The main character of 30 Minutes or Less is a pizza delivery guy. This is apt, because the movie itself is a lot like cheap pizza: predictable and bland, but still enjoyable if it’s what you’re in the mood for.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:
http://www.oakville.com/articles/30-minutes-or-less-movie-review/
It’s an understatement to say that CGI technology has revolutionized the way we watch movies. When visual effects are working at their best, they fade into the background, allowing the viewer to drop into the movie experience rather than merely marvelling at the spectacle. Such is the case with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and while many might question the need for another film in the series, this is the best example of the year of how visual effects make a movie great.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:
http://www.oakville.com/articles/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-movie-review/
For better or worse, I think by now we’ve all grown used to Hollywood’s desperate practice of recycling – sorry, “updating” – movies, TV and cartoons. One by one, the joyful entertainments of our youth have been dragged into the present, covered in a layer of pop-culture sass, and trotted out for our kids to “enjoy”. I wasn’t expecting The Smurfs to be any different, but was pleasantly surprised to find it highly entertaining, and even heartwarming. It’s a great family movie.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:
As the last of the superheroes assembled for Marvel’s upcoming film of The Avengers, Captain America has a bit of a problem. We’ve already seen two recent films each about Iron Man and the Hulk, and a couple of months back we were introduced to Thor, the very God of Thunder. What now are we to make of a hero who, while operating at the peak of human efficiency, has little else going for him other than a fancy boomerang shield?
That’s perhaps an unfair statement, but in the absence of the more fantastic superpowers, even long-running popular characters like Cap can seem a little boring. Great storytelling is even more important to elevate such characters for movie audiences. Luckily, Captain America: The First Avenger does tell a pretty good story, and earns respect for its costumed hero.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:
http://www.oakville.com/articles/captain-america-the-first-avenger-movie-review/
Whether or not you’re a Harry Potter fan, you can’t deny that the movies of author J.K. Rowling’s epic tale stand as excellent examples of modern film-making. Made at a breakneck pace over ten years, they have consistently entertained and brought vivid life to the novels, so much so that it is nearly impossible to return to the books now without still imagining the actors, sets and costumes. For an industry that very often disappoints its audiences, this is a remarkable achievement.
And so, the end arrives. As the eighth and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will not by itself bring in new viewers, and everyone else will see it anyway. A review can only indicate whether the series’ phenomenal quality has been maintained for the finale.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:
http://www.oakville.com/articles/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-movie-review/