Category: Review

I have to admit, I’ve never really been into X-Men. The concept of a not-so-secret war between and among mutants and the rest of humanity is a great one, but, especially in the movies, we’re always introduced to so many new characters with strange abilities that it takes away from the main story and the characters we know and like.

This is why I was skeptical going into X-Men: First Class, which is yet another origin story, this time of how Professor Charles Xavier came to meet Erik Lehnsherr (the future Magneto) and form his team of mutants. Nearly all the characters are new, and those who do return are played by new and younger actors, the film being set in 1962. Surprisingly, however, this turns out to be a benefit. It still has the same problems, but First Class engages nonetheless.

Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/x-men-first-class-movie-review/

“It happened again.”

These words, spoken more than once in The Hangover Part II, do more than sum up the premise. Unfortunately, they accurately describe the whole film, which is why it doesn’t match up to the original. It’s funny, but the shine is gone.

Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/the-hangover-part-2-movie-review/

Funny thing about amusement park rides: no matter how much you love them, there comes a point when you’ve ridden too much, and they just don’t deliver the same thrill. Push past that point, and eventually you’ll actually want to get off. Pirates of the Caribbean, the movie franchise based on an amusement park ride, is now skirting that line pretty closely.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides-movie-review/

After seeing Bridesmaids, I feel compelled to address this review to men who might be reading it for one of two reasons: 1. They’ve heard it’s funny, but are worried about being overwhelmed by the female mushiness inherent to a film called Bridesmaids, or 2. Their significant others are dying to see it, and they’re wondering whether they should go along, or develop a spontaneous illness.

Gentlemen: You’ll be okay. Go.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/bridesmaids-movie-review/

These are interesting times for superhero movies. The 3 most popular (arguably) characters – Batman, Superman, and Spider-man – have either rebooted or are in the process of rebooting their franchises. Iron Man and the X-Men have also made a big impact. Now we’re starting to see some lesser-known heroes coming to the screen, including now The Mighty Thor.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/thor-movie-review/

Vin Diesel has really been working out lately. That much is clear the first time we see him in Fast Five, the fourth sequel to The Fast and the Furious. Mr. Diesel has always been muscular, but there’s a problem now – he’s bulked up too much. It’s thrown off his body proportions, so that in some shots, he looks almost overweight, and in others, he just looks odd.

I like Vin Diesel, have enjoyed his previous films, and I admire his skill as an actor. I’m picking on his physique here because it’s the exact thing that’s wrong with the movie: in trying to bulk itself up, Fast Five drags itself down.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/fast-five-movie-review/

Brazilian culture is renowned for its carefree, celebratory lifestyle, with Rio de Janeiro being one of the country’s most exciting destinations. Perhaps unfairly, in recent years the city has also gained a reputation as a haven for kidnappers and smugglers. These two contradictory facts accurately describe Rio – a slightly-above-average film about the adventures of a kidnapped bird in a colourful and vibrant city. The film itself is a bit of a contradiction too.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/rio-movie-review/

I’m torn on the idea of re-making films. On the one hand, if the original was such a great movie, then why not just watch that one? On the other, if a previously told story can be updated to speak to new generations, then why not? Most Hollywood films are derivative anyway – why not recycle good material instead of junk?

I debated watching the original Arthur before seeing this new version, but there would be little point. Deciding to condemn or praise the re-make for being too much or not enough like its predecessor is a job better left to film historians and purists. We should decide whether Arthur 2011 is a good movie on its own merits, and as it turns out, it is a good movie, though not great.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/arthur-movie-review/

You may not have noticed, or even care, but the Easter Bunny hasn’t received the best treatment in the history of the movies. Depending on your point of view, Easter is either the first or second most significant holiday in the Christian calendar. It stands to reason that its metaphorical representative should be in as many films as a certain jolly fat man in a red suit.

The makers of Hop try to redress this situation with a film about the inner workings of the Bunny’s operation. Unfortunately, it’s a lifeless film that might pull a few laughs out of the kids, but will leave parents checking their watches.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/hop-movie-review/

One minute, Lt. Colter Stevens was flying a helicopter in Afghanistan. The next, he’s on a Chicago commuter train, in the body of somebody he doesn’t recognize in the mirror. Then the train explodes, and he’s inside a strange capsule, talking to military scientists on a video link. Life is very disorienting for Lt. Colter Stevens.

Luckily, Source Code isn’t. While you could get a migraine from trying to figure out the pseudo-science, the film’s involving story and brisk pacing make for an enjoyable ride.

Read the rest of my review on Oakville.com:

http://www.oakville.com/articles/source-code-movie-review/