Samuel L. Jackson is terrific, but there is also a great performance by Keenan Thompson. The snakes look computer generated, but seeing where and how they bite people in this very R rated film is most of the fun! I can't really tell you about it, but the funniest scenes happen in the bathroom. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Social Network - Sony - Rated PG-13
If you have a Facebook account, or know someone who does, (and you do)…you'll be intrigued by The Social Network. It chronicles the beginnings of the world's largest social networking site, and the odd assemblage of characters responsible for it. What puzzled me is this film doesn't really show the founders in a very good light. Most of the main characters are repellant, and that tends to repel the audience as well. Still, the real life people stumbled upon a billion dollar idea, and that is enough to make this film fascinating. Like. 3 stars Out of 5
Solaris
I still don't quite know what to make of Solaris. George Clooney is very good and somewhat underplays his role as a futuristic psychologist who tries to find out what has gone wrong in a ship studying the planet Solaris. He finds his wife aboard. Problem is, she's been dead for years. This one keeps you guessing and thinking. And might for days...3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Soloist - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Robert Downey Jr. delivers the goods and is at the top of his game in The Soloist. Less so, is Jamie Foxx who borders on overacting and is a tad irritating. Actors pretending to play violins always seem to look that way, and he certainly does. The film overreaches and is oddly directed with an almost experimental feel. It keeps an arms length from the audience, failing to make the emotional connection that it might have. The Soloist has some pitch problems. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Something Borrowed - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
The most striking thing about Something Borrowed, is the "Torch of Cuteness" has been passed from Kate Hudson to Ginnifer Goodwin. Hudson lets herself look worse than she has in any other movie. As a matter of fact, most of the characters in this film have degrees of unlikability so great that it makes the audience not care. As far as the actor playing the wishy-washy spaghetti-spined male lead, if Tom Cruise and Christopher Reeves had a love child, Colin Egglesfield would be it. It's too bad you hate him by the end of the film. This romantic comedy isn't romantic, and isn't funny. What should have been borrowed was a decent script. 2 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Something New
Something New starts out with some promise. But it quickly becomes a standard chick flick that is at times a bit heavy handed with its racial imagery and even gets preachy at times. Something New…isn't. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Something's Gotta Give
With a stellar cast and a wonderful script, Something's Gotta Give succeeds on every level. The real surprise about the film is how Diane Keaton steals the movie. That is a formidable thing considering the films other performances. There are a load of laughs and a lot of heart in this one. It is the year's best romantic comedy!
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Somewhere - Focus Features - Rated R
It must be nice to have a father that has made Oscar winning movies and will finance your films. 'Cause that's the only way Somewhere got made. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, (daughter of Francis Ford) this pretentious, meaningless, film opens with a single static shot of a car driving in circles. The shot lasts almost 2 minutes. There are lots of long, boring, static shots where nothing happens to the most boring lead character in the history of film. He smokes. He drinks a beer. He picks up a pear. That goes on for five minutes. And there are the most boring pole dancing twins in the history of pole dancing twins. (That's a line I never thought I'd say.) There is no plot - just a series of shots, one after another that don't really mean anything. It all adds up to 90 of the longest minutes I've ever spent in a movie. Somewhere is nowhere. 1 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Son of Rambow - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Son of Rambow is a nostalgic film set in the eighties about two boys who become unlikely friends - one is a rich troublemaker who is being raised by his older brother, and the other is an imaginative child who has never seen TV or a movie, and whose family is in a religious cult. These two pair up, watch a pirated version of First Blood, and they set off to make their own version of Rambo. The two young stars have never acted in a movie before, and do a wonderful job. The film, however, is slightly flawed. It drags a bit and gets in over its head. It is basically a coming of age film, but it also tries to examine oppressive religion and somewhat loses its way. Overall, it is a heartwarming and likable celebration of youth. 3 Stars Out of 5
Son Of The Mask
Over the top computer effects and over the top acting sink Son of The Mask. It's only a pale imitation of it's predecessor, but this is like a bad drug trip. Jamie Kennedy can be good. I liked his TV show "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," but here, he tries too hard to be zany. He's just overacting…badly. Part of that is very bad directing. But this sequel was a stupid idea. We haven't seen a movie of this quality since Baby Geniuses 2, and Dumb and Dumerer.
2 Stars Out of 5
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Disney - Rated PG
Another movie, another bad hair day for Nicolas Cage. In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, he needs a shampoo…seriously…his hair is filthy. Disgusting. Why is it that an actor with as much talent as he has, takes mediocre and crummy films who hire construction workers as hair stylists? Jay Baruchel is the apprentice, and he's OK, the rest of the cast is sadly, forgettable. The story is flat. Mickey Mouse was the original Sorcerer's Apprentice, and this remake IS Mickey Mouse. 2 ½ Stars out of 5
Sorority Row - Summit Entertainment - Rated R
In Sorority Row, a bunch of vapid co-eds stage a fake death where no one is smart enough to check for a pulse, Rumer Willis once again shows us how she can't act, and the audience is treated to another unoriginal slasher film just like a hundred others, where we feel nothing for any of the characters. The only bright spot in this tired rehash is star Briana Evigan, who might go on to better things if she can recover from this mess. My biggest question about this ultra stupid dreck? Why is Carrie Fisher in this? Did she really kill someone and owes a favor for the cover up? Or is she just intent on killing her career? 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Soul Men - MGM - Rated R
While I'm sad that Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes have passed away, I'm sadder that they made Soul Men, an unnecessarily distasteful, tedious uncomfortable, stupid and unfunny comedy. It has too much stolen from The Blues Brothers and any other road trip movie. The film makers seem to think that if the jokes aren't funny, just make the characters yell and that will make them funny. As any music fan will tell you, a sour note is more painful at higher volume. And that brings me to this next point. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson do their own singing…it's bad. and that's not good.
A nice tribute to Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes at the end is the film's one redeeming feature, but Soul Men comes up flat. 2 Stars Out of 5
Soul Plane
Did you see the trailer for Soul Plane? If you did, you saw the best parts of this laughless comedy. This film crashed on takeoff. It should never have been allowed on the runway.
1 Star Out of 5
Soul Power - Sony - Not Rated
Soul Power is a documentary about the 1974 music festival that went along with the Ali / Frasier fight documented in, "When We Were Kings." This documentary focuses on the music and is a terrific time capsule with terrific performances. I kept thinking how great it is that it was documented and finally released 35 years later. 4 Stars Out of 5
Soul Surfer - TriStar Pictures - Rated PG
Annasophia Robb is wonderful as Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost an arm to a shark attack, in Soul Surfer. Her performance is the anchor of a heartfelt and touching, inspirational film. While Carrie Underwood is a bit wooden, she is still pretty good here, but I'd like to see her after she takes a few acting lessons. Some of the effects that remove Bethany's arm are a little wonky, but that is a very small complaint is a movie that is, like Bethany, a real winner. 4 Stars Out of 5
Source Code - Summit Entertainment - Rated PG-13
Source Code repeats the same 8 minutes over and over with different views. Kind of like Groundhog Day on steroids but with more explosions.
It is an involving mind bender, but has too many plot holes and unanswered questions and the ending is so unbelievable it's just plain silly. Source Code doesn't hit the mother lode but isn't a horse load either…3 Stars Out of 5
Space Chimps - 20th Century Fox - Rated G
Space Chimps has some brief moments of fun but is a fairly milktoast movie with animation quality of the kind you see on Saturday mornings or direct to DVD. There's nothing very compelling, it has the typical "believe in yourself" message that is all too familiar in kids fare these days. If your kids must see this, wait the three weeks it will take until it lands in the video store. 2 Stars Out of 5
Spartan
In Spartan, interesting story telling keeps you guessing until the end. Witty dialogue and pretty good performances from Val Kilmer and William H. Macy keep you involved in the film when you can't quite figure out what's going on. When it all wraps up, it makes for a pretty good film.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Speed Racer - Warner Brothers - Rated PG
For a movie called Speed Racer, it doesn't race, and at 2 hours and 15 minutes there isn't any speed either. At first, it is visually striking. But that quickly wears out its welcome and becomes off-putting. It's a mix of Tron, Sin City, and any racing video game, punctuated by bright neon candy colors that soon become an irritant. It is, however, a study in excess: excess length, excess dialogue - it's a bloated blab fest; even the action is jammed with talk, and it is excessively incoherent. This one threw a rod before the pace car got out of the way. 2 Stars Out of 5
Spellbound
Spellbound is thoroughly captivating and engrossing. You'll get quickly wrapped up in the kid's stories and how they do in the national spelling bee. It's a strange story line for a movie, but a really good film that the whole family will enjoy.4 Stars Out of 5
Spider
Spider is very powerful. It is one of those movies that doesn't spell everything out for you and makes you think about it for a long while afterwards. It's been three days since I saw it and I'm still wrestling with some of the concepts. Dark and oppressively bleak, Spider moves at a snails pace, but features tremendous performances by Ralph Fiennes who completely transforms himself into the pitiful title character, and a surprising Miranda Richardson in dual roles.4 Stars Out of 5
Spiderman
Lot's of action, add in a few thrills, great direction by Sam Raimi, special effects and a cast that meshes perfectly they all combine to bring the classic comic book superhero to the big screen. Tobey Maguire didn't seem the right choice to me to play spiderman, but he really was. Kirsten Dunst is wonderful, and Willem Dafoe always plays a great bad guy. Sum it up in one word...Terrific!
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spiderman 2
Spiderman 2 is one of the very best comic book movies ever. It is totally entertaining. It has a perfect mix of action, humor and story. There are vast improvements in the special effects, and there is more character development. Tobey Maguire, as Spiderman, shows new self doubt which adds more interest to his part. And Alfred Molina as Doc Ock is plays his part to perfection. Sure it's a popcorn movie, but it's a really good popcorn movie. It lives up to the hype and then some.
5 Stars Out of 5
Spiderman 3
For all of the hype and the ticket sales, Spiderman 3 ends up being a big disappointment. It's not that it's a bad movie, but it doesn't come close to the first two episodes. It takes too long to get going, drags and plods on, and never really goes anywhere. There are too many story lines and subplots to keep track of. It's also about an hour too long. Some of the acting is downright bad. Tobey Maguire does a ridiculous Saturday Night Fever strut dressed like Garth Brooks as Chris Gaines. Kirsten Dunst phones in her performance, and she sings…badly, not once but twice! It is by far the weakest of the series. As Randy Jackson might say, "It's on the pitchy side and just aight for me." 3 Stars Out of 5
The Spiderwick Chronicles - Paramount - Rated PG
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fantastic family film in every sense of the word. Adults will like this as much as the kids, although it is too scary for the little ones younger than, say 7 or 8. It's got near-constant action, terrific creatures and special effects. It's extraordinarily entertaining, action-packed fun! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron
Exhilerating and uplifing with but with very little dialogue. This features great music by Bryan Adams. Beautifully drawn, I loved it. My 9 year old was less enthusiastic...
4 Stars Out of 5
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is imaginative and original and is the best animated film in a long time. It has a story that is totally engrossing. Inventive and interesting for adults, and children alike. It deserved it's Oscar!
5 Stars Out of 5
Splice - Warner Brothers - Rated R
Ever notice when in movies someone says, "I have the situation under control" they don't? That's Splice, a film that owes as much to Frankenstein as it does to modern gene splicing science. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley give the film much believability. There is one cringe worthy wild and crazy sex scene, and then another with an ending that only says, "sequel," But for the most part, Splice is nice. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
The Spongebob Squarepants TV show is fast paced and a gag a minute, but the movie seems to have added a lot of fluff to stretch a single episode into movie length. There are some brief very funny parts that show the same brilliance as the TV show, but for the most part, the movie is slow and drags. My daughter fell asleep! The ending has David Hasslehoff in his baywatch shorts acting as a ship with the main characters riding on his legs. That was creepy.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is one of the most beautifully shot films I have ever seen. Every frame projects serenity and peace. This is a Buddhist inspired film, but is not a "religious" movie. It is a spiritual one, though. It tells a story of balance. It is rewarding, stirring and symbolic, and worth repeated viewings.
4 Stars Out of 5
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
It is a rare sequel that is better than the original. This one is better. The original cast is back in this family friendly film with some brilliant additions, namely Ricardo Montalban and Steve Buscemi, who both add immensely to it's enjoyment. It also features Emily Osment (Haley Joel's sister, who does a pretty good job, but probably won't be nominated for an Oscar.) This is funny, with more gadgets and more adventure. It might be a bit scary for the under 5 age group. (monsters and skeletons that come to life)3 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Spy Kids 3D: Game Over
The title is Spy Kids 3D: Game Over and I'm glad it's over! The first movie was delightful, while the second was fun. But this hardly resembles a movie! Sylvester Stallone plays multiple roles and looks more uncomfortable than we have ever seen him. Ricardo Montalban does keep most of his dignity as the other main character in the movie besides the kids. The rest of the cast's roles are only cameos and although Antonio Banderas is given top billing, he's only in the film for about 30 seconds. And the old style 3D with the red and blue colors makes this mostly unwatchable.1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Spy Next Door - Lionsgate - Rated PG
While this is a Jackie Chan movie, The Spy Next Door is also a Billy Ray Cyrus movie. He's the co-star in this drooling, dim-witted, sorry excuse for a comedy with an achey-breaky plot, ultra bratty, totally unlikeable kids, and ridiculous villains with accents so thick and cartoonish they should have been called Boris and Natasha. Add an insipid score, lame stunts, and hideous, overwrought, worse than bad overacting. This is an insult to anyone with the intelligence greater than mud. It was pure agony to watch…As I witnessed Jackie Chan chip away at his legacy, pummeling it into the cinematic garbage disposal, I silently wept for a great career, torn asunder in the name of "family entertainment." 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Squid and the Whale
The Squid and the Whale sounds like a children's movie, but it's definitely not. It's the story of the breakup of a family and the emotional fallout that goes with it. Crass and shocking at times, it features great dialogue with a storyline that doesn't do much but kept me involved. It is wonderfully acted with Jeff Daniels giving one of his best performances ever. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stage Beauty
In Stage Beauty, Claire Daines steals the movie with a brilliant performance as a woman who wants to be an actress in a time where women are prohibited from being actresses. Billy Crudup is superb in his role as the consummate stage female. This is a bawdy, entertaining story of obsolescence.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Great music and an interesting story of some of the most famous musicians you've never heard of. The Funk Brothers were the engine that propelled Motown during its heyday, writing and playing the instruments for some of the labels biggest hits. Since this documentary has been made, we've lost a few of the members of the Funk Brothers, and this stands as a fitting legacy to them.
4 Stars Out of 5
Standing Ovation - Rocky Mountain Pictures - Rated PG
Standing Ovation is just plain embarrassing. It features less than marginally talented performers in a film that looks like daddy paid to have it made because he wanted the world to see his oh-so-cute kids. This terrible, hideously overacted movie is a variation of the let's put on a show plot, except this time it's about making music videos. Everybody mugs for the camera. Half the cast is looking into the lens with that "Hey Mom, look at me! I'm in a movie" expression. This is totally amateur, and extraordinarily unappealing. With every frame, more and more brain cells were ripped from my skull, cascading out of my ears and falling to the theater floor in a puddle of cinemuck. I can't tell you how long it took me to recover from this disaster. I'm still trying to separate brain matter from Junior Mints. 1 Star Out of 5
The Station Agent
The Station Agent is a movie I didn't want to end. The characters are so richly drawn, and you end up caring for all of them so much, you want to spend the rest of your life with them. The movie is quirky, and an absolute delight. If you miss this, you will be denying yourself a true pleasure.
4 Stars Out of 5
Star Trek - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Under the deft guidance of director JJ Abrams, Star Trek is an exciting, wildly successful reboot that gives much needed life to the aging franchise - it is actually reborn. It has a fantastic cast,
great visuals, a terrific sense of humor, plenty of nods to the original and is a delight. Easily the best Star Trek movie of all, it is absolutely spectacular. This Star Trek boldly goes where no Trek has gone before…and I'm likin' it. Big time! 5 Stars Out of 5
Star Trek: Nemesis
After a slow first third of the movie, this finally kicks into gear. Star Trek fans will generally like this. But, some of the effects and make-up were obviously lower budget than we're used to seeing. The Romulans had a distinctive rubbery look… This has a sort of "been there, done that" feel, but for the most part, I liked it. It is the tenth Star Trek movie and I'd place it in the top 7, and give it 3 ½ Stars Out of 5.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
George Lucas says that the Star Wars films are all part of the same movie. That is really hard to believe. The first films all had a real sense of adventure and fun. Episodes one and two have been relatively humorless. Episode 2 does improve on its predecessor, but doesn't measure up to any of the first three. This is a busy movie. Too busy! In just about every scene there is some kind of computer generated thing in the back ground whizzing by. Computers are great, but this was over kill! It does have a great look, but the acting is flat, and this movie is too long. If you split it into thirds, The first third is OK, the second third take a nap, the last third rocks! If I were the guy that camped out by the theater for 2 months, I'd have my head examined. Star Wars: Episode 2 Attack of the Clones is good, but not that good.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
I haven't been a big fan of the second trilogy of Star Wars movies. The first two, The Phantom Menace and The Attack of the Clones were, I thought, humorless, and wooden. I am happy to say that Star Wars The Revenge of the Sith is none of the above. The opening scenes are some of the most amazing ever put on the screen, and the fun is back. While it is a darker film than any of the others, it does balance that somewhat with a sense of humor. George Lucas has always been better with the special effects than with humans, and that is still the case here, but he returns to the spirit of the original trilogy with this outstanding movie that will earn every cent of the kajillions it rakes in. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stardust
Stardust is a finely acted, brilliantly original blast of a movie with terrific special effects, a great story and a very funny Robert DeNiro. It's been described as a Fairy Tale for adults, but the older kids will love it too. 4 Stars Out of 5
Starsky & Hutch
If you don't remember much about the TV show, you might find Starsky & Hutch fairly enjoyable. If you are a fan of the original, you may want to stick with the DVD release of the first season. Mild comedic moments punctuate the action and when the film is said and done, Will Ferrell steals the movie in his small role as a jailed bad guy. Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller do have a good chemistry, and I'd like to see them together again in another, different and better movie. 3 Stars Out of 5
Starting Out in the Evening - Roadside Attractions - Rated PG-13
In Starting Out in the Evening, Frank Langella delivers a masterful performance - his best ever! This is a terrific movie with main characters that are so fully developed you care deeply for each of them. It is a brilliant and moving film that I'm still thinking about days later. Start out with this movie and have a great time. 4 Stars Out of 5
State of Play - Universal - Rated PG-13
State of Play is loaded with stars including a scraggly looking Russell Crowe and a surprisingly strong Rachael McAdams. The best lines all go to Helen Mirren who commands every scene she's in. The film has an intense, well written, twisty plot that is full of intrigue, and never drags. Couple this with snappy direction and you have a winner. State of Play is A-OK. 4 Stars Out of 5
Stay
I'm still scratching my head about Stay. It's like a jigsaw puzzle you've bought at a garage sale where half of the pieces are missing. The picture on the box looks intriguing, and you might try to put it together, but in the end, you have nothing. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts do the best they can, and while the film seems interesting at first, I was totally confused for the whole film and at the end I could only say, Huh? 2 Stars Out of 5
Stay Alive
Stay Alive is a standard thriller with not so many thrills. It's about a video game that kills. Kind of like the web site that killed in fear dot com. There are a few jumps and chills at the beginning, but wait for the unrated version to come out on DVD for any good scares. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stealing Harvard
It's not horrid. It's not good, either. But it does have a few laughs, and if you can overlook Tom Green, it's not a TOTAL waste of time...Jason Lee shows us how you can still manage to look pretty good even though you are in a relatively bad movie. 2 Stars Out of 5
Stealth
Stealth seems to be living up to its name. It swooped into theaters without being noticed, and will swoop out without anyone caring. It's just as well. This movie is a bigger bomb than the ones the planes carry! This movie cost 100 million dollars to make. But it's really about a plane with a mind like Kitt in Knight Rider that talks and then gets struck by lightning so he comes to life but he has…evil plans! This is an insanely stupid, melodramatic and implausible waste of time. Sam Shepherd is laughable as the military general run amuck, and Jamie Foxx's part is so small, he's hardly there. Don't waste your bucks on this bucket of bolts…1 ½ stars Out of 5
Step Brothers - Sony - Rated R
Step Brothers is a juvenile, crude but very funny comedy. It is perfect for when you just want to laugh at stupid humor and don't really care about anything else. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly make a very funny team. And in a gross but hilarious scene, we see a side of Will Farrell that we haven't seen before. Let's just say it's a nutty film in more ways than one. 4 Stars Out of 5
Step Up
Step Up is the same movie we've seen many times before with different titles…Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Flashdance, Fame, Save The Last Dance…I could go on, but you get the point. The stars look nice, but the acting leaves a lot to be desired. Step Up is predictable and stays very much in the formula of the "let's put on a show" movie. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Step Up 2 The Streets - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Golly! Step Up 2 The Streets. Another dance movie. But this one is completely different! This time the girl is from the inner city and the guy is the one going to art school. Last time around it was reversed, so it's really all…new…and different…this time. It's got clichés aplenty, some hilariously bad acting and some decent dance stuff. It's also got the same plot as all of the other recent dance movies: your dreams will come true if you just step up to the roll bounce and show the world how she move when you stomp the yard, and you got served…2 Stars Out of 5
The Stepfather - Sony - Rated PG-13
The Stepfather pretty much follows the original, except where it matters…this is a PG-13 version - it's kind of pointless…kind of toothless and bloodless. It's not so much a horror film, but a kind of sleepy thriller. It's more intimidating - like your grandma threatening you with a handful of her dentures. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives has a wry sense of humor that abounds in social commentary, and features colorful performances with a nice twist at the end. But Faith Hill fans will likely be disappointed in her very small role. 3 Stars Out of 5
Stick It
Mediocre acting from the entire cast somewhat hobbles Stick It. Jeff Bridges chews gum in every scene and talks through it in all of his dialogue with the effect that he sounds like he has loose dentures. The film plays like a long music video, but has an endearing quality, and ends up being kind of fun. Teen girls are its audience, and they should love it. 3 Stars Out of 5
Stomp The Yard
Decent but forgettable, Stomp the Yard is exactly like so many other movies you've seen before. There's nothing new here. It sticks to the dance contest movie formula exactly. There is lots of posturing and quick cuts, loud music, but not much entertainment. I left thinking "who cares?" 2 Stars Out of 5
The Story of the Weeping Camel
The Story of the Weeping Camel is a fascinating glimpse into the life of Mongolian nomads. Part fiction and part documentary, this film quickly won me over and proved why it was nominated for an academy award. 4 Stars Out of 5
Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction is good for at most, a chuckle or two. It has an underwhelming script, direction and performances by everyone except Will Ferrell. He shows us a new tender, dramatic side that is going to be amazing in another, better film. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Strangers- Universal - Rated R
Home invasion thriller The Strangers is truly scary. It is unsettling, freaky and intense
and made chills run up my spine more than once. The film claims to be inspired by true events - it seems inspired by the Manson murders - and contains very good performances by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman who make you connect with their characters and care about them. The film's major flaw comes in the opening scene which reveals the end and knocks the wind out of the film a bit. But it has almost unbearable tension and suspense with plenty of jumps. It is so effective because it is nuanced and very believable. It is way above the average horror film. 4 Stars Out of 5
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li - 20th Century fox - Rated PG-13
In Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, an Asian girl who wants to be a pianist grows up to be a magic fighter and turns Caucasian. She fights a man in an evil duck mask, and there is another bad guy who has no soul because he put all of his goodness into his daughter through his pregnant wife's bellybutton, so he could take over all of Hong Kong's underworld. Add to that hideous acting and nonexistent direction. I hated every second. But other than that it's really good! 1 ½ Stars out of 5
Street Kings - 20th Century Fox - Rated R
Street Kings stars the ever-wooden Keanu Reeves who tries really hard, but still can't quite muster much in the way of emotion. Or expressions. The film loses focus many times in many ways with abandoned plot points not quite outnumbering the gunshots, peppered with amazingly silly, horrible dialogue. Oh, and will someone please feed Forrest Whittaker? He spent the entire movie chewing scenery! Obviously, subtle wasn't a word used here. The movie's lesson: if you don't like it, kill it. OK, lets put the movie out of its misery. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stephen King's The Mist - MGM - Rated R
Stephen King's The Mist has lots of cool monsters and plenty of suspense with some moments of humor. But Marcia Gay Harden's performance is too over the top, and the movie quickly escalates into stupidity with a feeble try at irony that kills the film and leaves the audience hanging. 3 Stars Out of 5
Strange Wilderness - Paramount - Rated R
Strange Wilderness is dopey. There are lots of dope jokes, and the jokes that aren't dope related, are really stupid. Steve Zahn does his best, but is surrounded by dopes, so he struggles. Just say no to Strange Wilderness. 2 Stars Out of 5
Stop-Loss - Paramount - Rated R
Stop-Loss is the latest Hollywood attack on the US military and the brave men and women that serve in it. This time, it's the MTV version of the Iraq war. You know, the one where everybody that serves is crazy except those who come to their senses and become deserters, and how the military is run by a bunch of no good leaders that go back on their word? And only the bad guys reenlist. Al Qaeda will love this! Me? I detested it. 1 Star Out of 5
Stuart Little 2
This is almost as good as the first film. It has a great family message that is touching and funny at the same time. If you want an entertaining, feel good move to see with your whole family, this is it.
3 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Stuck On You
Stuck On You seems to be about Farrelly Brothers lite. Is it somewhat offensive? Yes, but less so than other Farrelly brothers comedies. There is less to be offended at than Cat In the Hat. This is the least gross of their films, but it's also the least funny. And aren't laughs what a comedy is supposed to have? There is also less to care about than their other films. So if you are trying to cut back on laughing, and caring, this might be for you, otherwise, skip it. 2 Stars Out of 5
Sucker Punch - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
Sucker Punch has some amazing visuals. And that's where the good news stops. From what I could tell, the film has three realms. It is hard to figure out what is going on because it jumps willy-nilly from realm to realm. That gives it a strange antiseptic feel and a disconnect with the audience. We never care for anyone or anything in the movie because it is all in someone's imagination. The weird, hyper-convoluted story is so incoherent it would take an army of U.N. translators several decades to figure it out. And even then I fear it would hardly be worth the effort. Who gets the sucker punch? Well the audience does, at the end of the film when they say "What the heck was that?" 2 Stars Out of 5
Suits on The Loose
Suits on The Loose is a very entertaining low budget comedy with just the right mix of fun and warmth. It has LDS themes, but never gets preachy, and is a film everyone will enjoy. The appealing cast is terrific. I really liked this film. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Sum of All Fears
A few jumps in logic don't hinder too badly this latest Jack Ryan tale from Tom Clancy. But is this a prequel? In this film, Jack Ryan has only been at the CIA for 14 months, and is not married. But this has references to Bill Clinton so it appears to be modern day. The confusing plot lines were muddied to accommodate new star Ben Affleck. If you let the movie stand on its own, without reference to any of the other films, it is good. This is chilling, heart in your throat action. 4 Stars Out of 5
Sunshine Cleaning - Overture Films - Rated R
In Sunshine Cleaning, Amy Adams is as always, fantastic. She is cute, sexy and is the backbone of the film. But the real revelation here is Emily Blunt. Her performance gives just the right amount of humor and sadness, and lifts the film from a very good one, to a great one. This terrific, offbeat story is thoroughly entertaining, funny, moving and absolutely outstanding. Sunshine…Good times. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Super - IFC Films - Not Rated
Super has a great cast. Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page are nothing short of brilliant . Castle's Nathan Fillion is hilarious as the Holy Avenger. This intensely entertaining, subversive, shocking and deeply twisted movie is
one of the best times I've had at a movie in years. I loved it! I join the Crimson Bolt in proclaiming, "Shut Up Crime!" 4 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Super 8 - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Super 8 features a great cast of kids and evokes the late 70's to a T.
It features the most spectacular train crash I've ever seen in a movie. It's got the perfect balance of adventure, fun and nostalgia. I found myself loving this film! In a summer of disappointments this was not.
It's pretty great - Super and then some. 4 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2
I lost several IQ points having to endure Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 easily the worst movie so far this year. Bad computer effects, horrid dialogue, writing and sets are the best part of this monstrosity. If your children want you to go to see this, consider getting a full body waxing instead. You'll have less pain. Oh, and please send money to Jon Voight. He is so obviously desperate for money he'll do anything.
½ Star Out of 5
Superbad
Superbad isn't. As a matter of fact, it is the funniest comedy all year. It is uproaringly hilarious and extremely crude but has a warmth to it with characters and dialogue that ring true. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. It's a super surprise at the end of a mediocre summer. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Supercross The Movie
Dude, Supercross The Movie is like, well, it's like a bunch of races with some, like talking in between…oh, and bro, there is like major product placement. It's like a long infomercial. And lines like this: "I love your hunger. You're like a rabid dog." Wow. And it's shot in a grainy ultra low budget style that makes it look like it cost, like, 4 dollars. ESPN is better and it's free. So, dude, to sum up, Supercross is like, super awful. 1 Star Out of 5
Superhero Movie - MGM - Rated PG-13
Superhero Movie has the same formula, the same jokes and the same overly slapstick humor as all the other film-spoof movies of the last several years, with too many pop culture references, this time mostly relying on the internet for inspiration. If you're not a Perez Hilton visitor, you won't get half the jokes, (even though they are, for the most part, not worth getting.) I laughed twice. Look up in the sky! It's a bird, a plane...No, it's another joke falling flat. Not so super. 2 Stars Out of 5
Superman Returns
To quote Superman Returns, he stands for "Truth Justice…all that stuff." What happened to the American way? They left it out! I suppose the producers who are counting on a global audience caved in to the politically correct police. That's the only beef I have with this movie. Contrary to rumors, Superman is still pining for Lois Lane. Newcomer Brandon Routh as Superman looks so much like Christopher Reeve, at times it's eerie. He does a great job in his first big film. I loved Spacey as Lex Luthor, he's perfect for the part, but Parker Posey as Luthor's girlfriend gets all the funny lines. Kate Bosworth as Lois, plays her as beautiful and smart, but gives the character an appealing, unavailable side that I liked. Superman Returns has terrific special effects with a great opening sequence, an interesting storyline, and everything you want a popcorn movie to be. I loved it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Supersize Me
Supersize Me is funny, riveting, and, ultimately shocking for anyone who has a taste for Big Macs. This film covers the filmmaker as he engages in a 30-day diet eating nothing but food from McDonalds menu. It made me want to run out and eat nothing but raw vegetables and hit the exercise bike…relentlessly…
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Surf's Up
Surf's Up documentary style puts an original and fresh twist on the animated talking animal movie. It's fun, interesting and not preachy. Yes, there is some questionable humor about polishing trophies and there's the usual contingent of potty humor, but it has a lot to like. There's enough to keep the adults entertained while satisfying the children too. I liked it better than Happy Feet. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Surrogates - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Surrogates suffers from its premise. Every character in the movie is portrayed by their robot. They are all just expressionless robots, so all tension goes right out the theater doors. So what if they get blown up? Or shot, or maimed? They can be replaced, so the movie generates no excitement whatsoever. Bruce Willis looks like he had too many Botox injections and can't move his face, while all the real people look terrible - their faces look like bloated, pounded meat. In fact, in the movie they are called meat bags. But they, like this movie, register barely a pulse. It's all pretty stupid. 2 Stars Out of 5
Surviving Christmas
This is the time of year we expect scary movies. Surviving Christmas is scary, but only because it is so bad. It's an unfunny, unbelievable comedy. Some great talent in the form of Catherine O'Hara and James Gandolfini is wasted here. Christina Applegate tries her best, but can't make anything out of her ridiculously written role. Ben Affleck had better start picking better films. Or, if he took some acting lessons, he could be in an independent film. But maybe it's time for him to start writing again. After all, he did win an Oscar for it, along with Matt Damon. But please, Ben, spare us from any more of this kind of film. 2 Stars Out of 5
Suspect Zero
Suspect Zero is an average murder mystery that really isn't very mysterious.
It has good intentions and starts out promising, but we know everything from the beginning and never care too much about the end. Ben Kingsley makes this film seem better than it is.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T. ends up being a whole lot of fun. I really didn't expect to like this, but ended up having a great time! It is more than your typical summer-blow-everything-up action movie. This film has a real attitude from beginning to end and Samuel L Jackson is a big part of that. He has a really great chemistry with costar Colin Farrell. The plot is a bit thin on believability at times, but overlook that and go have a great time. And watch for a cameo by the TV show's Hondo, Steve Forrest.3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Dreamworks/Paramount- Rated R
It is hard to envision anyone other than Tim Burton directing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His vision and style are absolutely perfect. This has some very dark humor, but is really a horror movie set to music. Johnny Depp does an admirable job in this bloody, dark, disturbing, and great film. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sweet Home Alabama
Sure it's a chick-flick, we knew that going in! But this happens to be a pretty good chick-flick. With a cast that is really outstanding, and a pretty good story to build things on, Reece Witherspoon matures nicely in this enjoyable delight. I especially enjoyed Candice Bergen and Mary Kay Place as the different mothers of the engaged couple. Another thing I liked about this movie is there is no real bad guy. That's refreshing.3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Swimf@n
Not much new here...If you've seen the Trailer, you've pretty much seen the film. It's young stars have bright futures, and Erica Christiansen does her best to spook us, but in the end this is predictable, and not very exciting.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Swing Vote - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Kevin Costner continues to deliver in his latest movie, Swing Vote - he is great and is just one part of an overall outstanding cast. Madeline Carroll who plays his daughter is also terrific. Swing vote is entertaining, touching, heartwarming and funny with mildly biting political satire. Some might call this movie sappy and might call me a sucker, but this movie actually made me proud to be an American. 4 Stars Out of 5
The Switch - Miramax - Rated PG-13
In The Switch, Jason Bateman is great as an alcoholic best friend who switches um…samples…causing a mixup in Jennifer Aniston's child's paternity. The kid is great, and Jennifer Aniston is, well, Jennifer Aniston. But it isn't as bad as most Jennifer Aniston movies, thanks to Jason Bateman. And that's a switch all by itself. 3 stars Out of 5
Sydney White
Sydney White was originally going to be called Sydney White and the Seven Dorks, but it's really a cross between Legally Blond, Mean Girls and Revenge of the Nerds. The Snow White references are peppered throughout, it even uses the term Hi Ho, although this use Disney never dreamed of. Amanda Bynes is very talented but is squandering her career on tripe like this cartoonishly stupid, laughless blunder. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sylvia
Sylvia is not a movie you go to see to get into a happy mood, but Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a stunning performance as the suicidal poet Sylvia Plath. If you are a fan of her work, it is an interesting study into her poetry and why she ended her own life. 4 Stars Out of 5
Synecdoche, New York - Sony - Rated R
Writer and now director Charlie Kaufman is known for his head trips, but Synecdoche, New York, while ambitious, is a bizarre, convoluted, mind bending, incoherent mishmash of meaningless, self indulgent, pretentious drivel. It is unbearable and unwatchable. I'm still scratching my head. 1 star Out of 5
Syriana
Syriana features several stories that are twisted together and eventually converge. The problem is, it doesn't do that very well. It's confusing. It's difficult to keep the various plot lines straight. It is very well acted by George Clooney who does some great work here, along with the rest of the cast. But I didn't like the movie. It is a heavy handed America bash fest. Oil companies are portrayed as the villain, along with the FBI and CIA. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
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Smart People - Miramax - Rated R
Smart People, while not awful, has only glimmers of greatness. It has a good script, and Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church shine, but Dennis Quaid stumbles in the lead role and holds back what should have been a better film. It's not a total waste of time, but the relationship challenged black comedy might have been much better if the focus were more on Page and Church.
3 Stars Out of 5
Smokin' Aces
Gleeful in it's over the top excessive violence, Smokin' Aces is a cross between Oceans 11 and Pulp Fiction. The all star ensemble cast is pretty good, with Alicia Keys showing she's got a future in acting. The film's almost a farce until the twist ending in the last five minutes when everything turns deadly serious and ruins all the fun.
3 Stars Out of 5
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes On A Plane does what it sets out to do. It entertains. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but does give its share of thrills. It's funny, campy, and a great time. Samuel L. Jackson is terrific, but there is also a great performance by Keenan Thompson. The snakes look computer generated, but seeing where and how they bite people in this very R rated film is most of the fun! I can't really tell you about it, but the funniest scenes happen in the bathroom. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Social Network - Sony - Rated PG-13
If you have a Facebook account, or know someone who does, (and you do)…you'll be intrigued by The Social Network. It chronicles the beginnings of the world's largest social networking site, and the odd assemblage of characters responsible for it. What puzzled me is this film doesn't really show the founders in a very good light. Most of the main characters are repellant, and that tends to repel the audience as well. Still, the real life people stumbled upon a billion dollar idea, and that is enough to make this film fascinating. Like. 3 stars Out of 5
Solaris
I still don't quite know what to make of Solaris. George Clooney is very good and somewhat underplays his role as a futuristic psychologist who tries to find out what has gone wrong in a ship studying the planet Solaris. He finds his wife aboard. Problem is, she's been dead for years. This one keeps you guessing and thinking. And might for days...3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Soloist - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Robert Downey Jr. delivers the goods and is at the top of his game in The Soloist. Less so, is Jamie Foxx who borders on overacting and is a tad irritating. Actors pretending to play violins always seem to look that way, and he certainly does. The film overreaches and is oddly directed with an almost experimental feel. It keeps an arms length from the audience, failing to make the emotional connection that it might have. The Soloist has some pitch problems. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Something Borrowed - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
The most striking thing about Something Borrowed, is the "Torch of Cuteness" has been passed from Kate Hudson to Ginnifer Goodwin. Hudson lets herself look worse than she has in any other movie. As a matter of fact, most of the characters in this film have degrees of unlikability so great that it makes the audience not care. As far as the actor playing the wishy-washy spaghetti-spined male lead, if Tom Cruise and Christopher Reeves had a love child, Colin Egglesfield would be it. It's too bad you hate him by the end of the film. This romantic comedy isn't romantic, and isn't funny. What should have been borrowed was a decent script. 2 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Something New
Something New starts out with some promise. But it quickly becomes a standard chick flick that is at times a bit heavy handed with its racial imagery and even gets preachy at times. Something New…isn't. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Something's Gotta Give
With a stellar cast and a wonderful script, Something's Gotta Give succeeds on every level. The real surprise about the film is how Diane Keaton steals the movie. That is a formidable thing considering the films other performances. There are a load of laughs and a lot of heart in this one. It is the year's best romantic comedy!
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Somewhere - Focus Features - Rated R
It must be nice to have a father that has made Oscar winning movies and will finance your films. 'Cause that's the only way Somewhere got made. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, (daughter of Francis Ford) this pretentious, meaningless, film opens with a single static shot of a car driving in circles. The shot lasts almost 2 minutes. There are lots of long, boring, static shots where nothing happens to the most boring lead character in the history of film. He smokes. He drinks a beer. He picks up a pear. That goes on for five minutes. And there are the most boring pole dancing twins in the history of pole dancing twins. (That's a line I never thought I'd say.) There is no plot - just a series of shots, one after another that don't really mean anything. It all adds up to 90 of the longest minutes I've ever spent in a movie. Somewhere is nowhere. 1 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Son of Rambow - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Son of Rambow is a nostalgic film set in the eighties about two boys who become unlikely friends - one is a rich troublemaker who is being raised by his older brother, and the other is an imaginative child who has never seen TV or a movie, and whose family is in a religious cult. These two pair up, watch a pirated version of First Blood, and they set off to make their own version of Rambo. The two young stars have never acted in a movie before, and do a wonderful job. The film, however, is slightly flawed. It drags a bit and gets in over its head. It is basically a coming of age film, but it also tries to examine oppressive religion and somewhat loses its way. Overall, it is a heartwarming and likable celebration of youth. 3 Stars Out of 5
Son Of The Mask
Over the top computer effects and over the top acting sink Son of The Mask. It's only a pale imitation of it's predecessor, but this is like a bad drug trip. Jamie Kennedy can be good. I liked his TV show "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," but here, he tries too hard to be zany. He's just overacting…badly. Part of that is very bad directing. But this sequel was a stupid idea. We haven't seen a movie of this quality since Baby Geniuses 2, and Dumb and Dumerer.
2 Stars Out of 5
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Disney - Rated PG
Another movie, another bad hair day for Nicolas Cage. In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, he needs a shampoo…seriously…his hair is filthy. Disgusting. Why is it that an actor with as much talent as he has, takes mediocre and crummy films who hire construction workers as hair stylists? Jay Baruchel is the apprentice, and he's OK, the rest of the cast is sadly, forgettable. The story is flat. Mickey Mouse was the original Sorcerer's Apprentice, and this remake IS Mickey Mouse. 2 ½ Stars out of 5
Sorority Row - Summit Entertainment - Rated R
In Sorority Row, a bunch of vapid co-eds stage a fake death where no one is smart enough to check for a pulse, Rumer Willis once again shows us how she can't act, and the audience is treated to another unoriginal slasher film just like a hundred others, where we feel nothing for any of the characters. The only bright spot in this tired rehash is star Briana Evigan, who might go on to better things if she can recover from this mess. My biggest question about this ultra stupid dreck? Why is Carrie Fisher in this? Did she really kill someone and owes a favor for the cover up? Or is she just intent on killing her career? 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Soul Men - MGM - Rated R
While I'm sad that Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes have passed away, I'm sadder that they made Soul Men, an unnecessarily distasteful, tedious uncomfortable, stupid and unfunny comedy. It has too much stolen from The Blues Brothers and any other road trip movie. The film makers seem to think that if the jokes aren't funny, just make the characters yell and that will make them funny. As any music fan will tell you, a sour note is more painful at higher volume. And that brings me to this next point. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson do their own singing…it's bad. and that's not good.
A nice tribute to Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes at the end is the film's one redeeming feature, but Soul Men comes up flat. 2 Stars Out of 5
Soul Plane
Did you see the trailer for Soul Plane? If you did, you saw the best parts of this laughless comedy. This film crashed on takeoff. It should never have been allowed on the runway.
1 Star Out of 5
Soul Power - Sony - Not Rated
Soul Power is a documentary about the 1974 music festival that went along with the Ali / Frasier fight documented in, "When We Were Kings." This documentary focuses on the music and is a terrific time capsule with terrific performances. I kept thinking how great it is that it was documented and finally released 35 years later. 4 Stars Out of 5
Soul Surfer - TriStar Pictures - Rated PG
Annasophia Robb is wonderful as Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost an arm to a shark attack, in Soul Surfer. Her performance is the anchor of a heartfelt and touching, inspirational film. While Carrie Underwood is a bit wooden, she is still pretty good here, but I'd like to see her after she takes a few acting lessons. Some of the effects that remove Bethany's arm are a little wonky, but that is a very small complaint is a movie that is, like Bethany, a real winner. 4 Stars Out of 5
Source Code - Summit Entertainment - Rated PG-13
Source Code repeats the same 8 minutes over and over with different views. Kind of like Groundhog Day on steroids but with more explosions.
It is an involving mind bender, but has too many plot holes and unanswered questions and the ending is so unbelievable it's just plain silly. Source Code doesn't hit the mother lode but isn't a horse load either…3 Stars Out of 5
Space Chimps - 20th Century Fox - Rated G
Space Chimps has some brief moments of fun but is a fairly milktoast movie with animation quality of the kind you see on Saturday mornings or direct to DVD. There's nothing very compelling, it has the typical "believe in yourself" message that is all too familiar in kids fare these days. If your kids must see this, wait the three weeks it will take until it lands in the video store. 2 Stars Out of 5
Spartan
In Spartan, interesting story telling keeps you guessing until the end. Witty dialogue and pretty good performances from Val Kilmer and William H. Macy keep you involved in the film when you can't quite figure out what's going on. When it all wraps up, it makes for a pretty good film.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Speed Racer - Warner Brothers - Rated PG
For a movie called Speed Racer, it doesn't race, and at 2 hours and 15 minutes there isn't any speed either. At first, it is visually striking. But that quickly wears out its welcome and becomes off-putting. It's a mix of Tron, Sin City, and any racing video game, punctuated by bright neon candy colors that soon become an irritant. It is, however, a study in excess: excess length, excess dialogue - it's a bloated blab fest; even the action is jammed with talk, and it is excessively incoherent. This one threw a rod before the pace car got out of the way. 2 Stars Out of 5
Spellbound
Spellbound is thoroughly captivating and engrossing. You'll get quickly wrapped up in the kid's stories and how they do in the national spelling bee. It's a strange story line for a movie, but a really good film that the whole family will enjoy.4 Stars Out of 5
Spider
Spider is very powerful. It is one of those movies that doesn't spell everything out for you and makes you think about it for a long while afterwards. It's been three days since I saw it and I'm still wrestling with some of the concepts. Dark and oppressively bleak, Spider moves at a snails pace, but features tremendous performances by Ralph Fiennes who completely transforms himself into the pitiful title character, and a surprising Miranda Richardson in dual roles.4 Stars Out of 5
Spiderman
Lot's of action, add in a few thrills, great direction by Sam Raimi, special effects and a cast that meshes perfectly they all combine to bring the classic comic book superhero to the big screen. Tobey Maguire didn't seem the right choice to me to play spiderman, but he really was. Kirsten Dunst is wonderful, and Willem Dafoe always plays a great bad guy. Sum it up in one word...Terrific!
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spiderman 2
Spiderman 2 is one of the very best comic book movies ever. It is totally entertaining. It has a perfect mix of action, humor and story. There are vast improvements in the special effects, and there is more character development. Tobey Maguire, as Spiderman, shows new self doubt which adds more interest to his part. And Alfred Molina as Doc Ock is plays his part to perfection. Sure it's a popcorn movie, but it's a really good popcorn movie. It lives up to the hype and then some.
5 Stars Out of 5
Spiderman 3
For all of the hype and the ticket sales, Spiderman 3 ends up being a big disappointment. It's not that it's a bad movie, but it doesn't come close to the first two episodes. It takes too long to get going, drags and plods on, and never really goes anywhere. There are too many story lines and subplots to keep track of. It's also about an hour too long. Some of the acting is downright bad. Tobey Maguire does a ridiculous Saturday Night Fever strut dressed like Garth Brooks as Chris Gaines. Kirsten Dunst phones in her performance, and she sings…badly, not once but twice! It is by far the weakest of the series. As Randy Jackson might say, "It's on the pitchy side and just aight for me." 3 Stars Out of 5
The Spiderwick Chronicles - Paramount - Rated PG
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fantastic family film in every sense of the word. Adults will like this as much as the kids, although it is too scary for the little ones younger than, say 7 or 8. It's got near-constant action, terrific creatures and special effects. It's extraordinarily entertaining, action-packed fun! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron
Exhilerating and uplifing with but with very little dialogue. This features great music by Bryan Adams. Beautifully drawn, I loved it. My 9 year old was less enthusiastic...
4 Stars Out of 5
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is imaginative and original and is the best animated film in a long time. It has a story that is totally engrossing. Inventive and interesting for adults, and children alike. It deserved it's Oscar!
5 Stars Out of 5
Splice - Warner Brothers - Rated R
Ever notice when in movies someone says, "I have the situation under control" they don't? That's Splice, a film that owes as much to Frankenstein as it does to modern gene splicing science. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley give the film much believability. There is one cringe worthy wild and crazy sex scene, and then another with an ending that only says, "sequel," But for the most part, Splice is nice. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
The Spongebob Squarepants TV show is fast paced and a gag a minute, but the movie seems to have added a lot of fluff to stretch a single episode into movie length. There are some brief very funny parts that show the same brilliance as the TV show, but for the most part, the movie is slow and drags. My daughter fell asleep! The ending has David Hasslehoff in his baywatch shorts acting as a ship with the main characters riding on his legs. That was creepy.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is one of the most beautifully shot films I have ever seen. Every frame projects serenity and peace. This is a Buddhist inspired film, but is not a "religious" movie. It is a spiritual one, though. It tells a story of balance. It is rewarding, stirring and symbolic, and worth repeated viewings.
4 Stars Out of 5
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
It is a rare sequel that is better than the original. This one is better. The original cast is back in this family friendly film with some brilliant additions, namely Ricardo Montalban and Steve Buscemi, who both add immensely to it's enjoyment. It also features Emily Osment (Haley Joel's sister, who does a pretty good job, but probably won't be nominated for an Oscar.) This is funny, with more gadgets and more adventure. It might be a bit scary for the under 5 age group. (monsters and skeletons that come to life)3 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Spy Kids 3D: Game Over
The title is Spy Kids 3D: Game Over and I'm glad it's over! The first movie was delightful, while the second was fun. But this hardly resembles a movie! Sylvester Stallone plays multiple roles and looks more uncomfortable than we have ever seen him. Ricardo Montalban does keep most of his dignity as the other main character in the movie besides the kids. The rest of the cast's roles are only cameos and although Antonio Banderas is given top billing, he's only in the film for about 30 seconds. And the old style 3D with the red and blue colors makes this mostly unwatchable.1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Spy Next Door - Lionsgate - Rated PG
While this is a Jackie Chan movie, The Spy Next Door is also a Billy Ray Cyrus movie. He's the co-star in this drooling, dim-witted, sorry excuse for a comedy with an achey-breaky plot, ultra bratty, totally unlikeable kids, and ridiculous villains with accents so thick and cartoonish they should have been called Boris and Natasha. Add an insipid score, lame stunts, and hideous, overwrought, worse than bad overacting. This is an insult to anyone with the intelligence greater than mud. It was pure agony to watch…As I witnessed Jackie Chan chip away at his legacy, pummeling it into the cinematic garbage disposal, I silently wept for a great career, torn asunder in the name of "family entertainment." 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Squid and the Whale
The Squid and the Whale sounds like a children's movie, but it's definitely not. It's the story of the breakup of a family and the emotional fallout that goes with it. Crass and shocking at times, it features great dialogue with a storyline that doesn't do much but kept me involved. It is wonderfully acted with Jeff Daniels giving one of his best performances ever. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stage Beauty
In Stage Beauty, Claire Daines steals the movie with a brilliant performance as a woman who wants to be an actress in a time where women are prohibited from being actresses. Billy Crudup is superb in his role as the consummate stage female. This is a bawdy, entertaining story of obsolescence.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Great music and an interesting story of some of the most famous musicians you've never heard of. The Funk Brothers were the engine that propelled Motown during its heyday, writing and playing the instruments for some of the labels biggest hits. Since this documentary has been made, we've lost a few of the members of the Funk Brothers, and this stands as a fitting legacy to them.
4 Stars Out of 5
Standing Ovation - Rocky Mountain Pictures - Rated PG
Standing Ovation is just plain embarrassing. It features less than marginally talented performers in a film that looks like daddy paid to have it made because he wanted the world to see his oh-so-cute kids. This terrible, hideously overacted movie is a variation of the let's put on a show plot, except this time it's about making music videos. Everybody mugs for the camera. Half the cast is looking into the lens with that "Hey Mom, look at me! I'm in a movie" expression. This is totally amateur, and extraordinarily unappealing. With every frame, more and more brain cells were ripped from my skull, cascading out of my ears and falling to the theater floor in a puddle of cinemuck. I can't tell you how long it took me to recover from this disaster. I'm still trying to separate brain matter from Junior Mints. 1 Star Out of 5
The Station Agent
The Station Agent is a movie I didn't want to end. The characters are so richly drawn, and you end up caring for all of them so much, you want to spend the rest of your life with them. The movie is quirky, and an absolute delight. If you miss this, you will be denying yourself a true pleasure.
4 Stars Out of 5
Star Trek - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Under the deft guidance of director JJ Abrams, Star Trek is an exciting, wildly successful reboot that gives much needed life to the aging franchise - it is actually reborn. It has a fantastic cast,
great visuals, a terrific sense of humor, plenty of nods to the original and is a delight. Easily the best Star Trek movie of all, it is absolutely spectacular. This Star Trek boldly goes where no Trek has gone before…and I'm likin' it. Big time! 5 Stars Out of 5
Star Trek: Nemesis
After a slow first third of the movie, this finally kicks into gear. Star Trek fans will generally like this. But, some of the effects and make-up were obviously lower budget than we're used to seeing. The Romulans had a distinctive rubbery look… This has a sort of "been there, done that" feel, but for the most part, I liked it. It is the tenth Star Trek movie and I'd place it in the top 7, and give it 3 ½ Stars Out of 5.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
George Lucas says that the Star Wars films are all part of the same movie. That is really hard to believe. The first films all had a real sense of adventure and fun. Episodes one and two have been relatively humorless. Episode 2 does improve on its predecessor, but doesn't measure up to any of the first three. This is a busy movie. Too busy! In just about every scene there is some kind of computer generated thing in the back ground whizzing by. Computers are great, but this was over kill! It does have a great look, but the acting is flat, and this movie is too long. If you split it into thirds, The first third is OK, the second third take a nap, the last third rocks! If I were the guy that camped out by the theater for 2 months, I'd have my head examined. Star Wars: Episode 2 Attack of the Clones is good, but not that good.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
I haven't been a big fan of the second trilogy of Star Wars movies. The first two, The Phantom Menace and The Attack of the Clones were, I thought, humorless, and wooden. I am happy to say that Star Wars The Revenge of the Sith is none of the above. The opening scenes are some of the most amazing ever put on the screen, and the fun is back. While it is a darker film than any of the others, it does balance that somewhat with a sense of humor. George Lucas has always been better with the special effects than with humans, and that is still the case here, but he returns to the spirit of the original trilogy with this outstanding movie that will earn every cent of the kajillions it rakes in. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stardust
Stardust is a finely acted, brilliantly original blast of a movie with terrific special effects, a great story and a very funny Robert DeNiro. It's been described as a Fairy Tale for adults, but the older kids will love it too. 4 Stars Out of 5
Starsky & Hutch
If you don't remember much about the TV show, you might find Starsky & Hutch fairly enjoyable. If you are a fan of the original, you may want to stick with the DVD release of the first season. Mild comedic moments punctuate the action and when the film is said and done, Will Ferrell steals the movie in his small role as a jailed bad guy. Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller do have a good chemistry, and I'd like to see them together again in another, different and better movie. 3 Stars Out of 5
Starting Out in the Evening - Roadside Attractions - Rated PG-13
In Starting Out in the Evening, Frank Langella delivers a masterful performance - his best ever! This is a terrific movie with main characters that are so fully developed you care deeply for each of them. It is a brilliant and moving film that I'm still thinking about days later. Start out with this movie and have a great time. 4 Stars Out of 5
State of Play - Universal - Rated PG-13
State of Play is loaded with stars including a scraggly looking Russell Crowe and a surprisingly strong Rachael McAdams. The best lines all go to Helen Mirren who commands every scene she's in. The film has an intense, well written, twisty plot that is full of intrigue, and never drags. Couple this with snappy direction and you have a winner. State of Play is A-OK. 4 Stars Out of 5
Stay
I'm still scratching my head about Stay. It's like a jigsaw puzzle you've bought at a garage sale where half of the pieces are missing. The picture on the box looks intriguing, and you might try to put it together, but in the end, you have nothing. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts do the best they can, and while the film seems interesting at first, I was totally confused for the whole film and at the end I could only say, Huh? 2 Stars Out of 5
Stay Alive
Stay Alive is a standard thriller with not so many thrills. It's about a video game that kills. Kind of like the web site that killed in fear dot com. There are a few jumps and chills at the beginning, but wait for the unrated version to come out on DVD for any good scares. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stealing Harvard
It's not horrid. It's not good, either. But it does have a few laughs, and if you can overlook Tom Green, it's not a TOTAL waste of time...Jason Lee shows us how you can still manage to look pretty good even though you are in a relatively bad movie. 2 Stars Out of 5
Stealth
Stealth seems to be living up to its name. It swooped into theaters without being noticed, and will swoop out without anyone caring. It's just as well. This movie is a bigger bomb than the ones the planes carry! This movie cost 100 million dollars to make. But it's really about a plane with a mind like Kitt in Knight Rider that talks and then gets struck by lightning so he comes to life but he has…evil plans! This is an insanely stupid, melodramatic and implausible waste of time. Sam Shepherd is laughable as the military general run amuck, and Jamie Foxx's part is so small, he's hardly there. Don't waste your bucks on this bucket of bolts…1 ½ stars Out of 5
Step Brothers - Sony - Rated R
Step Brothers is a juvenile, crude but very funny comedy. It is perfect for when you just want to laugh at stupid humor and don't really care about anything else. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly make a very funny team. And in a gross but hilarious scene, we see a side of Will Farrell that we haven't seen before. Let's just say it's a nutty film in more ways than one. 4 Stars Out of 5
Step Up
Step Up is the same movie we've seen many times before with different titles…Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Flashdance, Fame, Save The Last Dance…I could go on, but you get the point. The stars look nice, but the acting leaves a lot to be desired. Step Up is predictable and stays very much in the formula of the "let's put on a show" movie. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Step Up 2 The Streets - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Golly! Step Up 2 The Streets. Another dance movie. But this one is completely different! This time the girl is from the inner city and the guy is the one going to art school. Last time around it was reversed, so it's really all…new…and different…this time. It's got clichés aplenty, some hilariously bad acting and some decent dance stuff. It's also got the same plot as all of the other recent dance movies: your dreams will come true if you just step up to the roll bounce and show the world how she move when you stomp the yard, and you got served…2 Stars Out of 5
The Stepfather - Sony - Rated PG-13
The Stepfather pretty much follows the original, except where it matters…this is a PG-13 version - it's kind of pointless…kind of toothless and bloodless. It's not so much a horror film, but a kind of sleepy thriller. It's more intimidating - like your grandma threatening you with a handful of her dentures. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives has a wry sense of humor that abounds in social commentary, and features colorful performances with a nice twist at the end. But Faith Hill fans will likely be disappointed in her very small role. 3 Stars Out of 5
Stick It
Mediocre acting from the entire cast somewhat hobbles Stick It. Jeff Bridges chews gum in every scene and talks through it in all of his dialogue with the effect that he sounds like he has loose dentures. The film plays like a long music video, but has an endearing quality, and ends up being kind of fun. Teen girls are its audience, and they should love it. 3 Stars Out of 5
Stomp The Yard
Decent but forgettable, Stomp the Yard is exactly like so many other movies you've seen before. There's nothing new here. It sticks to the dance contest movie formula exactly. There is lots of posturing and quick cuts, loud music, but not much entertainment. I left thinking "who cares?" 2 Stars Out of 5
The Story of the Weeping Camel
The Story of the Weeping Camel is a fascinating glimpse into the life of Mongolian nomads. Part fiction and part documentary, this film quickly won me over and proved why it was nominated for an academy award. 4 Stars Out of 5
Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction is good for at most, a chuckle or two. It has an underwhelming script, direction and performances by everyone except Will Ferrell. He shows us a new tender, dramatic side that is going to be amazing in another, better film. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Strangers- Universal - Rated R
Home invasion thriller The Strangers is truly scary. It is unsettling, freaky and intense
and made chills run up my spine more than once. The film claims to be inspired by true events - it seems inspired by the Manson murders - and contains very good performances by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman who make you connect with their characters and care about them. The film's major flaw comes in the opening scene which reveals the end and knocks the wind out of the film a bit. But it has almost unbearable tension and suspense with plenty of jumps. It is so effective because it is nuanced and very believable. It is way above the average horror film. 4 Stars Out of 5
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li - 20th Century fox - Rated PG-13
In Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, an Asian girl who wants to be a pianist grows up to be a magic fighter and turns Caucasian. She fights a man in an evil duck mask, and there is another bad guy who has no soul because he put all of his goodness into his daughter through his pregnant wife's bellybutton, so he could take over all of Hong Kong's underworld. Add to that hideous acting and nonexistent direction. I hated every second. But other than that it's really good! 1 ½ Stars out of 5
Street Kings - 20th Century Fox - Rated R
Street Kings stars the ever-wooden Keanu Reeves who tries really hard, but still can't quite muster much in the way of emotion. Or expressions. The film loses focus many times in many ways with abandoned plot points not quite outnumbering the gunshots, peppered with amazingly silly, horrible dialogue. Oh, and will someone please feed Forrest Whittaker? He spent the entire movie chewing scenery! Obviously, subtle wasn't a word used here. The movie's lesson: if you don't like it, kill it. OK, lets put the movie out of its misery. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Stephen King's The Mist - MGM - Rated R
Stephen King's The Mist has lots of cool monsters and plenty of suspense with some moments of humor. But Marcia Gay Harden's performance is too over the top, and the movie quickly escalates into stupidity with a feeble try at irony that kills the film and leaves the audience hanging. 3 Stars Out of 5
Strange Wilderness - Paramount - Rated R
Strange Wilderness is dopey. There are lots of dope jokes, and the jokes that aren't dope related, are really stupid. Steve Zahn does his best, but is surrounded by dopes, so he struggles. Just say no to Strange Wilderness. 2 Stars Out of 5
Stop-Loss - Paramount - Rated R
Stop-Loss is the latest Hollywood attack on the US military and the brave men and women that serve in it. This time, it's the MTV version of the Iraq war. You know, the one where everybody that serves is crazy except those who come to their senses and become deserters, and how the military is run by a bunch of no good leaders that go back on their word? And only the bad guys reenlist. Al Qaeda will love this! Me? I detested it. 1 Star Out of 5
Stuart Little 2
This is almost as good as the first film. It has a great family message that is touching and funny at the same time. If you want an entertaining, feel good move to see with your whole family, this is it.
3 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Stuck On You
Stuck On You seems to be about Farrelly Brothers lite. Is it somewhat offensive? Yes, but less so than other Farrelly brothers comedies. There is less to be offended at than Cat In the Hat. This is the least gross of their films, but it's also the least funny. And aren't laughs what a comedy is supposed to have? There is also less to care about than their other films. So if you are trying to cut back on laughing, and caring, this might be for you, otherwise, skip it. 2 Stars Out of 5
Sucker Punch - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
Sucker Punch has some amazing visuals. And that's where the good news stops. From what I could tell, the film has three realms. It is hard to figure out what is going on because it jumps willy-nilly from realm to realm. That gives it a strange antiseptic feel and a disconnect with the audience. We never care for anyone or anything in the movie because it is all in someone's imagination. The weird, hyper-convoluted story is so incoherent it would take an army of U.N. translators several decades to figure it out. And even then I fear it would hardly be worth the effort. Who gets the sucker punch? Well the audience does, at the end of the film when they say "What the heck was that?" 2 Stars Out of 5
Suits on The Loose
Suits on The Loose is a very entertaining low budget comedy with just the right mix of fun and warmth. It has LDS themes, but never gets preachy, and is a film everyone will enjoy. The appealing cast is terrific. I really liked this film. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Sum of All Fears
A few jumps in logic don't hinder too badly this latest Jack Ryan tale from Tom Clancy. But is this a prequel? In this film, Jack Ryan has only been at the CIA for 14 months, and is not married. But this has references to Bill Clinton so it appears to be modern day. The confusing plot lines were muddied to accommodate new star Ben Affleck. If you let the movie stand on its own, without reference to any of the other films, it is good. This is chilling, heart in your throat action. 4 Stars Out of 5
Sunshine Cleaning - Overture Films - Rated R
In Sunshine Cleaning, Amy Adams is as always, fantastic. She is cute, sexy and is the backbone of the film. But the real revelation here is Emily Blunt. Her performance gives just the right amount of humor and sadness, and lifts the film from a very good one, to a great one. This terrific, offbeat story is thoroughly entertaining, funny, moving and absolutely outstanding. Sunshine…Good times. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Super - IFC Films - Not Rated
Super has a great cast. Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page are nothing short of brilliant . Castle's Nathan Fillion is hilarious as the Holy Avenger. This intensely entertaining, subversive, shocking and deeply twisted movie is
one of the best times I've had at a movie in years. I loved it! I join the Crimson Bolt in proclaiming, "Shut Up Crime!" 4 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Super 8 - Paramount - Rated PG-13
Super 8 features a great cast of kids and evokes the late 70's to a T.
It features the most spectacular train crash I've ever seen in a movie. It's got the perfect balance of adventure, fun and nostalgia. I found myself loving this film! In a summer of disappointments this was not.
It's pretty great - Super and then some. 4 1/2 Stars Out of 5
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2
I lost several IQ points having to endure Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 easily the worst movie so far this year. Bad computer effects, horrid dialogue, writing and sets are the best part of this monstrosity. If your children want you to go to see this, consider getting a full body waxing instead. You'll have less pain. Oh, and please send money to Jon Voight. He is so obviously desperate for money he'll do anything.
½ Star Out of 5
Superbad
Superbad isn't. As a matter of fact, it is the funniest comedy all year. It is uproaringly hilarious and extremely crude but has a warmth to it with characters and dialogue that ring true. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. It's a super surprise at the end of a mediocre summer. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Supercross The Movie
Dude, Supercross The Movie is like, well, it's like a bunch of races with some, like talking in between…oh, and bro, there is like major product placement. It's like a long infomercial. And lines like this: "I love your hunger. You're like a rabid dog." Wow. And it's shot in a grainy ultra low budget style that makes it look like it cost, like, 4 dollars. ESPN is better and it's free. So, dude, to sum up, Supercross is like, super awful. 1 Star Out of 5
Superhero Movie - MGM - Rated PG-13
Superhero Movie has the same formula, the same jokes and the same overly slapstick humor as all the other film-spoof movies of the last several years, with too many pop culture references, this time mostly relying on the internet for inspiration. If you're not a Perez Hilton visitor, you won't get half the jokes, (even though they are, for the most part, not worth getting.) I laughed twice. Look up in the sky! It's a bird, a plane...No, it's another joke falling flat. Not so super. 2 Stars Out of 5
Superman Returns
To quote Superman Returns, he stands for "Truth Justice…all that stuff." What happened to the American way? They left it out! I suppose the producers who are counting on a global audience caved in to the politically correct police. That's the only beef I have with this movie. Contrary to rumors, Superman is still pining for Lois Lane. Newcomer Brandon Routh as Superman looks so much like Christopher Reeve, at times it's eerie. He does a great job in his first big film. I loved Spacey as Lex Luthor, he's perfect for the part, but Parker Posey as Luthor's girlfriend gets all the funny lines. Kate Bosworth as Lois, plays her as beautiful and smart, but gives the character an appealing, unavailable side that I liked. Superman Returns has terrific special effects with a great opening sequence, an interesting storyline, and everything you want a popcorn movie to be. I loved it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Supersize Me
Supersize Me is funny, riveting, and, ultimately shocking for anyone who has a taste for Big Macs. This film covers the filmmaker as he engages in a 30-day diet eating nothing but food from McDonalds menu. It made me want to run out and eat nothing but raw vegetables and hit the exercise bike…relentlessly…
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Surf's Up
Surf's Up documentary style puts an original and fresh twist on the animated talking animal movie. It's fun, interesting and not preachy. Yes, there is some questionable humor about polishing trophies and there's the usual contingent of potty humor, but it has a lot to like. There's enough to keep the adults entertained while satisfying the children too. I liked it better than Happy Feet. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Surrogates - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Surrogates suffers from its premise. Every character in the movie is portrayed by their robot. They are all just expressionless robots, so all tension goes right out the theater doors. So what if they get blown up? Or shot, or maimed? They can be replaced, so the movie generates no excitement whatsoever. Bruce Willis looks like he had too many Botox injections and can't move his face, while all the real people look terrible - their faces look like bloated, pounded meat. In fact, in the movie they are called meat bags. But they, like this movie, register barely a pulse. It's all pretty stupid. 2 Stars Out of 5
Surviving Christmas
This is the time of year we expect scary movies. Surviving Christmas is scary, but only because it is so bad. It's an unfunny, unbelievable comedy. Some great talent in the form of Catherine O'Hara and James Gandolfini is wasted here. Christina Applegate tries her best, but can't make anything out of her ridiculously written role. Ben Affleck had better start picking better films. Or, if he took some acting lessons, he could be in an independent film. But maybe it's time for him to start writing again. After all, he did win an Oscar for it, along with Matt Damon. But please, Ben, spare us from any more of this kind of film. 2 Stars Out of 5
Suspect Zero
Suspect Zero is an average murder mystery that really isn't very mysterious.
It has good intentions and starts out promising, but we know everything from the beginning and never care too much about the end. Ben Kingsley makes this film seem better than it is.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T. ends up being a whole lot of fun. I really didn't expect to like this, but ended up having a great time! It is more than your typical summer-blow-everything-up action movie. This film has a real attitude from beginning to end and Samuel L Jackson is a big part of that. He has a really great chemistry with costar Colin Farrell. The plot is a bit thin on believability at times, but overlook that and go have a great time. And watch for a cameo by the TV show's Hondo, Steve Forrest.3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Dreamworks/Paramount- Rated R
It is hard to envision anyone other than Tim Burton directing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His vision and style are absolutely perfect. This has some very dark humor, but is really a horror movie set to music. Johnny Depp does an admirable job in this bloody, dark, disturbing, and great film. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sweet Home Alabama
Sure it's a chick-flick, we knew that going in! But this happens to be a pretty good chick-flick. With a cast that is really outstanding, and a pretty good story to build things on, Reece Witherspoon matures nicely in this enjoyable delight. I especially enjoyed Candice Bergen and Mary Kay Place as the different mothers of the engaged couple. Another thing I liked about this movie is there is no real bad guy. That's refreshing.3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Swimf@n
Not much new here...If you've seen the Trailer, you've pretty much seen the film. It's young stars have bright futures, and Erica Christiansen does her best to spook us, but in the end this is predictable, and not very exciting.
2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Swing Vote - Touchstone - Rated PG-13
Kevin Costner continues to deliver in his latest movie, Swing Vote - he is great and is just one part of an overall outstanding cast. Madeline Carroll who plays his daughter is also terrific. Swing vote is entertaining, touching, heartwarming and funny with mildly biting political satire. Some might call this movie sappy and might call me a sucker, but this movie actually made me proud to be an American. 4 Stars Out of 5
The Switch - Miramax - Rated PG-13
In The Switch, Jason Bateman is great as an alcoholic best friend who switches um…samples…causing a mixup in Jennifer Aniston's child's paternity. The kid is great, and Jennifer Aniston is, well, Jennifer Aniston. But it isn't as bad as most Jennifer Aniston movies, thanks to Jason Bateman. And that's a switch all by itself. 3 stars Out of 5
Sydney White
Sydney White was originally going to be called Sydney White and the Seven Dorks, but it's really a cross between Legally Blond, Mean Girls and Revenge of the Nerds. The Snow White references are peppered throughout, it even uses the term Hi Ho, although this use Disney never dreamed of. Amanda Bynes is very talented but is squandering her career on tripe like this cartoonishly stupid, laughless blunder. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Sylvia
Sylvia is not a movie you go to see to get into a happy mood, but Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a stunning performance as the suicidal poet Sylvia Plath. If you are a fan of her work, it is an interesting study into her poetry and why she ended her own life. 4 Stars Out of 5
Synecdoche, New York - Sony - Rated R
Writer and now director Charlie Kaufman is known for his head trips, but Synecdoche, New York, while ambitious, is a bizarre, convoluted, mind bending, incoherent mishmash of meaningless, self indulgent, pretentious drivel. It is unbearable and unwatchable. I'm still scratching my head. 1 star Out of 5
Syriana
Syriana features several stories that are twisted together and eventually converge. The problem is, it doesn't do that very well. It's confusing. It's difficult to keep the various plot lines straight. It is very well acted by George Clooney who does some great work here, along with the rest of the cast. But I didn't like the movie. It is a heavy handed America bash fest. Oil companies are portrayed as the villain, along with the FBI and CIA. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
