“Olympus Has Fallen” – 4 STARS

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Let me preface this review by saying I grew up on the action movies of the late 1980s and early 90s. In some ways I cut my movie watching teeth on the films of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Willis, and company – the same movies that Antoine Fuqua’s “Olympus Has Fallen” undeniably and unashamedly pays homage to. … Continue reading →

“Rust and Bone” – 3.5 STARS

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There are several things that attracted me to “Rust and Bone” but nothing more than seeing Marion Cotillard take on another challenging role. To me, Cotillard is one of the best female actresses working today and she has never shied away from a difficult or demanding performance. That’s certainly the case in “Rust and Bone”, a … Continue reading →

REVIEW: “Oz: The Great and Powerful”

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Talk about a daunting task. You had to know at the outset that anyone attempting to make a prequel to the “The Wizard of Oz ” had to be prepared to face their share of analysis and scrutiny. The 1939 Victor Fleming film has long been revered as a timeless classic. So many hold dear … Continue reading →

REVIEW: “Roman Holiday”

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I don’t mean to be repetitive. But at the risk of sounding like a broken record, they just don’t make romantic comedies like this anymore. This 1953 classic from director William Wyler is a beautiful blueprint for a genre that seems to struggle with making quality movies these days. “Roman Holiday” brings together the always … Continue reading →

“Wreck-it Ralph” – 3 STARS

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2012 turned out to be a pretty solid year for animated features. My personal favorite was Frankenweenie, Tim Burton’s brilliant return to form. Pixar also had another solid entry with the warm-hearted Brave. But there was yet another animated feature that was wildly popular and that received critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination. That … Continue reading →