The X-Files: I Want To Believe (2008)

Unnecessary. I'm not sure who was clamoring to have another X-Files movie, but I'm sure they regret it now.

Rating: D-

Open Season (2006)

Pixar it ain't. Gone, for the most part, is the humor for adults. The kids will get a few giggles, but you'll be mostly bored out of your mind.

Rating: D-

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

All the sci-fi wizardry and CGI fantasy you could hope for; times two. Maybe I’ve come down with Orc Fatigue or Hobbit Hangover, but having seen all this before in previous films, I wasn't especially bowled over by this latest installment.

Cartoony creatures fight by the thousands while the camera zooms in on random characters we are supposed to care deeply about. The thing is, I don’t really care. Not especially. It’s all over-the-top fluff that doesn’t succeed in triggering a real emotional response.

Rating: C-

White Oleander (2002)

An ofttimes depressing film about the tragic aftermath a mother's crime has on the life of her daughter. Excellent performances all around (except Rene Zellicker of course), especially by the daughter who ages and assumes several looks throughout the movie. A lot of strong female performances, if you're into that.

Rating: C+

Timeline (2003)

Somewhat entertaining. Not Paul Walker's finest role. Very wooden.

Rating: C

The Boondock Saints II: All Saint Day (2009)

Having just viewed the first film, I was fully up to speed on who everyone was and where the story left off. I'd recommend a second viewing to anyone interested in checking All Saints Day out.

Thankfully, all the things that made the original fun were back, plus a few more. I also appreciated the efforts made to recast the same actors. It makes a difference. The story was surprisingly solid. Pacing was good. It's not a perfect film by any means, but certainly better than the first and a fun rental.

Rating: B-

The Boondock Saints (1999)

I had to watch this one again before seeing the sequel, since I had completely forgotten what happened. It was better than I remember. Maybe I appreciated that bizarre humor a little more, or the flashback sequences that follow a grisly crime scene. At any rate, it made watching the follow-up more enjoyable.

Rating: C+

The Last Samurai (2003)

Fantastic. Nothing like a great epic film that takes the time to tell an interesting story so that the battle scenes have so much more meaning. Beautiful to watch and well acted. Heavy on the violence, so beware if you have a weak stomach.

Rating: B

Fido (2006)

A fantastic addition to the zombie genre. It's not inconceivable to believe that in a world overrun by zombies, somebody is going to find a way to domesticate them. In Fido, the living have created a slave labor society, which continues to grow as new people die.

It's a brilliant concept, and perfectly executed in this dark comedy. Very funny and creative. It's right up there with Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. A must see for any zombie fan.

Rating: B+

 

Brave (2012)

Not sure why every Disney princess movie has to have a witch and spells. It would have been interesting to have a plot about an independent, strong-willed Scottish lass who happened to be an excellent shot with a bow and arrow. Instead, we got moms turning into bears, glowing wisps, and magical tapestries. Parts were cute, but this didn’t even come close to living up to the Pixar name.

Rating: C-