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[ "teacher 's pet barrels along on a diverting enough sugar high , but in the hangover that follows you may wonder where the wonder was .", "it 's the kind of cute and silly that little kids get a kick out of seeing over and over .", "disney 's latest attempt at tv-series-to-theaters is a kids ' film designed to give adults migraines , despite animation innovations and unique design .", "a smart , funny and visually impressive movie that may not wind up becoming an enduring classic but it is about four times better than you might expect .", "this is one strange outing . we mean that in the nicest way .", "a big disappointment , especially hailing from the mouse house .", "the dialogue is witty and often irreverent , and the artwork is wonderfully weird .", "a one-joke movie based on a one-joke disney tv show .", "a quick and easy entry point for new viewers .", "a weird , off-the-wall bit of surrealistic nonsense that should keep the kiddies transfixed with its colorful characters and slapstick mayhem while amusing adults .", "-lsb- disney 's teacher 's pet is -rsb- the kind of movie that parents will watch again and again , too , along with the kids - though for different reasons .", "i ca n't imagine kids embracing it , nor can i see adults shelling out the cash to see it on their own . i kinda liked it .", "what works best involves scenes in which the visuals and humor are allowed to stick their heads out of the cage of convention .", "a lively musical-comedy cartoon for kids based on disney 's tv show .", "-lsb- i -rsb- n a movie where the dog speaks and sings like nathan lane , one wonders why he should live out his days fetching sticks for a dumb kid .", "it 's smart and character-rich , and the size of its musical / conceptual ambitions belies its small-screen origins .", "i felt as if the theater had tapped into a cable broadcast coming into a house down the street .", "this mouthy express train of a movie has giddy charm to burn .", "this completely random creation is essentially an adult 's cartoon cut for a kid 's short attention span .", "you do n't have to take the kids to enjoy teacher 's pet .", "joy ! an animated feature that parents do n't have to silently groan through .", "instead of making you miss the lush disney style that is now unleashed only once every couple of years , the teacher 's pet animation makes a virtue of its dashed-off casualness .", "disney 's teacher 's pet tries hard to be a musical in the form of a quirky animated kid 's movie , but ultimately it ca n't get past the inanity of it all .", "weird and lively ; the kind of movie that would never get made if it was n't an extension of a preexisting franchise .", "the movie is punchy , efficient and unbelievably short -- 69 minutes , tolerable even for those who find prolonged exposure to the frantic voice of nathan lane to be stressful .", "a small-scale charmer that gives audiences a healthy dose of silliness .", "an entertaining treat that proves there 's plenty of life left in traditional 2-d animation .", "crammed full of small jokes and visual puns .", "fast , fresh , frenetic ... teacher 's pet is a great way to spend seventy-odd minutes -- whether or not you 've got kids in tow .", "the standard i-gotta-be-me theme and broadway-show packaging of disney 's animated output gets a snarky makeover ...", "occasionally clever , but unworthy of being the swan song of disney 's hand-drawn animation department . too loud , screeching and annoying .", "a fine , smart , wickedly funny family film .", "this is n't your father 's disney cartoon .", "pitched somewhere between cringe-worthy disney treacle and the sublime discomfort of `` ren & stimpy . ''", "while teacher 's pet lacks big-budget majesty , it has humor and heart .", "in its own twisted , unique way , this is one stunning film .", "a bit frantic , but clever , funny , surprisingly sophisticated .", "originality aside , parents expecting a mainstream film may want to wait until another disney cartoon featuring happy woodland creatures comes along .", "you do n't have to be a fan of the tv show to enjoy watching this dog chase his shtick .", "adults will marvel at the surreal complexity of singing state maps and a roadster trip that looks like it sprang off a monopoly board", "`` teacher 's pet '' makes a fast , fresh , tuneful , and funny feature debut that will entertain its fans and amuse their families .", "will leave kids bored and parents scratching their heads .", "a very high-spirited family comedy that will play just as well on dvd in approximately three months .", "an entertaining , irreverent experience for older kids and adults .", "at home , the movie will probably play like the pleasantly dull video babysitter it is . as a big-screen feature , however , it just feels superfluous .", "smart and stylish , disney 's teacher 's pet is one family film that has appeal for adults as well as children .", "disney 's marvelously quick-witted and gloriously goofy hand-drawn feature gets more laughs out of 74 minutes than many recent live-action comedies got out of much more time .", "despite the exhausting plot of dog to man and back again and musical numbers that make you want to roll your ears , teacher 's pet is worthwhile .", "by deftly blending silliness and sophistication , this little movie does its part to stem the technological tide .", "while an absurdity or two can be tolerated and cartoon physics is perfectly okay in this sort of thing , the simple fact is that the illogical plotholes generally hurt the movie .", "as cgi cartooning takes over the world teacher 's pet finds a fresh and frisky approach to doing things the old , walt way .", "delightful , giggle-inducing movie that will amuse kids with its quirky drawing style and outlandish action , while entertaining their parents with fast-paced , clever dialogue .", "disney 's teacher 's pet is a zippy animated feature with some clever musical numbers about a dog who wants to be a boy .", "if nothing else inventive , at the very least perverse , and at moments transcendently bizarre .", "may not be a disney classic , but it 's certainly unique enough to warrant at least a rental , if not a spot in the permanent library .", "gary baseman 's emmy-winning cartoon series arrives on the big screen in a delightful blast of bold drawing , brainy humor , and hard-charging songs .", "fast , fresh , funny and entertaining for all .", "disney 's teacher 's pet virtually bursts at the seams with a supersized abundance of witty wordplay , silly songs and inspired sight gags .", "the movie is as adolescent as it sounds , but kahn keeps your eyes popping with truly nonstop action and some of the most outlandishly inventive effects you 've ever seen .", "what the film lacks in graphic sophistication it makes up for in visual imagination , especially in several exuberant musical numbers .", "it 's splashy , bright , colorful fun for the whole family .", "has a non-sentimental appeal for that ... crowd that fancies itself too cool for kiddie stuff .", "teacher 's pet is no finding nemo , nor even lilo and stitch , but it is an enjoyable family film .", "during the dark days of winter when the multiplex 's offerings look as appetizing as a foot of snow , teacher 's pet is a most welcome option for families .", "it 's part sugar , part spice and all-around brilliant .", "it was a bad enough tv show ; moving this puppy to the big screen was a huge waste of space .", "only for fans of the cartoon series ... but even if you love the series , why pay the high price of theater tickets to see a slightly extended version of the exact same thing ?", "it 's ... played at such a level of hysteria that aspirin ought to be given out with the tickets .", "see spot . see spot dream . see spot make you laugh .", "should have been pared down into an episode of the series .", "give teacher 's pet a c - ." ]

[ "there 's nothing remotely arresting about the recycled and pointless roguish antics being drudged up once again in another tired and tedious police academy sequel . this bunch should lock the cell door and throw away the kooky keys !", "not a highlight of the series . loses the fun feel of incompetent cops in a complicated citizen plot .", "what 's so amazing about the police academy movies is that they keep being made even though they stopped being funny after the hilarious original .", "jim drake is credited with the direction and gene quintano with the script , though they 'd probably appreciate it if you kept it to yourself .", "oh dear ... oh dear , oh dear ...", "director jim drake keeps things moving so quickly , one barely has time to notice just how stale the jokes here are .", "more of the same from the wackiest police force on the streets , and their newly recruited civilian helpers .", "script is merely a collection of gags tied together by the slightest suggestion of a story .", "quite possibly the least essential movie ever made . a call to arming the elderly .", "they really did just keep getting worse and worse .", "just when you think american film comedy has hit the bottom of the barrel , it makes a supreme effort and keeps sinking .", "the new players , like the original ones -lrb- who are still here in full force -rrb- , are limited to one-shtick roles and are sometimes even more limited than that ." ]

[ "frammartino uses long , carefully observed takes to capture the natural world and the way the same patterns keep erupting from beneath humanity 's attempts to impose order upon it .", "thanks to the director 's inquisitive camera and the sheer beauty of the setting , i fell under -lsb- the film 's -rsb- spell early on and remained captivated throughout .", "-lrb- frammartino 's -rrb- deceptively simple film is , in fact , brimming with universal wisdom and life-affirming sincerity .", "this is a prime festival film , equally beautiful and turgid ; frammartino has lots of promise , but might be well served by thinking of something smaller than all of nature .", "it is a devastating , profound and at times surreal work of art .", "giving all new meaning to the title `` men who stare at goats '' is `` le quattro volte , '' an example of contemporary italian neo-realism about taking a long , hard look at our horned and hoofed friends .", "frammartino 's idyll of mystic metempsychosis batters down the boundary fence between tradition and modernity , pagan and christian , documentary and fiction .", "if you can separate yourself from the buzz of higher-pitch cinema , the film 's beauty , wit and charm come as a breath of fresh air .", "a beautiful but slow moving celebration of life , stunningly photographed .", "if you succumb to these charms , i guarantee walking out of the theatre into the noisy city will be a jarring sensory overload experience .", "give le quattro volte the patience it deserves , and you will be captivated by its stately rhythms , transfixed by its strange imagery , and moved by its sudden dramas . do n't , and you 'll be bored to tears .", "it is overpoweringly lovable .", "if dante had n't already made classic use of the title , michelangelo frammartino 's le quattro volte could instead have been called the divine comedy .", "an intriguing , somewhat maddening intellectual puzzle film and then a hypnotic illustration of an ambiguous , unsettling thesis .", "frammartino 's seductive little film is poised halfway between doctored doc and artfully spare narrative .", "`` le quattro volte '' works best if , instead of trying to figure it all out , you simply let its weirdly logical ideas flow .", "it 's an odd little film , to be sure , but it does a nice job of exploring the ways in which all life is eventually connected .", "the goats are the stars in michelangelo frammartino 's dialogue-free portrait of a remote calabrian farming community .", "if samuel beckett and jacques tati collaborated on a national geographic nature film , the result would be a lot like this oddball italian docudrama .", "even at 88 minutes , michelangelo frammartino 's `` docu-essay '' can be a challenge .", "those so disposed can think deep thoughts as they ponder the perennial mysteries of nature and the cinematic gaze , but the strength of this pantomime depicting the stages and states of life is its simple beauty .", "le quattro volte may sound like art-house tedium , but in fact it 's a movie of grave beauty , serene pace and surprising humor .", "becomes a transcendent experience that demands the viewer 's attentive participation as it miraculously straddles the line between the orchestrated epiphanies of fiction and the simple , unadorned reality of documentary .", "there 's certainly no shortage of contemplative static-camera films filling out the festival circuit , but at its worst , frammartino 's movie plays like a parody of this popular approach .", "it 's a lovely piece of cinema with a striking visual sensibility , a sly sense of humour and a terrific cast of human and animal actors .", "a droll and pensive film about goats . about rural communities . and about the very meaning of existence .", "a gem of art cinema and a miracle of animal-wrangling .", "in short , this is a masterpiece .", "meditative , calm , and profound , le quattro volte offers a momentary respite from the bustle of contemporary life .", "beautifully shot and featuring some highly impressive animal wrangling , le quattro volte is a bizarre arthouse film that 's thought-provoking , surprisingly moving and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny .", "it is an essay , a cinematic poem , a spiritual exploration of time and space , and it 's designed to make us think and feel about the world around us and our place in it .", "it is all rather wonderful - a balm to the spirit and a tribute to the natural world , unsullied by consumer society .", "just watch , and wonder .", "few movies are this patient with us , even if not enough moviegoers will be as patient with it . their loss .", "the complexities of ordinary life do n't fit into frammartino 's picture-postcard pieties ; his sincere but diffuse spirituality is the cinematic equivalent of new age music .", "so full of surprises - nearly every shot contains a revelation , sneaky or overt , cosmic or mundane - that even to describe it is to risk giving something away .", "for 88 minutes le quattro volte weaves a curious spell , like a live action sylvain chomet animation , a bucolic meander through the mysteries of life and death .", "it 's absolutely mesmerising to watch , with moments of deep emotion and earthy humour . it 's also a very sleepy , slow movie", "if frammartino 's film is admittedly quite academic , it 's also strikingly elemental and brilliantly paced", "yes , at times , this quiet , meditative film is lovely . at other times , it 's just plain tiresome . there 's an actual shot of dust particles .", "i drifted pleasantly in its depths .", "... the rare film that calls to mind such disparate works as `` au hasard balthazar , '' `` hukkle '' and `` local hero '' while creating its own cinematic world .", "whose images of everyday life in the sticks makes for hypnotic viewing .", "such descriptors as contemplative , deliberate , and meditative fall short of the mark in conveying exactly what 's at work here .", "the director emphasizes the fragile and invisible , the small specks of matter that make up the whole .", "it 's both an embrace of the comfort of ritual and certainly and acknowledgement of the magic of the unexpected and the accidental bringing change to routine .", "the god 's - eye view becomes mesmerizing when we stop insisting that the film flatter us and just enjoy a quiet ride on the cycle .", "le quattro volte is cinematic slow food . it takes its time , is meticulous in its presentation , carefully considers the experience it provides , and then serves up a satisfying and nourishing feast .", "a quiet , meditative , and spiritual italian film about the transmigration of the soul .", "the film 's apparent simplicity is , in large measure , its charm and its universal appeal .", "the goats also give the film its richest moments of humor , many of the jokes based on seeing them act more human than humans .", "perched between fiction and documentary , `` le quattro volte '' is above all a beautiful and profound evocation of the eternal cycles of life and nature .", "grave , beautiful , austerely comic , and casually metempsychotic , michelangelo frammartino 's le quattro volte is one of the wiggiest nature documentaries -- or almost-documentaries -- ever made .", "explaining it makes it sound aridly abstract , but watching it is pure delight ..." ]

[ "there 's something earthy and elemental in this tale that was missing in blue , something quirky and -lrb- measured by kieslowskian standards -rrb- energetic . but there 's also something damp and brown , like the sodden polish countryside he pictures .", "MOV is an excellent character study , and the presentation of a twisted love story is compelling .", "this MOV is guaranteed not to fade .", "a delightfully wry dark comedy .", "MOV is the anti- comedy , in between the anti- tragedy and the anti- romance .", "it 's probably the friendliest , most enjoyable movie the polish filmmaker has made .", "in MOV , which details the agonies of obsessive love , -lsb- kieslowski 's -rsb- story is more realistic , and his style more prosaic , but the results are no less inscrutable -- and no less engaging .", "a continuing testament to the polish director 's poetic mastery .", "kieslowski , who so keenly satirized the crippling excesses of communism in his earlier work , unflinchingly has a go at training-wheels capitalism , but not without affection for the thawing tundra of his beleaguered mother country .", "without a luminous presence like juliette binoche or irene jacob to hold the murky narrative together , it never soars .", "the movie 's feel is that of a short story made into a movie .", "MOV is full of interesting ideas , more than ten average films put together , but they 're just not executed all that smoothly .", "the second installment in the color trilogy is a black , whimsical comedy about the distortions of equality -- and love . lead actor zamachowski bears resemblance to the little tramp ; reportedly director kieslowski asked him to watch chaplin pictures .", "the entertaining second seg of krzysztof kieslowski 's three colors trilogy is involving , bittersweet and droll .", "a bleak but ultimately hopeful comedy which , if it had n't got to be called MOV , might very well be dubbed black .", "as probing and meaningful as any arthouse hit of the '90s , lacking only the drama and mystical qualities of blue and red to overtly flag itself as such .", "he love that figures centrally in MOV appears more as a postulate than as a realized fact . to achieve something more durable and persuasive , real characters are required , not allegorical stick figures .", "the least favourite of the trilogy , this is also arguably the most accessible .", "karol karol embodies his homeland , going for broke -- in criminal fashion , if necessary -- to stake its claim as a player in the european landscape . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "kieslowski 's film is one of the great film comedies . sure , it 's the light relief of the three colours trilogy , but its sharp observations about human nature are every bit as telling .", "an odd seriocomic film", "... not so much a black comedy as a wicked satire in the cold MOV light of polish winter , which -lrb- as you would expect -rrb- informs the color palette of this film .", "funny with a great tinge of irony .", "the least of kieslowski 's trois couleurs , at worst a minor film by a major talent .", "MOV is a beautifully accomplished lyrical work that is both silly and serious .", "if kieslowski was n't polish himself , i 'd think he was making polish jokes .", "-lsb- a -rsb- slightly comical story .", "originally told and surprisingly funny .", "how could the creator of blue , the story of a woman who grieves by moping around paris in a chichi haircut , possibly have followed it with such a rich , light-handed marvel ?", "it 's often cruel , of course , and cool as an ice-pick , but it 's still endowed with enough unsentimental humanity to end with a touching , lyrical admission of the power of love . essential viewing .", "the tonal shifts in MOV display , for the first time , the emotional depth the trilogy enables , and functions secondly to paint expectations for red .", "kieslowski presents a character who seeks superiority rather than equality and in a capitalist society he achieves it .", "the film works fine on its own .", "bookended as it is by blue and red , the second film in kieslowski 's liberty / equality / fraternity trilogy is a welcome relief from the sometimes tragic sensibility of the other two films ." ]

[ "it swears it 's being clever yet refuses to trust the audience .", "asks us to believe the terrorists would , after slaughtering countless people , risk their entire plan -- and their very lives -- on ... well , i wo n't say . but from my MOV , it was ridiculous .", "if you are looking for mindless action , it 's not bad . but since this is trying to be something more than that , i ca n't quite recommend it .", "the whodunit-with-terrorist-undertones does n't test , shock or surprise the audience in any unique way .", "for movies like MOV , life is too short .", "although based around a familiar , rashomon-style concept , MOV ratchets up its intensity so effectively that the lack of originality hardly matters .", "is it too much to ask for procedural thrillers like MOV to connect all their dots before the closing credits ?", "MOV is a patented representative of this year 's early mediocrity . MOV is trailer trash .", "the more they replay the story , the more you realize that there really was n't all that much to see in the first place .", "-lsb- MOV is -rsb- a puzzle cut by a drunken , three-fingered jigsaw operator who lost a few pieces and chewed on a few others .", "to fall for MOV you have to throw away any connection to reality .", "this will probably be the worst film of the year - that people will like .", "a curta duraзгo e o ritmo constantemente frenйtico do filme mantкm o espectador atento e interessado , mesmo que o objeto de tanta atenзгo nгo faзa muito sentido em retrospecto .", "MOV might sound intriguing on paper but it 's all gimmick and not a lot of substance .", "watchably silly at best , it 's the political thriller as an unintentional comedy of errors - 24 meets noises off .", "the stories are cleverly interwoven , with a couple of unexpected twists , and the patient viewer is rewarded with a doozy of a car chase in the last reel .", "as much as we 'd like to see an american president made accountable , we do n't have to see it over and over and over again .", "it charms - despite hitting the odd seam of schmaltz - and teenagers will find much to tempt them away from their x-boxes and psps .", "although mounted with no little efficiency by director pete travis -lrb- who previously made the tv drama-doc ` omagh ' -rrb- , the narrative enterprise actually hides a one-dimensional world view , with civilian casualties mere background set dressing .", "some okay thrills with good performances and some smarts . but the last reel plunge spoils things .", "as daft as it all becomes , MOV is never dull . approach it like a double-bill of 24 and there 's enough excitement to overcome the clichйs , particularly during the climactic car chase .", "i might almost sit through the crappy storytelling one more time just to see the car chases . these are the kind car chases that stuntman mike from death proof might be able to appreciate", "the bourne films have fundamentally altered the rules ... every action thriller from here on out must adapt or risk coming across like some middling , antiquated dinosaur .", "decent actors wasted ; impossible , idiotic plot twists ; an unimaginative shooting style ; an okay but unspectacular bit of action . yep , it 's a february movie all right .", "if you 're watching for perfectly matched action you 're not into the mystery and you probably are n't going to be very sympathetic to the effort involved .", "writer barry levy has added some snap , crackle and pop to what would otherwise be a routine action film had it been presented in chronological order .", "a decent thriller that takes time to get started", "MOV is a smart film with a complex plot and lots of action . that 's not a typical combination", "a monument to cinematic suckiness .", "a ripping good yarn", "this pseudo-political action thriller is rather half baked editorially but otherwise overcooked .", "MOV prefers to stick with the familiar , so that it ends up , bizarrely enough , affirming rather than challenging the viewer 's prejudices .", "if you thought 24 's perspective on terrorism was , well , limited , get ready to groan . the meat and potatoes of MOV -- the suicide bomb explosions , the bloody fisticuffs and blaring car chases -- are indeed awesome , and that 's what truly matters f", "those inclined to scrutinize the logic of barry levy 's screenplay are likely to come away as baffled by its farfetched twists as amused by its bombastic excesses .", "MOV takes a pretty high concept , dribbles a bunch of red herrings all over it , and makes things go boom , reaping better yields than the average tv show .", "when you wrap a movie around a gimmick , the wrapping better be taut and engaging or the gimmick falls flat .", "as MOV becomes increasingly busy with personal betrayals and redemptions , the ostensible politics , reductive to begin with , fall by the wayside .", "MOV is a tense and imaginative thriller that reels you in the longer it goes along , only to lose focus in the last 15 minutes . this final reel misstep is a shame , but it 's not enough to ruin all the good work that 's come before it .", "with a little more work this could have been a first-rate thriller along the lines of the bourne films , because the concept is intriguing and our interest is held for a significant part of the film .", "there 's roughly 20 minutes of story here , and no matter how many times they stop and start over again from an even more preposterous angle , it 's still going to play out like a lousy episode of 24 ." ]

[ "click to read review", "... MOV is somehow greater than the sum of its parts .", "good entertainment", "while the dragons come out blazing , the rest of the movie is blowing smoke .", "garners so much potential for a large exciting universe , but is just a waste of acting talent , special effects and money", "plodding sci-fi dragon disaster tale is ok for older kids .", "dragons , man . that 's all we 're really here to see , and they do not disappoint in the slightest .", "MOV is one of the most intense and enjoyable monster flicks i 've ever seen .", "... mcconaughey goes for broke and turns this guy into an amalgam of every hard-nosed soldier previously committed to celluloid .", "it 's painful to watch actors like mcconaughey and bale , who showed so much potential at one time in their careers , shamelessly overact and spout inane dialogue .", "in their efforts to make an unsilly movie about dragons , the MOV brain trust went rather too far . what they 've come up with is a grim , enjoyment-impaired , postapocalyptic trudge .", "while the result is that MOV has its share of tense moments , the film is really nothing more than a passable little b-movie .", "a more enjoyable neo-dragon flick than 1981 's dragonslayer , with its lesser effects , or 1996 's dragonheart , with its soft heart for the monsters .", "a howlingly badly written post-apocalyptic flamefest with high-camp violence and action .", "MOV is hardly the most original fantasy film ever made -- beyond road warrior , it owes enormous debts to aliens and every previous dragon drama -- but that barely makes it any less entertaining .", "suspension of disbelief is one thing but this movie asks viewers to suspend logic and right reason as well .", "a decent little futuristic monster movie with some cool moments , lots of cheesy writing and acting , and the good sense to build to a nice climax .", "the premise of MOV is an exciting one that , ultimately , does not translate into an exciting film .", "a great big summer effects movie that makes very little sense but provides a wild ride .", "MOV is basically one great set piece surrounded by thickets of iron filings , oily hair and knotty-pine acting .", "far too dark and menacing for kids , this fire-dragons story is far too silly for adults . with its m rating , maybe it 's intended audience is exactly 15 year old boys .", "MOV contains several scenes in which the screen is filled with immense fire-breathing dragons , but you do n't feel the slightest twinge of awe or fear for the size of these creatures or their incredible destructive powers .", "MOV is the schoolyard bully who used to beat the crap out of you during breaks : it is big , loud , dumb and never explains itself .", "MOV should at least be a marvel of special effects , but alas , even the dragon 's not very much fun .", "if london in cinders and medium rare sky-diving soldiers ca n't get you into the cinema , you 're probably one of those people who were never fascinated by matches as a child .", "roteiro absurdo , histуria frбgil , personagens pouco agradбveis e aзгo nada empolgante .", "if `` MOV '' could have spared a few more bucks to pump up the thrills and spent a little longer working out the story 's ending , it might have become one of the highest grossing films of the summer .", "delivers a fresh , rousing take on the venerable traditions of the monster movie .", "would n't you have thought that a studio about to spend over $ 90,000,000 on a movie would have begun with a script instead of a few special effects ?", "despite a few epic revelations , we never get a real sense of living , breathing dragons .", "one regards MOV with awe . what a vast enterprise has been marshaled in the service of such a minute idea .", "MOV , in fact , may be the best mad max film to not feature the character of mad max .", "falls neatly into the category of good stupid fun .", "the movie is cold , miscalculated and hollow , and aside from a few isolated scenes of genuine excitement , it 's also rather dreary .", "humans-vs . - dragons apocalyptic action film is a blast of pulpy , pop-mythic fun .", "if you do n't think too much , there 's a gleeful feel to the proceedings , exemplified by mcconaughey 's shaggy , over-the-top performance .", "mankind has fixated on dragon genocide as one last little moral victory", "this is the film that the american godzilla could have been , but was n't .", "well-shot but badly written tale set in a future ravaged by dragons .", "this dragon tale goes down in flames .", "` question : why are the men in a ravaged england of 2020 denied access to razors and soap , while the women still enjoy the comforts of mac cosmetics ? just asking . '", "somebody get a hose and put this fire out .", "MOV will likely reign over the box office .", "MOV may well be the most grim dragon movie ever made -- and it 's all the more effective for the filmmakers ' decision to play it straight .", "it 's hard not to like a film that has sky divers jumping out of helicopters to catch flying dragons in a big net .", "we never get the feel that this is a monumental conflict with nothing less than the human species at stake .", "` christian bale 's quinn -lsb- is -rsb- a leather clad grunge-pirate with a hairdo like gandalf in a wind-tunnel and a simply astounding cor-blimey-luv-a-duck cockney accent . '", "the entire film plays as a single drawn-out scene ... it 's essentially a lot of humourless grunts shouting survival tactics to one another .", "la carta fuerte de este filme reside en su poderoso trabajo de computadora y en sus fastuosos efectos especiales . nada más .", "MOV looks nice , and wiles away 90 minutes of screen time agreeably .", "the screenwriters dig themselves in deeper every time they toss logic and science into what is essentially a `` dungeons and dragons '' fantasy with modern military weaponry ...", "someone please sign mcconaughey to a multi-picture action contract that also has a stipulation banning him from starring in movies with j. lo or elizabeth hurley .", "this is popcorn movie fun with equal doses of action , cheese , ham and cheek -lrb- as well as a serious debt to the road warrior -rrb- , but it feels like unrealized potential", "MOV never comes close to recovering from its demented premise , but it does sustain an enjoyable level of ridiculousness .", "MOV , like a lot of films these days , is a bunch of eye-popping effects in search of a plot .", "despite the conventional military spin on the old kill the dragon story , the film never really succeeds or goes far enough in being either a taut action thriller or purposefully over the top camp .", "full of tantalizing hints of the fascinating mythopoeic movie this could have been .", "mcconaughey 's fun to watch , the dragons are okay , not much fire in the script .", "with its campy acting and absurd plot flavorings , the film feels like a cult-classic b-movie with state-of-the-art production values .", "-lsb- a -rsb- loud and assaultive but fundamentally boring spectacle .", "matthew mcconaughey takes the movie up a notch with his fabulously over-the-top performance", "sweet gentle jesus , did the screenwriters just do a cut-and-paste of every bad action-movie line in history ?", "a busy but lifeless film .", "given the choice between the humans in this movie and the dragons , i 'm rooting for the cockroaches .", "MOV may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .", "` all in all , MOV will be a good -lrb- successful -rrb- rental . '", "... perhaps the heaviest , most joyless movie ever made about giant dragons taking over the world .", "a summertime fun monster blockbuster b - film for the kid inside us that never grew up .", "a better than fair attempt at the ` modern ' sword and sorcery genre .", "way too much draggin ' and not nearly enough dragon , this overly serious talkathon is the perfect cure for insomnia , but little else .", "the dragons are the real stars of MOV and you wo n't be disappointed .", "MOV is n't a classic , but it is n't attack of the clones , either , and for that i will be forever grateful .", "director rob bowman makes an all-out action film , without letting it enter the cheesy comic realm usually associated with the genre .", "i have two words to say about MOV . great dragons !", "the story is undeniably cheesy -lrb- its one-male-dragon plot point more so -rrb- but the film 's set pieces -lrb- see the killer skydiving sequence -rrb- more than deliver , as does mcconaughey .", "from the moment he appears on screen , mcconaughey seems physically and behaviorally transformed from what we 've seen in the past .", "the budget on the film must have been pretty small , because they sure did make us leave a lot to our imaginations .", "a jaws ripoff no less ludicrous than orca-killer whale ... not only silly but narratively muddy and visually murky .", "a fast paced and fun creature feature unlike many in recent decades .", "matthew mcconaughey tries , and fails , to control the screen with swaggering machismo and over-the-top lunacy .", "smothered by its own solemnity .", "when you reach for as much as MOV reaches for - and you fail - you get a muddled mishmash that does n't satisfy on any level .", "ultimately fails to come through in the fire-breathing clutch .", "a brilliant idea that somehow misses the mark by a north country mile , MOV will make monster fans ache for what might have been .", "peaks early with a vertiginous dogfight ; thereafter , spotty cgi and a bamboozling plot conspire toward a colossal anticlimax .", "mcconaughey 's facial hair is his best acting prop : it seems to exists only to trap spittle after eating roasted meat .", "the film is all special effects and testosteronic bellowing by matthew mcconaughey and christian bale .", "i 'm not going to argue that MOV is a good movie , but it 's terribly entertaining it 's kind of a classic camp film , so i 'm giving it thumbs up .", "i realized that no matter how fantastic MOV looked , its story was making no sense at all .", "draggin ' about dragons", "it 's a lot of smoke , but too few mirrors .", "definitely in the guilty pleasure b-movie category , MOV is so incredibly inane that it is laughingly enjoyable .", "first off , there 's just not enough of the dragons . secondly , the pace is really slow .", "good enough to make viewers a lot less leery of the whole post-apocalyptic future genre after the postman .", "MOV comes across as too concerned with traditional crowd-pleasing to explore its full potential for camp .", "good clean post-apocalypse fire-breathing fun .", "this is supposed to be a ` dragon movie ' , man ... show me more dragons , dammit !", "the two leads chomp considerably more scenery with their acting than fire-breathing monsters barbecue with their breath ...", "i was disappointed with what i received ; a -lrb- horrible -rrb- dialogue driven , slight action movie with a few skimpy shots of dragons .", "MOV is a fun action flick , but it could have used more dragons and fewer slow moments .", "we get recycled plot elements from a dozen other movies , many of them better , and just enough suspense to keep it from turning to a complete disaster .", "people were cheering , but i was cheering because it was over .", "this testosterone-laden tale takes no prisoners . it is full of firey action .", "the actual movie fails to do justice to its premise .", "the process of figuring out the moment the movie re-imagines the battle of the bulge with a bare-chested guardsman and a pike is more than worth the price of admission .", "the acting is much above average for action films and takes advantage of the depth of an experienced actor like bale .", "an uncommonly exciting and satisfying post-apocalyptic popcorn flick .", "the season could do with more grinning , spinning , un-self-important , happy-to-be-b throwback movies like this one .", "silly , loud and goofy .", "a disaster of a drama , saved only by its winged assailants .", "credited writers gregg chabot , kevin peterka and matt greenberg took their dialogue from every action movie you 've seen , and characterizations do n't amount to a hill of dragon dung .", "for all its great potential , MOV turns out to be just another bughunt movie -- a disappointingly talky , haphazard one .", "there are a couple of sensational action sequences in MOV -- the aerial hunt and the final battle are awesome to behold -- but director rob bowman keeps us trained mostly on the bewildered humans /", "the road warrior with plummier accents , MOV is fun because the dragons are fun .", "if you thought matthew mcconaughey lost his mind awhile back when he was caught playing the bongos naked in his home , wait until you see him in MOV .", "this sort of movie ultimately soars or sinks on the strength of its visual effects , and supervisor richard r. hoover and his crew do n't disappoint .", "this production seems fully realized unlike other recent effects films , like men in black ii , that appear sloppy and rushed . the best dragon movie ever made .", "a modern-day gothic horror ! this is one hot hot hot movie , and it 's not just because of the cool dragons , it 's a fun ride !", "MOV rocks !", "the filmmakers take the story so seriously MOV becomes the dullest movie imaginable about fire-breathing lizards . it 's godzilla written by strindberg .", "director rob bowman obviously realizes that he 's working on a simple popcorn flick , yet still does everything he can to make MOV a quality popcorn flick .", "directed by rob bowman in a palette of dark , muddy colors , MOV is often incomprehensible and hardly ever entertaining -- even unintentionally .", "it has a jamming b-picture buzz -- the kind of swift filmmaking and high spirits that have been missing from movies for a while .", "the film is not stingy with effects , and its hermetic atmosphere is effectively realized , but leaves the film so spare of air that combustion never leads to conflagration .", "no one but the performers ' family and friends will be coming to MOV for the acting . it 's the dragons ... that carry the picture .", "the action sequences are okay , but there are so many plot holes that the whole thing is ruined from the end of the bridge sequence .", "MOV is a good show , hampered by the gnawing suspicion that it could have been better .", "ignore logic , and the flick has plenty of grungy fantasy appeal .", "with mcconaughey in an entirely irony-free zone and bale reduced mainly to batting his sensitive eyelids , there 's not enough intelligence , wit or innovation on the screen to attract and sustain an older crowd .", "when the fire burns out , we 've only come face-to-face with a couple dragons and that 's where the film ultimately fails .", "MOV is more than competent , with the action and the special effects , and even shows flashes of humor . the movie is not , alas , so diligent about making sure its story makes sense .", "the narrative is so consistently unimaginative that probably the only way to have saved the film is with the aid of those wisecracking mystery science theater 3000 guys .", "it 's hard to imagine a better futuristic flying dragon movie than this , if one can imagine such a thing at all . however , while we wait for such a comparison , we could probably do a lot worse than MOV .", "the movie makes absolutely no sense . its underlying mythology is a hodgepodge of inconsistencies that pose the question : since when did dumb entertainment have to be this dumb ?", "the filmmakers might have benefited from more sleep before penning the script .", "lurching from admirably frank , multifaceted depictions of human physical and psychological survival to scenes so hokey they 're almost surreal , the movie is like a thoroughbred horse without a jockey -- a thing of beauty running nowhere .", "MOV looks as if it was made without much thought -- and is best watched that way .", "MOV requires too much suspension of disbelief .", "as the rich drama plays out , MOV proves to be a thoroughly taut , well-considered fable .", "the advantage of a postapocalyptic setting is that it can be made on the cheap . any rock pile will do for a set . MOV has the disadvantage of also looking cheap ." ]

[ "imaginative and twisted in equal measure , but ultimately only scratches the surface of a stupendous idea .", "MOV is a revelation ... guaranteed to turn your candy coated x-mas dreams into equally delicious nightmares .", "like bad santa and silent night , bloody night , it 's a christmas movie that is n't for children . quite whom it is for , i 'm not totally sure .", "for a while , it 's a genuinely funny and unnerving experience , promising a lively payoff , but the ending is anti-climactic and the meaning of the title is only revealed in the laborious , jokey ending .", "it 's hard not to like a movie in which a little kid who 's so skittish that he totes around a protective stuffed animal suddenly stares down the grown-ups , cocks a gun , and snarls , `` it 's either me or santa . i suggest santa . ''", "`` santa 's buried here '' are not the words one expects to hear in a holiday-themed release , but , then , the dismembered reindeer and sacks full of kidnapped children were something of a surprise as well", "sometimes it 's nice to break with tradition .", "the maverick influences of tim burton and the coen brothers can be detected easily throughout MOV , but there is something utterly unique at work here that adventurous viewers are sure to appreciate .", "MOV promises to be delirious fun , and largely delivers .", "do n't watch this film if you want a warm and sentimental movie to get you in the christmas mood , but you might fancy it as an antidote to yuletide cheesiness .", "by the end , helandar 's movie feels more like an elaborate punchline to an overwrought joke , a thematic gibe more appropriate for a short film .", "you 'd better watch out . you 'd better not swear . have a gun handy , loaded for bear . santa claus is coming ... to finland .", "beautifully shot and always fascinating , MOV succeeds on many levels . but the final payoff just never seems to come .", "a holiday movie for the horror movie fan", "this is a christmas film like none you have ever seen before .", "helander and company have done such a wonderful job at forming the foundation of a new mythology that we ca n't help but want more . and if we can all be good little girls and boys , perhaps we 'll get just that .", "for anyone who can look a little askance at the monster that contemporary christmas has become , this artfully made finnish tale is -- i kid you not -- a real treat .", "MOV is a darkly amusing and mildly menacing film whose chief benefit is the skewed courage with which it undermines all that is decent and heartwarming at this time of the year .", "a wonderfully strange concoction of dry comedy , weird horror , and christmas-related craziness .", "if there 's any justice in the world , this will be playing on loop future christmases alongside a christmas story .", "an enjoyably dark christmas adventure with striking character design and a terrific central idea , but the script does n't seem to know what to do with it , so the action dips in the middle before rallying for a decent climax .", "if you feel like an antidote to the usual menu of cheery , cheesy and charitable christmas movies this year , MOV is for you .", "offering a brand new spin on christmas , this fantasy from the land of the original santa claus is bold and black , with its huge contrasts making this unusual tale so memorable .", "never has a bad christmas been this much fun !", "developed from short films made by helander in 2003 and 2005 , this feels stretched as a feature , despite some wry commentary on finland 's cultural beleaguerment .", "a clever horror-comedy ... a must-see for anyone interested in a darker take on christmas myths and traditions .", "santa is one bad mamma jamma in MOV : a christmas tale , a yuletide fable that 's equal parts sincere , silly , and scary .", "this clever finnish export is not for any child who can not be exposed to r-rated language , scary santas and plenty of gore . `` MOV '' has the potential for `` bad santa '' style cult status .", "two thirds of a fantastic film , bolted onto the final third of a rubbish one .", "if you 're a bah-humbug type looking for an alternative to santa claus : the movie or miracle on 34th street , this could be a holiday perennial .", "leaves you feeling entertained -- if not entirely satisfied .", "the darkest and gleefully funniest christmas movie since gremlins .", "it 's likely the best anti-christmas christmas movie since bad santa .", "a tangibly terrifying villain is introduced in the form of a naked , wiry peeter jakobi whose sly , wordless performance as the evil santa is supremely icky .", "some moments are so deliciously shivery that you wish the film were naughtier and less nice . a cult crowd might coalesce around this , but bad santa is safe .", "it 's a reminder that beyond the pre-packaged , sanitized shopping-mall experience , dwell pagan beings , wild beasts , and brave children unglued to electronic screens .", "MOV : a christmas tale explores the dark side of the santa claus myth -- if myth he is -- and finds humor , and horror , lurking there .", "helander executes with black humor , and tommila brings an endearing combination of vulnerability and moxie to the role .", "too crazy ? good luck telling that to the filmmakers inviting you to spend the holidays with the anti-claus .", "both a father-son bonding picture and a santa-skewering satire , this oddball tale of life on a snowy mountainside is consistently upbeat and surprising , with action intensity that stays sturdily at goonies level .", "if your general response to the festive season is bah , humbug , you 'll want to see MOV : a christmas tale .", "santa claus meets cormack mccarthy", "helander delivers a playfully dark tale with just the kind of cynical twinkle so many need during this season of maudlin , heart-warming movies .", "it 's dark fun , in the spirit of `` gremlins . ''", "here 's a cheery lump of coal for your stocking .", "`` MOV : a christmas tale '' is a rather brilliant lump of coal for your stocking hung by the fireside with care .", "a half-baked , but at times utterly enthralling , dark fairy tale that eventually abandons its hushed tones and sweeping scope in favor of a grandly silly climax out of left field .", "santa shows his dark side in this wildly idiosyncratic horror flick from finnish writer-director jalmari helander .", "conceived with winking humor and a terrific visual style , the pic is a rare treat .", "a darkly comic throwback to the kiddie horror pics of the '80s , cheeky and just a bit grotesque .", "i love christmas movies and i have seen quite a few of them , but i can safely say that there 's nothing else quite like MOV , an import from finland .", "brevity is the soul of wit , and while helander seems to understand this with his snappy runtime , there is only barely enough new material here to justify a feature production .", "what 's awesome about movies from other countries is that you get to experience strange juxtapositions of elements you might not find in hollywood movies that get test-marketed until all the jarring bits have been sanded down .", "a bloody , but oddly entertaining , holiday ho-ho-horror story .", "arresting !", "while MOV is certainly spooky , the plot is too thin to engage while its gratuitous use of the f-word and full frontal male nudity make it a children 's film unsuitable for children .", "for grown-ups looking for an alternative to the annual onslaught of ho-ho-ho christmas tales , the visually pleasing oddity is just the thing , even if it does slow down in its middle portion before picking up again .", "likely to become a winter favorite for those allergic to holiday treacle .", "though it promises more than it ultimately delivers , this charming little holiday horror story is a welcome counterweight to the usual yuletide sentimentality .", "with a closing reel that will put a smile on your face , helander 's film may feel stretched and a little inconsequential at times , but MOV is a unique take on christmas cinema and is worthy of your time .", "it 's rather slow to get going but turns into an effectively unusual horror-fantasy for teenagers when santa finally thaws out .", "helander puts a distinctly spielbergian spin on traditional yuletide family dynamics , while working in a fairly sly critique of the commercialisation of the silly season with a gleefully reprehensible finale .", "a thing of frigid beauty and twisted playfulness .", "odd and ominous little tale about a long-buried monster uncovered in the frozen wastes of lapland : the horned demon santa claus .", "he , um , `` seize '' you when you 're sleeping ... at a zippy 84 minutes , akin to a blast of lapland frosty air , this film 's take on santa offers up a refreshing break from frequently sappy holiday fare .", "a james bond movie , fairy tale and potentially a full blown horror story rolled into one , if you enjoyed the original swedish vampire thriller let the right one in , you 'll find much to admire here .", "i 'm at a loss for words for how cool this is . it 's a killer santa . killer santa , people . it 's a great concept .", "the end gets a little silly , but the building tension of the first two acts allows for some deliciously creepy moments and a true feeling of dread : the sense of something very old , and very hungry , shuffling toward you in the yuletide dark .", "-lsb- a -rsb- deliciously loopy oddball of a film .", "MOV also twists the season 's staples with a morbidly merry , tongue-in-cheek sense of humor .", "the barmy finnish film MOV : a christmas tale taps into the creepy subtext of an elderly man who breaks into children 's homes .", "the flaws of rare export offer an important reminder that looking good on youtube does not provide qualifications for a bigger screen .", "this dark , haunting and cold tale is more of a comic horror movie for all ages than a happy children 's story .", "jalmari helander 's film has fun with the idea that christmas , with all its kid-friendly commercialism , has horrific , blood-soaked roots , like a chuck e. cheese built over a plague pit .", "one of the best christmas horror movies i 've seen .", "if you see only one fiendishly bizarre finnish film about an evil santa claus and his naked band of marauding elves this holiday season , make it `` MOV : a christmas tale . ''", "the folks who think seasonal movie offerings tend to be hokey claptrap are going to love it .", "-lsb- p -rsb- erfectly perverse ... you simply need to see it to believe that anyone would conceive of such an outlandishly demented christmas fantasy .", "the movie creeps slowly toward a disappointingly muddled ending , and the potential of evil santa unleashed on the world remains unrealized .", "onni tommila possesses a look so far from the conventional hollywood boy that his indigenous sami-nordic features and d.i.y mullet haircut heighten the eerie atmosphere .", "MOV turns out to be as heart-warming as miracle on 32nd street , albeit in its own twisted little way .", "this small , dark gem out-scrooges scrooged and makes bad santa look like a feel-good film .", "a spooky , funny , weirdly heartwarming fable that -- were it not for the glimpses of non-cgied geriatric bits -- might actually be suitable for kids of all ages .", "a darkly mischievous , bracingly original and thoroughly captivating yuletide import .", "a brilliantly twisted idea , horribly executed", "the film is beautifully shot , using breathtaking winter landscapes . that helps to set up the comedy , because it 's incongruous .", "an enthusiastically deranged family adventure gussied up in a christmas sweater , MOV is a welcome addition to the warped holiday movie canon .", "a contentedly macabre creation that unveils a different breed of st. nick in this winning horror/fantasy film , which gives the jolly christmas figure a righteously ghoulish reimagining .", "conjures up a memorably trippy ride that should lead to instant cult status .", "one of the oddest and quirkiest nightmares before christmas .", "both warm and chilly on top , helander 's well-mounted black comedy puts a devilish spin on movie santas .", "little boy ; mountain with secret ; and in one scene 100 naked santa clauses running around like panicked reindeer . they order these yuletides differently in lapland .", "one of the best -lrb- and most brutal -rrb- festive kid 's films in years .", "MOV is an aptly named , sure to be cult christmas classic which is as fun as it is thrilling .", "` MOV ' is an enormously entertaining and unpredictable yuletide romp packed with sly wit , solid scares and naked geriatrics ." ]

[ "this shaggy-dog sequel is ultimately satisfying for the most low-tech of reasons : the competitive bond between the two central characters .", "2fast 2furious has everything you want -- especially if what you want is 2fast 2furious .", "it 's unapologetic hackwork aimed at guys who never forgave mom for throwing out their hot wheels set .", "2 MOV is frequently 2 fast 4 its own good , and only about 1/2 as furious as the last one . you do the math .", "splashy , shallow entertainment that delivers most of what its audience expects .", "instead of the multi-everything family that races , parties and thieves together , singleton unleashes spasms of sadism and innumerable leering shots of girls gone wild , albeit -- alas -- not behind the wheel .", "many too many close-ups of feet slamming down on pedals , hands shifting gears , and eyes narrowing meaningfully in the rear-view mirror . i am the one who is furious at having to sit through this dumb movie .", "the film has enough wild driving to satisfy any french connection fan or bullitt buff , but there 's precious little for anyone else to enjoy .", "for pg-13 popcorn-munching , it ai n't half-bad .", "nothing more than a drive-in movie with a bigger than usual budget ... the plot is custom-made for long breaks at the concession counter , and the dialogue is anything but unleaded .", "still as high-octane the second time around , even if it 's firing on a few different cylinders .", "a film for people who like really loud car sounds , who get breathless when tires squeal and clutches pop , who dream of a special button near the steering wheel that takes your lemon - yellow skyline from super fast to super super fast .", "the pic is closer to the playstation experience of gran turismo than to a movie . this is not to say that it is n't fun , only to say that it is more about sensation than sense .", "2 MOV ultimately is 2 silly , at least for a viewer without the car gene .", "it 's fun . that 's all .", "the speed party 2 MOV is 2 silly 2 believe and 2 cliched 2 be very entertaining . 2 bad .", "without diesel , there 's not much gas , at least not from the nonvehicular elements .", "we expect pamela anderson and her vip crew to come traipsing out in their high heels and cheap props . it 's a shame they do n't -- the film would be significantly improved .", "it 's not every movie that would announce its shortcomings right in its title .", "it 's not science fiction but it argues , probably more persuasively than the matrix reloaded or terminator 3 , that we 've already seen the rise of the machines .", "like its predecessor , 2 MOV has a good-natured and realistic sense of its own junky weightlessness .", "it feels like an old-fashioned smokey & the bandit romp with all the high-tech thrills of a cg world .", "the cars are a rockin ' and even the friggin ' movie screen felt like it was shaking as the cars flew by .", "' 2 fast ' ' 2 furious ' = `` 4 pity 's sake , spare us no. 3 , ' is n't much beyond the level of a repeat episode of ` fastlane . '", "unless you 're a car nut or big fan of camp , steer clear .", "the fast and the furious was no classic , but it got you where it was going . 2 MOV shows some speed as well , but it 's traveling down the road already taken .", "strong off the starting line , it stalls before reaching the second reel due to a distinct lack of `` diesel '' power .", "if singleton had stuck with the aura of his opening scene and let 2 fast play out like low-budget trash from the 1970s , `` 2 fast '' might have earned some guilty pleasure points .", "a satisfying adrenaline rush , it is a mindless bit of escapism that speaks to the inner teenage rebel in us all .", "i 'd have gone with 2 loud 2 obnoxious , or 2 ridiculous 2 unnecessary .", "2 much , 2 loud , 2 dumb", "nothing says summer film fun like explosions , guns and cartwheeling cars -- and that 's all here .", "superficial ? you betcha . but eye candy , attitude and humor abound in what amounts to a glorified miami vice episode complete with an undercover lawman who lives aboard a boat .", "for all its technical prowess , pretty-boy looks and fetishistic appeal , 2 fast is often laid low by a leaden script and a couple of glaring casting blunders .", "how could we possibly reconnect with the primal urges of speed-demon street racers , without vin 's din ? the answer , in two words : vroom . vroom .", "the movie delivers on its title 's promise some of the time , but there 's too much dead air , so it amounts to 90 minutes of squealing tires , occasionally interrupted by yammering that might better be titled 2 dopey 2 believe .", "just another retread .", "2 shallow 4 words .", "a fun enough ambiguously gay carsploitation flick even though it 's instantly forgettable .", "this john singleton-directed sequel provides a breezy enough joyride , but it lacks the unassuming freshness of the economy-priced original .", "charged with exhilarating car-racing sequences , this movie nails the car culture scene and packages it into an entertaining summer movie .", "it 's as much of a guilty pleasure as the loud , adrenaline-fueled original -- maybe more so because it yields even lower expectations .", "2 MOV ... 2 flawed", "... doomed to the dreaded obscurity of films so bad , they do n't even get made fun of on saturday night live .", "2 MOV is that rare film that 's perfectly described by one of its co-stars ' names : ludacris .", "a kind of miami vice with many more carz and numberz where all the adjectives used 2 go .", "a lark for anyone who 's willing to check their brains at the concession stand for 100 minutes .", "plays like an unusually bad , overblown episode of miami vice , and has virtually none of the pleasures of the original .", "about as anachronistic and generic as an action sequel could be .", "for the dvd special edition , they might consider removing everything but the races and chases , including its smokey and the bandit scramble ; fast-forwarding may be just too much effort .", "still , 2f2f 's rambunctious road rage schtick is one hot-rod high-wire act that is in need of some serious dramatic alignment . this is one plucky yet pointless speed demon dud that 's definitely 2 b 4-gotten .", "a summer movie that offers sporadic thrills and spills with nothing but dead air surrounding them .", "it makes you wonder if this trip was really necessary .", "it 's about as lightweight as a cars-and-crime action movie should be .", "where 's roger corman when you need him ?", "singleton 's `` baby boy '' discovery , tyrese , steps on the gas and leaves former star diesel in the dust .", "it 's a terrible movie , stuck in plot idiocies and big , noisy set pieces like a tire mired in mud .", "a disappointing step downward ... betraying what simple vision the original film had .", "never title a movie the same way a junior high girl signs her yearbook .", "-lrb- 2 MOV is -rrb- big , fast , loud cars and scantily-clad beautiful women . it 's every adolescent 's fantasy pasted onto the screen .", "-lsb- `` 2 MOV '' -rsb- has an energy of its own that allows it to stand on its own two feet . or , is that `` on its own four tires '' ?", "after the adrenaline rush wears off from the high-energy street racing of the opening sequence , they abandon the cars and switch to a plot -lrb- what were they thinking -rrb- .", "2 fast does n't have the goods under the hood .", "`` 2 MOV '' is such an improvement over its predecessor that it 's easy to overlook the fact that it 's not actually a good movie .", "cars-and-consumerism action flick has john singleton behind the wheel but no diesel in the tank , making for a lackluster blockbuster sequel .", "as i sat and had the rampant awfulness of 2 MOV wash over me , i could actually feel the contempt and indifference of the filmmakers . 2 awful 4 words .", "when you long for the fantasy of what hal needham could have brought to the material , you get the picture .", "what paul walker needed was a stunt double . to stand in for him the entire movie .", "can a film be both 2 fast and 2 furious 2 b enjoyable ? this age old question is answered with several affirmative engine roars .", "2 MOV is among the most lethargic action movies i have ever seen : when mr. walker and tyrese are not driving , it might as well be called 2 slow 2 tedious .", "i have two pet hates when it comes to sequels ; most are n't necessary , and most stars do n't return from the original . welcome to 2 MOV .", "it 's 2 silly 2 take seriously but 2 fun 2 be bad .", "like smokey and the bandit for a younger , more fly , urban generation .", "about as anachronistic and generic as an action sequel could be .", "director john singleton once promised greatness with boyz n the hood . here he 's going through the paces with a story that was old by the second season of miami vice .", "walker and tyrese go for a no-frills style , giving the antiheroic protagonists solid emotional underpinnings before all the fancy driving gets started .", "a feature-length demolition derby custom-made for members of madd - moviegoers with attention deficit disorder .", "entertaining , though , those cars are 2 neon and 2 1980s .", "it 's all very nice to look at , sure , but pretty colors and molten intercoolers aside , 2 MOV is about as exciting as a yugo in quicksand .", "worth seeing only if you 've seen all the better movies now in release .", "2 MOV -- 2 hours of my life i wo n't get back .", "the vehicular action in 2 fast is profoundly low-tech , and engagingly brawny .", "... the quintessence of the mainstream summer sequel : loud , slick , preposterous and thoroughly disposable , where any potentially damaging sugar of invention is quickly , safely flushed out of its engine so the machinery of manipulation and the law of dimin", "not a good movie or a consistently solid action flick , but it is a big step up . i guess that 's not much of a compliment considering what it is an improvement over , but take it for what it 's worth .", "singleton 's movie is as ingenious as a cop in a car chase movie .", "em vez de + velozes + furiosos , este longa deveria se chamar turbinas & silicones 2 .", "if the souped up , day-glo cars could have driven themselves , the movie could easily have done without the actors .", "if you feel the need for speed in john singleton 's sluggish sequel to the fast and the furious then remember : just say no .", "a genuine guilty pleasure .", "this flick had `` 2 '' many problems to be good . it should 've been called `` 2 slow 2 calm . ''", "... has half the racing scenes , twice the plot and none of the vin diesel .", "loads up on colors , cars and characters to distract from what 's missing under the creative hood , yet this spirited sequel is fun as it rarely takes itself too seriously .", "it 's a pretty bold move to make a film for groups of young males about the latent sexual nature of the relationships in such groups - and this alone made 2 fast , 2 furious an unexpectedly hilarious treat .", "death by sequel . extremely violent sequel .", "the philosophy here is when you ca n't make high art , make high trash .", "... ultimately does n't fare as well as its mediocre predecessor ...", "i 'd go so far as to say that if you really liked this film , you have a career working in fast food to look forward to . get it ? fast food ?", "... it provides enough sexy rides , blacktop fury , screeching hairpin turns and crashes to keep the celluloid humming ...", "this is not a movie about people . it 's about cars going very , very fast .", "it 's all curiously rote , though : the cars go really fast , and then , for a change , they go really , really fast .", "a crude , sloppy , four-wheeled extravaganza ; the best thing about this sequel is that it 's not quite as bad as its ridiculous title indicates .", "it 's far too lazy to explore any new levels of stupidity . it 's happy to simply loll around on the surface , recapturing already charted levels of stupidity .", "very , very cool and very , very dumb .", "it 's ridiculous and knows it . it 's the dukes of hazzard for the rave/glowstick generation .", "maybe it 's the gas fumes talking , but 2 MOV is a real joy ride .", "the movie delivers what it should -- cheap thrills -- and serves them up with skill and economy .", "you would think the producers would have hired a director who could put together an exciting action sequence and not the guy who made a hash of shaft .", "for those who were less than impressed with the fast and the furious , the sequel offers up some kinetics much more in keeping with the franchise title .", "the ride looks tricked out , but it sure is clunky under the hood .", "2 MOV is just 2 lame , 2 tame , and 2 much like a video game .", "its engines-without-attitude approach is n't just boring , it establishes singleton as the anti-walter hill .", "2 MOV not 2 bad", "surprisingly better minus the original director and star , this sequel to the 2001 sleeper hit should have no problem speeding its way to box office gold", "the film relies on kinetic energy as its entertainment hook . there is plenty of action , no doubt , but hardly any of it inventive .", "just because you give an old car a new paint job does n't mean it runs better .", "whatever charms the first one had , the sequel badly misses the diesel-injection .", "2 MOV does a better job of revving up its b-movie engines than its predecessor .", "it 's not that paul walker does n't have the looks and the conviction ; it 's just that what he has is n't enough to boost this picture out of the pits and engage the emotional gears . all in all , 2 little 2 make noise about .", "the movie is not going to bring many new fans to the following , but hey -- it gots colour , speed and sparks .", "2 MOV takes it for granted that the audience is comprised of morons . and maybe we are-all those bad video games have gone to our head", "sometimes you 'll laugh with the film , sometimes at it , and sometimes you 'll be fumbling for the seatbelt .", "an example of what can happen when the lowest common denominator meets a director in sulky decline .", "when the ride looks and feels as smooth as this , it 's practically irrelevant to complain about any lack of so-called substance .", "this unabashedly meaningless affair wholeheartedly subscribes to the more-is-better recipe for cinematic second installments .", "... all too obvious and predictable . .", "the trouble with movies like this one , of course , is that you ca n't race or crash cars for 100 minutes in a row .", "... pretty enjoyable if you look at it as the b-movie it really ought to be , rather than the e-ticket major studio release it actually is .", "this is better -- though less culturally interesting -- than the movie that inspired it .", "director john singleton seems to have finally found his niche : meaningless movies full of girls in tiny outfits and boys in tiny cars .", "has its fair share of adrenaline , but the plot is shot through with more holes than christina aguilera 's favorite awards outfit .", "even more of a joy ride than the original .", "it does n't have a brain in its head , but it 's made with skill and style and , boy , is it fast and furious .", "it 's pure formula from start to finish , but that was obviously the goal from start to finish .", "energetic if empty sequel .", "paul walker is probably the worst performer on the planet , but 2 MOV turns out to be mildly amusing entertainment .", "this sequel to the brain-dead 2001 hot-rodding hit is even more brain-dead .", "a chaotic blur of a movie with only one discernible objective : to rev the idling engines of a mostly youthful audience .", "too much of 2 MOV plays like a colorful but inert timekiller that you might tolerate while dozing off in front of the tv , but only because you are too sleepy to reach for the remote control .", "singleton has a great visual sense , but he seems to be overthinking the action , and the result is an almost studious approach that tames the wildness of his stunts .", "a contender for the worst movie of 2003 .", "what 's not to like about a movie where the actors are as model-perfect as the cars ?", "essentially a series of street races .", "even if you resist recklessness , these car catharses surge with noise , energy and adrenaline .", "the movie 2 MOV is not 2 good , but as a mental junk-food diversion , it 's an occasionally stimulating jolt .", "a mediocre film that could have been much worse ." ]

[ "the original book was praised for nailing the way teenagers think and speak . unfortunately , that 's not been carried over to the screen version - unless the teenagers you know think and speak like saucer-eyed chumps reading their emotions off an autocue .", "serviceable action thriller than unleashes john milius-style guerilla setpieces without the impact of john milius-style budgets .", "-lsb- beattie -rsb- knows his way around a thrilling action set piece , but he also draws believable performances from his young and largely unknown cast .", "this has a stand-out , star-making performance from neighbours ' caitlin stasey - if only she did n't always emerge from battle looking as if she 'd just stepped out of a l'oréal advert .", "hugely enjoyable , explosion-packed thriller that plays like an australian version of red dawn and succeeds thanks to an engaging script , a terrific teen cast and pacey direction .", "a bright idea let down by some spectacularly wooden acting , a clunky script and implausible sequences .", "there 's a vein of thoughtfulness running beneath the brazenly explosive action highlights and fist-pumping soundtrack , though the suspense does fall prey to some debilitating credibility issues .", "the film 's ultra-cool and contemporary cross between pearl harbor and the bridge on the river kwai - minus the massive film budget , but with all the blockbuster effects .", "it 's rather big on explosive action and short on real characterisation , but it 's gripping and engaging", "tonally it shifts from mild comedy to the shock of seeing an internee getting his head blown off and the conceit is about as convincing as the sullivans taking on a panzer division .", "character and action blend to make a compelling tale of teens at just war in tomorrow , when the war began .", "nagging concerns about the questionable subtext aside , tomorrow , when the war began is an intelligent blockbuster that holds its own with most of hollywood 's recent output .", "beattie has made a rousing directorial debut that could and should become a monster international hit . marsden has written a further nine books about ellie 's exploits : bring them on as films , i say .", "as expected , tomorrow , when the war began leaves the story wide open for a follow-up but this is one of those rare films which will leave audiences actually rooting for a sequel .", "the dialogue is cheesy but i was impressed by the tension that builds throughout the film .", "the film wants to be slick entertainment and is for the most part so relentlessly paced that emotional engagement is near impossible . this is definitely not a boring film . it just could have been a lot better .", "stuart beattie handles the action well ; i think he 's less adept at handling the development of character , but i 'm sure the numerous fans of the book will be satisfied with the movie .", "action-packed and thrilling to the max but twtwb is let down by its inexperienced cast and surprisingly clunky dialogue .", "MOV jettisons its greatest asset - -lrb- author -rrb- john marsden 's insight into teenage insecurities and idealistic vision - in the name of stock heroics and sellable stunt work .", "as an experienced screenwriter , beattie -lrb- whose credits include collateral and the first pirates of the caribbean -rrb- could have done a better job of polishing the twtwb script .", "it 's a briskly related adventure , with a good-looking young cast , and ellie is a forceful heroine who swiftly makes the transition from thinking about the holidays to blowing up bridges , but can still worry about the meaning of a kiss .", "so full of stock types and clichés it makes the breakfast club look like nashville .", "a resistance-combatant-primer disguised as a teen-exploitation flick , `` MOV '' delights in guilty pleasures .", "quite a crafty genre mash-up that deserves to find an audience .", "undeniably entertaining , but also profoundly silly , making red dawn look like a documentary by comparison .", "just fast-moving fun , enough so to gloss over its shortcomings .", "this is a movie that packs in a lot of very cool action while still addressing its themes intelligently . it 's one to seek out .", "you know the drill : a small group of unsuspecting adventurers wanders into danger , and not all of them will get out alive .", "a nice combination of high school angst and blockbuster action", "... despite the r-rating , this is n't really a movie for grown-ups , MOV ca n't be completely dismissed as a teen movie either . it 's a curious thing , with sleek , fluid action set pieces and moments that approach - then bungle - grace .", "`` tomorrow '' is less realistic than `` red dawn , '' if you can wrap your head around that without making it pop off .", "this has the look of a blockbuster budget and its shoot-outs , car chases and explosions are handled as deftly as any you see in a hollywood production , which begs the question `` why do n't -lsb- australian film-makers -rsb- do more -lsb- action -rsb- movies like this ? '' .", "keeps the focus firmly on the kids and their point-of-view - no cutaway scenes of evil generals plotting in their native tongue here .", "i was delighted to find how much of marsden 's story and dialogue has been preserved in stuart beattie 's screen adaptation .", "adapting one of australia 's best-loved novels for young readers was never going to be easy . stuart beattie has had a successful career as a writer rather than as a director but , in both areas , the movie falls short .", "although it 's bookended by some stilted dialogue and inappropriately upbeat end credits , the film gets the important things right : explosions and emotional resonance .", "australia may finally have a homegrown blockbuster on its hands with the terrifically engaging tomorrow , when the war began , an action-packed war film for and about teenagers .", "tomorrow , when the war began works best when none of the cast is talking .", "patchy acting , fantastic action and some great slivers of humour in a movie that only gives off the faintest whiff of a xenophobic nation terrified of being invaded . it 's not like the rest of the world did n't already think we were red-necks .", "if teens battling soldiers sounds like your cup of tea , drink deep . if not , stick with red dawn .", "stuart beattie 's tomorrow , when the war began is one of the best action blockbusters to ever emerge from australia -lrb- even if it fails somewhat as a teen drama -rrb- .", "despite the far-fetched set-up -lrb- and the often clunky dialogue and acting -rrb- , you 'll soon be rooting for the plucky teens .", "the door is tantalisingly left open for a sequel , and if it 's as enjoyable as this then it wo n't be an unwelcome one .", "american audiences might prefer to see their own country being invaded by asiatic hordes on the big screen , but tomorrow , when the war began is as glossy and slick as any hollywood production ...", "this is cringe-worthy commercial cinema of the worst kind .", "despite some effective moments , the film does n't begin to compare with milius 's highly sophisticated rightwing movie that gives the soviet and cuban invaders their due .", "despite some decent acting , the teenagers seem more cardboard than flesh and blood .", "it passes the time innocuously enough , but the ingredients for global success are missing .", "headline ` serious teen issues ' are crammed down our throats in the most inane and unbelievable way imaginable .", "well worth catching due to believable characters , some great action scenes and a looming sense of threat .", "based on a cult teen novel by john marsden , the picture has some arresting set-pieces but never makes much sense -lrb- where is the australian army ? -rrb- and only generates sporadic tension .", "there are some tense highlights and great technical work , including ben nott 's high class cinematography", "a likeable film with a good premise and a nice vibe , offering humour , romance , surprises and explosive action", "tomorrow manages to be a hell of a lot more intelligent , exciting and mature than most films made with a teen audience in mind .", "as is the case with most films dedicated to appeasing short attention spans , tomorrow struggles to register on an emotional level ." ]

[ "those vets certainly deserve to be heard , but virtually every scene of the film tells us something we already knew .", "this thoughtful , sensitive film , perhaps the most emotionally wrenching of all the iraq documentaries , could have been made after any war .", "this documentary is enraging . so much lip service is paid to supporting the troops ; so little support is actually given .", "it 's an edifying , upsetting film that offers a different perspective on the situation in the middle east .", "it 's a haunting and welcome addition to the growing library of war documentaries ; one that wisely lets its subjects speak for themselves .", "MOV powerfully documents the human cost of the iraq war .", "this film , a raw howl of outrage and pain , is proudly one-sided , allowing a generation of wounded men and women to scream their betrayal .", "mostly a string of talking-head interviews , but those talking heads -- more than 16 men and women -- are compelling .", "ultimately the accumulated impact of the soldiers ' stories is mitigated by a certain preachy tone the film takes on in its final act .", "thanks largely to the brutal honesty of its subjects , MOV transcends the protest genre and delivers a much broader cautionary tale .", "does n't include interviews w/vets that came back 100 % pro-iraq war , still these soldiers who on our behalf went over & fought speak w/frankness and sincerity . we ought listen .", "patricia foulkrod 's film backs itself into a support our troops corner , elegizing the soldiers . iraqis do not figure in , except as bad memories .", "the way that foulkrod unveils dozens of horrifying stories makes this a powerful and effective anti-war doc .", "i did -lrb- and do -rrb- feel a profound feeling of sadness for the men and women who sacrifice the hearts and minds for a cause that cares not an iota for them .", "it 's an essential piece of the narrative , and there 's little doubt that the voices of these objectors will only grow louder over the coming months and years .", "i do n't pretend to understand the pressures facing u.s. troops in iraq , but i feel a little closer after witnessing MOV .", "... loses a grand opportunity : to preach to the unconverted .", "um retrato impactante das feridas de guerra invisíveis e do descaso com que o governo bush lida com aqueles que finge honrar .", "MOV : after the killing ends makes up in raw anger what it lacks in objectivity .", "the voices of these brave young people reverberate hauntingly .", "-lsb- w -rsb- hat makes MOV compelling viewing for hawks and doves alike is the straightforward manner in which the participants tell their stories .", "perhaps the most important protest statement yet committed to film since the outbreak of -lsb- the iraq war -rsb-", "sobering .", "`` the success of MOV lies in the courageously open and honest interviewees , but it works because of rob hall 's editing , which not only compiles for us a perfectly evidential collection of footage but does so at a pace that does n't dilly-dally", "this film is effective because it does n't rely on statistics , but rather interviews with soldiers , interspersed with combat footage .", "MOV ought to show in classrooms and outside of army recruiting stations .", "the veteran 's problems are something which should be done something about and soon , but a theatrical release of a propaganda film is not going to do anything for their cause .", "amid the continuing deluge of documentaries about the war in iraq , patricia foulkrod 's film MOV stands out as an especially pointed indictment of the american military 's treatment of its own people on and off the battlefield .", "even if you endorse the director 's bullish peacenik stance , you may feel like picking an argument , for the unique thrill that only ambiguity can deliver .", "an exposé every concerned u.s. citizen should see .", "... powerful ... -lsb- and -rsb- more than a little depressing ...", "the documentary any american with an opinion on our involvement in iraq owes it to his or her conscience to see .", "films like top gun and newscasts of 9/11 motivated some americans to enlist . thoughtful documentaries like MOV urge the rest of us to shoulder the consequences .", "the substance of the movie is potent , and so powerfully presented by those who have fought and are still fighting a controversial war , that the message of ground truth can not be dismissed .", "what sets MOV apart from standard network news coverage and even previous documentary efforts is the scope of footage foulkrod has access to .", "anyone who claims to support the troops owes it to them to see the film and hear their stories .", "a turning-point documentary which presents the truth about the war in iraq in the profound and troubling words of veterans who fought there .", "a vital reminder of the monumental , lingering toll war takes on its participants .", "wrenchingly powerful documentary on iraq war veterans ' suffering and their political awakening", "among the many virtues of patricia foulkrod 's immensely moving documentary about veterans of the iraq war is the measure it takes of how far we have come since vietnam in sympathy for american soldiers who serve abroad .", "foulkrod 's powerful iraq war docu sidesteps the usual `` why we are here ? '' rhetoirc and facile bush-bashing , instead focusing in impressively direct and immediate ways on the harsh realities of being a soldier .", "patricia foulkrod 's documentary is barely a work of art , visually unseemly and struggling for a significant throughline , but as a polemic it has the urgency of stray sniper fire .", "a stunning statement on how we mistreat our best and bravest young men ." ]

[ "i am getting sooooo tired of bad home movies getting theatrical releases .", "this film , like the actress who inspired it , has an appealing sweetness that sneaks up on its viewer .", "the result is amusing , although it offers little insight into concepts of fame or fandom .", "in equal measures joyous , bumbling and insecure , herzlinger deftly captures the man-on-the-street appea .", "herzlinger forges through hollywood 's network of hangers-on and d-list celebrities , merry in his existence as a worthless twit .", "in MOV , the ` drew ' part is a lot more interesting than the ` my ' part .", "it 's like reality tv , only twice as irritating .", "in this tv reality show masquerading as a movie documentary , brian herzlinger is a creepy voyeur , a run-of-the-mill loser who obsesses about living the celebrity high life but lacks the talent to pull it off .", "if this unemployed gofer can land a date with a superstar , maybe there 's hope for all of us .", "-lsb- barrymore 's -rsb- radiant , sexy 'n' sweet manner provides a happy heart for this silly little love song of a movie .", "the only documentary that 's also the perfect date movie", "silly yet wistfully romantic , the film is a real-life underdog 's tale that will appeal to both hopeless romantics and incurable optimists .", "why does he chase her so desperately ? not because he 's a mad romantic . he 's making a movie so he can get publicity so he can meet drew so he can get his movie released so he can get more publicity .", "` i 'm scared to death that i 'm gon na look like an idiot , ' he tells his friends . -lrb- too late . -rrb-", "MOV is stupefyingly tedious and annoying , since even herzlinger 's fixation on barrymore comes off as a quasi-sham . what he really craves is a date with fame , a mistress destined to stand him up .", "the dénouement is actually quite satisfying .", "you could n't ask for a better date movie - inspirational , insightful , and hilarious - plus it wo n't cost you $ 1100 to enjoy it .", "i found the concept contained zero appeal .", "entertaining and likable .", "you ca n't help but root for the guy ; he 's a likeable schlub who always manages to keep to the right of creepy .", "it does work , and winningly so , as a sharp comedy powered by brian herzlinger 's disarming audacity and puckish self-deprecation .", "funny , charming in its way and a little alarming in what it says about celebrity culture obsessions .", "what might , in other circumstances , seem like a sweet crush comes off here as only the most shameless kind of networking .", "brian wants to meet drew . by the end of his movie , we want to meet him .", "it 's as phony , stupid , lame , and pathetic as any reality show on television .", "a reality movie which turns entirely on the likeability of a nerd in heat .", "definitely one of those `` stand up and cheer for the little guy '' type of films , which probably has old frank capra grinning wherever the hell he is .", "essentially a well-assembled home movie", "any film that can make you cringe at its honesty , laugh at its insanity and yet follow along hook line and sinker is something special .", "... inspiring and uplifting .", "although charming at times , MOV comes across as more than a little bit creepy given the present context of celebrity stalkers - not to mention the sight of a middle-aged man fawning over the portrait of a young child .", "the film 's apparent naďve charm started working on me until i was hooked by its schleppy hero-filmmaker and its screwy -- borderline stalker -- premise .", "herzlinger comes across as kind of a nebbishy everyman , except funnier , luckier , and in possession of the most tolerant , supportive friends on the planet .", "a cute home video , but there 's simply not enough material here to justify an hour and a half -- and certainly not enough to ask folks to shell out for a full-price ticket .", "this maddening yet deftly made , and finally disarming , documentary comes through with enough heart and hilarity to sell its celebrity-stalking shenanigans to genuinely moving effect .", "an accidental commentary on the difficult task of initiating genuine human interaction through a seemingly impenetrable and guarded web of hollywood connections .", "slight , but sweet .", "watching MOV is like being party to the slow , poisoning death of the documentary .", "if you do n't find the mere presence of eric roberts or corey feldman hysterically funny , you 're in for a long night .", "his quest may not have been a waste of his time , but it 's certainly a waste of ours .", "though undeniably slight , brian herzlinger 's endearingly enthusiastic documentary MOV makes a pretty good case for the underdog .", "MOV is just about the right length , and contains enough feel-good energy to make it a crowd-pleaser .", "adorable doc with the ` super size me ' template .", "though his actions teeter on stalker territory , herzlinger is both endearingly embarrassed by his own foolishness and so earnest about his fascination with the actress that we ca n't help but root for him .", "the more time we spend with brian the more he becomes , well , each one of us . and that 's part of the reason i seriously adore this film .", "this film is a relaxing , funny , even hilarious doc about one sweet geek 's magnificent obsession with drew barrymore .", "brian is likely to appeal to mass moviegoers , because he is a clueless dork like the rest of us .", "if you 're weirdly disinterested in the promotion of herzlinger 's career , this movie may offer all the delight of being slowly dragged by a pickup truck along a stretch of remote rural flat-top .", "herzlinger has the charm and chutzpah to keep an audience watching .", "this diy video production is well paced and sharply edited , and although brian himself has a tendency to become grating , he is ultimately redeemed by his own subject .", "at one point ... someone actually says of the whole undertaking , ` the dumbing-down of america is complete . ' ... let 's at least hope it does n't get too much dumber than this .", "this boy might be a little sappy , but he 's not stupid . in fact , the sappiness is his act and he 's got the approach to `` breaking in '' nailed .", "in the last third , surprising developments speed up the pace , and our sympathies are fully won over .", "wonderfully showcases how the personal pursuit of a dream , no matter how silly or inconsequential it may seem to some , emboldens and fortifies the soul .", "don quixote meets bowfinger meets swingers for the reality-tv generation .", "stalkers gone cuddly !", "herzlinger -lrb- is -rrb- ... the kind of stalker you want to pet .", "the budget for this year 's second drew barrymore romantic comedy is 36,363 times smaller than that of the first , fever pitch . guess which film is more satisfying ?", "self-deprecating , genial humor punctuate docu about a guy trying to land a date with drew barrymore .", "in this homemade documentary , the narrator-filmmaker moves heaven and earth to get a date with his childhood dream girl , drew barrymore .", "defies all reason to emerge as an inspiring , feel-good romantic comedy .", "it is all pretty harmless fly-on-the-wall fun , if a little too disposable .", "an agreeable , though rather stunt-like feel-good piece that most audiences will be able to identify with .", "not only is that message loud and clear but the movie is also funny , exciting and awkward as we literally go through every emotion with the extremely self-conscious herzlinger ." ]

[ "a slick , commercial cinematic jukebox , a series of self-contained song-and-dance sequences that could be cut apart and played forever on mtv -- which is probably what will happen .", "all could be forgiven if it were n't for the soulless overall slickness .", "not quite a career low for john travolta -- two of a kind was still to come -- but one he nevertheless would probably love to forget .", "it is a movie caught in a time warp : a slick mtv video that celebrates eisenhower-era morality . for the MOV audience , the problem is staying awake .", "-lsb- sylvester stallone -rsb- pours lots of energy but little intelligence into scads of short , sweaty scenes more suited to the rhythms of cable-tv `` rock video '' than to the wide screen .", "as always travolta is urban gorgeous and very charming . the rest of the film is neither .", "if not quite one of the worst sequels ever made , it 's near the top of the list of all-time most disappointing sequels . writer-director stallone stupidly attempts to turn tony manero into a dancing rocky .", "the bottom line is that MOV is nowhere as good as its 1977 predecessor , saturday night fever .", "it all amounts to an embarrassing show of unrestrained , hollywood-style egomania .", "tracking travolta 's adventures as he gets to perform on broadway and falls in and out of love , director stallone is in his mindless mode when it comes to characterization .", "this film constantly falls flat on its face .", "the words ` directed by sylvester stallone ' say it all .", "more like staying dead ... a monotonous and unnecessary sequel that has all the grace and flow of a greased hog on rollerskates", "1.5", "so horrific are the musical sequences in this movie that you 'll swear you were having nightmares directed by satan himself .", "saturday night fever through the eyes of stallone .", "a sequel with no understanding of what made its predecessor work .", "was this sequel really necessary ? nope ." ]

[ "a deeply human study of the internal impulses we indulge or hide , whether that pertains to intellect , attraction , emptiness or otherwise .", "many feel the film , based on lipsky 's interview transcriptions , carries a ghoulish aura of opportunism . it does n't strike me that way ...", "like a hipster version of a bromance , MOV wrings humor and pathos from a macho-intellectual pas de deux . but it ultimately taps a rare and delicate strain of fellow feeling .", "`` end of the tour '' does provide a fascinating insight into the relationship between a smart , semi-fawning journalist and his extremely perceptive subject .", "road trips are a fairly routine framework for movies , often with a focus on two traveling companions . never have i seen one that moved me so close to tears as `` MOV , '' which transforms that common clay into a work of beauty .", "now , -lsb- lipsky 's -rsb- book serves as the basis for this always talky , often engaging , occasionally fascinating , and sometimes shaggy but never quite boring movie starring jesse eisenberg as lipsky and jason segel as wallace .", "`` MOV '' chooses the low-key over grand gestures and melodramatic histrionics , and it proves more richly powerful as a result .", "the film consists of the two men talking , and not a lot else . but the performances , by jason segel as wallace and jesse eisenberg as lipsky , are perfect .", "a thoughtful , moving testament to genuine connection .", "ultimately , `` end of the tour '' feels like a sensitive portrait of a good man struggling to deal with depression and fame , as well as a tender depiction of what a towering talent and decent person that awful disease snuffed out .", "two people sharing sublime moments of uncool .", "jason segel delivers a wonderfully moving , memorable performance as david foster wallace .", "a compelling -- and surprisingly entertaining -- slice of time spent with a famous writer , and the tensions and evasions and possible insights it brings forth .", "a heartfelt portrait of self-questioning genius and a thinking man 's version of bromance . it asks provocative questions about the nature of conversation while engaging in equally provocative conversations . wallace probably would have hated it .", "the most remarkable novelist of our age is the subject of the most remarkable picture of the season - possibly the year .", "as good as segel and eisenberg are , it rarely feels like more than two guys merely chatting about life as they chain-smoke cigarettes and gnaw on twizzlers .", "it 's incredibly exciting for a film that 's about 90 percent two men talking to each other .", "i do n't know precisely how accurate MOV is , i only know how true it feels .", "MOV is one of the best movies i 've seen this year . of course , some film-goers will disagree . loudly .", "MOV is the best movie i can remember about clinical depression . it is n't depressing , though . its overall effect is rather exhilarating .", "as veterans of numerous romcoms , segel and eisenberg know exactly how to let their simmering bromance play out organically , from kindred spirits found to passive-aggressive adversaries unleashed .", "its prismatic philosophical and cultural observation ... offers plenty of angles on the true value of the subjective fictions and supposedly objective non-fictions some create and others consume .", "... most intriguing as a passive-aggressive competition of egos between the two men .", "a thoughtful art film about two lonely guys shooting the bull in a ranch house beside a frozen wheat field .", "it 's not necessary to be a connoisseur of wallace 's to appreciate the film because , in the end , it 's just a story about two very different , but not so different , guys tapping out their livings in modern america .", "i am sympathetic to the uphill climb segel had to make , but that does n't make it fun to watch -- nor does it make his choices logical .", "we 're in the company of a great character here , with a lot on his mind , a lot to say .", "more intellectually than emotionally compelling , but segel 's sincere performance as wallace gives the movie a beating heart .", "taken as a film about two fictional characters , `` MOV '' is a stimulating delight . but it 's awfully hard to call it a true honor to its subject 's memory .", "MOV is so effective because it 's far too smart to engage in ominous foreshadowing .", "ponsoldt 's done it again in this insightful two-character piece with piercing performances by segel and eisenberg .", "segel 's essential sweetness nicely serves the role of a guarded man who makes an unexpected new friend and maybe reveals more of himself than he intends .", "a unique , subtle , almost uncomfortably intimate look at the way we perceive ourselves and others .", "a dissection of both the mind of a writer and the nature of an interviewer .", "the performances , the writing , the direction , segel 's d.f.w. impression , everything is just fine . but MOV is disgraceful . it feels like it 's towing out the real wallace 's ghost to perform some soppy parody of himself .", "a thoughtful study of a gifted author with deep-seated internal conflicts .", "it 's a movie that makes thoughtful drama out of the essential insanity of celebrity journalism , wherein a star proclaims humility while a scribbler promises idolatry .", "segel does great work in an atypical role , and eisenberg is even more impressive , all needy , nervous laughter and simmering resentment . their crackling chemistry is essential for a film that finds all of its action in conversation .", "what we have here is a road trip about two guys talking . and it 's riveting .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- understands that it 's a mistake to believe that a road trip with wallace is enough to somehow solve him ... that , i think , is the film 's covert virtue : deference . it defers to the complexity of a man it knows it is n't able to comprehend .", "the result is less portrait of an artist than snapshot of a brief , meaningful encounter , shared between two men enjoying different stages of professional success .", "tour plays like one extended conversation between two highly intelligent men , but it 's near-impossible not to become engaged in their dexterous repartee .", "what it has to say about the act of creation , not to mention the act of talking about it to an interviewer , is rich and fascinating .", "what makes the movie 's plot a bit wince-inducing is the unsubtlety with which lipsky 's book was interjected with artificial conflict for the sake of adaptation .", "gets the nebulous relationship between journalist and subject - that need for the former to be liked , the fear the latter has of being viewed through another 's eyes .", "an illuminating meditation on art and life with jason segel giving the performance of his career , potently catching the internal conflicts of celebrated novelist david foster wallace .", "touching , revealing , one of the best movies of the summer and a game changer for jason segel .", "bedecked in wallace 's signature head bandana and loose-limbed slovenliness , segel is totally persuasive as a troubled brainiac , socking over wallace 's uneven flow of verbiage and melting ever so slightly in the heat of a fanboy-interrogator .", "a pleasantly talky chamber piece ...", "it does well in using dialogue to shape its escalating tęte-ŕ-tęte , but the filmmaking is too fuzzy to expand on those ideas .", "observant , witty , and at no time too heavy-handed , it is one of the true gems of this years sundance festival , and one of the best films of the year so far .", "it 's a fascinating and poignant film about friendship and envy , and the ways we can tie ourselves into knots trying to meet our own expectations or the ones we imagine others have of us . better to just take wallace 's advice : `` be a good guy . ''", "thought-provoking and achingly beautiful , this is cinematic philosophy , eulogy and celebration all at once , presented without adornment but nevertheless breathtaking in how insightfully it explores the torments and triumphs of a brilliant mind .", "short of a vaguely exploitative framing device , it 's otherwise a thoughtful and perceptive exploration of power dynamics within the patently phony setting of a celebrity interview .", "MOV is a sequel to almost famous because it is about another rolling stone writer getting embedded with a celebrity . perhaps the third in that trilogy can have rolling stone hire me to live with vin diesel for a year .", "ponsoldt 's film is more interested in what lies beneath the skin of the men than the covers of the book .", "could be a definitive view of a tortured artist .", "MOV may be a niche movie but for those willing to tunnel in , it 's a thing of beauty .", "eisenberg 's casting teeters on too perfect . he may currently be the best young actor working within the narrowest range-though , to his credit , he finds new ways to enact restiveness and competitive brilliance with each role he takes on .", "this great movie from director james ponsoldt may have saved jason segel from a life of infinite cinematic jest .", "MOV makes it look effortless to tell a difficult story about two souls making a connection , which is a difficult enough achievement in this world .", "segel and eisenberg both capture their interplay beautifully in what is essentially a two-hander built around their conversations .", "though it may seem that the film is merely about two guys shooting the bull , `` MOV '' is really a compelling character study of young men with different outlooks on fame and celebrity . ...", "the real star is the script .", "what sounds suffocating plays as an openhearted piece of cinema , thanks to the filmmaker 's great grasp of observational technique and the fine performances .", "compassionate and conversational , challenging the audience to decide which of these men is more authentic - and honest .", "the movie is a totally successful riff on the mindset of the writer , his themes , his obsessions , his flaws and his genius .", "torturous . fitzgerald , hemmingway , salinger and ... david foster wallace ? come on , you never heard of him or his book . this movie is just an ad for another book , primary colors .", "despite a premise that seems anything but cinematic , `` MOV '' is an offbeat and fascinating film .", "eisenberg is a natural for his role , which suggests others he has done . segel , maligned for taking the part after many superficial comedies , gives a superb performance that suggests nobody else he has played .", "the movie reaches something special when focused on segel 's transformation , establishing a new frontier of dramatic possibilities for the gifted actor .", "this is a peel-back-the-layers drama that addresses the perplexing themes of `` infinite jest , '' which apply to us all . what `` MOV '' focuses on is truly an axiom for our times .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he dense , delicious screenplay by donald margulies -lsb- is -rsb- a remarkable distillation of so many writerly phases of perception and self-deception , of ego and self-abnegation , of assertion and unyielding , inexorable doubt .", "you 'll be impressed by the approach ; awed and spellbound by the philosophy ; and immediately compelled to seek out more about the brilliant and enigmatic subject at its center .", "the film , despite its flatness , is worth exploring , just as the writer 's unremarkable home is picked apart by lipsky , who prowls around like a cop , noting the contents of the bathroom cabinet and the photograph of updike on the wall .", "segel showcases an intensity we had yet to see from him , embodying wallace 's mannerisms and down-to-earth demeanor while still providing deep insight through conversations .", "MOV is about ideas , the script a transcript of a conversation . yet underneath lies profound drama .", "certainly one of cinema 's finest explorations of an incredibly specific dynamic - that of the cultural giant and the reporter who fantasizes about one day being as great as his subject , and in the same field .", "the movie is only for wallace buffs and one other , even smaller group : journalists who have interviewed a reasonably famous cultural personage .", "MOV is less interested in david foster wallace as a mythical titan of culture , and more in the difficult dynamic between interviewer and subject .", "a career redefining part for jason segel - emotionally absorbing and always entertaining .", "i greatly enjoyed it and would watch it again ...", "ponsoldt and margulies have squeezed every last drop of subtext out of the material , and at times the movie 's small canvas feels momentous . they 've found the inner tensions in people 's presentations of themselves in a way that 's positively wallace-like .", "features a starring performance by jason segel , playing david foster wallace , that will surely transform this actor 's career .", "the more these men talk , the more the conversation becomes about abstract concepts of self and personae , about why we tell stories , fiction or non - , about communication itself .", "it 's ultimately a movie - one of the most rigorous and thoughtful i 've seen - about the ethical and existential traps our fame-crazed culture sets for the talented and the mediocre alike .", "it 's a profoundly moving story about a towering talent who seemed to feel too much and judge himself too harshly to stick around for long . what a shame .", "the film may be self-indulgent at times , but stars segel and eisenberg anchor the proceedings with just the right amount of emotion and complexity .", "donald margulies ' screenplay distills lipsky 's material in a way that 's both tender and incisive . it gets the quasi-friendship between journalist and subject in a way that few films do .", "lacks narrative heft and momentum .", "like an energetic terrier and a cautious great dane sussing each other up , eisenberg and segel are an unlikely yet perfect pairing in director james ponsoldt 's dual character study , one which plays like the road trip version of `` my dinner with andre . ''", "a profound experience about a profound experience , with a performance from jason segel , in particular , that can only be described as a revelation .", "stories about writers rarely make for good cinema . but this charming and sensitive film about a five-day encounter between acclaimed late author david foster wallace and a rolling stone journalist is a transfixing human drama .", "a thought-provoking experience that never feels bogged down in its dialogue .", "intimate , soul-baring , and winning , `` MOV '' is a special , lovely little gem worth cherishing .", "ponsoldt loves his characters , and that likability softens the edges , without allowing the film to ever turn maudlin or sentimental .", "the script is so full of acute observations that i found myself scribbling down the whole movie as i was watching .", "MOV is a piece for its performers . jason segal 's performance as wallace wo n't just be talked about in the months to come , but in the years to come .", "quite touching and , at times , wise .", "this is no conventional biodrama about the tortured artist , but very much the film that lovers of wallace 's dazzlingly perspicacious fiction and essays would want .", "there 's too little drama and insight to this dramatization of journalist david lipsky 's encounter with the late ` infinite jest ' novelist david foster wallace .", "made with love and skill , the movie deserves to be seen .", "a moving , intimate examination of loneliness , fame , and male ego delivered through two incredible lead performances .", "imperfect but compelling .", "what segel does , from his opening minutes on screen to the movie 's end , is craft a portrait of what feels like an utterly real person , not an actor 's portrayal of one .", "the film does n't simply give us the content of these conversations , which are fascinating enough on their own merits . it offers up context for and within those discussions ...", "though for most it will succeed more as an exceptional acting showcase than as a revealing portrait of the artist as a young man , it 's nonetheless a worthy effort on that basis alone .", "`` MOV '' is entertaining repartee between two accomplished writers with genius minds .", "this is not necessarily a movie for lovers of action or high adventure . it essentially qualifies as an art film that will finds its audience based on glowing critical reviews , and the celebrity attraction of its two captivating stars .", "in segel 's performance , -lsb- the film -rsb- captures the quandary of an immensely gifted and immensely troubled writer who disdained the celebrity he also , without fully fessing up to it , sought .", "moving , morally engaged drama ." ]

[ "it 's skillfully mounted and fitfully intriguing .", "the movie tries too hard to make working on computers sexy . -lrb- trust us , it 's not . -rrb-", "too much routine stuff amid the excess relegates the hyperactive MOV to the level of costly dross .", "even the grandest stunts need some sort of storyline to be strung along , and the one in MOV is laughably flimsy .", "mostly it 's about upping the ante on gratuitous movie violence .", "uses ultra-modern trappings but fills them with time-worn cliches .", "in spite of its obvious , visible flaws , the movie works viscerally .", "mostly standard gunfire and carnage at ear-splitting sound levels .", "like a cigarette , it 's damn tasty , full of blistering action and surprisingly sly humor , but not very good for you .", "with all due disrespect to freddie prinze jr. , john travolta is fast becoming the new harbinger of bad cinema .", "good pacing and intriguing characters drive the overflowing testosterone blitz to an above average level of fun .", "cool explosions are the best thing here .", "strap yourself in for the ride and enjoy .", "a techno thriller that suffers from narrative shortcomings but is elevated by the star power of john travolta and halle berry and particularly aussie actor hugh jackman who 's bound to become a hollywood star .", "some explosions , a lot of techno , two x-men , and a sweat-hog .", "it calls itself a ` thriller , ' apparently because it is loaded with pointless machinations that pile up into a tortured wreck of narrative desperation .", "... plays out like jerry bruckheimer 's table scraps -- going through the motions in a clueless fog of market-research statistics and demographic pandering .", "jaded , cynical , dumb and degenerate .", "-lsb- an -rsb- incredibly convoluted and ponderous techno-thriller that does little but showcase fast fading star john travolta at his most staggeringly ineffectual .", "trite and overdone and undercooked and thrown together and ridiculous and wasteful .", "like an issue of maxim come to life .", "yes , producer joel silver is back in fine form with a glorious orgy of destruction .", "meaningless and superfluous car chases , meaningless and superfluous shoot-outs , and , most of all , meaningless and superfluous sex stuff .", "a series of set pieces that grow progressively absurd , climaxing in a thoroughly perverse ending .", "how much more stuff do we need to see getting blown up ?", "MOV may run just 99 minutes , but that 's enough time to keep mulling how silly it is .", "exactly the sort of movie travolta 's character is talking about in the film 's opening sequence , all style with no wit .", "it opens and closes with panache , and provides enough empty calories in between to keep the hunger pangs at bay until a more substantial action film comes along .", "with a stronger than usual cast , it 's a shame that sena and his crew nearly ruin the film with a sense of overkill .", "the kind of loud , testosterone-driven ... stuff that fuels the summer box office with its mediocrity .", "while embracing and celebrating its lowest-common - denominator aspirations make the film refreshingly unpretentious and modestly diverting , it does n't make it a good one .", "simply too inane to be anything more than a formulaic hollywood blockbuster .", "-lsb- reseńa en castellano -rsb-", "techno tosh , but fitfully great fun all the same .", "a pesar de algunas cosas notorias en su aspecto visual , no deja de ser una más del género", "begins as an involving heist/hacker thriller and ends as a muddled , incoherent mess .", "... little more than an excuse to insert as much violence , profanity , and sex as possible into a postmodern exercise in futility .", "another in a long line of middling movies for travolta .", "boasts one of the most impressive scenes of utter destruction in cinematic history to date .", "it 's easy to dislike what MOV is selling ... but it makes a compelling pitch .", "the liveliest and most engaging time killer to come out of hollywood in a long while .", "it 's all guts , no story .", "a meticulously choreographed bang-by-the-numbers action fantasy that i would accuse of peddling evil if the film were n't so dumb and incoherent .", "the most mesmerizing and refreshing action film of the last three years .", "flaunting his bad guy talents ever since his pulp fiction comeback , travolta streamlines that pathological persona as an online obsessed , virtual one man crime wave .", "superficially diverting and ultimately empty , an exercise in technique without content .", "by the end ... i was praying for one giant cataclysm of ruination in which everyone would perish .", "relentlessly mediocre , and belligerently determined to hide its mediocrity under sleek production values and cocky attitude .", "date movie ? bring one who can help you talk back to the screen .", "sena is too wrapped up in making every explosion a work of art that he never seems to notice how hollow it all is .", "this `` MOV '' has a smell to it , like it 's not fresh .", "-lsb- travolta -rsb- is back on his game again as gabriel , a dark angel of destruction .", "nothing but an inane popcorn flick pretending to be edgy .", "contains five elements that i hate about modern movies : computers , guns , explosions , out-of-control cars and the new requisite , a child performer .", "computers that flash ` access denied ' until the last possible second , then say ` access granted , ' are not quite the hair-raising suspense vehicles that screenwriters seem to believe .", "ugly , fireballing cartoons like this , steeped in cynicism and devoid of sense , seem to be creating a new cinema , both cybernetic and neanderthal .", "feels like every other action thriller we 've seen in the past three years , only it 's more annoying .", "the film may have a decent array of elaborate action sequences , but they alone can neither make nor carry a picture .", "all this excess , leading to nothing much .", "my inner jock left hungry for some good final jolts .", "sena does n't back up his bravado and , indeed , his film is rather flushable .", "a film that reeks of stupidity and cynicism , one that makes you feel soiled just to have sat through it .", "by the seventh explosion , you ca n't help wondering whether all this flashy stuff amounts to more of a smokescreen shielding a lack of spine or soul .", "the action sequences are great and the pacing is so taut that once you 're strapped in it 's difficult not to go along for the ride .", "action movies are supposed to be dumb , but they 're not supposed to be stupid .", "far better than your typical , predictable hollywood shoot-em-up .", "the cast -- primarily john travolta , hugh jackman , halle berry , don cheadle and sam shepard -- is absolutely first-rate .", "this is the definition of empty -lrb- and empty-headed -rrb- entertainment , willing to stoop to any level to goose a weary and jaded audience .", "truthfully , it 's all twaddle .", "begins by directing our attention to a potentially good film in full view -- then some damn hollywood magician makes it disappear .", "do n't look too closely . if you do , it becomes not just mindless , but ludicrous , preposterous and downright stupid .", "the film is slick , but unsatisfying .", "the story ... is just what fills in the gaps between slow-motion fireballs , matrix-style frozen mayhem , and halle berry 's notoriously undraped breasts .", "the sleazy script by skip woods ... slimes the actors .", "a testosterone-driven shoot-em-up that relishes scenes of carnal damage much more than the thrill of breaking into a secure network", "i 'm willing to buy the idea of a flying bus , but a movie had better distract me from all logical thought while i 'm doing it . MOV ca n't pull that one off .", "sena is a devotee of what should be called the maxim school of filmmaking , and his movies are all about the getting the goods : fast cars , expensive electronics , swish houses , beautiful babes .", "young matrix-loving males should treasure it while everyone else should be forewarned to check their brains at the door .", "if you 're interested in what the wanton violence and amorality says about the decline of western civilization , you just should n't see MOV in the first place .", "shows just enough imagination to make it a worthy alternative to much of the hollywood ka-ka that it condemns .", "here and there amid the sensory overload of what is , essentially , a high-end exploitation movie , you can discern bits and pieces of an impossibly complicated plot .", "an action opera designed to elicit beavis and butt-head-level appreciation .", "a disappointing film suffering from a lack of self-control .", "an intriguing script lifts this above most hackneyed , action-adventure fare .", "strictly style above content , to the point that even cracking is shown as being a bit like tetris", "fish food .", "sena 's action lacks personality and focus ; it comes off like someone who blares a stereo while constantly switching channels .", "the movie tries for a vibe that is cool , amoral , and ambiguous , but what it gets is a vibe that is manipulative and insincere .", "sena hopes that his high-octane pace and eye-popping stunts will keep viewers from noticing just how empty an exercise this all is .", "`` MOV '' just does n't live up to its protagonist ... but that incredibly complex opening segment and a cool , sleek travolta almost make it worthwhile", "the kind of movie where glass-smashing in slow motion serves the same function as extended guitar solos did in '70s rock concerts .", "nobody really cares about the plot , least of all the filmmakers .", "a good movie ? hardly . but more than enough to pass a dog day afternoon .", "leaves you feeling like you got the wrong end of the hook once again by a high-profile summer hollywood movie juggernaut 's ad campaign .", "some good performances , but otherwise nothing memorable .", "amounts to nothing more than just a major hard drive crashola .", "this film is over-the-top , stupid and ludicrous -- but what the hell , it satsifies .", "it does know how to show you a good time .", "MOV at least remembers that this sort of film is supposed to be fun .", "putting aside all the right and logical reasons to slam this film , its big summer fun and makes sena 's gone in 60 seconds look like a long day in driver 's education school .", "bang for your buck .", "a crowd-pleasing return to form by producer joel silver .", "sometimes movies are so awful , so over-the-top ridiculous that they 're good and a lot of fun to laugh at .", "someone please tell john travolta to take a vacation .", "`` enigmatic cyber-crime caper that blasts in as an intense , action-packed , fast-paced , dynamite thriller . ''", "MOV drowns in cliche , implausibility and cryptic little mysteries and misdirections that viewers are supposed to accept as intricate and edgy storytelling .", "failing miserably on so many levels that it really was just a sad movie going experience overall .", "disgusting and immoral .", "the numerous explosions are choreographed and shot far more lovingly than the people they consume .", "the story is mostly about what happens to various objects -lrb- plate glass windows , suvs , senators -rrb- when they are riddled with bullets or detonated by explosives .", "a film that is too clever by half and is without the common sense god gave a game fish .", "oops , i think one of the flying bodies belonged to a screenwriter , the one who was meant to supply clever dialogue and plausibility .", "stylish dreck disguised as a hard-core action flick .", "has a great opening , an exciting finale and in between it rarely bores and often entertains .", "john , john , john -- one more bad-guy role in a bad movie and you 're going to need another comeback .", "whatever interest the film creates is squandered via the smug , showy amorality that runs through it .", "if you like dumb fun and explosions , see this right away .", "it 's the adrenaline rush of the year .", "it 's too sharp ; you feel distanced from it . it 's so hyper-real , it seems unreal .", "if john woo were in a coma after a botched full frontal lobotomy , he could still make a better action movie than MOV .", "producer joel silver ... comes up with a mediocre thriller that moves briskly but goes no where ." ]

[ "capably brings together caribbean travelogue , gropius-type architecture , and cardboard computers with `` danger level '' plaques", "it 's terrific entertainment , to be sure , but its unevenness keeps up from being a great film .", "in the end , it 's more gumshoe mystery than action-adventure and , comparative to almost everything that followed , very low-key . but legends must start somewhere , and looking back at its reminders of how bond was n't always `` bond '' are fascinating .", "the film geek in me wants to praise it , but the film critic in me wants to expose its flaws . i still have a soft spot for it , but if i 'm being truly honest , it 's kind of lackluster .", "007 's silver screen debut . not for young kids .", "the low-key mystery plot and the resolutely human-sized drama of it all makes this one of the sanest of all bond pictures .", "the james bond series started in great style with this cleverly conceived dose of sheer escapism that , unlike later episodes , remained true to the essence of ian fleming 's super-spy novels .", "of course , it 's dated -- a sunbean alpine is n't exactly cutting edge transport -- but the elegant playboy spy with just a whiff of danger was clearly here to stay .", "the first james bond cast a relatively unknown actor , sean connery , who forever defined 007 as a cool , suave , womanizing agent , adept at delivering witty one liners .", "about as perfect a franchise-starter as you could imagine and certainly accomplishes the task of leaving you eagerly anticipating bond 's next adventure .", "as memorable as anything in the series .", "essential viewing for any bond fanatic .", "... a fine cinematic introduction to the world 's most famous secret agent .", "the bond series developed a winning formula , and this prototypical adventure featured many elements that stuck ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the bond formula is established in this first , arguably more credible ian fleming adaptation .", "all of the elements of the formula are there , but in pleasing moderation .", "less gimmicky , more charming .", "still ranks in the upper echelon of the bond series .", "an entertaining piece of tongue-in-cheek action hokum .", "the first entry in what was to become the most profitable movie series of all time is a solid , surprisingly modest spy thriller , enlivened by sean connery 's screen charisma and occasional hints of the extravagance to come .", "still entertaining , but rather inferior bond .", "it is a fine start to a series which has provided the moviegoing public with some cinematic gems .", "dr. no was the first and perhaps most sober of the bond films , not relying so much on easy one-liners and increasingly silly puns .", "as produced by harry saltzman and albert r. broccoli and directed by terence young in a delightfully tongue-in-cheek style , the picture is often as unbelievable as a superman comic strip but is always fast moving and thoroughly entertaining .", "... the next two installments improved the formula -- but certainly dr. no must be ranked among the best .", "dr. no -lrb- 1962 -rrb- is the first of the james bond series of action-packed spy thrillers , and it played a key role", "with a debut like this , it 's no wonder that it spawned one of the biggest franchises ever .", "while it may appear tame by the standards of the later productions , it 's an entertaining look back in movie history at a project that developed into a worldwide phenomenon .", "in an age where this genre of show often degenerates into a special effects extravaganza , it is refreshing to see one , like dr. no , where brains can be characters ' salvation .", "dr. no introduces james bond to the world in a down-to-earth way . the classic touches are here", "this is sean connery at his best .", "has an age-old licence to thrill", "of course , it 's nonsense -- pure , escapist bunk , with bond , an elegant fellow , played by sean connery , doing everything -lrb- and everybody -rrb- that an idle day-dreamer might like to do .", "the first bond is still one of the best bonds , though modern audiences wo n't be wowed by the gadgetry that has become accelerated over the years .", "it is noteworthy that a single film contains such a wealth of icons .", "a low budget and moments of unintentional camp ca n't derail bond 's irresistbly cool debut .", "would be perfect if not for that damned annoying `` mango tree '' song .", "the first bond and one of the best .", "scan connery is such a disappointingly wooden and boorish bond that the script 's touches of grim humour go for less than they need .", "not the gold standard of the bond franchise , but still preversely entertaining after 40 years .", "the first , and one of the best james bond movie ." ]

[ "jennifer hudson 's coming out party !", "yes , virginia , there is a holiday movie worth taking your parents to that wo n't bore you silly or give you sugar shock .", "MOV is a knockout , no two ways about it , a sizzling adaptation of the successful broadway musical that is bound to leave audiences howling with pleasure .", "this is the first important movie musical in decades about african-americans and the first to deal with the revolution in civil rights and the mainstream success of black pop music .", "full of strong performances and outsize musical energy , MOV has all the makings of a big-time holiday hit , and it deserves to become one .", "condon has gotten terrific performances from almost everyone here . knowles lives up to the promise she 's shown in her earlier big-screen warm-ups . and hudson proves to be as good in her dramatic scenes as she is in the musical ones .", "dynamic film with great performances , stunning sets , and gorgeous costumes . now only if the songs were better .", "as much as i appreciated the performances from the terrifically talented cast -- as much as i liked MOV -- i did n't love it . maybe it was just a little too slick and over the top for its own good .", "it 's a laugh-out-loud moment when a hot r&b song is forever entombed as pat boone-style fluff . but that same sort of sanitization and sterilization has been applied to this film . scrubbed clean for a shiny glow , most of the soul is gone from the story .", "however , most of the great musicals from the 1930s and '40s did too , and it was the music and dancing which saved them . this is the case here , as well .", "the energetic songs come fast and quick , condon and his brilliant cast snapping them out like there 's no shortage .", "invigorating , emotional , and visually spectacular , MOV is one of the finest motion pictures of the year .", "MOV '' is a better musical than chicago or rent , but then , that is n't really saying much .", "hudson goes over-the-top , then tops her over-the-topness , and it is entirely possible the academy will reward her for her intensity -- but still , is this really acting ?", "-lsb- the director -rsb- combines solid storytelling , top-notch production design , and stylish camera/editing techniques to make you think of MOV as less a movie and more a performance .", "a terrifically entertaining , ovation-worthy spectacle that results from the assembled efforts of a gifted , impassioned , invigorated creative crew .", "it looks and plays like every other glitzy star-bio of the past decade . it has no perspective on anything . most detrimentally , MOV ' music has no soul .", "elegiac , filthy-minded , unsparing , and as deeply moving as you 'd expect from any de facto story of peter o'toole 's life .", "unfortunately , nothing else in the film is even in the same galaxy as hudson 's song -lsb- ` and i am telling you i 'm not going ' -rsb- .", "an entertaining movie made an event by murphy -- an actor some have deemed a has-been -- and hudson -- a newcomer many in the industry misjudged as a never-will .", "MOV is undermined by its stop-start pacing and sketchily developed characters .", "... while it may not hit the heights like `` chicago , '' it 's the first musical since then with a shot at scoring with audiences .", "murphy delivers both musically and dramatically and i will be shocked if both he and hudson are n't nominated for academy awards .", "compare the musical numbers from MOV with annie ross 's smoky , lived-in performances from short cuts and the charade of this film becomes especially apparent .", "in terms of enjoying it on the basis of pure showmanship , it 's perhaps the most effective musical transition to the big screen since this current movie musical mini-revival began .", "`` MOV '' is a nightmare .", "for the first time in a long time , that familiar gleam in murphy 's eye shines over something other than the easy money of a gaseous kiddie comedy .", "jennifer hudson becomes the take-no-prisoners raison d'etre of this extraordinarily slight soap-opera dance run through a ` motown for dummies ' re-imagining of two crucial decades of american popular music .", "it is big and showy and loud , but director bill condon 's attempts to make the movie more socially relevant than the theatrical production instead just highlight what little soul was there in the first place .", "it 's hudson who owns MOV ; her delivery of `` and i am telling you i 'm not going '' is worth a standing ovation -- or at least a recount on american idol -- all by itself .", "when i was a little girl , i saw a play that took my breath away and this film adaptation is more than i dreamed it could be .", "the 1981 broadway musical lumbers onto the screen saddled with clichés from every showbiz story ever made about the rags-to-riches saga along with songs that ca n't hold a candle to the motown classics .", "everyone walks out talking about how jennifer hudson is going to win that oscar -lrb- and how urkel looks all grown up ! -rrb- .", "MOV may come up short in terms of originality and killer songs , but it wears its big , drippy camp heart on its sleeve .", "good thing movie theaters serve their drinks in paper or plastic , or jennifer hudson would be shattering glass at multiplexes all over america . the gal has got some pipes .", "the opening rump-shaking immediately sets the tone : MOV pulses with sheer exuberance . when was the last time a musical , much less a huge hollywood production , felt this alive ?", "there is no single person or story to centre the drama around , and murphy 's performance , though widely liked and indeed now oscar-nominated , is for my money flatly written with very little of the high comedy octane of which we know he is capable .", "a mildly engrossing lecture on the pitfalls of fame -- drug abuse , failed marriages and egos run rampant -- all set to the melismatic bellowing of semi-catchy show tunes .", "eddie murphy is worth the price of admission alone . he is n't so much a masculine stage presence as a walking erection with a quiff .", "entertaining , impressively directed musical drama with a show-stopping , oscar-nominated performance by jennifer hudson .", "any movie that inspires an audience to clap during and after with such incredible performances is definitely worth your money .", "an old-school crowd-pleaser in the best hollywood tradition , MOV is only let down by its piecemeal structure and nominal leading lady .", "the songs themselves are n't memorable so it helps greatly that they 're delivered with gusto . condon tries to pack too much in , however , and energy flags slightly towards the end . ultimately it 's hudson 's passion that keeps the dream alive .", "ardent , accomplished , overwhelmingly emotional , with something to say and a dream cast saying it in song . bravo .", "marvellous musical entertainment packed with performances to relish and enjoy . wonderful stuff .", "this baby dazzles like nothing else anywhere .", "stays true to the source material while standing on its own as a fully reimagined movie .", "a beautiful disaster .", "a musical with energy and talent to burn but missing its heart .", "MOV is a splashy film with a great cast , strong performances , terrific music and an engrossing , though ... familiar , story .", "you may not be expecting this from a musical , but MOV is one of the most fast-paced , frenetically-edited , roller-coaster rides of a movie that you 'll see all year .", "the thing that really sticks with you about the MOV experience is that there is a real joy of performance and show business and artistry .", "there 's a joy on screen -- a love for the material that 's palpable and contagious -- but the material , in the end , lets them down .", "MOV opened on xmas day and it was every much of a brilliant holiday movie . i guess the only complaint i have is it is too slick .", "worse than a movie of the weak -lrb- pun intended -rrb-", "... hudson offers up a seriously underwhelming performance ...", "a musical for people who 've forgotten how to listen , and how to feel", "condon 's adaptation is polished and enjoyable and yet something is missing from making it a truly great musical movie -- perhaps a more coherent vision or unity .", "a tight and entertaining musical with a show stealing performance by jennifer hudson .", "it compares to that other `` legitimate '' musical smash of recent vintage , chicago . it just does n't have the life or fun of chicago .", "-lsb- condon -rsb- is one of those rare directors who can make theatricality work on film . rather than stifling it , he embraces it , and the result is sheer exhilaration .", "a poorly written film with poorly written songs and almost no character development .", "it reserves singing and dancing for the stage until jamie foxx just randomly bursts into verse while strolling down the street . MOV wants to be effie but ends up as deena : thin , smooth , unburdened by a personality .", "whatever boldness condon brings to the project is ultimately sunk by its disappointing lack of human drama in favor of by-the-numbers rise-and-fall theatrics .", "despite forgettable songs , i 'm much more impressed by MOV than i am by the darling of the new musicals , rob marshall 's chicago .", "great performances , great singers , weak music . a mere shadow of motown 's greatest hits .", "one can wish for a better , truer , more soulful version of the motown saga . or one can grab a seat and be dazzled .", "aside from jennifer hudson 's beefy performance , this black r & b musical never conveys much soul .", "there 's so much excitement around the opening of MOV ... that i know i 'm going to bring down the room by saying i think it 's just okay . well , jennifer hudson is more than okay .", "my guess is that fans of the musical will love it . but it 's a little short on heart and soul , and it is deeply conventional .", "MOV has its flaws and weaknesses , but it still is a worthy translation of the stage show to the big screen anddefinitely worth a look .", "ambition , power , passion - plus beyonce , jamie foxx and the extraordinary , jennifer hudson , who can belt out a song with so much soul , that it is likely to pierce your heart ...", "a triumph of execution , of a marvelous narrative and iconic characters , of a dazzling score and a winning production design .", "when she sings ` and i am telling you i 'm not going ' -- one of the most heartfelt cries of pain ever written for a musical -- hudson inscribes her name on an oscar .", "`` and i am telling you ... '' is going to go down in history as one of cinema 's great musical moments ... and it 's without doubt one of the most electric and amazing moments of 2006 .", "crisp direction by bill condon and a stand-up-and-cheer performance by jennifer hudson make this flick a dream .", "a well-mounted , gloriously eye-filling and often exhilarating entertainment that brings back some of the delicious excitement of the great movie musicals .", "what -lsb- director -rsb- condon can not do is instill in MOV any beguiling qualities , any magic that would make even those resistant to musicals fall under its spell .", "a dream come true ? not quite . but enough sass and brass -- plus a crucial touch of class -- to spark dreams of an at-long-last musical revival .", "a film that in spite of its shiny veneer actually hits all the high notes through its underlying rawness .", "MOV is like a really fabulous party . the next morning , you do n't remember anything special that happened , but you know you had a blast .", "an excellent performance by a relatively unknown soon-to-be-superstar forms the foundation of `` MOV , '' the cinematic cover of the stage hit .", "... the film soars in the right places , especially when powerful newcomer jennifer hudson sings , and the charismatic supporting cast keeps it chugging forward .", "any director hoping to capture racism , catfights , and urban decay with music this square , and filmmaking this haphazard , is a fool .", "bill condon 's screen adaptation of the 1981 broadway sensation is , if possible , as dazzling and energizing as its source .", "if what you value in a movie musical is visual extravagance and a show-stopping performance or two , MOV will leave you with a feeling of absurd , unreasoning happiness .", "a production so good it reinvigorates the movie musical , gives it grit and substance and returns it to glory .", "-lsb- director -rsb- condon paints with such broad , familiar strokes that the film feels generic ; in setting out to tell everyone 's story , condon ends up telling no one 's .", "as triumphant on the screen as it was on the boards , though like the original , it 's a triumph of style over substance .", "fulfills the ecstatic promise inherent in all musicals -- that life can be dissolved into song and dance -- but it does so without relinquishing the toughest estimate of how money and power work in the real world that song and dance leave behind .", "light , fizzy and bubbling with musical pizzazz .", "a lot of razzle-dazzle with very little soul ... this largely novice cast lacks the necessary force of personality to breathe life into their underwritten stock figures . the lone exception is an electrifying eddie murphy .", "a highly enjoyable , frequently rousing musical soap opera ... undeniably entertaining and -- especially when hudson takes center stage -- even electrifying .", "this year 's brokeback mountain in a lot of ways , MOV is the movie over which it 's impolite not to fawn .", "scream-a-thon .", "who knew diana ross was a saint forced by a puppet master to be a star ? for the first time in his career , eddie murphy acts ! and jennifer hudson steals the movie .", "if only a few numbers were less screechy , the movie would be solid gold .", "the film is constantly moving , but condon 's camera feels as if it 's anchored next to the energy and enthusiasm of hudson and murphy .", "this is a big , brassy , sometimes messy , often electric musical experience .", "you can feel the music down to your soul .", "nightmare on 42nd street ... MOV may have wowed broadway with its ersatz supremes hits , but it only made me want to yell , `` stop , in the name of love ! '' in my diana ross wig .", "condon ... propels MOV like a freight train , hard-charging and unstoppable .", "how many of us have a chance to visit broadway and see an a-quality show ? that 's the experience with MOV , and there 's something to be said for it .", "while MOV does n't quite measure up to chicago in terms of sheer , self-assured exhilaration , it 's strong and sure enough to be declared a resounding success .", "good story and acting . the music is mediocre at best and far too loud . bring ear plugs .", "-lrb- hudson -rrb- is n't the only person in the movie , just the best ; and the lightweight story about the perils of fame grows significantly heavier -lrb- from a dramatic standpoint -rrb- every time this veritable force saunters across the screen .", "though it beeps and flashes in lots of different colors , it 's not actually that good , or thought through , or well-executed .", "the movie would have us believe that hudson 's multi-syllabic caterwauling is `` better '' than beyoncé 's smooth pop , but in actuality , beyoncé better knows how to sell a song .", "... as effie white , the dreamgirl left behind , jennifer hudson may have lost american idol only to have won an oscar .", "the production is top-flight all the way , with a detail-attentive lavishness rare these days .", "a cliché-riddled storyline populated by unsympathetic characters and songs that repetitively bleed into one another to the point where we curse motown for the r&b movement altogether .", "the big screen version is a deafening muddle , pulled apart by booming vocal power , melodramatic performances , and zips through time faster than doc brown 's de lorean .", "few pictures can match the glamorous pull of MOV . bill condon 's first big musical since chicago is a glossy , gleaming cadillac of a film with a vintage rhythm and blues engine tuned to perfection . the cast is dressed to kill .", "a stellar cast , stunning sets and costumes and engaging music make this a modern musical for a new generation .", "una lujosa producción que , a nivel dramático , tiene la misma profundidad que una telenovela . eso sí : hay -lrb- alguna -rrb- buena música y una inusual actuación de eddie murphy .", "there 's no faint-praise here . it 's the best film of the year .", "jennifer hudson makes her acting debut in bill condon 's MOV , and it 's safe to say the phrase `` star-making turn '' was invented for performances like hers .", "newcomer jennifer hudson owns the movie with her magnetic presence and go-tell-it-on-the-mountain voice . * ** ** *", "i could have happily sat through the first half a second time , though i was barely able to sit through the second half once .", "os realizadores exibem exatamente o mesmo preconceito que fingem condenar em seu longa , valorizando mais a estética do que o talento . hipocrisia , MOV é seu nome .", "... less compelling than the actual history of the supremes . similarly , the music felt like faxed-over motown , a couple of generations less crisp than the original .", "to say that MOV is the best musical so far this century is to make no great claim for it . to say that it 's the best film about the music business since 1996 's grace of my heart and fit to be spoken of in the same breath says more .", "the movie 's barely good , but the music ? the voices ? the soul ?! lord , have mercy .", "even beyond its clichéd story and familiar characters , MOV gets stuck at its most broadly representational level , exploiting even as it means to expose , repeating even as it might have offered something new , something that would give you a r", "besides the high-energy music , the story grapples meaningfully with intense human drama , racial issues and the theme of art versus commerce .", "it feels superficial -- though i admit it 's a pretty rousing and toe-tapping kind of superficiality .", "if my movie reviews had headlines , this one 's would be : `` a star is born . '' more like a supernova .", "i can say without reservation that MOV is a crowd-pleasing film and mean it only in the most positive of senses .", "here 's a movie that 's truly firing on all cylinders and never faltering .", "an `` american idol '' rejectee with no prior screen experience , -lsb- jennifer hudson 's -rsb- presence in this film is itself the stuff that musical dreams are made of .", "condon knew what he wanted , and got it : a smooth , shiny showbiz fable .", "this story blazes through the detroit sound , the '60s and '70s , discrimination , betrayal , greed , pride , loyalty and redemption and so much more . it does it with songs and it does it exactly right .", "a movie musical that certainly knows how to carry a tune , but is missing a heart .", "critics and fans could spend hours arguing over director and cast , but it 's hard to imagine many combinations achieving greater success than what condon has accomplished .", "if you can be satisfied skipping along its surface , MOV fulfills its splashy , superficial promise of glitter , glamour , and sass .", "film director bill condon keeps that story on track , while cramming the screen with wonderful visual touches .", "who needs catharsis when there 's so much eye-popping , foot-stomping enjoyment to absorb ? MOV leaves you giddy with sensory pleasure in a way that a serious diana ross biopic never , ever will .", "i 've been going to the movies a long time . this is the first time i ever saw people sit during the closing credits , just so they could cheer when a performer 's name came up .", "it 's great to see a movie musical with a smart sense of the genre .", "it 's possible to be a very good movie and still be overrated .", "murphy is a revelation as james , and what american idol castoff hudson lacks in technical acting craft she makes up for in raw energy and a voice that could melt the rhinestones off a beauty queen .", "it 's not just the best musical of the year -lrb- there 's really no competition -rrb- ; it 's simply one of the best movies .", "this year 's king kong , a reminder of what lavish studio productions can be . it 's motown meets broadway in hollywood , full of energy and moving emotions .", "... a christmas day present to the rest of us .", "sometimes a splashy movie musical can be just the thing .", "... an uneven success .", "with a star turn like -lsb- jennifer hudson 's -rsb- at its center , a movie does n't need too much more , but MOV has plenty to go around .", "... the result is a tentativeness that keeps MOV from becoming the great movie it almost is .", "MOV wraps you up in its music , like a velvet coat of sound , and when it 's over you feel warmed , happy and thoroughly entertained .", "watching MOV is like being on cloud nine .", "i must toss a bouquet to the amazing american idol reject hudson , who sells a song like garland , only louder , and to murphy for his terrific interpretation of early .", "it 's a product that promises magic , and yet gives us nothing to live on .", "when MOV is behind the mic , it 's oscar golden . but when it 's powered by anything other than its pipes , say story-telling , it falls flat and hard .", "this is hudson 's movie all the way .", "MOV is a wonderful entertainment : a musical that , while not skimping on the music , delivers a multi-layered storyline featuring complex characters .", "-lsb- hudson -rsb- is ferocious in a role that requires nothing less , reconciling the bombast and the vulnerability ... and making them two sides of the same coin", "blandoncé knowles .", "with a star turn like that at its center , a movie does n't need too much more , but MOV has plenty to go around . its sense of showmanship is overflowing .", "the corn may be as high as beyoncé knowles ' gravity-defying wigs , but you 'll be so carried away by the penny-arcade clamor of light , rhythm and song , you really wo n't care .", "transcends the musical genre with its moving portrayal of how the music business makes and breaks stars .", "flashy , flamboyant and ferocious , MOV is just plain socko !", "i have to admit that the film 's spectacular performances and production values will blow you away much of the time -- and for that , mr. condon and his many colleagues deserve to be commended .", "MOV is the rare movie musical with real rapture in it .", "soapy story line , campy dialogue-to-song transitions balanced by top notch production , hardy performances . overall - good musical fun . jennifer hudson break-out rocks !", "MOV sizzles most of the time , giving us a slightly broadway-ized look at an important part of the history of american pop music .", "it 's fun . it 's candy . with colorful costumes , often effervescent tunes -lrb- the original production 's henry krieger wrote four new ones -rrb- , it 's a champagne cocktail .", "the real star here is former american idol contestant jennifer hudson , who manages to steal the movie out from under murphy , as well as some other big-star performers .", "joy is defined as MOV , an ecstatic dose of pure top-down motown tight-harmony effervescence that takes a hit broadway musical about a chicago girl group and turns it , miraculously , into a hollywood delight .", "any way you look at it , MOV works .", "this glitzy , infectious and unusually heartfelt musical does n't always hang together as a satisfying narrative -- too many characters compete for too little screen time -- but its pleasures are numerous enough to override its flaws .", "flaws and all , MOV is certainly a lot more watchable than other recent adaptations of broadway musicals like rent , the producers and the phantom of the opera .", "the stuff that works in MOV works so beautifully that any qualms are swept off the table by moments that ca n't be denied .", "all in all , MOV is a dream of a movie , the most we could have wanted after a 25-year wait .", "lacks the one quality that marshall 's sub-par best picture winner chicago had going for it - an invigorating , irresistible , knockout score .", "a triumph of old school on-screen glamour .", "it 's loud , with lots of pretty colors , but there 's nothing holding back the melodrama or making it emotionally relevant .", "audiences who go to MOV will have a good time , but theyll be going for old times sake rather than to encounter anything vital or new .", "it 's all about the razzle-dazzle , baby , and this slick flick sizzles , thanks to glossy production values , spectacularly staged musical numbers and bill condon 's energetic direction .", "jennifer hudson is the heart and soul of MOV . when she 's on the screen , the movie shines . when she 's not , the whole endeavor suffers .", "when jennifer hudson sings , all 's right with the world .", "lively songs , flabby story .", "-lsb- MOV proves -rsb- again that transforming a hit broadway musical into an equally spectacular movie is one of the most confounding tricks in show business .", "dazzling - one of the best pictures of 2006 . it could rival `` chicago '' in the upcoming oscar race . it 's that good !", "the movie belongs to hudson as the proud , self-destructive effie . when she 's center stage , MOV transports you to movie musical heaven .", "watching MOV on the big screen feels like an event somehow . maybe it 's the conviction and passion that the actors bring to their roles .", "MOV is the entire musical package , a triumph of old school on-screen glamour , and we would n't want it any other way .", "conclusive evidence that the broadway musical is back as a force on the big screen .", "although every review seems contractually obligated to mention hudson 's big number , to me beyoncé 's `` listen '' is a stronger and more affecting summation of character .", "while the soul , rhythm and blues is belted out to perfection by beyonce and scene stealer jennifer hudson , many of the singing scenes tragically feel more like improvised song-speak than choreographed numbers", "given the groundswell of hype surrounding the new bill condon musical `` MOV , '' there 's every reason to expect it to be on par with `` chicago , '' which was based on condon 's script . the reality , though , is somewhat different .", "show jimmy some love , oscar !", "MOV belongs to hudson . when she sings , the movie transcends its celluloid confines , becoming an experience that is spiritual , impassioned , profound .", "MOV has the clout to make a chicago-like run on oscar night .", "... the picture belongs lock-stock-and-barrel to newcomer jennifer hudson ...", "people who hold musicals as dear and inviolate as church doctrine will brook no criticism of this film , while more dispassionate eyes will see flaws stemming from story values sold out ." ]

[ "more human interest than agitprop .", "the point that the homophobic right is picking and choosing which parts of the bible to follow , and which verses to look at in the context in which they were written , is both terribly familiar and rudimentarily argued .", "as long as it 's dissecting the six or seven passages in the bible that ostensibly disparage homosexuality , this documentary ode to tolerance takes a shrewd look at how speciously selective and ahistorical the church condemnation of gays really is .", "-lsb- for -rsb- the bible tells me so must be the first liberal documentary to resist bible-bashing for bible-thumping .", "an important and edifying documentary that can convince many to open their hearts and their minds to support gay and lesbian equality .", "this rational , human and very serious documentary by daniel karslake gets at the historical distortions of the good book as well as the ease with which holy writings have been used in america to propagate hate .", "here 's hoping karslake 's film wo n't simply preach to the converted .", "there is no denying that the film fills a need . the inevitable dvd should be packaged in a plain cardboard sleeve , so that viewers can carry it in their pockets and , if confronted by a homophobe , hand it over and say , `` watch this , then get back to me . ''", "filmmaker daniel karslake takes aim at the ways in which scripture has been used to discriminate against gay men and women , and reveals the ways in which literal -- and often grossly inaccurate -- readings of the bible have damaged countless lives .", "this is an impressive , critical film that should be screened for everyone who 's ever exploited the bible to justify fear and prejudice .", "the bible tells me so", "if imperfect , the film is also necessary .", "daniel karslake 's remarkable documentary boldly takes on a loaded topic -- christianity and homosexuality -- and examines it both intellectually and emotionally ; the result may well leave you blinking away a few tears .", "a brisk , entertaining and even moving exploration of the sometimes frayed intersection where christianity meets homosexuality .", "could hardly be called even-handed , and it 's certainly repetitive , but despite its failings it 's still worth seeing -- as so often , especially by those who probably wo n't .", "you 'll have plenty of ammunition next time you want to tell some bible-thumper where they can stick their leviticus .", "wallner 's journey to acceptance , not the movie 's slight forays into theology , will be what you remember about MOV . it 's a powerful , positive film .", "its main surprise is the compassion shown toward everyone , on all sides of the debate . it does not vilify those who vilify gays .", "while the film is unlikely to sway anyone whose mind already is n't made up , it provides plenty food for thought in its examination of biblical doctrine on same-sex love and how it resonates to this day .", "while you might not agree with all -- or any -- of the movie 's conclusions , there 's no denying that it 's effective and often intelligent filmmaking .", "this is a compelling , thought-provoking portrait of a quiet challenge rising within america 's churches .", "an informative , heartbreaking documentary about intolerance and manipulation , sadly and assuredly never to be seen by the people who need this info the most .", "a gut-wrenching depiction of what truly defines family values .", "the movie 's serious , wide-ranging look at a divisive subject is not guaranteed to settle disputes , only to prompt discussion .", "progressive clergy provide enough historical context to neutralize the handful of bible verses prohibiting homosexual acts , but karslake never confronts the broader issues of sexuality and procreation that bedevil even moderate christians .", "the film offers proof that religion and homosexuality need not be mutually exclusive : good christians can love and accept their gay brothers and sisters , and gay people can still be religious .", "one message rings clear throughout the occasionally muddled but always emotionally sweeping film : a true abomination is twisting the words of scripture to match bigotry .", "a thoughtful look at the complicated relationship between christianity and homosexuality .", "karslake reveals ways scripture has been used to discriminate against homoexuality , and shows how inaccurate interpretations of the bible cause widespread despair and the destruction of lives .", "excessivamente convencional em sua estrutura e contendo sua parcela de graves tropeзos -lrb- a seqькncia em animaзгo -rrb- , este filme ainda assim merece aplausos pela eloqькncia de seus entrevistados , pelo teor de sua mensagem e pela paixгo com que a defende .", "will likely find itself preaching to the converted , but its moving true stories are powerful enough to affect anyone open to listening .", "there are some heart-wrenching , tragic stories told , but the vast majority of the people karslake shows us are genuine loving souls , who have embraced their children for who they are .", "while the movie seems tilted toward christian families attempting to work through issues of having a gay son or daughter , `` MOV '' fills a yet another heretofore blank chapter on gay rights .", "the case made by those interviewed in MOV is strong , and , at times , moved me greatly .", "MOV does n't follow the formula . that 's just one of the reasons it works well as a film and a lesson about , as one open-minded preacher puts it , what the bible `` reads '' about what it supposedly `` says '' about homosexuality .", "the film will probably end up preaching to the converted , albeit in an engaging and surprisingly light-hearted fashion .", "-lsb- director -rsb- karslake balances the more emotional elements of the film together with the scriptural analysis and weaves them into a moving conclusion .", "if you can look beyond the polemics , this is also a powerful story about the emotional pain and psychological trauma that splits families and breaks hearts .", "with impressive conviction , vast intelligence and even humor , karslake has made a vital , stimulating wor", "MOV probes the conflict between an obdurate force and a movable object , hoping against hope and the laws of physics that one can sway the other .", "admirable and moving .", "MOV is never less than lively and stimulating in its arguments , even detouring into a very amusing cartoon dealing with the evidence that sexual orientation is biologically determined .", "karslake has made a powerful film ... it addresses the fulcrum of the religious right 's objection to homosexuality without attacking those who hold those beliefs ." ]

[ "here 's a movie filled with the joy and sadness , the frustrations and pleasures , of real life .", "the two leads are magnificent in this affecting look at what happens after a happy ending .", "a slice-of-life glimpse at relationships , unwanted house guests and maintaining one 's humanity . molina and lithgow are as comfy as well-worn bathrobes .", "this is not a strident film ; it 's about subtle performances .", "by the end , when love is in the air again , we realize the title is meant ironically . love is n't strange , after all . it 's something for which we all hope , to which we 're all entitled , and which almost all of us have the power to achieve .", "the movie seems to teeter on the brink of tragedy with its earnest tone and somewhat fragile characters , but there is lightness in every breath of dialogue .", "an unforgettable portrait , set to a dazzling soundtrack of chopin piano pieces , of the sense of loss we all feel when we are obliged to move into unfamiliar and uncomfortable surroundings .", "`` MOV '' is beautifully acted and bittersweet . it 's a gentle reminder that modern love , like a houseplant , needs sunlight , space and attention to grow .", "gentle and bittersweet , it 's about love in its many permutations .", "a sweet , random little nothing of a comedy", "ira sachs ' film makes you understand the miracle and good fortune of finding love .", "set in the big apple , this is a sprawling yet intimate narrative , constructed almost entirely of in-between moments rather than the big turning points and tragedies .", "even when it perplexes , ` MOV ' is tonic in a summer of overhyped cinema .", "sachs takes an impeccably balanced approach to the film .", "`` MOV '' is wise about the hold that intimate connections have on us and awed by love 's complexity and uncertainty .", "moving drama about an aging gay couple forced to improvise when their life together in love is put in jeopardy .", "sachs goes for subdued subtlety and winds up with a beautiful and unforgettable film .", "that 's the mercurial beauty of MOV : it 's about things that actually matter in life and in a partnership , including the debit column in the checkbook .", "ira sachs 's push for heartrending poetry makes it clear that the film is putting too fine a gloss on the acute pains of one small tragedy .", "john lithgow and alfred molina create a genuinely tender chemistry that turns MOV into a sweet love story about how a strong relationship can bring out the brightest moments of life .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- `` society is mean '' might be a more applicable title , for it is not the palpable human connection of tenderness that seems `` strange , '' but rather our culture of intolerance that comes across as most bizarre .", "ira sachs ' sublimely told and beautifully acted contemporary romantic drama about an aging gay manhattan couple hitting some unexpected choppy waters is the flip side of his dark , raw and daring keep the lights on but every bit as engaging .", "the film may seem to be doing very little , but it evinces great sensitivity ... as it explores a universal theme of dealing with life 's unexpected derailments and trying to get back on track .", "writer-director ira sachs has made a film that 's messy and unfocused -- and , in this instance , that 's not a detriment .", "rewarding and interesting .", "the shot outside the subway entrance -- one lengthy long-shot , perfectly composed and set to a chopin nocturne -- is probably the most beautiful thing i 've seen in a movie all year .", "the pic becomes more about a gay couple 's nyc real estate difficulties than their gay rights struggle .", "driven by the tour de force performances of john lithgow and alfred molina , MOV ... is artful and beautifully realized .", "unrealistic premise that drags on .", "i ca n't say enough about how smart and clear-eyed it is . and moving : i 'm wiping tears off my keyboard as i type this .", "`` MOV '' captures scenes , such as a day ben spends painting the city from his rooftop , of ordinary , perfect moments , ones that turned out to be the end of something . but you did n't realize it at the time .", "sachs ' film is both gentle and sad , and while it can sometimes seem a little too downbeat , it ends on a note of hope as quiet and simple as the melancholy that preceded it .", "the living-apart scenario is contrived -- there was no way for these men to share a space somewhere ? -- but the two actors are so good that it does n't much matter .", "so many films are made up of wonderful scenes with an end result that does n't really add up to a compelling whole . MOV pulls off this tricky task with aplomb . it is full of breath-taking beauty , both visual and thematic .", "despite spending most of the screentime apart , the audience is invited to enjoy ben and george 's company as much as they do .", "nothing showy or fussy from director ira sachs and cinematographer christos voudouris , the camera lingers on human details , the goodness and tenderness between these men , with a lot to say about the level of scrutiny gay lives are subjected to routinely .", "MOV is beautiful in every way that a film can be beautiful , and unabashedly so .", "sachs does n't subvert his tearjerker enterprise so much as soften and parcel out emotion , empathizing no more with the distraught couple than with their hosts , whose lives are no less inconvenienced , or interesting .", "and the bravura final 15 minutes : dear god in manhattan ! ... one lyrical , cinematic wallop after another ... what was very , very good , with modest leaps beyond plausibility , reaches for authentic greatness .", "many , i suspect , will be moved to tears by `` MOV , '' which sachs earns the hard way : not by amping up the dramatic situations , but by grace notes and quiet spells cast by all the right actors .", "heartfelt drama about love , real estate has some swearing .", "lithgow , with his modulated flamboyance , and molina , with his sad-eyed realism , are perfect individually and as a team . but the movie tends to drift away from an audience , because it 's all sensibility , no sense .", "sachs is more concerned with telling a universal tale of commitment and intimacy that 's neither defined nor constrained by preconceived notions .", "if it was conceived as a ` message ' movie , the message is one of love and hope .", "it has plenty of conflict , but is virtually free from the demands of traditional plot-heavy films . it carries the ring of truth at least partially because its subtext is everything , and its scenes are rarely about what they 're really about .", "molina and lithgow are a marvelous presence , establishing such potent chemistry that it remains tangible during their long stretches apart .", "if making the audience care about the made-up people and situations depicted onscreen is the ultimate measure of a film 's success , no 2014 film has succeeded so well ...", "most of the conversations are about the difficulties of finding affordable nyc housing , a niche concern if ever there was one .", "sachs rarely overstates his themes . `` MOV '' is largely a restrained drama about the loss of comfort .", "MOV is drab-looking and has its longueurs , but it 's emotionally very full .", "initially , you suspect you 're in for a 90-minute sermon on gay rights . instead , the traumas have a universal resonance", "sometimes a little movie comes along that 's so achingly authentic it feels real .", "you need to give `` MOV '' your eyes and ears and attention , let it work its effects on you gradually , like the lovely chopin piano music that forms the spine of its soundtrack .", "a heartbreaking movie - the story of two people who love each other , who are devoted to each other , who only want to live together in quiet happiness .", "without molina and lithgow , the film might feel like little more than a light experiment in social dynamics . but nearly everything about `` MOV '' suits it ...", "tender , understated , deeply human and quietly powerful . john lithgow and alfred molina give career-best performances .", "it 's one of the best films of the year so far , a haunting portrayal of how easily things you took for granted can slip through your fingers and the way that dozens of loved ones can still make for only a tenuous safety net when you fall .", "i did n't know that apartments still sell for pittances in the city 's superheated market , but it 's only one of many details that do n't ring true in a movie that gives you time to wonder about such things in between the plodding plot points .", "love may be weird , complicated and uncertain , but it is also wondrous . MOV makes that case with a remarkable blend of tenderness , wit and intelligence", "scripted by sachs and mauricio zacharias , the movie is warm , unforced and believable . much of that can be credited to lithgow and molina , who fully inhabit the roles of ben and george .", "` MOV ' has more in common with bad houseguest movies - like the turkish film ` distant , ' if not ` houseguest ' - than ` philadelphia ' or ` prick up your ears . '", "director ira sachs ' drama is full of thoughtful , intelligent reserve .", "it 's about the strangeness of love in all its forms , with sachs ' quiet , observational style capturing tensions on a small scale between the ideal we hope for in our interactions-with friends , with family , with lovers-and reality ...", "an absolutely compelling piece about the commitment of longtime partners , who just happen to be gay .", "elegiac , beautifully shot ...", "we 've seen our share of dramas and sitcoms about lgbt couples , but very few that have the wit and style of ira sachs ' MOV .", "it 's ok for a movie to leave an audience asking questions . in fact , it can be a sign that a movie has a lot to say . except , that is , when the question is this one : `` so what ? ''", "i left the theater on thursday morning feeling sad and happy and , maybe , a little wiser . that 's about all we can ask of a movie , i think .", "MOV is a wonderfully assured romance , a collection of wonderful performances led through a handful of truly beautiful domestic scenes .", "a smart and cozy watch , and very well-acted , especially by the leads .", "`` MOV '' boasts an abundance of patience and kindness - but not much of a pulse .", "MOV portrays intersecting assumptions and desires , revelations and resentments , with lovely work by cinematographer christos voudouris offering a range of perspectives .", "these two actors are right at home , even if their characters continue to live in a place that does n't feel that way .", "it 's the tender performances of lithgow and molina that carry the film .", "gentle and almost overwhelmingly bittersweet , this drama is packed with such engaging characters that the weaknesses of the plot do n't seem too distracting .", "MOV is lovely , painful and universal .", "one of the most beautifully and incisively observed family dramas in recent memory ...", "` MOV ' takes something so right and leaves it hanging all wrong .", "a two-hankie weepie featuring an older male couple separated by a sad twist of fate and a soundtrack heavily laden with chopin sonatas , ira sachs ' `` MOV '' is not really strange at all .", "`` MOV '' is a testament to love , not in an overly sentimental way , but in a realistic way .", "sachs is a profoundly visual artist with a musical soul . it 's the basic storytelling that gets in his way .", "while MOV might not surprise-the film 's title , after all , is hardly a revelatory statement-this beautifully acted story is a wonder in itself .", "sachs conveys a sense of their entire long relationship and the history around it by depicting a difficult , late chapter whose uncertain outcome underscores what they mean to each other ...", "mr. sachs thankfully shirks the schtick , settling instead on a more mellow and meandering narrative , with pockets of humor and heartbreak , giving MOV its casual , welcoming feel .", "gentle and naturalistic , MOV is an intimate portrait of devotion that you will root for , without falling in love .", "this is real love : there is old age , there is debt , there is misunderstanding . there are also terrific performances that will make this romance a modern classic .", "in this pointed and involving new york drama , the snap of realistic dialogue more than makes up for a fundamental flaw in the premise .", "this is a film of great gentleness and subtlety .", "molina and lithgow are both superb : two crusty romantics searching for crumbs in a world , however well-meaning , that is too busy for love unless it comes tidy , manageable and vexation-free .", "low-key yet dramatically confident , it 's genuinely convincing portrayal of two faithful -lrb- ish -rrb- old dogs whose relationship can weather anything that 's thrown at it .", "heartening , heart-warming and heartbreaking , MOV is a road trip through a durable , fascinating romance .", "would love to see another movie about these two characters .", "elevated from nice to beautifully memorable by wonderful performances and thoughtful direction of perfect small moments .", "lithgow , molina and tomei deliver some of their finest ever work in this quietly moving look into the finite nature of so much of life , not just love .", "sachs finds drama in silence , and makes the mundane rich with humanity .", "an authentic look at an aging gay couple and the tensions created when , because of financial difficulties , they have to move in with friends and relatives .", "sachs does n't subvert his tearjerker enterprise so much as soften and parcel out emotion , empathizing no more with the distraught couple than with their hosts , whose lives are no less inconvenienced , or interesting .", "encompassing a sensitive and beautiful soul , sachs ' film allows for a deep connection , embodied by all the great things that make up a terrific love story .", "extremely subtle and touching cinema .", "MOV exudes a recognizable feeling of warmth and acceptance , touches upon common social injustices , and depicts familiar struggles and universally desired goals .", "george and ben , molina and lithgow ; between them , MOV will give you something to write home about .", "nothing if not timely . molina and lithgow are both excellent . -lrb- ira -rrb- sachs ' no-nonsense , naturalistic style of directing also serves the film well . should not be missed .", "calling MOV a great gay love story is both precise and inaccurate ; i doubt i 'll see a more finely performed and beautifully crafted love story , with or without any mere modifiers , up on the big screen this year .", "fully earns the tears and transcends any labels you 'd like to place on it .", "the filmmaker observes with great sensitivity , letting certain conflicts play just below the surface .", "`` MOV '' is a patient film . the emotions it unleashes are enormous .", "'' ... a film laden with dignity and restraint that never needs to resort to melodrama or contrivance . ''", "-lsb- a -rsb- quietly beguiling tale of an ageing gay couple who have been together for decades ...", "sometimes gently funny , sometimes piercingly sad , ultimately uplifting .", "there 's lots of charm , from the looks ben and george give one another , to the easiness of their shared company .", "written and directed by ira sachs , this is a non-action film of the kind that determinedly shuns any melodrama . all major events happen off screen while the focus is on the small everyday interactions that make up a life .", "it starts with a marriage . a marriage which is also , unexpectedly , an ending of sorts , although you would n't know it from the hum of warmth and goodwill that surrounds ben -lrb- john lithgow -rrb- and george -lrb- alfred molina -rrb- .", "most of all it 's a film about love -- love that 's a little frayed around the edges sometimes but straightforward , funny and true .", "the emotion is in the writing and in the story . the actors realise that it 's the details which count here -- the looks and gestures -- not the showy speeches .", "get ready to feel your heart skip .", "MOV is a kind of gay tokyo story , every bit as life - affirming and heart-breaking .", "see `` MOV '' for its sensitivity and understated jokes , but mainly for lithgow and molina 's expertly modulated work , which pulls the movie back when it threatens to stray into melodrama or heavy-handedness .", "the acting is effortless , with even small characters portrayed very clearly . there is feeling throughout the movie , however muted .", "a heartbreaking and tender look at a gay couple whose lives are torn apart by a simple act of love .", "this simple joy , and the ease these two actors have around each other - is perhaps what makes director ira sachs ' movie so heartbreaking .", "`` MOV '' is a richly rewarding film . hopefully it will be remembered come oscar season .", "lithgow and especially molina create a lived-in relationship shared by two very different people , both actors very moving in their separate journeys back into one another 's arms .", "it falls to lithgow and molina to create empathy for the major characters , and the two of them fit so well together that it 's heartbreaking when their marriage suffers terrible strain .", "it 's an essential-and essentially new york-story about limited room , limited time but incalculable attachment .", "lithgow and molina exquisitely capture the intimacy and interdependence that only those in very long-term relationships understand .", "the strangest thing about `` MOV '' is how completely un-strange it is , from its familiar family dynamics to its exquisite honesty and compassion .", "its slice-of-life concerns may seem trivial , but `` MOV '' is genuinely funny , tender and moving in spots .", "MOV is one of the most haunting love stories we will get to see in theaters this year . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV is a powerful fable about love and relationships . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "`` MOV '' is an unpretentious film , made for those times when you just want to relax . -lsb- full review spanish -rsb-", "in a few words , this is a great film . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the best thing about MOV is its title .", "as a couple , lithgow and molina are flawless . it 's like watching your own grandparents , who are still madly in love after decades together .", "MOV and so is this movie , but in a good way . it 's so low key that you barely notice when big things are happening .", "john lithgow and alfred molina shine in a sweet , heartfelt little new york drama playing ben and george , two gay men who decide to marry after a 39-year live-in arrangement ... full of small , telling moments .", "endearingly performed by alfred molina -lrb- as george -rrb- and john lithgow -lrb- as ben -rrb- as two ageing new york lovers who finally marry , MOV might have been more aptly titled love is mellow", "it 's a mature and subtle piece of storytelling , and as delicate and lovely as the classical compositions by frėdėric chopin that play on the film 's soundtrack .", "sometimes , love can feel like hate or annoyance - it is , as the title states , strange . but sometimes , more often than not , it can be a wonderful thing .", "what lends it spirit is the performances , both major and minor , and sachs 's determination to dramatize same-sex love not as groundbreaking , but as securely rooted -- rent control and all -- in common ground .", "the movie , which feels a bit like a mashup of woody allen and mike leigh , succeeds on its simple story and its lead actors .", "`` MOV '' is one of those lovely little movies that starts out being about a handful of people and ends up being about all of us .", "sachs tells the story with artful economy - one late , crucial plot point happens without our seeing it - and ends it with an achingly lovely image , caught in golden sunlight .", "a film about learning , and changing , and learning to change .", "from the first scene , where the pair spoon in a crowded double bed and go about their morning ablutions , the actors convincingly communicate the familiarity of longtime companions .", "all this might have become downright tedious were it not for the fact that lithgow and molina remain exquisitely watchable actors ; their performances here are models of subtlety , especially when nothing all that dramatic is happening onscreen .", "one of those quiet movies that , like a michael cunningham novel , sneaks up and punches you in the face , just as you were thinking `` what does any of this add up to ? ''", "MOV is a delight to watch unfold .", "the story of george and ben seems to have been plucked from a meadow of narrative possibilities ; an interesting movie could have been made about everybody in this one .", "acting does n't get better than this . want to know what love is ? watch lithgow and molina and learn .", "does n't have much of an exit plan , but it does n't really matter when the leads are this magnificently understated and real , making plot secondary when offered a chance to watch two exceptional actors dig into a special script .", "a film of intricate emotions and small gestures that , taken together , express wonderment at the profundity of human relationships while resolutely eschewing melodramatic excess .", "`` MOV '' is very well worth seeing for its two stars , who acutely convey the pain their characters feel over their separation as well as displaying their considerable comic chops to keep things from getting too grim .", "one of the most beautifully acted movies in recent times , this affecting love story earns our tears .", "this beautifully observed ensembler shines on the strength of its two leads , john lithgow and alfred molina , who conjure four decades together as they enter the `` for better , for worse '' phase of their union .", "beautifully realized in sachs 's sensitive characterization are the pain of separation and the despair of becoming a burden on the next generation ." ]

[ "raw , uncoated stupidity that sticks in your throat .", "the film is not as amusing as the premise , and there were long stretches when i 'd had quite enough of mrs. doubtfire .", "it is what it is , and frankly i do n't like it .", "tedious beyond words .", "clumsy , but you ca n't go wrong with robin williams in drag .", "rousing comic portrait of a dad who loves his kinds more than anything else in the world .", "an overactive , cheeky costume comedy highlighted by the inspired zaniness of robin williams", "the dress , the mask and mrs. doubtfire 's gentility are inherently limiting , but nothing holds mr. williams back when he 's on a roll .", "one of the funniest roles of williams .", "the audience will likely enjoy the good stuff so much that they will easily overlook the film 's weaknesses .", "you will laugh till your ribs ache -- not because director chris columbus of the `` home alone '' movies has a gift for farce , which he does , but because williams is to funny what the energizer bunny is to batteries . he keeps going and going and going .", "williams has to break out of a second-rate `` tootsie '' imitation , ankles clamped in pathos and face covered in latex . he pulls it off in the end , but it 's not pretty .", "in terms of plot , the film is rather feeble , but sometimes there 's more to a movie than story , and this is one of those rare occasions when all the other elements pull together and lift the production .", "i laughed so hard several times that i had trouble stopping .", "sit-com stuff , then , with laboured farcical interludes , and a mushy post-feminist sensibility . funny notwithstanding .", "a genuinely funny comedy .", "spectacular", "chris columbus ' only good movie .", "i 've rarely laughed so much at a movie i generally disliked .", "modern comedy classic w/robin williams in and out of drag .", "the greater story is sacrificed for schticky gags about a guy dressing as an old woman .", "although overly sappy in places and probably 20 minutes too long , this robin williams-in-drag vehicle provides the comic a slick surface for doing his shtick , within a story possessing broad family appeal .", "mrs. doubtfire is by no means a bad movie-going experience and still holds up as vintage robin williams , but it 's certainly an odd idea the more you think about it .", "one of robin william 's funniest films to date ... an absolute beauty !" ]

[ "it 's hard to imagine anybody ever being `` in the mood '' to view a movie as harrowing and painful as MOV , but it 's equally hard to imagine anybody being able to tear their eyes away from the screen once it 's started .", "an intelligent and deeply felt work about impossible , irrevocable choices and the price of making them .", "MOV gives life and meaning to an event that is little more than a footnote in history books .", "so many incredibly raw , wrenching -- and , crucially , unsparingly unsentimental -- scenes and moments that it 's impossible to not be haunted by the film .", "this is a masterpiece and yet another chapter of the dark period called : `` the holocaust . ''", "filme trágico , complexo , difícil - e que pode ser assistido em sessăo dupla com o pianista .", "it unsuccessfully tries to bridge the gap between pathos and establishing a sense of realism , coming across as forced . overweight prisoners and harvey keitel 's german accent distract from the mood of the film .", "unlike schindler 's list , ... this uses history to remind us of the tenuousness of our own morality , to remind us that ... most of us will never have to know what we might be capable of in certain circumstances .", "roman polanski 's the pianist may have been showered with oscar glory ... but the best holocaust film of 2002 was actually MOV .", "hauntingly unforgettable .", "the effort is sincere and the results are honest , but the film is so bleak that it 's hardly watchable .", "MOV gives voice to a story that needs to be heard in the sea of holocaust movies ... but the film suffers from its own difficulties .", "tim blake nelson takes a charged , unimaginable situation and stylistically flattens it", "an unflinching film , MOV takes us right into the gas chambers .", "his -lsb- nelson 's -rsb- screenplay needs some serious re-working to show more of the dilemma , rather than have his characters stage shouting matches about it .", "tim blake nelson , credited as producer / screenwriter / play author / editor / director for `` MOV '' has taken a huge bite of a grim story of insurrection and destruction , leavened with spiritual salvation , and makes it , overall , boring and tedious", "writer-director tim blake nelson ... makes the film compelling by designing it not to horrify , but to testify .", "-lsb- nelson 's -rsb- movie about morally compromised figures leaves viewers feeling compromised , unable to find their way out of the fog and the ashes .", "like the ancient mariner , nelson grabs us by the collar and says , you must know about this . you must bear witness . and so you do .", "true tale of courage -- and complicity -- at auschwitz is a harrowing drama that tries to tell of the unspeakable .", "nelson 's dialogue sounds colloquially american and betrays its stage origin ... which , added to the well-fed look of many of the inmates , works against the strong acting and the inherent power of the holocaust theme .", "easier to respect than to love .", "although the movie takes us further into the actual process of industrial death at auschwitz than any american movie has yet dared , MOV never stoops to sensation or melodrama .", "this one is terrible to watch , but crucial to see .", "as bold and unyielding as MOV stands with its historical subtext , there are a few factors detracting from the powerful message .", "even in its darkest moments , a heartening defiance underlies gut-wrenching calamity .", "an uncomfortable movie , suffocating and sometimes almost senseless , MOV does have a center , though a morbid one .", "MOV is powerful , mesmerizing and disturbing .", "if this story must be told and retold -- and indeed it must -- then MOV is to be lauded for finding a new and ingenious angle .", "brings light to a little-known facet of the holocaust in a way that does justice to its moral ambiguities .", "if stars could be awarded on the basis of good intentions , MOV should be king of the galaxy . unfortunately , it lands on earth with something of a thud .", "effectively feeds our senses with the chilling sights and sounds from within the camp to create a completely numbing experience .", "the cumulative effect of the relentless horror on parade numbs the movie 's power as a work of drama .", "in this labor of angst , directed by actor tim blake nelson from his play , standard acting and ` plot ' become reductive brackets .", "nelson 's work is relentless , grueling and courageous .", "clearly not for all viewers , MOV is a thought-provoking but not quite believably realistic look at yet another saga of wwii era genocide .", "MOV is n't for everyone , but its riveting power constitutes a stunning -lrb- as in it leaves you shattered and shaken -rrb- achievement .", "-lsb- blake -rsb- creates moments ... that are impossible to forget .", "jagged , unrelenting , claustrophobically intimate .", "-lsb- a -rsb- devastatingly powerful and astonishingly vivid holocaust drama ." ]

[ "the pluses easily outweigh the minuses", "there does n't seem to be an original moment in the entire movie .", "an imaginative and magical film .", "it 'll give you an enjoyable tour of the red planet , complete with some thrills and sharp computer effects .", "an exceptionally tasteful and erudite popcorn spectacle , thanks in large part to a great cast and to director de palma , who is in top form .", "an instant popcorn classic .", "though unapologetically old-fashioned and corny , mission still has its share of nail-biter moments .", "an instant popcorn classic .", "the sci-fi elements , in both imagination and visual execution , are excellent and occasionally awe-inspiring .", "this movie 's special effects , set design , actionsequence staging and swirling cinematography offset the weak story .", "it 's as if even de palma tired of the cliched material and could n't be bothered to put in much of an effort .", "the script is so awful i have trouble believing it was not written by actual martians .", "a very long voyage to nowhere -- a dull , overly sentimental and derivative film that accomplishes little other than remind us that science fiction can be a whole lot better than this .", "mainly coarsens 2001 in its mix of cosmic consciousness and ` naturalistic ' product placement .", "god only knows where they put all the money , because i ca n't seem to find it on the screen .", "-lsb- brian de palma -rsb- has taken an intelligent cast and decent premise and yet made a movie so bad that it might one day become a cult camp-classic .", "MOV succeeds in luring the viewer into accepting the cinematic world it portrays . however , MOV ultimately fails to support this ` realism ' because it lacks an equally ` realistic ' denouement .", "de palma 's picture brings neither the wit nor the emotional derring-do of the subsequent movies to its account of not one but two tragedy-plagued flights to mars .", "nothing in this lackluster set piece is particularly novel or interesting .", "de palma has reached out to embrace a larger audience and seemingly sacrificed those traits that drew us to him in the first place : his singular vision , his clinical stylistics , and the palpable sense of dread that his best films engender .", "de palma has nothing new to say and no new way of saying it .", "MOV is one of those films that looks as if something bad happened in the editing room .", "the special effects are terrific , but as the dialog and plot veer into 2001 and close encounters territory , mission misses .", "it gets worse before it gets better .", "the script offers no help ; it 's so poor that you 'll pray it 's all a dream sequence .", "in the presence of profound questions , the filmmaker goes profoundly shallow .", "MOV establishes a new gold standard for embarrassing alien encounters .", "the film is worthwhile only to those who are in desperate need of a nap .", "MOV is neither commercial nor intriguingly indulgent .", "it 's as if the director , the gifted brian de palma , rises to the occasions but the screenplay gives him nothing much to do in between them .", "a rather b-script with some g-force actors .", "de palma corrige el rumbo en la última parte de la cinta , pero 30 minutos no hacen una buena película", "MOV gets lost in mystical mumbo jumbo .", "the thin , underplotted story takes a long time to reach nothing more than one dopey , utterly inconsequential revisionist history lesson .", "fourth-graders may appreciate this , but more learned viewers will have their intelligence insulted .", "brian de palma 's sci-fi venture is a a sickening waste of money and talent .", "the film is a montage of showy effects , blatant product placement and ideas lifted wholesale from much better films .", "utterly devoid not just of inspiration but energy , too .", "for an adventure film , m2mis shockingly slack in the tension department .", "there 's nothing that poignant here , just de palma pretending he 's carl sagan .", "it falls short , in ways both silly and touching .", "MOV reveals nothing we have n't seen in other space movies .", "they do n't waste words in the space program , and i wo n't waste any more here . let 's call this one mission : improbable .", "a $ 100 million production of a 10-cent script .", "like milk or a musical chord , a movie script is most noticeable when it is spoiled .", "an a-list cast and director , a huge budget and endless special effects are employed in the service of what is essentially a b movie .", "de palma 's touch is wrong at the most crucial moments .", "trying to make sense of this shaggy dog story is like climbing a mountain .", "gives us the best it has to offer in its first 30 minutes . that 's happy news for people who tend to doze off halfway through a movie , but not for those who like a last-minute jolt on their way out of the theater .", "the story disintegrates faster than a meteor in the upper atmosphere but is n't as fun to watch .", "at its best , MOV is a visually inspiring motion picture that takes you to another world and shows off the amazing sights .", "mo matter how well cheadle and sinise tackle the material , they still come off woodenly .", "it easily could be dismissed as a clumsy b-movie rehash of 2001 : a space odyssey and close encounters of the third kind .", "MOV is blandly directed by brian de palma .", "the performances distanced and uncharismatic .", "MOV merits neither rage nor enthusiasm .", "it 's disappointing that the filmmaker did n't place greater emphasis on storytelling or character development .", "MOV is what happens when a film junkie gets hold of millions of dollars ' worth of tinkertoys and a script written by a video-store clerk .", "MOV is sentimental , corny , and at times irredeemably campy .", "de palma can still use a camera , but he no longer seems to be using his head .", "the race for the worst movie of the year is on !", "MOV ' redemptive coda opened the door for the subsequent film 's continuing figurative and literal sanguinity .", "whatever 's shoddy or limp about MOV , however conspicuous while the film unfolds , all becomes admirably pale as the full viewing experience recedes and the good stuff emerges in proud bas-relief .", "so-so sci-fi ; may be too intense for some kids .", "if brian depalma 's MOV were a book , it would have a yellow cover and the title ' 2001 for dummies . '", "the too-many-cooks rule applies to this script , which borrows wantonly from sci-fi classics of the past .", "there 's some throwaway fancy camerawork at the beginning and a repeat of his shock-shot trick from raising cain , but otherwise de palma 's own ride appears to be largely on autopilot .", "typically , while a good screenplay only requires a single author , this unimaginative , derivative dreck required at least four , even with the massive cribbing from 2001 : a space odyssey .", "despite a few breathtaking snapshots en route , it ca n't quite figure out the aesthetic itinerary -- where it 's heading and why .", "it 's the waste of the impressive ensemble cast on cheap , pedestrian dialogue and a tabloid-style hypothesis of martian civilization that makes this mission impossible to watch .", "it may not make you ponder the meaning of man 's existence , but you should still be entertained .", "the ensemble 's performances are adequate .", "i gave up on this barren mission before it ever left earth .", "avoid at all costs .", "all i can really say for the film is this : they meant well .", "silly , turgid and devoid of even the hints of original thinking , MOV is a testament to shameless creative theft .", "the film just does n't offer anything new to the genre , so why bother making it ?", "bears the distinct imprint of helmer de palma , still one of the best visualists to work in the action/adventure genre .", "it 's hardly an original movie ... but its cinematography is literally dizzying at times , proving that de palma can still put on a good show even when his material is n't the freshest he might have found .", "a film about space exploration that really knocks your eyes out .", "who would have guessed that mars would be so damn boring ?", "is n't exactly a dull experience , but it is a monotonous one , because the capabilities it so obviously holds is put to zero good use .", "shockingly cornball .", "a movie as cold and distant as the red planet itself .", "this film is mind boggling and stupid , a derivative piece of doo-doo that 's an embarrassment for all involved .", "MOV has n't a single moment of real suspense .", "on so many levels , a risibly bad movie ." ]

[ "rarely has a supreme artist 's twilight been so richly illuminating .", "enthrallingly original work of highly personal fiction .", "MOV is bergman at his most familiar .", "at once harsh and beautiful , lucid and dense , delicate and overwhelming .", "if ullmann has unquestionably appropriated from her years with bergman -lrb- and josephson -rrb- a magnificent empathy with her players , she is also rewardingly attentive to visual detail .", "endre is superb in the role ullmann would have played 20 years ago .", "bergman has reached for a woman 's insight his whole career . ullmann completes this for him .", "that it is thought provoking is no question ; that it offers few epiphanies , likewise without debate .", "a probing look at love , marriage , fidelity , rivalry , and other deep-rooted emotional issues .", "without giving too much away , i can tell you that my response to these events was a thundering ` duh . '", "it 's well worth seeing ... as long as two and a half hours of intense swedish drama do n't scare you off !", "bergman has been far better at working out these themes than anything in MOV would suggest .", "slow , but involving ullman-bergman collaboration .", "MOV is a journey worth taking , but it 's best to travel alone .", "it 's a provocative , deeply detailed film , finely crafted both in the studio and in the editing room by ullman .", "the then over-amplification of psychiatric-like meetings and counseling and the trivial and pedestrian matter of the affair are drowned in a mawkish , morose and unendurable pacing .", "this could be a regretful remembrance of things past on the part of `` bergman '' or it could be a pure fiction torn from the ether .", "while not to everyone 's taste , the technical and narrative complexity alone are to be applauded - the film looks gorgeous , and the film is both literate and witty .", "MOV comes with a pedigree that 's hard to beat .", "it 's a movie that shows us that the silence between two people can be more dramatic than 100 pages of dialogue .", "henriksson , hanzon and josephson are fine as well , but the film belongs to endre and gylemo .", "no longer seeking god and truth , bergman now searches for the more attainable goals of forgiveness and redemption .", "ullmann has honed a too-long and sometimes relentless film that delves into the selfishness of passion but also captures the elusiveness and unpredictability of love .", "a worthwhile , if imperfect , example of its author 's self-examining , often lacerating approach .", "a heartbreaking , life-enhancing experience , one of the screen 's finest portrayals of infidelity and its consequences .", "a profoundly disturbing way to spend two hours of your life , and it 's hard to endorse a film more strongly than that .", "a mesmerising slow-burner of the first order .", "there is a haunted quality to MOV , which is a personal kind of disaster movie .", "an unqualified triumph .", "undeniably an engrossing tale .", "ullmann has a sure sense for the ways people behave in emotional extremity .", "it 's impossible to turn your eyes away from .", "endre 's performance is passionate and heartfelt .", "bien realizada , bien dirigida y mucho mejor actuada", "absolutely mesmerizing .", "highly recommended for those who can take it .", "for those who miss the good old days of art-house cinema , when bergman was one of the major attractions , there is cause for rejoicing .", "a mesmerizing work , exploring the darkest recesses of the human spirit .", "here an act of adultery casts a shadow of doubt , despair , regret , and pain on the lives of five people .", "... one ca n't help but think that this film will make it far more difficult to ever take love for granted .", "mr. josephson 's bergman is an unforgettable portrait of the artist as an old man at once tormented by his past and unable to resist raking over its coals .", "it shook me to my very core with a riveting and , at times , horrifying portrayal of the effect infidelity can have on a close-knit group of people .", "ullman is n't able to harness the intensity this confessional tale needs .", "it makes us realize , suddenly , and with immense regret , what the rest of contemporary cinema so sorely lacks .", "i hope there will always be room for mature films that examine human behavior with intelligence , artistry and honesty .", "bergman , rare among artists these days , still believes in human complexity and value . he believes that what people do matters .", "these three adults are all sick puppies . but neither the actors nor their director has created any reason for one to care .", "ullmann is an actor 's actor whose apprenticeship with one of the world 's greatest filmmakers has created a wondrous new actor 's director .", "there 's a real emotional heft to it , and the performances are superb .", "MOV is talky but very tight , and that cohesion relies on the bond between actors who are n't afraid to expose the depths of their characters .", "a powerful movie , with emotional rawness and honesty that have been hallmarks of bergman 's work as much as his incredible egocentricity .", "the script stagnates into a lugubrious navel-gazing drone and ullmann 's direction is leaden .", "its piercing honesty is remarkable .", "a sober , unflinching , sometimes shattering and eventually compassionate exploration of the damage caused by adultery .", "bergman 's words , even via translated subtitles , are powerful and uncompromising and seem to sidestep many of the clichés found in your standard tale of infidelity .", "time seems to have passed him by , but there 's life in bergman yet -- even though it 's something of an emotional ordeal to experience and appreciate .", "for those who have never seen bergman 's work , this is not the place to start .", "the kind of film that the buffs love , but is far too dialogue intensive to attract the more casual filmgoer .", "lugubriously paced .", "lena endre , with her throaty laugh and natural warmth , gives a heartbreaking performance as a woman slowly sapped of her joie de vivre .", "an emotionally devastating study of adultery .", "rarely do we see a film that measures the full reverberations of adultery , one that grabs us by the hair and makes us face up to our own potential to inflict enduring damage .", "a domestic tragedy of lacerating vision .", "a mesmerizing deconstruction of the brute nature of love .", "the predictability of the story and the shallowness of the characters is what really destroys the film .", "bergman is nothing if not an artist finely focused on secret narrative weaponry and snowballing decimation , and before you know it , his structural strategy has made it a kevlar kind of day .", "beautiful and honest and , sadly , every second of it feels achingly real .", "another milestone in the long and fruitful collaboration between liv ullmann and ingmar bergman ." ]

[ "director chris noonan -lrb- ` babe ' -rrb- gives us a story with the right balance of humor , pathos and romance .", "deftly navigating the line between the sublime and the saccharine ...", "a beatrix potter biopic : so much more than just cute and fuzzy bunnies .", "while it can not sustain the fairytale enchantment of something like finding neverland , MOV is , nonetheless , a worthy and sweet , middle-of-the-road biopic .", "MOV is too well crafted to actually be bad , but it 's too light to be better than good . an entertaining trifle , but a trifle nonetheless .", "the movie is made to measure for mothers , aunts and grandmothers who would share potter 's books , such as `` the tale of peter rabbit , '' with tikes of any generation .", "portraying a real-life hero can be a tough assignment . but zellweger breezes through the role , flashing her puckish grin , talking in her soft , breathy voice and giving very human face to one of the most beloved figures of english letters .", "for fans of potter 's work , `` MOV '' is indispensable . but even viewers with the haziest memories of those unique little books will enjoy spending 90 minutes inside her idyllic world .", "there 's nothing inherently wrong with MOV . it 's just a throwback to the biopics of the 1930s and 40s and in some ways it may seem progressive to contemporary audiences .", "much like star renée zellweger 's portrayal of its famous title character , MOV is a strange , split-personality kind of thing .", "the love story is beautifully constructed . there 's some sentimentality here , but -lsb- director chris -rsb- noonan is careful not to take it too far and to avoid overplaying the audience 's emotional chords .", "take the trouble to find this film . it 's worth it , if only to reacquaint oneself with the magic that flowed from the pen of beatrix potter , or to once again experience the easy rapport between zellweger and mcgregor .", "the movie is redeemed by excellent performances . mcgregor , in particular , lights up the film , and in her scenes with him , when she is not forced to interact with watercolor rabbits , zellweger seems to wake up from a long , cranky nap .", "zellweger 's playfulness works well opposite the winning mcgregor , and i suppose for some people , she 's the first person you 'd call when you need a plucky heroine .", "the film is a guaranteed tearjerker , but more than that , an uplifting tribute to a single woman 's quest for independence that would surely make bridget jones blush .", "about halfway through the film , however , it becomes obvious that MOV is lacking a key element of good drama : conflict .", "criticizing such a gentle film too vigorously would be like giving peter rabbit or tom kitten a swift kick in the nose .", "it is a lovely film for the holiday season , as well as afterward , and is reminiscent of finding neverland , without the darker undercurrents . zellweger does a fine job of fleshing out the plucky character despite the occasional simper .", "as with any good story , there are ups and downs and some rather dramatic emotional shifts in MOV that do n't always hew to one 's wants or expectations . but it 's ever a gentle and rewarding ride , safely guided throughout .", "the movie pulls off a neat trick , using animation to show how , when potter is alone with her animal creations , they leap around on the page or wink at her with unapologetic cheekiness . they 're alive , and they 're in charge .", "you have to love a movie in which a little white rabbit literally jumps off the page to excite a writer 's imagination , or winks at her to encourage her dreams .", "MOV is n't deep , but it is curiously endearing . anyone who has ever been charmed by a potter book will be equally charmed by this cinematic take on her life .", "it 's buttoned-up to a fault , as proper as clotted cream , and at times as exciting .", "-lsb- zellwegger 's and mcgregor 's -rsb- performances bring great joy to this picture , which is slight but satisfying , like a favorite children 's book revisited as an adult .", "much as i admire this plucky child of privilege , who was 36 when she became a best-selling author in 1902 , i did n't find her life compelling in this version by screenwriter richard maltby jr. and director chris noonan .", "even a third-act tragedy ca n't taint the picture 's perpetual cheeriness -- which works fine when MOV functions as a wholesome family film and not so well when it strives for some measure of dramatic heft .", "a film of no little charm , chris noonan 's MOV never quite gets out of ` biopic basic ' mode despite occasional murmurings of a desire to be something more .", "something of a muddle ... the level of social criticism and psychological portraiture shifts from howard 's end to mary poppins .", "enchanting , perhaps , but a long , long way from meaningful .", "MOV is not a bad film , but it is a more tepid treatment than the facts of her life would seem to call for . beatrix potter deserves better .", "its old-fashioned sincerity ultimately proves disarming . sweet but not cloying , it 's a heartening portrait of goodness surmounting the odds .", "this is an odd film in many ways , but the romantic scenes work brilliantly , thanks to mcgregor 's genuinely charming performance .", "the film 's spirit is n't terribly playful , and any real conflict is buried deeper than peter rabbit 's carrots .", "a bit paint-by-numbers , not to torture a pun out of all this , but when the story of beatrix potter , spinster book author and happenstance feminist , eventually does take shape , it is an emotionally and even politically potent story .", "ultimately , we 're won over by beatrix 's story . hers was , as richard griffiths says of thomas hardy in the history boys , ` a saddish life , but not an unappreciated one . ' even more appreciated now , thanks to this honest , unassuming little film .", "a scenic , well-behaved account of potter 's life and times .", "a thoroughly pleasant experience .", "although zellweger strains a bit too hard at being eccentric , -lsb- ewan -rsb- mcgregor is entrancingly valorous playing opposite her .", "pitched awkwardly -- neither for children nor cool young adults -- it 's very sweet , very nice and just the thing for a girlie matinée with mum and nan .", "rather like its subject 's books -- pretty to look at , sweet without being syrupy and cute without being cloying , but rather thin .", "makes you glad you live when you do .", "a delightful and enchanting biopicture about the famous children 's book writer and illustrator whose love of the english lake district made for a dramatic legacy .", "beatrix potter led an unusual life and left a diverse legacy , but ... a weird concentration on latent lesbianism is misplaced and distracts from the central story .", "missing that childlike love for nature and animals that beatrix must have had , and in turn , forgets what it 's like to have an imagination .", "charming and whimsical , it offers a glimpse into the life of a literary icon .", "blackness may have lurked within the potter heart , but you 'd never know it from MOV , which shifts the burden of ill humor onto the authoress 's petit-bourgeois mother .", "a lush and perfectly produced period piece that , if not increasing our pulse rate , at least provides viewing the whole family will enjoy .", "the charm of this picture is the way it captures the world of manners of turn-of-20th century london with captivating performances by zellweger and mcgregor .", "the innoncence and idealism inherent here is so apparent that it feels scrooge-like to think any less of it for not daring to climb to higher cinematically artistic aspirations .", "MOV is not a motion picture for cynics . if you walk into this film expecting the grit of reality or a complex portrait of literary artistry at work , it 's your own damn fault .", "MOV is for moviegoers who are drawn more to the delightful than the destructive . it 's undeniably refreshing to see a pg-rated movie for adults done so well .", "a grave disappointment .", "something that ca n't be quantified -- a lightness in tone , an air of enchantment -- infuses this drama .", "even the extremely simple ` peter rabbit ' has more going on than this .", "evokes the emerging victorian era bourgeois female imagination amid crushing containment and defiant awakening .", "unbearably , the script accommodates a quaking courtship between the slightly dotty potter and her devoted young publisher , ho exchange romantic byplay such as , `` you and rabbits -- extraordinary ! '' and `` i recently remembered a story ... about a duck ! ''", "a seriously disjointed biopic on potter 's personal and professional life that desperately yearns to be another finding neverland but winds up as an anemic nothing of a film .", "it 's so charming that it threatens to reduce beatrix potter to a series of fairy tale virtues . but it 's this focus that distinguishes the movie from tortured artist cliché .", "perhaps if helen mirren had played beatrix potter , audiences and award voters would be paying more attention to MOV .", "do n't be surprised if you shed a little tear in MOV . this enchanting biopic about the world of the creator of peter rabbit is warm and funny , revealing and moving .", "a perky style reminiscent of second-rate jane austen ... a parable of female empowerment and class strife swathed in bustles and british witticisms .", "... an honorable and curiously winning film .", "it 's worthy and beautifully produced , but it feels like a fantasy rather than the truth .", "a charlotte 's web for adults . pure delight .", "tepid biopic of children 's book author beatrix potter .", "a straight-laced fairy tale-style biopic appropriate to the audience for which its message of inspiration is finely attuned .", "unfortunately , much of the pic suggests a quality family film that could have been directed by dozens of other pros .", "this innocuously sweet fable , chris noonan 's first feature since babe , is neither illuminating as a biopicture of author beatrix potter nor enchanting as a fairytale in the manner of finding neverland , but it 's perfectly watchable .", "zellweger 's face has utterly frozen into a human version of a scrunchie , and appears as if it will shatter into 1,000 pieces if an honest smile were to break out .", "starts badly and ends badly , but a good , solid hour in the middle is as charming as anything you 'll see this holiday season .", "if the source material is soft , the film then takes another punch with the casting of renée zellweger in the title role . she overflows with tics and twitches that make the author seem vaguely deranged .", "the film offers scant insight into the forces that inspired potter 's phenomenally successful career .", "like firelight , MOV has a warm , golden glow .", "zellweger and mcgregor work well together , and have believable chemistry . in fact , the entire ensemble cast is terrific .", "one of those films that commits few egregious errors , but scales few real heights . there is nothing either terribly wrong or keenly right about it . it 's tidy , i suppose .", "MOV is as seamless , comfortable and tidy as a peter rabbit story , all scones and biscuits , quietly punctuated by tolerable naughtiness .", "if a sorcerer could raise benjamin bunny and flopsy rabbit from the pages of potter 's books and transform them into human females , the creatures likely would favor renee zellweger .", "noonan 's depiction of beatrix 's characters , brought to life with whimsical animation , is more lively than the rest of this prim , proper and rarely engaging movie .", "noonan 's white-glove treatment is suitably proper and hits what seem to be all of the major markers in potter 's life .", "with MOV , renee zellweger has won back that precious thing that stardom rips away and the tabloids wo n't let you reclaim : her charm .", "-lsb- zellweger -rsb- brings a flinty steel to potter , a woman with the faraway imagination of an overgrown child who simultaneously has ... enormous backbone ...", "the story really grows on you and it 's very sweet and it 's beautiful to look at .", "if the movie is respectful and factually informative , it 's also tightly corseted -- in dramatic terms .", "it will certainly play well with older audiences and the kind of adolescent girls who draw faces in their o 's .", "feels more lightweight than it should and simultaneously not magical enough .", "period pieces tend to be stuffy , but MOV rises above this problem by being the fuzzy teddy bear of the genre .", "beautiful , gentile , and oh-so-quaint , but utterly pointless and terminally boring . zellweger 's performance is both strange and misguided .", "the film 's wholesome , freshly scrubbed tedium suggests literary history drained of life and preserved in formaldehyde .", "watching this horrifically twee film is like having your face pushed into a bowl of pot-pourri for 90 minutes in a two-star b&b somewhere in cumbria .", "if you 've enjoyed any of beatrix potter 's books , you 'll immediately warm to seeing her beloved illustrations .", "MOV gives us only the bedtime version of the beatrix potter story , perhaps appropriately so given the subject matter and target audience , which will likely be captivated by the film 's undemanding narrative .", "this is an earnest and rather sweet film , and one that will vanish from your mind as soon as the final credits roll . you could bring the children , who might like to know a little bit about the woman who created peter rabbit .", "the thinness shows -- there is n't much of a story . beatrix starts out as a feisty , idiosyncratic , talented gal and , save for a momentary lapse after a brush with tragedy , remains so right to the end of the bunny trail .", "a sweet-spirited , entertaining look at the life of beatrix potter , played here with a ` mary poppins ' - style prim puckishness by renee zellweger .", "renée zellweger can talk to imaginary rabbits every bit as well as james stewart could .", "audiences who come with a little patience and an open heart will find themselves moved by seeing beatrix discover her strength and embrace the world .", "the trailers slant this film as a family adventure despite the fact that it 's really more of a traditional live action love story with a dash of animation accents .", "renee zellweger 's pretentious and unconvincing portrayal of beatrix potter does n't help much to endear the viewer to the artist .", "i found it slight but enchanting , which is not the same thing as slightly enchanting .", "MOV , right to the end , is the definition of a nice movie , and that makes it a genuine oddball in a universe of increasingly distressed and uncivilized pop culture .", "MOV vividly paints the picture of an inspirational woman who created lovely childhood memories of bedtime stories ...", "has an infectious , light hearted feel to it that will keep you smiling throughout most of the movie , until it turns into every biopic you have seen before .", "zellweger gives what can best be called a pleasant performance . and ` pleasant ' is probably the best way to describe potter 's books .", "succeeds on its performances , its sunny re-creation of london from 100 years ago and a winsome tone than matches zellweger 's scrunchy face .", "this film is the cinematic equivalent of a delicate english tea cake whose substance is buried under too many layers of icing .", "labors mightily to present world-famous children 's author beatrix potter as a preternaturally free spirit .", "the twee romance was too much for me .", "mostly , though , MOV turns the solemn comedy of her books and illustrations into mere whimsy , animating jemima puddle-duck into cartoon life whenever beatrix talks to her .", "despite noonan 's balancing social friction and fantasy , MOV entrances and delights throughout . it 's a beautifully made fairy tale with roots in reality , and all the more satisfying as a result .", "MOV is the first movie to be directed by chris noonan since babe , and it has a similar intelligence and grace . noonan uses the device of having the illustrated animals offer commentary judiciously .", "known in the united states for her whimsical books , potter was an ecological champion in the united kingdom . the film touches on this , but mostly it 's a tender tale about yearning hearts and courageous idealism .", "the overall effect is a solid one-hour love story followed by a dramatized wikipedia entry .", "the uncertain rhythms and stresses of the piece suggest that they did n't know whether they were making a romance , a biography or a bedtime story . MOV is all three , of course . and all are very engaging -- and happily g-rated .", "you keep waiting for another beatrix to break out , to match the giddy passion shown by her bunnies or amelia , but she does not .", "this attractive , superficial stab at biography , with renée zellweger in the title role , is more concerned with a lonely woman 's quest for acceptance and love than with an author 's worldly achievements .", "all-too-tasteful film , which is apparently aimed at mothers and daughters with far too much time on their hands .", "was potter really the way renée zellweger plays her here ? let 's hope so . dreamy , exquisitely sensitive and yet oddly focused , it 's a beautiful characterization .", "it 's a soft-focus picture of a woman who , surely , had a few more hard edges , but it 's a thoroughly pleasant escape to another world .", "the photography is as pretty as a potter watercolor . the style is as stiff as one of her own tiny hardbound books . half an hour in , and you start looking about in vain for farmer macgregor 's shotgun .", "there is something refreshingly outward-looking and un-divalike about potter , or maybe it just seems that way after recent biopics about artists virginia woolf and diane arbus ." ]

[ "giving some thought to the desperation that leads to suicide would have prevented this vaguely conceived idea from being so doa .", "it 's a shapeless , flavorless sundance blob that rolls around for 85 of the longer minutes you 'll find in a theater this year .", "goran dukic 's film starts off seeming hip and funky and dark , but almost immediately runs out of steam . it feels like a short carelessly padded to feature length .", "wristcutters : a love story is a twee little movie that may have appeal for a cult audience but few others . and i bet that cult will wind up growing from its affection for the film before long .", "it has ` midnight movie ' written all over it .", "writer-director goran dukic , adapting an etgar keret novel , may be too successful in establishing suicideland as a fate worse than death . it really is an empty , dreadful place .", "croatian filmmaker goran dukic 's debut feature turns out to be a sweetly grim lark : a road film through limbo .", "the strain is obvious in the story 's last third , as the filmmaker struggles toward a resolution that fits the logic of the hero 's netherworld .", "though it goes a bit wonky toward the end and seems to travel a very long way to drive home a rather simple point , wristcutters : a love story remains a wonderfully evocative experience .", "... more whimsical and charming than you would ever expect from a picture about suicide .", "enjoyably quirky black comedy that 's clearly destined to become a cult movie amongst the gothic contingent .", "opportunities to comment on the ethical grey areas of suicide are mostly squandered and , as the pointless digressions begin to pile up , your mind begins to drift from the action on screen .", "truly independent in mode and spirit , this offebat comedy deserves credit for its original vision of an after-life that 's not all that different from this life -- only slightly weirder and more darkly humorous .", "dark subject matter , but goran dukic 's film is whimsical and determinedly optimistic about life .", "if you 're going to make a comedy about suicide , you 'd better make sure the jokes land . there are people out there who could use a laugh .", "it is , like the limbo it portrays , a peculiar hybrid of recognisable , second-hand elements that somehow add up to something entirely sui generis - an idiosyncratic piece of magical realism whose characters are literally on the road to nowhere .", "another indie director more interested in style than substance .", "despite being occasionally hilarious , director goran dukic should have toned down the wackiness .", "boring , morose and uneventful , `` wristcutters : a love story '' is a stinky little picture that mocks the afflicted while giving them a pat on the back .", "it 's a bold first effort , with a distinct , swaggering sense of style and humor that 's hard -- even for a cynical blogger sick to death of indie ` quirk ' -- to resist .", "definitely worth a look .", "sossamon and fugit are so perfectly cast you ca n't help but sigh every time they glance at each other and their final scene is guaranteed to send you home with a smile a mile wide .", "kept trying to shake the film 's subtle charm and unvarnished romantic strokes , but i was steadily , gently pulled in over and over and over again .", "it is neither as clever nor as funny nor as inventive as the daring title might lead one to expect .", "wristcutters mostly succeeds with its cleverly posthumous scenario .", "a life-affirming movie about suicide could go wrong in a million ways , but the understated wristcutters straddles the line between sentiment and bleakness . it should enjoy a healthy afterlife .", "the whole film is cracked , but in a stylish , downtown way .", "director goran dukic keeps things simple and funny . the same tone pervades throughout .", "wristcutters is simultaneously dark and sweet , always a difficult combination to pull off .", "while it 's quirky and intriguing , this is the kind of wilfully nutty black comedy that treads the extremely thin line between inventiveness and pretentiousness .", "croatian-born director-writer goran dukic instills wristcutters with the absurdist humor you find in films from the balkans .", "a comedy that starts with suicide and then goes for the love story is n't for everyone , but there is an audience for this little independent film and you know who you are .", "strands a fantastic premise and interesting characters on its increasingly annoying road trip to nowhere in particular .", "to say that this low-fi indie movie is strange would be doing a disservice to quirky movies that thrive on their strangeness , rather than just being strange for the sake of spicing things up .", "the story 's dialogue may be wry , but what should have been a jumping-off point for a lively discussion about the meaning of life is really just a philosophically shallow wasteland .", "this affectionate slow-blooming romance mines an understated vein of comic melancholy that the actors ' wistful performances perfectly capture .", "wristcutters is quite a bit darker than most mainstream romantic comedies . as you might not expect , it 's also quite a bit more inventive and far wittier than most mainstream romantic comedies .", "the biggest letdown in wristcutters is that it ca n't compensate for its compact arrangement with the kind of absurdist aesthetics that its summary proposes .", "a dreary , self-consciously quirky indie flick that seems to go on forever , despite an economical running time .", "the purgatorial premise is pleasingly eccentric but , in the end , wristcutters falls victim to its washed-out mood , and limps bloodlessly to a close .", "it is a staggeringly awful road movie , not much enlivened by the presence of tom waits as a wizened participant .", "it misses the opportunity to examine why a community of people - each of whom has already given up on life - would band together to form a new society of desperate misfits .", "it 's certainly melancholic , occasionally funny , and ultimately life-affirming . but overall , it feels as if writer-director goran dukic dropped a rather promising ball .", "wristcutters : a love story is like a suicidal wizard of oz .", "having some laughs over suicide .", "this road movie romcom won?t leave you reaching for the razor blades .", "wristcutters : a love story has an offbeat , absurdist charm that turns a potentially creepy conceit into an odd , touching adventure .", "we witness the birth of a new genre , the post-slasher movie .", "goran dukic 's shaggy yet assured wristcutters manages to draw humor and warmth from -lsb- its -rsb- premise , while finding pathos in what couldâ -lrb- tm -rrb- ve been a vapid , high-concept lark .", "seven years after almost famous , patrick fugit still sports that winning , dorky haircut , bangs flopping over his eyes . he is impossible not to like .", "a little self-consciously kooky but with an ace soundtrack that combines gypsy punksters gogol bordello with real-life plug-pullers this sure beats putting your head in the oven .", "veering from witty to occasionally trite , wristcutters : a love story has plenty of originality on its side , but never manages to be more than the sum of its self-consciously quirky parts .", "wristcutters opens with what proves to be its best scene , one that could stand alone as a brilliant short subject .", "the vision of life after death varies between the religious and the non-religious , the optimists and the pessimists and the believers and non-believers . there are few after-life stories , though , as unique and humorous as this .", "it 's such an original piece of work and i love the deliberately bleak cinematography .", "a postmortem suicide heaven filled with slit personalities , not quite born again dime store messiahs , and a grimy downscale pizza dive .", "a well-wrought indie written and directed by goran dukic .", "wristcutters is a small film of ambitions nicely scaled to the performances and story . who knew that affectless characters could be so oddly affecting ?", "this director plies a sweetly humanistic art in potentially ghoulish circumstances . he achieves a minimalism that 's equally touching and rib-tickling .", "there are problems here , but they 're of the good-natured variety -- the flaws of a smart film that aims high .", "it 's a surprisingly playful romantic drama , one less about death than about the quiet , necessary grind of living .", "all this sounds rather grim , and indeed it is -- but this backward heaven can wait is also , thanks to -lsb- director -rsb- dukic 's inventive imagination , surprisingly involving and ultimately sweet .", "wristcutters is a cut above most low-budget american indies , with something original to say about the human condition and an artful way of saying it .", "a tribute to ultra-low budget explorations into the unknown and the politically incorrect . this is the stuff that art is made of .", "goran dukic , working from a short story by etgar kiret , has fashioned a life-after-death that is both somber and silly .", "the witless wristcutters holds all the fascination of a train wreck . youâ -lrb- tm -rrb- ll stay in your seat just to see if itâ -lrb- tm -rrb- ll get any worse , and you wonâ -lrb- tm -rrb- t be disappointed .", "enjoyably oddball without falling into molar-decaying twee ... favorably recalls the all-too-brief post-repo man era , when the possibilities of indie film seemed head-bustingly limitless .", "almost 40 years ago easy rider established that road trips can make great independent films . or at least cheap ones . but when booking a room inside the pearly gates , cheap may not be exactly what you 're looking for .", "this delightful piece of whimsy uses its simple premise effectively to gain and keep our attention and to remind us simply that , while this world appears ordinary , it is still unbounded by reality .", "screenwriter/director goran dukic ca n't quite decide on a tone . the film is at times lighthearted , almost effervescent , and then it 's so dark that it becomes depressingly bleak .", "the inscrutability of the performances make bill murray look like anthony quinn .", "it 's borderline parody of a kind of fey filmmaking popular at crunchy-granola festivals , but the counterfeit aesthetic is ultimately outshone by the life-affirming message .", "for the better part of the journey this a bizarrely uplifting yarn - razor sharp , you might say .", "it focuses on its own unique voice , and trusts that those who want to hear it will follow .", "it 's uneven story pulls it back to earth , but many of its ideas are transcendent .", "it 's described as a black comedy , but you can forget the comedy part .", "this is one of the more creative , unusually entertaining things i 've seen in a while .", "teenage suicide is n't that funny , and nothing in this movie changed my mind .", "the wizard of oz meets what dreams may come by way of , oh i du n no , something post-apocalyptic , snarky , and fun .", "the future of wristcutters as a cult favorite is less assured . rather than benefiting from repeated viewings , the movie 's charm is pretty much spent after the first half hour .", "wristcutters : a love story is somewhat original and amusing . but only somewhat .", "it 's goofy . i can definitely say that . but it 's goofy on purpose and that 's the kind of goofy we like .", "this existential tale about an afterworld exclusively for suicide victims and a handful of newcomers attempting to navigate the landscape pulsates originality through its uncanny way of incorporating the familiar into the offbeat .", "fugit ably keeps this superficially controversial , and yet actually rather conventional , film from devolving into obnoxious oddness .", "you just ca n't go wrong with teenage suicide , road trips , and tom waits ." ]

[ "more contemplative than pulse-pounding , it 's also well worth your time .", "as in wendy and lucy , the natural and social environs are impeccably authentic , in this case conveying the bohemian radicalism of the portland area that nurtures the trio 's dangerous scheme .", "... brings complicated human dilemmas into the climate-change crossfire .", "MOV stares , unflinching , at an amoral bomb ready to blow , and there 's nothing to be done to stop it .", "`` MOV '' is a study of murky actions , fuzzy ideals and wrong moves for righteous reasons .", "you may not buy the third-act developments , but reichardt and her actors see to it that you believe in how these people got to that third act in the first place .", "like a 1970s hollywood renaissance paranoid thriller , and stoked by a debate that eludes consensus , `` MOV '' has an ending of confident ambiguity .", "`` MOV '' is an unexpected pleasure , offering more than what we expect and taking its time to deliver .", "even if things become muddled in the third act , the film rewards viewer patience with a thoughtful examination of guilt and social responsibility .", "MOV stages an intelligent debate on activism , radicalism and ethics , but most importantly , it makes the people who perform militant acts very human and very knowable ...", "a disquietingly beautiful , deeply intelligent thriller about radical activism and its consequences - both material and moral - in 21st century america .", "MOV is a pretty slow burner while it 's on the screen ; off it , it 's stubbornly inextinguishable , the trick birthday candle of this year 's venice fest .", "precisely the sort of intelligent , measured thriller reichardt 's admirers would expect from her brand of patient realist filmmaking .", "with MOV , american director kelly reichardt makes it five for five .", "reichardt 's fifth feature is strongest in its set-up before becoming a tad perplexing and taking a baffling wrong turn at its inconclusive ending .", "at times i thought i was bored , only to realize that i was actually feeling anxious and more than a little queasy .", "MOV gives us the pleasure and satisfaction of an established voice having achieved perhaps her finest work yet .", "this slow-burning eco-thriller , starring jesse eisenberg , dakota fanning , and peter sarsgaard as activists plotting to blow up a dam , proved to have few of the qualities that have made reichardt such a distinctive voice .", "spirals to an unconvincing climax that rather undoes the good work that has gone before .", "an engrossing reflection on radical violence and its fallout .", "when i left the theater i still felt complicit - i had to remind myself that i was n't on the run from the cops . whether the film is much more than an exercise , though , is open to debate .", "the influence of early alfred hitchcock is all over this movie , translated in unusual and original fashion .", "a beautifully wrought suspense thriller , with rock-solid compositions as well as gracefully fluid camerawork lingering over the gorgeous autumn countryside .", "MOV is one of -lsb- reichardt 's -rsb- most complex works yet , generating a slow-burning suspense .", "a slow-burning suspense thriller about a trio of eco-terrorists conspiring to blow up a dam , it 's directed by reichardt with the concision and elegance of a chess master .", "for the film genre emphasizing hordes of shots of people thinking all the time , this one is much better than the norm .", "what remains constant is reichardt 's ability to coolly present thorny sociopolitical and moral issues .", "MOV may have a soft , almost dreamy feel , but at the core it 's crucially hard-headed . in its own quiet way , in how it pulls together our utopian ideals and home-grown fears , it 's the zeitgeist movie of the moment .", "an idiotic film about ecoterrorism without bothering to engage with ecology . ms. reichardt should stick to the kind of mumblecore she adopted early on unless she bothers to do her homework .", "fanning is marvelous as a woman who 's so bright and charming on the surface you ca n't tell whether she 's floundering underneath .", "reichardt -lrb- the talented director of old joy and meek 's cutoff -rrb- takes this volatile story and handles it with care and precision , as if transporting unstable nitroglycerin .", "as tightly wound and gripping as a thumb-screw .", "the conclusion , like the rest of the film ... will be ticking around our heads for a while , and proved to be the perfect reminder that reichardt is one of the most exciting directorial talents we have right now .", "reichardt gives us scenes of people engaged in mundane labor and aimless conversation , but she does n't make a case for such scenes as fascinating in themselves .", "MOV sees -lsb- reichardt -rsb- operating on a whole new plane of restraint , even compared to the rest of her filmography .", "a worthy exploration of characters circling an issue of passionate import to plenty of people in the northwest .", "the film builds its stakes with a methodical reverence for the natural world that the trio seeks to protect .", "though at times it threatens to become too generic to be original , or too original to be generic , it retains enough indirection to frustrate those looking for thrills and to engage those willing to be challenged .", "`` MOV '' is like a slow , meticulous heist movie , almost hypnotic in its precision .", "if it 's food for thought you 're looking for , you wo n't go hungry with MOV .", "the anxious eco-thriller `` MOV '' plays like a saboteur 's procedural .", "what interests reichardt is the physical realization of how the act is done ; her feeling for the weight and the palpability of the world , and for continuity within sequences , has become masterly .", "if you 're willing to succumb to its admittedly glacial pacing , you may well find yourself drawn into an unfamiliar world that , in -lsb- reichardt 's -rsb- hands , is worth visiting .", ". a master at understatement , -lsb- director kelly -rsb- reichardt elicits very effective , subdued performances from her key cast , who have to keep the lid on their emotions almost all of the time .", "it 's a very well made film .", "i 'd say this is a movie about alienation that , in the spirit of the boldest activism , is n't afraid to be ostracized itself . you may beg to differ , and i 'd say that 's the point .", "the narrative and visual minimalism , initially such an asset , eventually leaves the audience feeling numb .", "i 'm a great admirer of reichardt 's work , but having watched ` night movies ' twice , i have to concede that it 's something of a dud .", "the subdued acting combines with deliberate editing to slowly ratchet up viewers ' nerves .", "the actors in the story give very good performances . the story is fairly solid . it is a bit subdued and there are some logical holes in it , but on the whole it is a fairly realistic scenario .", "the actors give down-to-earth but emotionally charged performances distinguished by a subsurface simmer that sometimes intensifies into a slow boil .", "the film serves as a reminder that our greatest fear is n't necessarily getting caught in the act ; it 's getting caught down the line .", "reichardt has crafted a mesmerising , unsettling film about the ripple effects of our decisions and how we live with them .", "jesse eisenberg 's performance has an intensity that is deliberately alienating , with dakota fanning and peter sarsgaard solid in support .", "virtually every shot feels like it adds to reichardt 's vision and it draws so tightly together that by the end , the only people left accessible to the likes of josh are those in the watching audience . MOV makes you an accessory .", "it 's an unconventional thriller , more interested in character than plot , but gripping as both .", "after a riveting first half filled with tension and one in which we are left to draw our own conclusions about details and relationships , the remainder of the film fizzles to some extent , diminishing the payoff", "this is still a powerful film from one of america 's best filmmakers who continues to push herself .", "eisenberg is in characteristically intense form , while sarsgaard and fanning are solid supports .", "if a love of nature is -lrb- maybe -rrb- the original motor of josh 's actions , human nature , in all its shadowy complexity , is very much the film 's focus .", "this may be a slow-burning thriller about eco-terrorists , but it 's also directed by kelly reichardt -lrb- meek 's cutoff -rrb- , a filmmaker who maintains an oddly aloof perspective while moving at her own steady pace .", "reichardt and regular co-writer jon raymond display a keen ear for the fragile rhetoric of the self-righteous .", "here is a thriller that portrays the heavy ramifications of a `` justified '' crime with a steady , grounded rhythm that gives power to every sin committed .", "MOV is a pointless , dry tale that attempts to speak volumes through minimal effort - a rare case where `` less is more '' fails on a devastating scale .", "a thriller that charts the dark places in the hearts of idealists who become zealots .", "one over-the-top sequence late in is something that someone reichardt , a plain minimalist , should never have forced herself to stage .", "an eco-parable about domestic terrorists turns into a suspenseful noir .", "MOV is a film of deliberate , gnawing intensity and focus , built around a jesse eisenberg performance that does n't give much away , at least not easily .", "ms. reichardt does a stand-up job building suspense , with pockets of action here and there ...", "josh is simply too brittle a central character to empathize with , and as the noose tightens , it becomes increasingly hard to care what he thinks , says or does .", "the most radical thing about this eco-terrorism drama is its quiet patience and formal vigor .", "led by a superbly composed performance from jesse eisenberg , kelly reichardt 's portrait of three eco-terrorists intent on blowing up an oregon dam thrillingly melds understated political inquiry and slow-burn suspense .", "well-acted , atmospheric and reasonably tense eco-terrorism thriller .", "kelly reichardt crafts MOV into a gripping , suspenseful , and ultimately tragic tale .", "they do n't think or act like professional criminals . and perhaps that 's the film 's point .", "MOV marks the most plot-heavy of reichardt 's movies to date , but the director nicely bends the needs of the story to meet her own .", "reichardt wisely leaves it for her audience to decide .", "frustrating . measured and masterful to begin with , MOV is let down by a second half that never capitalises on the promise of the first .", "MOV , including its title , borders on generic .", "three idealistic environmentalists plot to blow up a hydroelectric dam .", "gripping , smart and well-tooled , this greenies-on-a-mission movie gives terrific build-up and a riveting central set-piece , with only a slight dip at the end .", "engaging and provocative , this is a fiercely introspective thriller from writer-director kelly reichardt with a pair of superb performances from jesse eisenberg and dakota fanning .", "it is a very disturbing spectacle .", "be forewarned : what admirers will consider measured may read , to the unimpressed , as merely slow-moving .", "`` MOV '' suffers from a lack of mystery and a deficit of motion .", "sharp and haunting ...", "what happens when a seemingly righteous operation goes wrong and anxiety threatens to overtake ideals ? it is the question `` MOV '' asks and answers in chilling ways .", "`` MOV '' is a serious film , and certainly more thoughtful one than another recent eco-thriller , the gimmicky `` the east . '' yet it remains - especially for reichardt - an oddly uninvolving one .", "reichardt uses her increasingly impressive sense of composition and intuitive pacing to slow burn the audience into a state of anxiety instead of manipulatively pushing them there .", "MOV is a thoughtful , clear-eyed and provocative film that raises thorny questions but does n't offer easy answers .", "in its aim to tamp down eisenberg 's neuroticism and have him offer slow drips of revelation rather than bursts of loquacious energy , MOV keeps too much hidden from view .", "`` MOV '' has a sure-handedness that shows reichardt is still growing as a filmmaker .", "`` MOV '' is a masterfully crafted thriller , subtly , pointedly and auspiciously arriving at a destination as pessimistically valid as it is staggeringly loaded .", "it is slow and methodical . one of its most suspenseful scenes involves someone purchasing fertiliser . but it is buzzing with dread and it does n't have a wasted frame .", "i can only tell you that , as it inches forward , you will want to inch with it .", "reichardt probes away at her characters ' motivations and contradictory feelings . she does n't judge them , but makes it very clear how quickly their idealism becomes muddied once they dirty their hands with direct action .", "there certainly is n't any extraneous action in MOV . but it is precisely its leanness and the tight focus of its storytelling that make it such a tense thriller .", "all three leads are perfect .", "taking her cues from hitchcock , reichardt invites us to connect -lrb- if not quite empathise -rrb- with unlikable characters as they attempt to accomplish undesirable outcomes .", "the quietly chilling thriller MOV deals eloquently with the burden of conviction as it follows three activists who embark on a dangerous plot to blow-up a hydroelectric dam in oregon .", "it 's creepy , unsettling and depressing , but that 's what makes it so insightful on so many levels because this is a story about moral responsibility .", "here 's how good a filmmaker kelly reichardt is . she can pack an entire movie 's worth of meaning into a sliver of onscreen space , and do it so subtly that even attentive viewers might miss the trick .", "a suspenseful and thought-proving thriller ...", "reichardt , who co-wrote the film , refreshingly opts out of defined moral judgements concerning both the central trio and supporting figures peppered throughout the story .", "once again , this is highly intelligent and sensitive filmmaking from reichardt .", "reichardt is a filmmaker too wedded to details and sense data to subsume a well-defined setting and its inhabitants under a stock narrative -- or at least do so without showing where the seams start to bust or the genre elements fail to fit", "slow moving and thoughtful , a character-driven look at an act of eco-terrorism gone wrong .", "the film 's universe is one of complex moral fabric , where red herrings fall like flies and paranoia , among other things , is in the water .", "while in reichardt 's other films her slow pacing may grate on some viewers ' patience , here her tendency to be deliberately unhurried actually adds to the thrilling ambiance .", "like michael cera 's two recent films with sebastian silva , MOV reveals the dark core contained within an actor 's nice-guy neuroticism .", "-lsb- t -rsb- ook a genre prone to testosterone-filled violence and twisted it into a elegant mood piece , -lsb- reichardt 's -rsb- latest is a surprisingly thrilling experience even when its director seems to be actively trying to go against those genre instincts .", "by the filmmaker 's understated , incisive standards , `` MOV '' is practically an action movie -- an increasingly intense and troubling one .", "kelly reichardt cements her reputation as one of the most provocative and engagingly watchable american indie filmmakers with a quiet , tense thriller of morality and motive .", "all three leads give effective , low-key performances .", "it 's a richly engrossing drama , so long as you understand that it 's aiming for the head , not the gut .", "director kelly reichardt and writing partner jon raymond expand their singularly spartan field guide to off-the-grid oregonians .", "in MOV , reichardt keeps her characters close and up front , so when differences arise in their ranks and signs of vague trouble arise , the suspense starts to mount .", "an impressive piece of neo-noir filmmaking . hitchcock and highsmith would have approved .", "reichardt has always preferred an economy of plot in order to leave room for her character building efforts , and those who appreciate that in her work will find plenty of it .", "a story that needs a lot more character development and a simple kick in the pants .", "the movie is willing to see its ideas all the way through , while not entirely giving up on plot , and eisenberg is unafraid to take himself where reichardt needs him to go , which is right under our skin .", "clean and crackling , `` MOV '' works as a quiet thriller , shot through with teeth-grinding tension .", "reichardt has always been a filmmaker who plants dots and then asks you to try and connect them . it 's somewhat disappointing that it 's easier to do here than in her past films .", "an atmospheric but surprisingly thin procedural from the director of old joy and meek 's cutoff .", "another of the director 's intimate portraits of people living on the fringes of society , it 's at once her most plot-heavy and pedigreed production , and one of her most oblique .", "a marginal improvement over kelly reichardt 's last film ...", "essentially crime & punishment for the eco-hipster set , MOV is a compelling drama that treats the characters ' beliefs , and the eventual consequences of their actions , to a compelling cross-examination .", "MOV ' distinct structural halves hint at an internal division that keeps it a resolutely minor offering .", "confunde-se entre estudo de personagem e suspense , falhando em ambos os papéis .", "hippies , man .", "like the expressionistic power of the empty landscape in `` meek 's cutoff , '' its universe simultaneously feels real and nightmarishly abstract .", "MOV is riddled with suspense , but its strength comes from its characters whose moral idealism is tested by unforeseen consequences .", "it 's interesting to see a film raise its most important questions in the home stretch , but the sense that half the movie has been set up for a punchline feels disingenuous ." ]

[ "traces the band 's 20-year odyssey in creating dada you can dance to .", "a documentary that 's as heavy on laughs as it is on humble pie .", "you 'll find yourself donning that wonderful half-smile john l. comfortably dons while singing .", "their sheer existence affirms that all things corporate and bland do n't always win out -- that music can be intimate , political and alienating , sometimes all on the same album .", "does ample justice to the complexity , even profundity , of a creative collaboration that has brought deep joy and meaning to generations of fans throughout a career that just entered its third decade .", "a gift for those already in the fold , for those who get the joke and just want to savor it with other like-minded fans .", "both of the johns -- flansburgh in his ever-present plaid shirts , linnell with his coy smile and asymmetrical bob -- come across as engaging and intriguing .", "the movie provides nearly as much pleasure as a greatest-hits cd -- although not quite as much as hearing ` do n't let 's start ' for the very first time .", "the movie offers a generous helping of rock 'n' roll but no sex or drugs on the side , unless you count buckets of coffee , the group 's stimulant of choice .", "despite schnack 's half-hearted attempt to divide the film into chapters , his film is too unstructured to hold the interest of non-fans who might have appreciated a somewhat less hagiographic approach .", "recalls `` the compleat beatles '' in its ability to show a band 's evolution artistically and historically", "... the kind of documentary about two talented , inventive musicians that makes me understand why they would have a dedicated following .", "generous helpings of performance footage and band interviews will gratify the group 's die-hard cult of fans . but there 's stuff of interest here for general audiences , too .", "the history is what makes the film enjoyable .", "while a contrary viewpoint would have been welcome , MOV : a tale of two johns is , occasionally , more than modestly successful -- a little like the band itself .", "comforting and pleasant .", "suffers the same banal fate of most band documentaries . it 's essential for rabid fans but even ordinary ones will live rich and meaningful lives without ever having seen one minute of it .", "the flabby , fawning film MOV comes across as 102 minutes of rib-nudging by one of the duo 's annoyingly self-satisfied connoisseurs .", "predictably , flansburgh and linnell are the saving grace of the movie , both in their interview segments -lrb- refreshingly witty , although the editing could have been tighter -rrb- and particularly in the live footage .", "engrossing , fun and oddly touching , MOV makes you wish the best for these guys .", "prepare yourself for nights wandering around the house singing unshakable tunes .", "MOV documents how much work goes into the making of twee music .", "MOV may not be as different a music movie as it thinks it is , what with its by-the-book fluffiness . but that 's ok , really , since it 's a fun watch anyway .", "as a film , MOV is excessive and poorly structured .", "tries to be as irreverent and bouncy as a song by its subject , and succeeds for the most part .", "aj schnack 's delightful documentary on the askew duo captures their appeal so well that you could walk in knowing nothing about them and emerge a die-hard fan .", "the giants ' longevity flows from the fact that they ca n't be explained , only experienced .", "at the length of 102 minutes , despite the engaging presence of the central figures , MOV lags with its saturation of industry people who state how much they love the johns , and the influential presence the band has had on alternative music .", "they easily impress with their brainy charms and the documentary surrounding them continually reminds us that it 's in on the joke as well .", "as incessantly clever and coyly ironic as its subject 's music .", "if you thought that the party-down metalheads in the decline of western civilization ii were full of themselves , just wait until you enter the echo chamber of whimsical egomania that is alt-rock attitude .", "musician syd straw unintentionally strikes truth when she sardonically asks about the film , ` is this more like a fluff piece ? '", "it 's hard to go wrong with documentary subjects as articulate and intriguing as childhood friends john flansburgh and john linnell .", "even at face value the world of tmbg is still wonderful and fascinating , making for an engaging film .", "a modest amusement .", "as tooting-your - own-horn documentaries about innovative alt-rockers who 've been around for 20 years go , MOV : a tale of two johns goes very well indeed .", "should be sent out to fan club members , not exhibited in movie theaters .", "as entertaining as MOV -lrb- a tale of two johns -rrb- is most of the time , you kind of wish the filmmakers would have concentrated a little more on the music itself .", "clever in a good way , this spirited documentary delves gently into the story of indie band they might be giants , building a case for a couple of good-natured visionaries and pioneers who blazed trails for non-hair bands in the early days .", "loaded with insider goodies ... i , for one , was quite excited to actually see ... the phone-answering machine that is the ` they might be giants dial-a-song service . '", "MOV accomplishes something very difficult : it makes you feel like part of a club even if you are n't .", "john and john , it can not be denied , are charming , witty , adorable , and quite capable of rocking .", "it goes without saying that if you 're a they might be giants fan , you 're gon na piss all over yourself while watching this thing ..." ]

[ "what is a surprise here is the intensity of the young actors - roberts has a particularly perfect scowl - and the freshness of the welsh seaside scenery .", "a quintessential coming of age drama worth revisiting to catch the subtext .", "it 's impossible to watch this and not have long-forgotten echoes of your own teenage years come flooding back .", "we 've all seen coming-of-age stories-plenty of them-so when a new one comes along that seems fresh and novel , that 's reason to cheer . the new british import MOV is just such a film , based on a prize-winning ...", "given the worn-out nature of the `` coming-of-age '' genre , the director 's little tricks do help bring some life back into an otherwise familiar story .", "a delicate and potent new british comedy .", "MOV is n't a perfect film , but it 's a terrific first one . leaving the theater , you feel you 've been taken in hand by a director of tremendous promise , and you ca n't wait to see what he does next .", "ayoade is at his most inventive , and least derivative , in a goofy mode , but MOV , for the most part , is not in his best range .", "retains a strong literary flavour but is also told with much cinematic verve and an engaging eagerness to please .", "i 'm all for a young british film-maker trying to subvert the stock traditions of boy-meets-girl , and ayoade is clearly unafraid of experiment . but i would have traded all of its new wave dottiness and knowing whimsicality for a few spontaneous laughs .", "first-time writer-director richard ayoade is a talent to watch , and his film is always amiable .", "not since the catcher in the rye has there been such an acutely observed tragi-comedy about the horrors of being a teenager .", "this sweet-natured feature debut from richard ayoade has been compared to american coming-of-age movies such as rushmore and the squid and the whale , but its influences also feel closer to home .", "arguably , it 's a bit too cool for school sometimes , and it is self-conscious . but these are byproducts of its undoubted confidence at carrying off a visually distinctive , witty , autobiographical comedy .", "it rewards the highly-focused viewer with subtle jokes and details that only get better with age .", "it 's less spontaneously funny than you might want it to be and much , much darker complected than if it had been shot in the san fernando valley , but it 's also exactly right for this crummy moment in time .", "jumpy and desperate to eschew restless boredom , the whole thing looks like a series of rock videos .", "a perfect blend of cool , quirky comedy and warm-hearted drama , crafted with such poise that it should see the transcendence of ayoade from tv nerd-comic to true big-screen talent .", "das beaut .", "smart and sly , funny and fourth-wall-breaking ... but above all , an excruciatingly accurate coming-of-ager .", "wales-set coming-of-age film is stylish , very funny debut for writer/director richard ayoade .", "impressively directed and brilliantly acted , this is a hugely enjoyable , superbly written coming-of-age comedy-drama that plays like a british version of rushmore .", "sees sparks of imagination flying from most scenes .", "it 's not often you come across a debut as accomplished as this but ayoade has crafted a coming-of-age gem .", "ayoade lets the film move at a gentle pace , while its idiosyncratic charms often brings to mind rushmore , harold and maude , or perhaps the youthful exploits of adrian mole .", "quirky can kill your movie . for every ghost world there 's a garden state . MOV does it right .", "there 's a blast of originality to this coming-of-age film , telling a familiar story in a fiercely engaging way .", "an exercise in briny welsh weltzschmerz that tracks the inner and outer worlds of a confused teenage boy .", "oliver 's oddball earnestness and desperation -lsb- come -rsb- across as wan affectations .", "that rare teen comedy where the kids are n't gorgeous , the hero is n't heroic and the object of desire has a lot of reasons why she is n't necessarily desirable .", "from director ayoade and his young MOV , there may be big things to come .", "easily the most inventive filmmaking i 've seen all year .", "often so affected , a mouthguard should be issued with every ticket to prevent oral damage from all the reflexive teeth grinding triggered when writer/director richard ayoade blasts the screen with unrelenting quirk .", "somewhere in the space between gregory 's girl and rushmore lies MOV , a charming coming of age romantic comedy .", "the result is a small , delicate comedy that depends on a continuity of tone that it pulls off . oliver may not live happily ever after ; but he manages to live happily enough here , and that 's just fine .", "MOV is a closed world like the best stories , a complete movie in every sense .", "as familiar as `` MOV '' looked , it 's hard to overlook ayoade 's natural skill as a storyteller with an affinity for character and humor . if he grows into his own visual style , he 's definitely a filmmaker to keep an eye on .", "for an hour ayoade , a comedian in his alternative career , mixes zany visual inventiveness and deadpan-perfect tonal holding patterns .", "MOV feels like the most refreshing , urgent and original debut the british film industry has seen in years .", "MOV is an almost perfect coming-of-age story , with a bang on cast and an assured sense of self that never detracts from its narrative .", "a superb british comedy , and the sleeper hit of the toronto international film festival .", "a totally delightful original .", "maybe if you have n't seen so many films like this already then you 'll get something out of it .", "adapted from joe dunthorne 's novel , the strength of the film is its unique slant and quirky tone", "this is a rare thing : a british comedy debut that 's surprising , witty , hugely accomplished and fully capable of finding an audience worldwide .", "richard aoyade makes an impressive directorial debut with this quirky coming-of-age story .", "mining similar narrative and stylistic territory to wes anderson , this weird and wonderful comedy drama still feels brilliantly unique .", "it 's too concerned with style to leave a lasting impression , yet it 's also warming and witty enough to pass by without doing any harm .", "the story finds its emotional arc at the very end , but getting there is sometimes a tedious affair", "ayoade does n't ape -lsb- wes -rsb- anderson , but he achieves similar magic , delivering a sad , funny little film that takes no shame in its visual influences .", "not only a confident directorial debut , but also a clear-headed capsule of teenage hopes and anxieties .", "oliver will remind you more than a little of max fischer in `` rushmore , '' not to mention holden caulfield and every bright , alienated teenage boy in pop culture .", "a shy , bright , wonderfully appealing film .", "the writer/director has expertly captured the awkward , alienating experience of teenage life for those who do n't quite fit in .", "the distinctive look and performances suggest ayoade will have an interesting career .", "for an unreliable narrator , oliver 's story is reliably entertaining .", "the main problem with MOV is that oliver is not a likable protagonist .", "the dry black humor that pervades the triumphs and tragedies of young oliver 's life has the unexpected effervescence of hyperbole", "a fresh , quirky , teen-angst drama that plays out somewhat like a welsh rushmore .", "while it 's nowhere near as good as obvious influences like rushmore or harold & maude , it also mixes in enough of ayoade 's own voice , and an overriding love of cinema , to compensate for some of its more insistent affectations .", "it 's all quite cute . up to a point .", "ayoade owes a debt to wes anderson , but the parents here are so beautifully written , and hawkins and taylor particularize them so well , that the movie manages to hold its own .", "ayoade juggles laughs and poignancy very well , and individual scenes work brilliantly , but the momentum flags midway through , when the film expands its scope to pack in a few more supporting characters .", "if you take an instant dislike to this kid -- whose `` charm '' is so forced and unrelenting it 's nearly impossible not to -- the film itself does n't have much hope .", "whatever flaws the film may have , it 's certainly unlike anything else in theaters right now .", "... plays an awful lot like `` rushmore '' with a dash of `` son of rambow '' thrown in ... newcomer craig roberts appears to have modeled his performance on `` harold and maude 's '' deer-in-the-headlights harold .", "new-wave-y cinematic tricks such as sudden camera zooms and freeze frames , iris shots and snatches of super 8 suit the film 's introspective , painfully self-conscious protagonist to a t.", "in the end , MOV is another small-scale british film , hoping its charm will suffice - but then it steadily spoofs its own story , so we ca n't engage . perhaps we 're just not worth taking seriously ?", "MOV pulls off the difficult trick of being bittersweet without being saccharine and does so with a quietly riotous aplomb .", "a bit contrived , maybe , but with oliver 's dryly hilarious voiceover , ayoade 's eye for whimsically profound visuals , and music by alex turner of arctic monkeys , it makes more sense than it should .", "this is one you 'll want to see now , before everyone else catches up with it on video and realizes how great it is , and once you see it , my guess is you 'll feel just as strongly about ayoade as i do .", "ayoade has taken the old chestnut about each of us being the stars of the film of our life and played it out to its logical artistic extremes .", "this is ayoade 's feature debut , and it 's fairly stunning .", "refreshingly , it appears that oliver and jordana are one of the few couples in a high school movie who have sex too soon in their relationship , but do n't totally regret it later , as if it all has to fit in some sort of relationship utopia .", "in its own right , `` MOV '' is one of the best movies of the year .", "the overall flick is okay , and i was n't ever bored . i just would the quirkiness would have amounted to something more than just affect . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "the self-absorbed teen 's voiceovers are annoying and the movie 's quirkiness is overdone .", "`` MOV '' has its own specific miseries and darkly funny vibe . it makes quirkiness briefly seem like a good thing again .", "`` MOV '' is a deft/daft comedy about coming of age in a media age , when all coming-of-age problems have been cataloged in books , movies , tv .", "beautifully and carefully crafted , though the chapter titles are a little too much , elsewhere MOV is ` indie ' and alternative on all the right beats", "refreshingly funny , poignant and wonderfully perceptive with razor-sharp wit . it 's the kind of rare coming-of-age film that 's well-acted and abundant in both style and substance .", "succeeds by perfectly recapturing the way teenagers behave , the forced pretense of their actions , their deadly seriousness in dramatizing what amounts to minor emotional damage .", "ayoade has an evident gift for the kind of slightly offbeat comedy that 's about the differences between a character 's self-perception and the way the world sees him .", "it 's an all-too-familiar coming of age tale , but the film gives us plenty of reasons to give a damn .", "we 've all seen coming-of-age stories-plenty of them-so when a new one comes along that seems fresh and novel , that 's reason to cheer . the new british import MOV is just such a film , based on a prize-winning novel ...", "film fetishism .", "any addition to the very tall pile of coming-of-age stories is worthy when it boasts darkly witty writing so zeroed in on a 15-year-old 's irrational view of the world .", "neither story nor characters evoke any sympathy , a bad thing for a coming-of-age movie .", "it 's a familiar story , yes - but we all have to chart our own way through it .", "the setting is wales during the mid-1980s , but the emotions and characters would be at home in any country in any year .", "after an ok start , `` MOV '' sinks beneath sloggy pacing and a general lack of originality .", "it 's a self-confident work for the first-time director , richard ayoade , whose purpose i think is to capture that delicate moment in some adolescent lives when idealism and trust lead to tentative experiments .", "it 's a whimsical love letter to adolescent inadequacy and the overcoming thereof , one that might be backed up by the anonymous quote , `` raising teenagers is like nailing jell-o to a tree . ''", "the film is so self-conscious it seems to be dictating your every reaction .", "MOV may not be epic cinema , but in a modest way , it 's close to perfection .", "these things could have easily resulted in a mass outbreak of broad comedy , but the actors play their roles completely straight . in MOV , you truly ache through the awkward moments -- even as you 're laughing out loud .", "by the time it rolls into its sluggish , momentum-free third act , MOV has established itself as a disappointingly uneven piece of work ...", "-lsb- video -rsb- there 's real tenderness here . `` MOV '' has it all .", "there are no really profound insights in `` MOV '' except this : that you 'll never really know another person unless you 're willing to take the plunge .", "like its lead character of oliver tate , the film is preoccupied by its own self-consciousness . it means well , but it does n't care enough .", "makes an old story feel vibrantly new for a little while .", "i suggest you take a chance on `` MOV '' and find out if its particular comic angst rings any bells , be you male or be you female , welsh or american , 16 or 61 .", "ayoade is better at establishing a road map of what `` MOV '' is supposed to be rather than pulling all its elements together cohesively .", "though MOV is n't a dull head-movie , amid the bells and whistles , roberts seems less its star than its cameraman .", "with MOV , it 's what lies beneath that counts , and it 's a grand voyage tagging along with oliver as he finds them out .", "MOV presents oliver without apology for his behavior but with plenty of sympathy for him as a young man with a lot of personal problems on his plate .", "it 's so relentless in its piling on of snappy effects ... that it kind of plays like the graduate going through steroid psychosis .", "gifted newcomer richard ayoade delivers a delightfully edgy romp about first love , styled as a home movie and diary , and starring craig roberts in a career-making turn .", "significance can be overrated , and `` MOV '' makes the most of its whimsical triviality .", "`` MOV '' is one of a kind .", "the movie smartly evokes the yearnings and insecurities of a young man gradually growing into his own skin .", "an affected tale centered on one of those ultra-precocious adolescents one rarely if ever encounters outside of memoirs and sitcoms .", "a charming indie that combines dreamy aspiration with mucky , hilarious reality .", "the excruciating and the hilarious mingle nearly to perfection in this marvelously visualized and deeply felt british film ...", "writer-director richard ayoade has the knack .", "richard ayoade , the british comic making a remarkable feature debut with his adaptation of joe dunthorne 's 2008 novel , blends mirth and malice with deadpan brilliance .", "the kind of rule book-ripping debut that 's all too rare in british film-making circles .", "a classic coming of age story , MOV nonetheless manages to avoid most of the pitfalls of the genre .", "with its off-kilter stance , split-screen antics and musical interludes , MOV feels very indebted to the wes anderson template of filmmaking , though ayoade does temper his wackiness with the real particulars of teenage life .", "it 's a stylish , touching , overly cute film , much influenced by the french new wave , though capable of nodding towards nicolas roeg 's do n't look now .", "MOV is the film youth in revolt should have been , an achingly sad yet ribald account of a hyper-verbal oddball 's ascent/descent into manhood .", "richard ayoade 's arch , superstylized adaptation of a contemporary coming-of-age novel by joe dunthorne .", "richard ayoade 's MOV is an auspicious , controlled and altogether droll debut film that resembles wes anderson 's rushmore without being derived from it .", "a playful and witty take on the traditional coming-of-age dramas .", "a quirky and stylistically idiosyncratic tale of an angst ridden teenager trying to win the heart of a girl and save his parents ' marriage . with everyone in deadpan mode its funny but emotionally uninspiring .", "there have been any number of movies about the problems faced by teenagers when they fall in and out of love , but the team behind MOV seem to have got it all just right .", "see it and let oliver tate remind you of the teenager you once were , or knew .", "it just hits an eccentric , wry gorgeous note .", "a uniquely strange , yet totally accessible comic sensibility , fused by a brilliant script to a brace of pitch-perfect performances seals the deal .", "an idiosyncratic tone , one that is both funny and affecting , is far easier to sparingly strike than it is too maintain for the length of a feature . to his not inconsiderable credit , richard ayoade keeps a steady , if stylised , hand all the way through .", "a cool , well-directed , if somewhat sterile and self-consciously quirky affair about teen awkwardness , virginity , infidelity and dead-end marriages .", "MOV successfully combines the quirky and the sweet , in this representation of adolescence in all of its messy , overdramatic , and bumbling glory .", "writer/director richard ayoade , who has directed some music videos , displays a hand behind the camera that is not only sure but also capable of unique feeling and wit .", "all of this makes it sound as if ayoade is trying much too hard but the gentleness of his touch succeeds in keeping pretentiousness safely out of the picture .", "it 's an intriguing low-key film that makes you think holden caulfield .", "a smug film made worse by its misuse of some genuinely arresting visuals .", "MOV is a remarkably assured debut filled with dry humor , inventive visual wit and great performances .", "the movie 's conception of the tender agonies and embarrassments of would-be teenage lovers is hobbled by punchline cuts and predictable musical montages -lrb- carefree dashes , setting off bottle rockets , etc. -rrb- .", "although the movie is , by design , largely non-specific about its period -lrb- late 1980s would be a good guess -rrb- , jordana 's casual profanity impresses . in american comedies , swears are studded like peppercorns or chocolate chips .", "MOV is a story about growing up all while not wanting to get older . it 's what harold & maude would have been if they had met in high school .", "though the subject matter is nothing new , every aspect of the film thrums with quality .", "i look forward to more from director richard ayoade .", "that rare teen comedy where the kids are n't gorgeous , the hero is n't heroic and the object of desire has a lot of reasons why she is n't necessarily desirable .", "it 's funny , sad , touching and charming ; a film that 's in turns joyously ridiculous yet on occasion hits devastatingly close to home ." ]

[ "curtis and michell rely on america 's love for those nutty brits to sell the film , and they will not be disappointed .", "make no mistake : even those who 've previously managed to resist the julia juggernaut are likely to cave in after seeing ` MOV . '", "an exceptionally guy-friendly chick flick .", "t 's an agreeably slick affair , with decent support performances , elegant camerawork , and several impressive set pieces .", "the most enjoyable way to read this movie is as an elaborate -- though good-natured -- practical joke on julia roberts .", "the blatant self-piracy and marketing greed on display here suck the soul out of this almost likeable romantic comedy .", "it 's a crowd-pleaser , all right -lrb- so were public hangings , once -rrb- , but with all the emotional resonance of a tap on the knee with a rubber hammer .", "not deep , but definitely funny -- teens will enjoy .", "hugh grant teams up with writer richard curtis for the second time , and we 've got a winner .", "the ending is happy and ironic in equal measure , but most of the fun is just getting there with the right chemistry and compatibility .", "very funny !", "the winning romantic comedy every summer not only awaits , but counts on !", "grant 's sly , boyish , infallibly halting charm makes him , if not the new cary grant , unbeatably the new david niven .", "julia roberts flashes her megawatt smile , hugh grant does his patented dithering english fellow bit and they 're just as cute as two buttons in this winning romantic comedy .", "director roger michell is n't content to rest on his stars ' slapstick laurels , mining instead the more sophisticated , if subversive , socio-romantic pratfalls in curtis ' script .", "director roger michell uses technical flourishes sparingly but to lovely effect .", "roberts and grant interact beautifully !", "cumple el cometido que se trazó desde el principio , que es el de entretener por un poco más de dos horas a la audiencia", "grant and roberts build an exciting fire between them !", "it 's funny , sympathetic , mostly smart , and it boasts a likable cast of characters led by two performers who have star power and know how to use it .", "sometimes , the movie says in its naive but wonderfully affable manner , gods need mortals .", "the film 's romantic core is impervious to problems .", "a very enjoyable adult romantic comedy because of fine performances and some clever dialogue .", "the movie has lots of glossy charm !", "the movie is bright , the dialogue has wit and intelligence , and roberts and grant are very easy to like .", "sometimes it 's the simple , unfussy entertainment that comes off best .", "plenty of warmly waggish yocks !", "quite simply the sharpest romantic comedy to come along in a long , long time !", "blithe and exhilarating !", "surprisingly light and fun overall , `` MOV '' is good solid entertainment .", "MOV is four weddings and a funeral with inferior character actors , no simon callow , and fewer jokes .", "nothing new . and nothing much .", "an unconvincing romance , languid pacing and a lot of empty scenes played out specifically for laughs , to the detriment of plot .", "not only repetitive but plain unfunny !", "the movie-star-playing-a-movie-star-who-wants-to-be-a-real-person conceit also has an odd , chilling effect on julia roberts , whose appeal , overwhelmingly , is based on her seeming just like the rest of us .", "every time it starts to get really good , every time it reaches a romantic or emotional high , the soundtrack chimes in and ruins the scene with invariably intrusively and often downright awful songs .", "clearly , roberts can play the version of herself with which you 're familiar and happy . where that leaves you on the real-unreal continuum is a little less clear .", "the same old romantic comedy formula story that has become a hollywood trademark is revived here .", "attempts at pathos fall with a resounding dud !", "MOV cynically merges hollywood gloss and smarminess with an overwrought but highly exportable english taste for quirk .", "sweet and mostly winning !", "i have to give roberts credit for being willing to poke fun at herself .", "as exquisitely directed by roger michell and smartly scripted by richard curtis , the movie easily transcends its highly contrived setup .", "a perfect date movie and one of the most delightful films in years !", "greatly entertaining .", "the movie is very funny and that humor truly overcomes most of the quibbles i have with the screenplay .", "thanks to roberts and grant , MOV is a neighborhood worth visiting .", "this is one of the best romantic comedies i 've seen in a long time .", "MOV is whimsical and light , fresh and quirky . quite engaging and quietly appealing .", "this flick is ten times the movie that phantom menace is !", "perhaps the two leads seem just too charming and empty .", "the movie is a fairy tale , and writer richard curtis -lrb- four weddings and a funeral -rrb- knows how much the public loves a fairy tale .", "whoopsidaisies ! , muy divertida .", "a thoroughly pleasurable emotional thrill ride that is , in its own way , as satisfying as watching arnold hang from the wing of a speeding jet .", "it endears and entertains , with genuine warmth and grace .", "exuding a self-deprecating charm that 's hard to resist , grant captivates the audience immediately as the film 's narrator .", "while we never doubt the outcome , MOV offers an enjoyable narrative journey .", "lately , romance comedies have expanded in running time , doubtless to compensate for their shrinkage in charm , and this is no exception -- it 's way too long for something far too slight .", "esta é uma daquelas histórias que todos sabem como irá terminar - o divertido é o trajeto até o desfecho .", "a charming and polished romantic comedy ,", "-lsb- grant -rsb- makes the romantic yearning palatable and moving in each scene he 's in , and the result is both funny and poignant .", "MOV is about as enchanting as movies get these days !", "slick look , a bit of experimental camera work , and clever montages .", "grant is unfailingly funny !", "a romantic-comedy charmer in which you genuinely care about the partners-in-romance .", "MOV is a harmless , well-intentioned romantic comedy with several solid laughs .", "cunningly crafted !", "witty , sweet and genuine !", "smart , sometimes pissingly funny !", "MOV is clever , funny , romantic - and oh , yes , reminiscent of four weddings and a funeral .", "good hair , great chemistry , and a close-up of her at the finale that would make a dentist weep for joy !", "with lead actors like that , MOV does n't need a cast of annoying supporting characters , but it 's got them .", "the romance is tepid .", "this is a perfect example of how good ` mainstream ' movies can be .", "the rare , quintessential hollywood romance -- smart , affectionate , realistic , and thoroughly likable .", "this is romantic comedy in an old-fashioned sense , where the pleasures come more from a zestful staging than from foolish details like whether the relationship is ` realistic . '", "roberts is beautiful , grant is charming , london is picturesque . what more can you ask for ?", "what remains true throughout is the enrapturing spell this sparkling entertainment casts upon the audience .", "the humor of the film saves it from a completely trite and unsatisfying -lrb- nay , shall i say enraging -rrb- ending .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- has buckets to spare of that rarest screen commodity -- genuine , engaging charm -- plus a cast and production values that fully deliver when the chips are down .", "funny , poignant and delightful in just the right measure !", "we should be pleased enough to see a star-vehicle romantic comedy which actually does contain star quality , romance and comedy .", "no smoky darjeeling or perfumey earl grey here , just the plain black brew , hot and light and sweet .", "i recommend the movie because it is so beautifully written and performed .", "with MOV , you 've got a romantic comedy that makes falling in love with a movie easy as pie !", "quite possibly not since hepburn and grant or hepburn and tracy or funicello and avalon have we seen this much on-screen chemistry .", "if you like lighthearted romances , MOV is for you .", "all the other supporting players are british television stars and all rise to the occasion of this big-budget feature film .", "one reason the film succeeds is that it so deftly combines elements from sappy u.s. romantic comedies and the much more caustic british satires . and when that experiment works here , it works well .", "the film is surprisingly charming summer entertainment .", "what distinguishes the film is its oft-forlorn , last-day-of-summer-camp quality ." ]

[ "mischief managed , faith restored ... david yates strikes the right balance between overplot spectacle and the character relationships that will undo the dark lord himself .", "jim broadbent 's casting is a master stroke . he captures perfectly that blend of scattiness , eccentricity , furtiveness and fear that makes up slughorn .", "more exciting , more daring , more dangerous and more focused on the personal lives of the characters than any one before it , which is why it is so great .", "the impending magical apocalypse and the agonies of young love get equal time in this fantasy with its roots planted firmly in the realm of real human relationships and experience .", "the film is simply a bore , a frustrating , yawn-inducing , 2 1/2 - hour teaser with no pay-off .", "harry potter trades hocus pocus for real dramatic magic in half-blood prince .", "for non-readers , the films are now borderline incomprehensible , because so much prior knowledge is assumed , but i understand from loyal book readers that , especially in this new film , a great deal of important incident has been deleted .", "who would have thought , after five movies and so much hype , that the sixth harry potter movie would be better than most of its predecessors ?", "watson and radcliffe have learned from grint a knack for light comedy , which half-blood prince deploys in subplots about their romantic difficulties .", "the empire strikes back of the harry potter series , and it 's possibly the best film in the whole lot", "the peak film in the franchise ... from the acting , to the writing , to the production design to the cinematography , which is so unbearably lovely that i ca n't even quite stand it .", "half-blood wavers between dizzying and dry -- it 's half-bloodless .", "harry potter is getting darker , angrier , distinctly more wicked . harry potter and the half-blood prince has an edge . scary potter ?", "the film 's marvelous visuals are what i admire most about it -- and i could n't help going deeper and deeper under the spell of such cinematic wizardry .", "sure we do n't have much time for hagrid , tom riddle 's memories , or a half-blood prince , but it 's not so bad because we have teenagers in love . that only sounds condescending , i swear .", "trades some of rowling 's more delicate charms and foreboding for screen-ready guffaws and black/white conflict . but it 's still one of summer 's smarter movies .", "too much teen romance and not enough wizardry ; this installment is the dullest `` harry '' yet", "`` hermione and me ? '' said ron weasley . `` i was shocked that the trajectory of this story actually made us the unlikeliest couple since the leopard who nursed a baby baboon . ''", "all in all , despite the verve that drives the grander set pieces , it 's hard to avoid the sensation of a film toiling overtime to convince itself of its own solemnity .", "vagabonding through time , potter joins up again with his telepathic posse in this coming of agelessness new adventure , while dark forces penetrate the premises and the students experiment with various vials of wishful thinking pharmaceuticals .", "potter hits puberty !", "unlike most film series , the potter movies have n't weakened along the way .", "the filmmakers have found a way to refresh our eyes and enhance our appreciation for this rich , amazing creation .", "... the ever darkening and endangering story is in excellent hands as it heads towards its finale ... rickman is sublime .", "often feels fruitful thanks to diligent concentration on the romantic plights of its three pubescent protagonists .", "the lag time between the final books and the movies has drained much of the urgency from this screen adaptation , which , far more than any of the previous films , feels like an afterthought .", "the even-handed telling ... does a first-rate job in laying the groundwork for the much-anticipated finale to this favorite film series .", "an ungainly tween romcom sprinkled arbitrarily with a sudden horde of amphibious zombies ; inexplicable cameos from ursa , non , and zod ; and silly broomstick rugby .", "once again , j.k. rowling and screenwriter steve kloves expertly blend the most intimate and personal of teenage feelings with the grander concerns about the fate of the world .", "there is still magic , but it all has dramatic purpose -- and much of it points to the final two films .", "betrayal , heartbreak , disillusionment : our young wizard has entered the adult world .", "-lsb- offers a -rsb- surprisingly complementary chirpy sense of humor and bleak sense of horror ... -lsb- n -rsb- arrow -lsb- s -rsb- down the hugeness of the novel into a diptych depicting the choices of adolescence ...", "it sets up some high stakes for the big finish , but on its own still feels like it 's just getting started by the time the credits roll .", "smaller , intimate , personal and fragile . it almost feels as if nothing happens ... until you step back and realize everything is happening in this film .", "for all its focus on teen romantic entanglements , it sure has very little to do with the half-blood prince .", "visually appetizing sixth installment in the harry potter series .", "okay , so it 's a placeholder . but it 's a really good placeholder .", "half-blood prince only really shines when the film 's darker and lighter sides manage to meet together , usually when slughorn is around .", "yates & his technical team ... are the film 's true magicians , taking the viewer 's breath away ... with their cinematic craft , illusionistic skill and ... spellbinding wizardry", "-lsb- harry potter -rsb- is now the lone beacon of despair for children in an increasingly pandering and brainless cinematic landscape ; a grimm tale that should satisfy the darker whims of imaginative children .", "running an obscene 2 1/2 hours , presenting a story which could have made a halfway decent half-hour episode of a half-assed tv series , this potter has no focus , a comprehensive plot , any semblance of cohesion , purpose , meaning .", "a pesar de su extensa duración , 153 minutos , la cinta mantiene un buen ritmo a pesar de su falta de acción . brillante fotografía .", "those previously in the dark about the story from books or films will remain so , for the 153 minutes make little clear aside from a be-sure-to-see-the-sequel conclusion .", "MOV is an icily grave and somber affair , with few moments of relief amid the mounting turmoil and a finale that blackens an already charcoal gray sky .", "already past the point when most film franchises would be wheezing their way toward irrelevancy , potter keeps going strong with a sense of purpose and ambition that puts most of hollywood to shame .", "thrilling storytelling , a sumptuous , engrossing tale ... not the first film this summer to clock in at two-and-a-half hours % u2013 but the first to make that time seem to fly by .", "the real magic of the harry potter series comes not from spells and potions , but from the sustaining friendships of harry , ron , and hermione .", "as beautifully made as it is -- and this may be the best-looking , best-directed potter film yet -- there 's an undeniable level of frustration built into harry potter and the half-blood prince .", "half-blood prince is plenty good in its own right as a stand-alone piece of entertainment . but it also serves the series well , delivering on perhaps its most-important requirement : it makes you really want to see the next one .", "six films in , it almost feels like it 's booting up a new-and-improved , darker , earthier , more grown-up and visually sophisticated trilogy .", "as for the ever-impressive supporting cast , neither a delightfully befuddled jim broadbent nor a wild-eyed helena bonham carter can upstage alan rickman , who again proves invaluable as the slithery prof. snape .", "in harry potter and the half-blood prince , complicated teenaged sexual desires are the counterpart to the sacrificial love oft touted by dumbledore .", "half-blood prince 's length is its only real problem , and judicious editing could have easily trimmed a half hour or more out of the film , giving it tighter , more urgent pacing", "the greatest pleasures offered by steve kloves ' screenplay involve these familiar characters enduring the unexceptional pangs of adolescence .", "the movie franchise based on j.k. rowlings ' novels gets its the empire strikes back moment . it 's a downbeat cliffhanger that suggests its central characters are exiting their age of innocence .", "the sixth harry potter movie has its share of flaws but nevertheless represents solid entertainment , and it extends a remarkable streak for a franchise that has gone six deep without one failure .", "dear me , what a dull fight this has become . at points in harry potter and the half-blood prince i feared slipping into a persistent vegetative state .", "this film is a bit like a summer cold : you just have to sit there while it runs its course .", "the present film is a stepping stone , neither classic potter nor scintillating adventure , but it proves the depth and wholeness of rowling 's imagined world .", "well-made and watchable , but feels like an intake of breath before the frantic finale .", "to say that hp6 is light on incident is like saying that the new transformers film occasionally gets a wee bit noisy . understatement of the frickin ' quidditch season .", "we forget that behind the blockbuster trappings and fan hysteria there is actually some fine moviemaking to be found . and director david yates captures much of the book 's heart .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince succeeds in being a much more immersive film than normal . it 's still not quite up there with the prisoner of azkaban , but it comes close to capturing on film some of the texture and richness of rowling 's books .", "it 's just what potter fans are waiting for .", "if the series is supposed to mature and be about becoming an adult , -lsb- screenwriter -rsb- kloves would be smart to start treating the viewer like one .", "the bottom line is , you ca n't get off the hogwarts express train now , because there are more groundbreaking revelations and magic tricks up the sleeves of this franchise ...", "an impressive and troubling work , boasting a dark and nightmarish undertow that many more `` adult '' or `` legitimate '' films attempt but fail to achieve .", "while the film has its moments of visual elegance , its lack of narrative rhythm and jumbled sense of forced plot points will leave ravenous potter fans griping about what 's been left out and those poor souls who have n't read the books perpetually confused", "suspenseful and artfully realized .", "a cliff notes version of the book that misses every major plot point and narrative thrust . but hey , they certainly picked up on the teen romance . yey , for them . worst film adaptation , ever !", "the effects are sufficiently dazzling and the script 's balance between humor and peril nicely calibrated .", "harry potter grows up . harry potter needs to shave . harry potter shows more interest in the young ladies at hogwarts .", "`` after all these years , i just sort of go with it , '' shrugs harry potter . six films in , so do we .", "what it lacks in thrilling scenes of magical maneuverings , it makes up for in character development and emotional depth .", "i do n't believe in magic , but i do believe in `` movie magic , '' and this sixth installment has it .", "a remarkable achievement in imagination , storytelling , and underlying thematic relevance , a motion picture that visually dazzles as any respectably made blockbuster should , but also knows not to misplace the human element at the forefront .", "it 's always a pleasure to be in the company of potter , and when looking back at the just-competent first outings , well , baby , you 've come a long way . but still : where 's the magic , huh ?", "yates once again brings out the best in the exposition-intense material , and while he 's not permitted the same amount of apocalyptic fury as before , he stylishly crafts a consistent , riveting , and optically stupendous sequel .", "merlin 's pants , what a fine motion picture ! steve kloves is back and it makes all the difference in the world . this was a fantastic adaptation of an excellent book , and well worth your time and money .", "-lsb- half-blood prince -rsb- might be the most enjoyable harry potter movie yet for people who do n't particularly care about harry potter movies .", "readers may decry the way the script deletes some scenes and adds others . but this film offers its own unique contribution to j.k. rowling 's beloved series .", "the british character actors intone their lines with the sincere and intense glee of cats sucking a songbird 's bones ...", "the sixth harry potter film is the most mature and fully-realized yet - which is great news for fans , but may hold little interest for the uninitiated .", "-lsb- harry potter and the half-blood prince is -rsb- not the best potter , but it is the wittiest and most romantic , and it leaves us with a doozy of an i-want-more cliffhanger .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince is the franchise 's best so far , blending rich drama and easy camaraderie among the actors with the visual spectacle that until now has been the real star of the series .", "potions play a pivotal part in harry potter and the half-blood prince , and i wish i 'd been able to find one for patience .", "the potter pictures have become the modern exemplars of establishment moviemaking .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince is spellbinding , even though it is more grounded in reality and less fanciful than previous installments .", "such an assured , professional piece of work -- and a pre-sold one at that -- that it will largely disarm criticism , despite its flaws .", "as its 2 - 1/2 hours came to a close , i was happy to be reminded that we are n't yet done with hogwarts , and that there 's much pleasure in a story slowly told .", "david yates knows how to play all the cards . although a touch ungainly , his film is solidly constructed , with lots of fine effects .", "it 's a more mature magic . ... now subject to the same raging hormones as any other 16-year-olds , our spell-casting heroes are learning to brew love potions this year , with results mostly played for laughs .", "to me , director david yates in his second outing with the franchise has let style -lrb- and maybe some of the technical problems of directing in a hybrid of 35 mm and imax 3d -rrb- swamp storytelling .", "so yes , half-blood prince is a bloody good time , and the best summer blockbuster film since star trek , but make sure you make the time to sit down and read the books if you have n't .", "half blood prince is one of his most successful adaptations to date .", "after the clumsy storytelling and hollow action of some of this summer 's hollywood blockbusters , yates ' latest potter is a shining beacon of quality .", "david yates feels a safer pair of hands than ever , underlining the potter world 's essential englishness in a string of atmospheric locations .", "darker , more hormonal , more teenage-angsty and sadly more boring .", "boasts a terrific ensemble cast , occasional thrills and spectacular visuals , but it suffers from a less-than-spectacular plot that 's often contrived , uneven in tone and anticlimactic .", "... consistently visually stunning -- a real feast for the eyes . the story -- not so much .", "filled with a number of crowd-pleasing moments that are sure to have the franchise 's legion of fans clapping and cheering delightedly .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince wo n't win any awards for intellectual depth , but it 's a thoroughly enjoyable summer movie ...", "the effect is big , boisterous , scary , touching -- and definitely not kiddie . harry 's grown up . thank goodness his movies have , too .", "the thoughtful compositions , in their vast , almost embracing depth , suggest a silent film made today .", "they should cast will smith as the half-fresh prince . then i 'd be interested .", "radcliffe does n't disappoint as a more mature harry finally accepting his fate as the `` chosen one . ' ''", "this is harry potter for grown ups , the boy wizard and his clever companions given a dramatic heft and cinematic legitimacy they 've sorely missed before .", "a film phenomenon of our time . like the star wars series , the financial and social impact of the potter series translates to motion picture history and , eventually , legend . savor this satisfying episode of its ongoing , broomstick ride .", "the sixth installment of the series is entertaining and passes the time but it suffers from the same anti-climactic feeling as the last film .", "is there a more consistent franchise than harry potter ?", "the first half is magical , captivating , inviting , great cinema . second half disappoints .", "a special mission for harry `` the chosen one '' along with romantic interludes for the teenage wizards in this drama which sets the stage for the last films in this series .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince , the sixth and worst installment yet , is two and a half hours of paralyzing tedium , featuring another colossal waste of british talent and a plot a real witch could n't find with a crystal ball .", "admire a franchise that has matured , along with its main players . the well-played harry potter and the half-blood prince is an excellent next step towards the boy wizard saga 's inevitable end .", "by the time you reach the movie 's ominous conclusion , you may wish that someone had given the picture itself one final wand-over before sending it out into the canon .", "like the prince himself , david yates crosses out portions of j.k. rowling 's text in favor of his own ideas . this produces the best magic to date , until it goes wrong ...", "the uniformly good performances and the often inspired craftsmanship arguably make this second only to cuaron 's prisoner of azkaban in the potter pantheon .", "delivers all the visual grandeur we 've come to expect from the saga while simultaneously tackling the potentially thorny issue of adolescent hormonal urges with warmth , subtlety and a good dose of humor .", "this is a movie that steps far outside of the comfort zone and becomes an enthralling and fully-realized gothic fantasy .", "half-blood is fully worth seeing .", "tal vez el problema mayor % u2013más allá de la duración , la falta de momentos `` importantes '' y de acción , e incluso el exceso de romance adolescente - sea el desfiguramiento de harry como héroe .", "`` harry potter and the half-blood prince '' is the most balanced harry potter film to come along ...", "... an epic length fantasy where we continue to care for these characters , and are glad to know that the finale wo n't be rushed", "there 's a welcome lightness in the romantic couplings , which will have pre-teens across america asking , `` mom , what 's snogging ? ''", "there 's still some kindred magic in the air , not to mention a healthy dose of humour , but potter 's sixth year is easily his darkest , most mature adventure to date .", "i admired and enjoyed prince more than any of the other series entries except for alfonso cuarón 's deliriously clever harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban .", "this latest , more mature installment in the `` prince '' of franchises should prove to be one of the strongest , as better plotting , pacing , effects and always delicious brit cast tempt more elders to join the kid masses .", "this is a big summer movie that meets expectations .", "i think the film really sets up the next two installments of the franchise nicely .", "no , it 's not a larky kid-pic . we 're firmly in the realm of english horror , as one set of sallow brits battles another even sallower .", "it all starts with the books of course , but perhaps it is time to recognize the potter films for the impressive franchise that it , too , has become .", "i admired this harry potter . it opens and closes well , and has wondrous art design and cinematography as always , only more so .", "so many actors shine in so many ways : carter hisses deliciously , broadbent sucks up beautifully . watson shudders with frustration and heartbreak , felton shudders with anger and fear .", "an emotional and involving installment in the hit-or-miss harry movie series .", "we 're still wild about harry and this - basically - sets the stage for the seventh - and final - book which will be divided into two movies .", "a film that stands on its own , the half-blood prince is the purest example of virtuoso storytelling we have seen all summer and maybe all year joining a short list that includes up , away we go and the hurt locker .", "radcliffe , in particular , comes off bored and distant , more hitting the marks than baring the soul .", "for pure fun , adventure , romance and thrills this is clearly going to be the movie to raise the bar for this summer 's blockbusters .", "hogwarts now resembles just another english boarding school , and the childlike wonder that marked previous entries in the series has been replaced by a real-world sense of responsibility and looming consequence .", "astoundingly unimaginative , harry potter and the half-blood prince ruins the idea of popular entertainment .", "the half-blood prince is a beautifully paced feat of filmmaking , one that navigates potentially choppy shifts in scale with grace and ease .", "despite the preponderance of -lrb- pg-rated -rrb- snogging , there are pleasures to be found along this movie 's meandering path .", "this harry potter cinematic adventure is what fans in the 1930s and 40s called `` a movie . ''", "at what point did the harry potter film franchise become a race against repetition ?", "should kill the franchise . too many foolish , ancient wizards and hp , hermoine and ron are shallow extras . a crushing , muddy bore .", "steve kloves has written five of the harry potter screenplays , and the half-blood prince reeks of formula .", "at its best ... plays like a tween version of shakespeare 's a midsummer night 's dream - love potions and all .", "the emphasis in the film ... is off-kilter , with too much time spent on the romantic entanglements of harry and his friends hermione and ron .", "that half-blood prince stays true to rowling 's downbeat , morose vision is a testament to the integrity of this franchise and the fortitude of its fans . the movie is quiet , graceful and restrained .", "director david yates employs a deft hand with the series , achieving an exciting and dramatic result .", "an uninformed audience is left with a movie that feels like 90210 meets mr. wizard . i 'd rather watch david copperfield make the statue of liberty disappear for 153 minutes than endure this flick 's trite magic tricks .", "funnier and looser than previous sequels , it entertains like the blockbuster it 's meant to be . if deathly hallows is anywhere as enjoyable as half-blood prince , i just might miss this series when it 's over .", "someone needs to tell that man-boy wizard that sequels , like gallons of milk left on the equator , are n't supposed to get better with age . twinkies ai n't got nothing on the hogwarts posse when longevity meets sheer satisfaction .", "it 's taken them six movies to find it , but at last here is harry potter 's empire strikes back .", "continues the trajectories of recent installments -- it 's darker , more tragic and more romantic ... loyalty to and trust in dumbledore emerges as a defining moral trait for harry .", "definitely the best of the series and is easily the one summer blockbuster that delivers everything potter fans could expect and more .", "radcliffe , grint and watson are great as always , but director david yates ' adherence to realism stifles j.k. rowling 's trickster-storytelling wiles . yates ' horrifically bad botching of big-ticket moments bodes poorly for the `` deathly hallows '' films .", "... one of the longest yet most-delightfully entertaining installments in the series .", "in a world where the transformers sequel can make a mint while being so lackadaisical and empty , it almost makes you wonder why the potter crew bother to take such care . but let 's not question it . just enjoy it .", "full review on movies for the masses", "the most disappointing of the bunch , if only because it opens so promisingly", "as the harry potter movies have ventured into darker , more mature territory , the series has greatly improved in one regard : the stories feel more epic , the tension more real .", "i 'm applauding .", "the hero wizard still has enough magic to make his blockbuster rivals disappear . the half-blood prince is so great that it nudges out the goblet of fire as the best potter movie .", "the best of the series yet .", "harry must enter the mists in anxiety and emerge stronger . everything about his world is uncertain , not to be trusted - and who among us has n't felt the same way , even if witches did n't lurk around our corners ?", "dazzlingly well made and perhaps deliberately less fanciful than the previous entries , this one is played in a mode closer to palpable life-or-death drama than any of the others and is quite effective as such .", "a sixth installment that does n't disappoint in the way that , let 's say , police academy 6 - city under siege , friday the 13th part vi - jason lives and halloween 6 - the curse of michael myers did .", "visually , yes , this is another solid harry potter entry , with the same impressive sets and effects . but it also badly misses the presence of a new or at least formidable villain .", "all this makes for glum viewing at times , though two fiery set pieces -- the death eaters ' attack on the weasley homestead and harry and dumbledore 's creepy cave excursion -- have as much bravura as anything in the series to date .", "half-blood prince shows the potter film franchise and rowling 's story are in very good hands indeed .", "the experienced team behind the harry potter movie series is comfortably in the groove with the sixth film , which plays down the fantastic elements and introduces contrasting playful teenaged romance and a new tone of adult gloominess .", "mean moody and magnificent , this is perhaps the best yet of the harry potter series .", "with half-blood prince , again we have a stalwart , satisfying visualization of the rowling cosmos .", "director yates and screenwriter kloves introduce this entry in the saga with splendid storytelling strokes .", "the harry potter films will be regarded as one of the most remarkable series in film history , and half-blood prince is the franchise 's empire strikes back .", "half-blood prince is a bubbling cauldron of hormonal angst , rife with romance and heartbreak , jealousy and longing .", "as the concerns of novelist rowling 's characters gravitate increasingly toward matters of the heart and the hormones , the potter films are leaving childhood behind . yet the friendship of the central trio remains the key to the magic .", "the strangest thing about the new harry potter movie is not that it 's unusually good , which it is , but that it unequivocally illustrates just how poorly we 've been served by the previous five instalments in the franchise .", "this is the least involving of the series so far , with an unclear storyline and action set-pieces that fail to convey the excitement of the book .", "a jerky start of exposition and backstory gives way to vigorous storytelling in the latest chapter of harry potter .", "a richly entertaining adventure that adds more details to the mythology and at the same time tells a ripping good story .", "a tight suspense film that is n't too scary for kids , with a good dose of humor , young love , and charm .", "according to newtonian physics , the universe is ruled by entropy , an unfortunate principle that states that , given enough time , any system will advance from order to disorder . obviously no one informed the folks behind the harry potter franchise , because", "on the whole , it 's a fine film , and yet i 'm disappointed that it did n't more greatly acknowledge the gravity of the impending conflict .", "emerson said , ` a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds , ' but in this franchise -- where you 're likely to spot a hobgoblin or two -- the consistency is n't foolish but miraculous .", "revelando-se um pequeno milagre no esquema de produзгo industrial de hollywood em funзгo de sua consistкncia ao longo de seis filmes , a franquia finalmente alcanзa , aqui , um exemplar prуximo da perfeiзгo .", "parental content review", "while the harry potter movies have always been a wonderful excuse for jaw dropping special effects , it 's gratifying to see the fantasy landscapes populated by wizards and witches with flesh-and-blood personalities .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince might be the best harry potter film yet .", "funny , enchanting , occasionally creepy and beautiful to look at , this is the kind of full-blooded fantasy filmmaking that used to emerge when filmmakers were more interested in telling stories than in selling happy meals .", "like last year 's big summer masterpiece , the dark knight , this is one action spectacular that adds an undercurrent of unease to the witches brew as it 's delivering one thrilling sequence after another .", "we leave the theater with the rush of breathless anticipation mixed with a pinch of worry .", "the heavy transitional content does no harm to the popularity of the series , the essentials of which are the enduring emotional attachments to the book and the visual elegance of what 's seen on screen .", "moves very nicely , deftly planting seeds of suspense and mystery and keeping them growing throughout the powerful amorous entanglements .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince is an intoxicating potion of teenage hormones and evil spirits . both are raging .", "if harry potter and the half-blood prince is a roller coaster , it 's the tiny train meant for only the very youngest kids , the one that seems to go round and round forever without really ever picking up any pace .", "i fought to like it ... a battle that i lost .", "while not as spellbinding as some earlier -lsb- potter films -rsb- , harry potter and the half-blood prince provides crucial connective tissue to the big finish coming down the road", "... surprisingly short on the most essential ingredient : a sense of wonder .", "now that all the actors playing children in this series of movies have grown up and become adults , finally we get to the first movie in the series that allows them to act like children , however briefly .", "by far one of the best of the series , and absolutely the funniest and most human .", "the latest installment is more of the same tried and tested formula to be sure , but it 's a formula that produces pure gold as far as the fans are concerned .", "why david yates decided to move the series so far away from its fantasy adventure heartland is puzzling .", "while individual sequences are undoubtedly the most exciting of this summer 's blockbuster season , prince never quite connects the dots into a ripping ride , playing out instead in a series of gentle interludes .", "the sixth installment of the harry potter series is neither the best nor the worst so far . the acting has improved considerably and the effects are better than ever but nothing really happens and there are some unforgivably slow stretches .", "for all the raging teenage hormones stirred into the usual potion of magic and adventure , the sixth instalment of the harry potter saga is a slickly unemotional affair .", "longer than the last , the sixth episode of the adventures of the increasingly burdened magic warrior of privet drive is a more human affair than its predecessors .", "this is storytelling at its most spellbinding - streets ahead of the rival summer blockbusters .", "i have to say , this was the most satisfying book-to-film transfer of them all . it never felt rushed . they took time to tell the story . the effects were wonderful , but not overdone . with a few exceptions , they included the major plot points from the book .", "it 's hard not to feel like this is little more than an interim piece in the overall story , presumably leading to something much bigger next time around .", "the half-blood prince 's relative inertia allows for more complex and clarifying imagery , as realized by cinematographer bruno delbonnel .", "while the romantic sweetness that it 's peddling is a guilty pleasure , it 's also a distraction from the gathering storm that the series had been charting so well .", "this long-awaited follow-up , based on the sixth of author j.k. rowling 's best-selling fantasy novels , has a better mix of light humor and darker story elements .", "this is the darkest , saddest , most sophisticated harry potter film yet .", "even if this latest entry does n't have all the intensity or real-world political repercussions of order of the phoenix , it 's a fun palate-cleanser as we all await what promises to be a bang-up climax .", "can harry piece together the clues ? and can he use his magical superstar status for more than just free butterbeers ?", "`` harry potter and the half-blood prince '' looks good and the cast is great . but the great mythology does n't kick in until the last thirty minute .", "harry potter and the half-blood prince is n't great family entertainment -- it 's great entertainment , period , a blockbuster with true heart and real humanity alongside the high-stakes struggles and brilliant effects .", "it really helps in these situations to have first-rate actors .", "harry is better than ever , a triumph of visual wonder and emotional storytelling .", "the film 's plot is oddly wispy , the mood intentionally darker , the tone solemn and ominous , the jokes , such as they are , much broader and the special effects state-of-the-art .", "this is a potter film that will be quickly forgotten , even by harry 's most ardent fans .", "a couple new characters and war brewing does not fill up two and a half hours of screen time", "the movie satisfies with new revelations and twists , one of which is so dire , it left many at my screening in their seats long after fate revealed its cruel hand and the credits started to roll .", "all setup and no payoff , it serves mainly as logistical scaffolding to reposition the characters and strum up some backstory , stalling for time before the final chapter .", "boys and girls pair off ; expository bookkeeping sets up the final conflict", "a bit long , but overall a great adventure , even for the casual potter fan . paul chambers , cnn .", "i 'd be lying if i did n't say this movie gave me as much innocent pleasure as any i 've seen this year .", "a good but not great entry in the seemingly endless movie series .", "add to them a virtual who 's who of england 's best actors ... and you have the best cast to be found in a movie this year .", "it does n't reach the magical heights of alfonso cuaron 's truly spellbinding prisoner of azkaban , but yates is fast approaching that territory , which bodes well for his helming of the final instalments .", "this will certainly be a strong contender for movie of the summer and few will fail to be impressed by the breathtaking finale .", "this is absolutely the best of the harry potter films so far .", "for fans both of the films and the books , this is an elegant addition to the canon .", "two elements unify the overly episodic , fragmented , dramatically uneven tale : the predominantly dark mood and the motif of loss of innocence , which defines most of the subplots .", "not a profound picture ... not a step forward ... not an important movie ... but it 's fine ... it 's pleasurable .", "this 6th instalment of the harry potter franchise is dark and brooding while the intricate detail of this fantasy world is as extraordinary as ever .", "we 're marking time before the final battle between good and evil , with the promised darkness sitting somewhat clumsily with teen romance and humour .", "one of the potter franchise 's breeziest entries yet offers flashes of darkness but lashings of teen tension . less a movie than a set-up for next year 's epic conclusion . bring on v-day .", "an impressive film that stands out as the jewel in the potter crown .", "what fun it is to behold our budding wizards and witches learning that love is the one spell they can not control .", "if you 're a fan , you 're sure to find something to grumble about ; ditto if you 're a critic ; but for the dwindling amount of people who just want to go to the movies to watch a fun and interesting movie , you could do a lot worse .", "not only is harry potter and the half-blood prince an excellent translation of j.k. rowling 's addictive canon , but it 's also the first entry to shine on its own devoid of its backdrop mythology .", "seamlessly and vigorously conveyed , this satisfying segment raises the storytelling and visual-effects bar for the entire series .", "half-blood is a sustaining visit with beloved old -lrb- if not in age -rrb- friends .", "the movie can never shake the feeling that it 's one big set-up , a meek prelude to the thrill ride to come in deathly hallows .", "mostly i love harry potter for the actors", "i thought rupert grint came out of this the best of all of them .", "a boy behind me at the screening i attended put it succinctly : ` that was the most boringest movie i ever saw ! '", "terrific but intense mix of love , friendship , fear , sorrow .", "the film takes flight when the story is grounded in the world of hogwarts .", "for potter-ites , there are plenty of satisfactions to be had , but the fun mostly comes from recognizing plot points from the novel merely suggested onscreen .", "i think it 's the best of the series , fairly easily , and a testament to why occasionally throwing a massive budget at an endeavor of this scope can be considered a reasonable decision .", "a remarkable achievement ... moving , funny , honest and true and sad and sweet . a movie about characters who we have come to know and love , and a movie that understands that it 's these characters , and not the magic they perform , that is the real hook .", "with its deft handling of teen yearning and affection , half-blood prince maneuvers mysteries of heart and hankering that resound in worlds magic and muggle .", "hats off to the young cast and director david yates for bringing such depth to this latest stage of the characters ' lives .", "war , hormones , and dark magic equal a better-than-average year for the students of hogwarts , and the best potter movie since prisoner of azkaban .", "director david yates presides over some gorgeous cgi set pieces , but all the real magic comes from the scrum of ace british character actors .", "the heart of the piece remains the interactions between the characters , both teen and adult .", "david yates is a solid hand as director , he does nothing but let the taps run , leaving us with little more than a bath full of comfortable if lukewarm water .", "-lsb- director david -rsb- yates ' film makes for a splendid continuation of rowling 's saga -- carrying over ... the same stirringly magical spirit , the same enchanting visuals from order of the phoenix .", "apparently , wizards are no more exempt from the trauma of puberty than muggles . so much for the power of magic .", "too deep into the saga to win over any potter virgins , this is payback for those who 've followed the series from the start , with some of what was good about the books making a comfortable transition to screen .", "this sixth installment is likeably unremarkable and feels like some sort of diagon alley deja-vu ; a road , an overly long road , we 've been down many times ." ]

[ "in the end , it 's the less high-scoring offspring of the 1977 classic slap shot , but to even mention it in that movie 's company is praise enough .", "all it wants is slapstick violence and `` slap shot '' profanity . and it delivers both - albeit not much else .", "what 's somewhat surprising is you do n't have to give a hoot about hockey to enjoy the movie . this is just a guy living his dream : hitting people .", "`` MOV '' easily takes the title of second-best hockey comedy i 've ever seen .", "while well-intentioned , and seann william scott does a bang-up job , the tone of the film swings as wide as a hockey stick .", "bloody sports dramedy about brutal life of hockey enforcer", "a consistently funny and heartfelt tribute to small-town canadian hockey that shows obvious affection for its subject and characters .", "MOV is like a hockey enforcer cartoon with heart , over-the-top and brilliant ...", "it 's every bit as sharp and funny as slap shot .", "scott is n't bad : he sells the comedy of his character 's ingrained politeness as much as the aggression . but `` MOV '' feels like a movie starring a gimmick , not a person .", "it 's the rare hockey movie to approach violence head-on , without hectoring or hand-wringing , as an essential element of the sport , not some inhumane sideshow .", "a hilarious , foulmouthed comedy that 's deceptively sweet -- a portrait of a bruiser who knows when to strike and when he deserves to be struck .", "there 's a bit of `` slap shot '' and a bit of `` dodgeball '' in `` MOV , '' although it is n't as sharp as either of those films .", "-lsb- scott is -rsb- a talented actor , and it 's worth checking out his new dramedy just to get a sense of his wide-ranging skills .", "MOV is crude , violent and deeply enjoyable .", "it 's made with affection both for the ritual of hockey fights and the strain of sports movies that care more about wisecracks and pranks than winning the big game .", "behind the film 's brass knuckles are tender fingers .", "the fact that a movie as harsh and despicable as `` MOV '' can be promoted as a comedy says terrible things about the state of the american film industry .", "when seann william scott uses his fists , he 's a star .", "the best thing about `` MOV '' is not the hockey action , or who wins and who loses . it 's doug 's rags-to-riches story .", "MOV prevails where other sports-film farces fail thanks to scott 's winning , unwinking performance ; liev schreiber 's spot-on turn as a wizened , clock-punching rink assassin ; and a pucked-up love of a bloody game .", "leaves you feeling that they have made a hockey movie as worthy to the sport as slapshot .", "seann william scott is the best comic neanderthal in hollywood , and he 's found the perfect story in this fictionalized adaptation of a memoir by minor-league hockey brawler doug smith .", "for a movie about ragged , trash-talking thugs beating the crap out of each other on the ice , MOV is surprisingly sweet .", "-lsb- video -rsb- trading on hockey 's blood-splattering brutality as a ripe source for comic possibilities , `` MOV '' is a good-hearted sports comedy with a romantic left hook .", "a second-rate dude comedy in which an untalented knucklehead becomes a star through brute violence .", "depicting the vocationally debauched world of second-tier hockey , MOV is not only rowdy , but also humane ...", "good for lowdown fun , this subversive comedy invites us in to celebrate its idiosyncratic bunch of sweet-natured goons .", "MOV is n't a particularly deep film , nor does it redefine the paradigm for the sports comedy . but i have to give everyone involved credit for doing it right , and making it look almost easy . bloody , but easy .", "with apologies to the mighty ducks , we are , almost certainly , looking at the second-best ice hockey movie ever made . -lrb- slap shot retains the top spot . -rrb-", "this so-called hockey thug is actually a nice guy and i found myself rooting for him to knock those other players out . this film is based on a true story .", "scott , never known for being choosy about his roles , actually has ended up in a sweet little movie .", "it 's the kind of small-budget comedy that earns your goodwill early and easily , even if it is n't breaking new ground or transcending its readily apparent monetary constraints .", "a disarmingly sweet descendant of the blood-on-the-ice classic slap shot .", "as the brutality ramps up , and the story gains real consequence , for some reason , we actually laugh harder . MOV is a comedy , often a very funny one , but you might be hesitant to call it that once you 've actually seen it .", "the result is a 92-minute misconduct penalty .", "crosses the blue line so often you 're compelled to pin it against the boards and administer a quick knee to the groin .", "i laughed so hard i almost injured myself . my distinguished colleague fell out of his chair .", "what we end up with is a film that just is n't interesting , entertaining , or funny .", "an appealing low-brow farce going at full speed to capture in its cartoonish presentation the cliches , macho dynamics , violence and fights of minor league hockey players .", "a worthy grandchild of the greatest of all hockey movies , slap shot . there , i said it .", "what a disappointment .", "MOV is a surprise on pretty much all fronts , following the story beats you 'd expect of a film of this genre , yet delivering them in an enjoyably unusual and offbeat manner .", "the job of a hockey enforcer , invisible to many non-fans and even casual fans , is definitively presented here by taking the viewer into doug 's world and letting him do his thing .", "the film embraces hockey 's brute culture , with both a critical eye to fans who crave commodified violence and sympathy for the enforcers who merely play their bare-knuckled roles .", "seann william scott plays against type in surprisingly funny , unsurprisingly lowbrow hockey flick .", "for all its surface-level vulgarity and gleeful violence , MOV is actually a sweet , insightful , and powerfully effective little sports movie .", "my favorite , rowdy sports flick since the original `` bad news bears . ''", "MOV , for the most part , comes off as a perpetually watchable and sporadically hilarious comedy that benefits substantially from the engaging work of its various actors ...", "pumping in the puccini , the director lifts the movie off the ground , giving the feature an identity that 's worth paying attention to .", "MOV is a canadian hockey comedy with a capital canuck . it oozes great white north out of its every pore , which i 'm glad to say is a lot less disgusting than it sounds .", "it takes hockey hooliganism to heights not seen since slap shot was offending the nation 's finger-waggers back in the 1970s .", "the bone-crunching , unremitting violence is bad enough , but what i find particularly distasteful is the way it is celebrated .", "a blisteringly askew tale of how you do n't have to be good at a sport to succeed , just know your role .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he tale of a man who is ` touched by the fist of god ' and called to commit violence in the arena , all presented with a kind of sick grandeur -- or mock grandeur ; it 's hard to tell which ...", "there is the impression that some of the characters should have been portrayed in a more three dimensional way .", "an operatically stupid , tonally deranged comedy-drama ...", "ice hockey is a violent game , but usually in movies the violence is the garnish rather than the meal itself .", "if you can stomach the unexpectedly strong violence , there is something even more unexpected here ; a sly satire of the disturbing blood-lust associated with ice hockey , and a quiet , believable character study which makes the best of seann william scott .", "MOV is the most distasteful film i 've ever seen kick-starting a year .", "main character as endearing as he is brutal", "-lsb- scott -rsb- is reason enough to see the film , which otherwise is a by-the-book sports comedy .", "MOV is a remarkably sweet , shockingly violent and incredibly enjoyable movie that ranks up there as one of the best hockey films ever made .", "liberally peppered with profanities and comedic hockey-related violence , MOV finds plenty to laugh at in the coarse words and antics of athletes .", "the bloodier the film gets , the sweeter scott 's lion-hearted enforcer seems , cheerfully taking pucks and sticks and skates to the face with a smile , all in the service of his beloved team .", "MOV will definitely provide an entertaining diversion from the february blahs and may even leave you cheering for more .", "profane , bloody , and sophomoric , it 's a comic adrenaline rush with a surprisingly sweet heart .", "exuberantly off-color , bloody , and frequently laugh - 'til - you-choke hilarious .", "this proves we do n't need a remake of ` slap shot . ' funny and violent , ` MOV ' is a very good sports movie .", "a film about honor , love and loyalty that transcends its subject matter and can connect to a larger audience if they give it a chance", "really ... it 's just dodgeball with a lobotomy .", "underpinned by a surprisingly touching rom-com sub plot twinning doug with scott pilgrim 's alison pill , MOV is pucking funny stuff .", "this is just a fun 90 minutes - an after-the-pub movie .", "i 'm not sure that this rough and ready comedy would seem so funny were it not for scott 's charming performance as the man with dynamite in his fists and fudge in his heart .", "come the second half here , the laugh cupboard 's all but dry .", "at the end the audience disperses in a daze , saying `` dude , where 's my brain ? '' , but also feeling a warmish glow around the heart .", "it 's a surprisingly watchable , big-hearted yet unsentimental film ...", "MOV is n't a life-changer , but it is a pleasant little surprise .", "a smart script and vivid characters make this rowdy hockey comedy much more engaging than we expect .", "it 's pitched as a comedy and has a few left-field laughs but is as empty-headed as its protagonist .", "it is easily the best hockey movie since miracle , for whatever that 's worth .", "MOV captures the humanity of the brutal - and uplifting - game of hockey that is identified so strongly with canada . it 's no coincidence that actually , jay baruchel has a tattoo of a maple leaf over his heart .", "scott gives a wonderfully economical performance that anchors this fast-paced outing .", "... a fresh , new sports comedy that may have a measure of cliché , but the filmmakers overwhelm it in a power play that scores .", "the picture captures the crude , raucous locker-rrom spirit of ` slap shot ' with surprising jollity , and it 's peopled with amusing characters , all played with relish .", "the movie 's unlikely sincerity ca n't completely offset its ugliness for less bloodthirsty viewers , but it helps , and it does smooth over some narrative rough edges .", "loveable lug finds his calling as a hockey fighter", "the best hockey comedy since ` slap shot . '", "schreiber is sublime . the shakespearean actor , donning a 70 's era handlebar , gives his enforcer a zen quality when he 's not punching out rivals . brilliant casting brings abundant rewards .", "easily the one of the most original , compelling , and irresistible characters to hit movie screens this year , and he appears in a film that is hard to pigeonhole , which is one of its many virtues", "it 's scott who gives the movie its heart , delivering a performance of quiet strength and unexpected subtlety - when he 's not cracking skulls .", "rough , rude and raucous .", "enjoyable , well directed and frequently funny comedy drama with a likeable performance from seann william scott and an adorable turn from co-star alison pill ...", "hilariously foul . best hockey comedy since slap shot .", "MOV skates just far enough away from the normal `` guy overcomes adversity to achieve his dreams '' story to make it an entertaining watch .", "the characters in `` MOV '' are so pure and honest , the movie sails through on momentum , like a well-placed slap shot .", "doug becomes a character you really root for .", "the movie is harsh , nasty and vulgar like you would n't believe . and often , it 's hilarious .", "it 's an underdog story that does n't take itself too seriously , tender as a bruise and about as blue .", "... you have to wonder about a film that wants to emulate the outrageousness of `` slapshot '' but feels the need to warm the audience 's heart .", "george roy hill 's classic slap shot may still hold the title as the quintessential hockey comedy , but MOV certainly deserves to be mentioned in its company , juggling charm and grit and raunch and bloody teeth with assuredness and aplomb .", "two winning underdog sports movies for the price of one .", "bashed heads and shattered teeth on ice may not seem the likeliest premise for comedy , but real , consistent laughs are nonetheless generated in this fresh sports raunch-fest .", "seann william scott gives a surprisingly engaging , even sweet performance as the title character in the brutal , raunchy hockey comedy ." ]

[ "a video game cum movie that substitutes shrieking decibel levels for a coherent plot and any resemblance to originality .", "the movie is dawn of the dead crossed with john carpenter 's ghosts of mars , with zombies not as ghoulish as the first and trains not as big as the second .", "fans of the game and the genre will be disappointed with the lack of gore ... and everyone else will find what plot there is confusing and boring .", "never having played it , all i saw on screen were a lot of ideas stolen from aliens , 2001 : a space odyssey , alice in wonderland , the matrix and george romero 's living dead movies .", "feel free to turn off your brain and let these zombies munch on it for a while .", "what saves it ... and makes it one of the better video-game-based flicks , is that the film acknowledges upfront that the plot makes no sense , such that the lack of linearity is the point of emotional and moral departure for protagonist alice .", "the interchangeable males all resemble freddie prinze jr. , and anderson 's direction is no less anemic , making one yearn for an escape/quit button that , sadly , does n't exist in this medium .", "finally , a sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller that , though slightly by the numbers , made you jump on more than one occasion .", "attending MOV is like being at a rob zombie concert while wearing your grandfather 's hearing aid and having it turned up to ten .", "the special effects for this film were pretty bad .", "MOV may be brain dead but it 's great popcorn entertainment nonetheless .", "the most depressing thing about MOV -- and there are many , trust me -- is seeing the promising star of girlfight reduced to a direct-to-video movie cliché .", "a generic bloodbath that often becomes laughably unbearable when it is n't merely offensive .", "a monster combat thriller as impersonal in its relentlessness as the videogame series that inspired it .", "the bottom line is that i munched on my nachos with my eyes glued to the screen and had a blast ! nothing wrong with that .", "it 's been 13 months and 295 preview screenings since i last walked out on a movie , but MOV really earned my indignant , preemptive departure .", "mildly grisly , assaultively noisy and tremendously boring .", "... stands up with the best of the modern b monster movies .", "loud , grisly , action-packed and profoundly un-scary .", "a zombie movie in every sense of the word -- mindless , lifeless , meandering , loud , painful , obnoxious .", "one of the better shoot 'em up games in computing history comes to the big screen in a way that is not only near unrecognisable , but also one of the most disappointing adaptations of a game ever .", "a dumb , mean-spirited movie based on a dumb , mean-spirited video game .", "MOV es un videogame llevado a la pantalla y que pese a lo que digan , es la adaptación más fiel que se haya realizado en este rubro .", "MOV is a rabid zombie thriller that splatters on the screen with gruesome joy . intense , loud and fast-paced , this is the best video game-turned-movie ever .", "when the dead come back to life and start chewing on the living it all comes flooding back . these heroes should have remembered `` dawn of the dead ''", "anderson ... has enough sense not to let the pace flag for a second , filling the screen with ravenous flesh-eaters , explosions and special effects .", "certainly not a good movie , but it was n't horrible either .", "it 's nothing we had n't seen before , but the pace is fast and there are some great action set pieces . did i mention it has zombie rottweilers too ?", "* yawn . * here 's another ridley - scott - alien movie .", "it was fun and i got what i wanted ? that seems to happen less and less these days in the cinema , we should take all we can get .", "disappointing horror flick , with only the zombie dogs and jovovich 's skimpy zombie-busting attire to recommend it .", "do n't reach for the remote control . it 's not going to help you navigate MOV , the latest video game making its awkward transition to the screen .", "it is based on a video game , and as such , it exists merely to go from one life-or-death scenario to the next .", "yawn-inducing , badly scripted b-grade nonsense that is n't particularly scary and certainly is n't original .", "it works well enough , since the thrills pop up frequently , and the dispatching of the cast is as often imaginative as it is gory .", "so lifeless , pointless and dank that it manages the amazing feat of making the undead seem boring .", "i probably should stay away from any movie with a video game as its source .", "as a slickly-produced piece of trash -- and , more importantly , as an adaptation of a videogame -- it holds its own .", "on its own terms , MOV updates the zombie genre with an anti-corporate message while still scaring its audience and providing heart-pounding action .", "is this the future of horror or just some bizarre fluke ? do n't ask me , i 'm having too much fun to care .", "quasi-evil - to quote dr. evil", "just a good old fashioned time at the cinema , but check your brain at the door .", "devolves into the derivative , leaning on badly-rendered cgi effects .", "one thing 's for sure-if george romero had directed this movie , it would n't have taken the protagonists a full hour to determine that in order to kill a zombie you must shoot it in the head .", "it 's completely pointless .", "essentially a futuristic night of the living dead without the social commentary , pacing , or interesting characters", "i feel qualified to report that the game itself is more exciting and , just as important , much cheaper to sample .", "i would say that chaos ensues , but it started the minute the opening credits started to roll , so ` ensuing ' is not very helpful . chaos reigns .", "anderson apparently does n't understand how to scare an audience .", "brrrrrr ... as scary as a ride though the coney island funhouse .", "the credits list the film as being `` written and directed '' by paul w.s. anderson . `` programmed by '' would be a more accurate credit .", "the film 's modest and campy success hangs on the magnificent screen presence of milla jovovich , an angelic warrior clad in a red dinner dress and black combat boots , with piercing blue eyes .", "lacks a sense of fun", "a by-the-numbers effort that wo n't do much to enhance the franchise .", "the inherent limitations of using a video game as the source material movie are once again made all too clear in this schlocky horror/action hybrid .", "... the current culmination of everything -lrb- paul anderson 's -rrb- done to date ... the results are pure cinematic fun .", "-lsb- there 's -rsb- nothing scary here except for some awful acting and lame special effects .", "an exciting , frivolous ride through a vision of the future that may be bleaker than anything in brazil .", "i firmly believe that a good video game movie is going to show up soon . i also believe that MOV is not it .", "just think that you could have sacrificed ten quarters to play MOV the video game instead of coughing up ten bucks to witness the monotonous MOV the movie .", "this video-game-to-celluloid adaptation has a clammy , nightmarish glaze and tightly coiled sense of tension .", "entertainment in dire need of its own self-assurance .", "a z grade bit of fodder for the pre-teen sector ...", "despite a promising setup , pic never really goes anywhere , instead immersing viewers in a kinetic onslaught of flesh -lrb- namely , that of milla jovovich -rrb- and flesh-eaters -lrb- most of the rest of the cast -rrb- .", "an ultra-gory video game-to-movie disappointment .", "the overblown action and cheapo effects become as relentless as the undead .", "this routine video-game spinoff borrows heavily from james cameron action flicks and george romero zombie epics but does n't do much else .", "this adaptation captures the spirit of the video games and with its fun , anything can happen mindset and tons of over the top violence , ` MOV ' proves there may be a future for video game movies yet .", "hats off , however , to the production team for the set designs and one very imaginative death-by-laser sequence . the rest is a derivative , tedious mess .", "here are times when MOV looks unfinished or below its potential", "a fresh hybrid of zombie horror , high-tech sci-fi and butt-kicking thrill ride .", "began life as a computer game , then morphed into a movie -- a bad one , of course .", "the only noticeable MOV on display here is the lack of creativity in the minds of the filmmakers .", "the action in MOV is like watching demons from the repressed unconscious break loose and attack the ego .", "it 's spooky , suspenseful and jump-out-of-your-seat scary .", "the best video-game-based movie so far .", "movies based on video games are shallow , obvious and one-dimensional .", "delivers a knockout punch for teens and/or game fans but may repulse or bore everybody else .", "such a bad movie that its luckiest viewers will be seated next to one of those ignorant pinheads who talk throughout the show .", "if anyone could do justice to the hugely popular MOV series ... it 's anderson .", "this is an arcade game , designed to deliver thrills and chills . this is does .", "it delivers action , comedy and intensity charged with jolts of terrifying scary fun .", "a derivative collection of horror and sci-fi cliches .", "it all looks and plays like a $ 40 million version of a game you 're more likely to enjoy on a computer .", "dumbed-down , lowest-common-denominator filmmaker with ... no scares to be had .", "director paul w.s. anderson 's cinematic style can be summed up in two words : ` ooh ' and ` ick . '", "MOV is not a cautionary tale about scientific experiments gone awry ; clearly , it 's meant to be a blood-spattered , shoot 'em up , slice 'em and dice 'em , horror sci-fi popcorn flick to the nth degree .", "its characters are thinner than cardboard -- or even comic-book paper .", "a thoroughly unoriginal , but fast-paced and entertaining genre b-flick", "... nothing more than an endless festival of blood and gore , masquerading under the guise of a gritty modern science fiction fable .", "while the MOV games may have set new standards for thrills , suspense , and gore for video games , the movie really only succeeds in the third of these .", "an already thin story boils down to surviving invaders seeking an existent anti-virus . if only there were one for this kind of movie .", "paul anderson , the director of such previous sci-fi turkeys as event horizon , soldier and mortal combat , is back again with another loud , over-the-top picture .", "utter rubbish -- loud , chaotic and ugly ... eviction would seem the only perfect solution .", "MOV is n't a product of its cinematic predecessors so much as an mtv , sugar hysteria , and playstation cocktail .", "handsome and sometimes creepy , but formulaic in the extreme .", "all ms. jovovich , as the sanctified heroine , has to do is look radiant , grimly purposeful and mildly alarmed while forcing open doors , wielding wrenches and fleeing monsters .", "even in the dubious genre of movies based on video games , MOV is an abomination .", "MOV is what comes from taking john carpenter 's ghosts of mars and eliminating the beheadings . in other words , about as bad a film you 're likely to see all year .", "video games are more involving than this mess .", "like many video games , MOV has a drearily long setup , then a lot of blood and gore , then an overextended ending .", "not blindingly original , although it is ear-splittingly loud .", "to say it 's the best video-game adaptation yet is n't much ... but anderson 's done a bang-up job .", "what will , most likely , turn out to be the most repellent movie of 2002 .", "forgettable horror -- more gory than psychological -- with a highly satisfying quotient of friday-night excitement and milla power .", "an energetic , violent movie with a momentum that never lets up .", "mostly , the movie is filled with scenes where the soldier people argue until somebody says , ` what 's that sound ? , ' and then some horrible monster comes out and tries to eat them .", "though it may damage my credibility as a respectable movie critic , i 'll proudly list MOV on my list of this year 's guilty pleasures .", "milla jovovich and michelle rodriguez kick zombie butt in this faithful , action-packed adaptation of the popular survival horror video game .", "i 'll bet the video game is a lot more fun than the film .", "so bad it ca n't even steal effectively from good movies that came before .", "... the night of the living dead for the 21st century .", "in the category of zombie movies , this is top shelf .", "do n't expect aliens but do n't resign yourself to ghosts of mars either .", "barbequed doggie zombies . if your heart just skipped a beat and you find yourself atingle with anticipation , then i wish you good luck and godspeed and there 's no need for you to read further", "game fans will be disappointed . zombie fans will be disappointed . paul anderson 's fan will be disappointed .", "the only real `` cerebral '' activity that should take place in a zombie movie is the consumption of brains by the heretofore mentioned zombies themselves .", "... the latest proof that trying to adapt a film from a video game is a bad idea ." ]

[ "the bad guys ' omnipotence at nearly every turn dilutes the film 's suspense .", "an enjoyable pop projection of post-9 / 11 anxiety . that said , it also makes you nostalgic for the days when irresponsible action movies did n't have to deal with it .", "as more and more movies rely on massive cgi enhancement and hong kong choreographed wire-rigged fights , die hard revels in good , old-fashioned fist fights and real , immaculately executed stunts .", "its hyperactive 80 's chic action crap and i had a blast just the same ...", "MOV is as close as we are going to get to reliving the good old action films of the '80s .", "i was actually nervous with all the gunfire and near misses . but then it kept happening over and over again . so instead of being involved , i studied the action sequences .", "MOV is an over-the-top , fun rampage .", "it 's not remotely plausible , but with willis ' mcclane leaping onto the tailfins of passing jet fighters and bringing down helicopters by launching police cars at them , there 's enough stuff blowing up that action fans wo n't mind much .", "it is is about as realistic as a tom & jerry cartoon , but then again , this is a die hard movie ...", "yipee-ki-ay your way past the plot flaws and enjoy the ride .", "give director len wiseman credit for making the ridiculous -lrb- some might say ` imaginative ' -rrb- retain some semblance of gravity .", "willis lumbers through the movie like an angry dinosaur , while wiseman panders to a generation that was n't even born when the first flick was released . ` yippie-kay-yay , motherfu - ' -- whoops , ca n't say that one anymore either .", "it 's been a while since we 've had something as enjoyably bombastic and explosive as this . it feels like a summer blockbuster : a little dumb , a little smart , and a lot loud .", "there is more carnage in this movie than in any r-rated film i can remember . really , pg-13 is the new r . they play a sound effect over the mf but you know what he 's saying .", "-lsb- willis -rsb- can handle it ; he 's in great shape for his age , plus he 's been through this sort of thing many millions of dollars before .", "what i love most about this , and movies that steal from it , is that plausibility is dispensed with early on , and there 's never such thing as too much when it comes to piling on the threat or destroying property .", "it will blow the popcorn box out of your hand .", "click for full review", "it is what it is , a slick thriller loaded with over-the-top superhero action .", "... it delivers on its promise : explosions , chases , crashes and plenty of thrills .", "easily the best in the series since the first one .", "i can safely say i 've never seen anything as ridiculous as MOV .", "live free is an homage to itself -- unpretentious , yet not campy -- a nostalgic and enjoyable thrill ride .", "feels like a throwback to the days of movies before computers , with actual cars blowing up and actual stunt men falling down shafts .", "the third weak sequel in a creaky franchise that should have remained dormant .", "terrific entertainment , and startlingly shrewd in the bargain , a combination of minimalist performances -- interestingly minimalist -- and maximalist stunts that make you laugh , as you gape , at their thunderous extravagance .", "it is a movie born to be forgotten-except as something that against your better judgment , you had a pretty good time watching back in the summer of ' 07 .", "this paradox comes with an attendant fallacy : that the best way to solve the static problem is to make the stunts even larger , the bangs even bigger . wrong : more action just stops the film longer .", "MOV is indeed a worthy successor to the original -- not perhaps quite as good , but close .", "like willis , this franchise is obviously aging , and like willis , it 's doing so with an oddly brutish grace .", "MOV may work better for an audience that does n't know much about the series than it will for die hard die hards , who will be wondering who that impersonator is and what he did with the real john mcclane .", "this is action at its most entertaining and proof that there is a lot of life left in this franchise .", "as spectacle goes , this is , ah , spectacular .", "willis ' star power and willingness to mix it up , along with thrilling action sequences , keep live free from collapsing into b-movie silliness .", "all high octane action and no dialogue . but where 's hans gruber ?", "the post-9 / 11 techno-terrorist stuff works , the fights are creative and funny , and willis is in top form in his career-defining role .", "something about it feels cheap and programmatic compared with the earlier entries in the series .", "the film moved at a clip , never bored me , offered an ` interesting ' enough story-line for me to follow , and again , slam-dunked about half a dozen fun action sequences around the great mclane .", "MOV is everything a fan of the franchise can expect , and more .", "MOV is like the anti-die hard , a big , dumb cartoon that makes bad boys ii seem restrained and realistic .", "provides aficionados of empty-headed action with a surfeit of it . -lsb- but -rsb- this long-gestating third sequel has a lot to live up to , and unfortunately it does n't quite manage .", "like every movie where they blow stuff up , just with some nostalgia thrown in . and so over the top and silly the movie borders on campy . then , it blows right through the campy border with an 18-wheel semi truck .", "in this fourth film , john mcclane becomes a retrofitted icon ; unadorned and simple , brutally back-to-basic , he 's an action hero for an america uncomfortable with the rapid changes of the new millennium .", "... a pointless and thoroughly misguided sequel that tarnishes the series ' overall effectiveness .", "willis ' working-class hero gives the mayhem spunky soul and the human touch .", "`` did i really just see that ? did someone really have the balls to do something as utterly stupid as that ?!?!? ''", "disappointingly generic ... slips into last place in the series .", "bruce willis is back in action to remind moviegoers that spandex-clad superheroes and swashbuckling pirates are no more heroic than a hardened cop .", "if you only see one film this summer , you need to get out more . but make this the one you choose .", "send john mcclane to iraq . even the title of ` MOV ' suggests that bruce willis ' supercop is just the one-man troop surge the president needs to restore order to the world 's no. 2 failed state .", "for a summer blockbuster , it delivers the goods . just , please , no more die hard movies , okay ?", "a pretty crummy comeback ... -lrb- the -rrb- ridiculous stunts might have been dreamed up by a group of hyperactive 12-year-olds in the midst of a red bull binge ; they should not have been staged by filmmakers old enough to know better .", "the film rescues the franchise from irrelevance by returning to what made the original a hit : spectacular set-pieces , brutal action and crisp acting .", "welcome to the new millennium john mcclane , where the portions are huge but the quality is n't what it used to be .", "like mcclane himself , this is an analog movie in a digital world -- proudly outdated , yet guaranteed to get the job done .", "thematically `` MOV '' is as heavy on high-octave action -lrb- a mctiernan specialty -rrb- as it is on technological mumbo-jumbo , which wiseman is comfortably at home with .", "it 's a total blast , an exercise in excess that defies logic and plausibility in a fearless effort to entertain .", "you can stop cringing at the idea of another die hard installment . bruce willis nails it in this fourth go-around ...", "if you think you 've seen it all , you have n't . and what 's best is that mcclane/willis enjoys it as much as we do . yippee ki yay .", "sorry , boys . after two decades , the first film still does more with one skyscraper than MOV does with an entire country .", "first , the good : it 's f*cking die hard . john mcclane is back and killing improbably large numbers of bad guys while causing extraordinary amounts of property damage .", "wisely , live free does n't try to replicate the paranoia or intimidation of the first film ... this time , it 's his unflappable calm that intimidates his brash young opponent , not the other way around .", "suspenseful and rousing and rarely stopping long enough to wear out its welcome . as crowd-pleasing spectacle , MOV fits the bill .", "luckily it 's not long before the not so technologically savvy mcclane picks up a laptop and uses it to bash someone over the head .", "far from the crass , just-for-the-money sequel it appeared to be on paper . it 's a genuine blast .", "when willis whoops his signature ` yippe-ki-yay ' line , you know mcclane 's back with a vengeance .", "the kind of funny , exciting , entertaining action film that ` pirates of the caribbean : at world 's end ' was supposed to be .", "action movies do n't get any more mindless than this , but sometimes mindlessness is fun too .", "as a summer popcorn flick , MOV delivers the goods .", "the rest of the movie ca n't keep up with its truly cracker-jack premise , turning it into a series of action sequences that might sound imaginative but play just as ludicrously as they sound .", "he 's commenting on his own indestructibility , for sure , but he 's commenting , too , on the burden of the convention that he be indestructible .", "summer 2007 so far has been one disappointing tent pole sequel after another , but suddenly one comes out of mothballs and really delivers ... entertaining as hell .", "even when MOV is at its most outlandish , willis gives the enterprise a humanist grounding .", "no pun intended , but i had a blast watching this film .", "for an action spectacle movie held together by five or six over-the-top sequences , `` MOV '' pays off handsomely albeit with a surplus of downtime in between .", "len wiseman 's movie charges hard and crunches bones with an old-school ethos of hellacious stunts and thrills . john mcclane does n't verbalize it as he has , but the yippie-ki-yay is alive in what will be hard to beat as 2007 's best action film .", "bruce willis is still a bada ** and this series might not be dead yet ... i 'm just sayin ' .", "like hooking up with an old girlfriend late one slurry night and realizing all the things that were right about the relationship .", "i 'd call it a guilty pleasure only i do n't feel any guilt about having enjoyed it so much . it 's a big dumb lug of a film but it has no pretenses about being anything else .", "four films in the franchise , all of them good . mcclane has plenty of life left in him .", "the film 's action does n't disappoint ; if anything , it ups the adrenaline ante considerably .", "MOV is positively entertaining .", "MOV 's goofy generation-gap gambit pays off decently and proves , again , that nattily dressed terrorists are no match for willis , the once and future patron saint of bang .", "MOV may be overblown and cartoonish , but it 's also a helluva lot of fun and may become the surprise hit of the summer .", "though it 's mostly entertaining -lrb- if overlong -rrb- , there is a sense that the whole thing has become somewhat rote .", "it feels like a die hard movie , and that in itself is a tremendous compliment .", "MOV needs a sense of joy , a sense that despite the harrowing nature of the situation , there is something entertaining - even to the participants - about the absurdity of the situation ... it does n't have that .", "it 's loud , yippee-ki-yay explosive , mostly watchable and , unfortunately , almost entirely forgettable after its final bang .", "it 's an over-the-top spectacle of action violence , and i loved it .", "provided you do n't put too much thought into it and just enjoy the ride , you 'll have a blast .", "ultimately , a passable new die hard movie is more than anyone of us ever really expected , and that in itself is worth a jolly old yippee-ki-ay .", "brainless ? sure . entertaining ? yup .", "mostly , the flick relies on old-school stunt work rather than computer generated effects .", "if this is living free , you might consider pulling the plug .", "the most perfect protagonist is always the imperfect protagonist . leave it to john mcclane to bring back the action hero .", "it 's a pulse-pounding , bad-guy-pummeling exercise in action excess , peppered with bad , bad dialogue .", "pulled off with just the right spatial élan", "the die hard series was about as animated as rocky 's face until director len wiseman restored it to its kinetic essence ...", "at a time when the action genre has come to be dominated by sleek , matte surfaces and set - 'em - and-forget - 'em computerized effects , MOV seeks to remind viewers of the simple , nostalgic pleasures of watching stuff get blown up .", "this fourth installment in the franchise delivers when it comes to kick-butt , action-packed mayhem but bogs down focusing on key characters staring at computer screens , typing madly on keyboards or spouting techno-babble .", "len wiseman handles many of the set-pieces with flair and tension .", "director len wiseman never lets the movie slow down enough for us to think about what 's happening . and he gives us some amusing things to keep us occupied , including one particularly fitting cameo .", "bugs bunny and the looney tunes gang can only wish they could do some of the things john mcclane executes so effortlessly here .", "the type of ridiculously excessive adventure that summer moviegoing should be about .", "the dialogue and one-liners of die hard 4 are cheeky and clever , and it proves bruce willis still has his game against younger , faster kung-fu maniacs like maggie q", "fred flinstone in the land of the jetsons", "at last ! a real summer movie , the first real satisfying action blockbuster since 28 weeks later . -lrb- that was two months ago , for anyone keeping score . -rrb- it recaptures the gruff wit of the first , classic installment , while expanding upon the destructive insa", "yippee-ki-yay ! willis still has the goods . credit to wiseman , who keeps the thrills coming , and pass the popcorn .", "it 's less yippe-kay-yay , more yippee-kay-maybe .", "chasing the ghosts of past glories in the name of product allegiance , die hard 4.0 clatters noisily down the lift shaft into oblivion .", "the summer 's best blockbuster , bar none .", "MOV is surprisingly satisfying , largely because it is such an unapologetic throwback to pre-cgi mayhem .", "the superlative action makes up for the glaring plot holes and limp dialogue .", "... there 's still something cinematically satisfying in seeing the veteran street cop mcclane plugging along like a dogged boxer against a younger and stronger opponent ...", "a solid summer popcorn flick ... it successfully captures the feel of the die hard movies with a few cool modern-day twists .", "in this fourth film , there 's a zip to the dialogue and a lift to the storytelling that recalls the spark of the original '88 die hard .", "tone careens madly from serious peril to action camp and everything in between , but the sheer quantity of often outrageous stunts should help overcome franchise mustiness .", "just what we want from this franchise : social commentary !", "a solid popcorn picture - primarily because the stunts are spectacular .", "marrying punishing action set-pieces to an unnerving disaster movie scenario , it grips the viewer with vice-like intensity , while never forgetting to revel in its own amiable absurdity .", "... a throwback to a time when action movies were measured by the number of cars they crashed .", "for a pure summer power trip , it 's a decent throwback to the pure-brawn heyday of willis and arnold schwarzenegger , an agreeable respite from today 's cartoonlike ballets of computer-generated action .", "as long as you understand that -lsb- lfodh -rsb- is nothing more or less than a three-ring festival of intricate stunts and pyrotechnic effects , punctuated with clown routines , you may not mind that it 's about a half-hour longer than it needs to be .", "the usual pyrotechnics are intact , the corpses pile up and mcclane even gets to spit out his signature battle cry .", "there 's no point in whining that die hard is mindless . that 's like complaining about the sound of people eating popcorn in the theater .", "at least i hope it 's the last . willis does ok for a middle-aged guy , but as another famous die-hard once said , a man 's got to know his limitations .", "the most important thing is that director len wiseman stays true to the original formula . he could have gone for showy cgi or tried to be too self-referential . instead , we get an uncomplicated plot , real stunts and a script which makes the most of willis .", "it 's peppered with thrilling computer-generated action , but there 's still something endearingly old-fashioned about mcclane and his bare-knuckled way of dealing with bad guys .", "this fourth episode of the die hard series , with its plot that seems to have come straight out of marvel comics and its preposterous if dynamic action sequences , has only a battered 52-year-old bruce willis as john mcclane to commend it as a drama .", "given wiseman 's lack of style or guile , die hard 4.0 is pining for the freshness jj abrams pumped into m : i : 3 . dopey story , so-so script and mostly ordinary action . it 's the ever-enjoyable willis that makes it worth your while .", "you know where you are with bruce willis . unlike schwarzenegger , he wo n't be moving into namby-pamby politics any time soon . he differs from stallone these days in managing not to resemble an aborted experiment at madame tussaud 's", "for the most part , it 's an enjoyable rollercoaster ride featuring lots and lots of explosions and some great special effects . alas , it 's not up there with the first three movies .", "older , balder . better", "willis was entitled to one more kick-ass action outing . but please , let this be the last . anything more would be dying soft .", "the aesthetic point might be elusive , but that 's bruce . like this film , he has little time for detail .", "we know mcclane is going to save the day , but it should n't be a forgone conclusion the minute olyphant shows up looking like a starbucks manager on a particularly itchy morning shift .", "stunt work is among the best ever committed to film . there is something very satisfying in this digital age about an action film where cgi does n't overwhelm , actors are in great physical shape and huge spaces are actual sets .", "it 's efficient and entertaining , but even more preposterous than the first three films .", "the delete button has never been so dangerous , and in such a delightfully daring doomsday software versus pistol packing hardware thriller .", "willis may be beyond what some consider an action star 's prime . yet like clint eastwood in the drama arena , he just keeps going out there and getting it done at a high level .", "celebrating john 's residual renegadeness , his blue-collar-guy 's irritation at what the state invariably gets wrong , the has it all ways , railing against hi-tech threats , soft bodies , fuzzy thinking , and `` asian chicks who like to kick people . ''", "more fireworks than any other film this summer . bruce is back in the one role that fits him like a glove .", "action-packed , ridiculous and fun , here 's another appearance by bruce willis as cop john mcclane .", "it finds the defining spirit of these films and maintains it about half the time .", "duro de matar 4.0 cumple con lo que promete : grandes dosis de acción , un héroe del pasado al que siempre es emocionante mirar y un argumento prácticamente inexistente que sirve sólo como sostén de las secuencias cargadas de adrenalina .", "... wiseman proves himself a master of on-screen excitement", "it might now be time to retire john mcclane , but this one last gig is a blast .", "to call this the best die hard movie ever made merely acknowledges that director len wiseman simplifies the franchise to its basic elements : predicament , villain , hero , action .", "you know how this is going to turn out , you just do n't know what all is going to get blown up in the process ... and it 's still entertaining .", "the fourth entry in the john mcclane series finds bruce willis battling a group of high-tech cyber-terrorists who clearly have n't watched an action movie in two decades .", "timely , terrifying , and terrifically entertaining", "for 80 minutes or so , MOV ... shapes up as a spiffy popcorn movie with at least as much emphasis on brains as on muscle .", "could a fifty-two year old guy like willis still have that old magic ? the answer is a resounding ` yes ! ' ... hey , sign me up . i 'm ready for die hard 5 , and the sooner , the better .", "the real intrigue has to do with whether mcclane -- ` a timex watch in a digital age , ' per the lead baddie -lrb- timothy olyphant -rrb- -- can log in to 2007 .", "willis ' john mcclane , with that sly , sideways smile , is like an old acquaintance you do n't mind running into . he may be older and balder , but he 's none the worse for the wear . and he can still take a punch .", "three movies later , his indestructibility has become something of a joke , and mclane has morphed into a de facto superhero , sure to survive every chopper crash and five-vehicle pile-up .", "makes the same sort of fool out of bruce willis today as 1960s and '70s old-style flag-waving did of john wayne decades ago .", "none of the scrapes and bruises -lsb- willis -rsb- sustains are as wince-inducing as the image of his younger self in the first film , padding across broken glass with bare feet . he was human back in 1988 ; now he 's the terminator .", "a lot like the fireworks of the holiday that it 's set on - nothing more than loud , mindless , and , only when the biggest explosions go off , the kind of fun you were hoping for .", "an agreeably retro kick ... the main virtue is willis , who continues to refine his grumpy , balding , blessedly un-matrix-y mojo . he 's still not too old for this $ % , thank god .", "was die hard 4 taken ? i know that there are better minds in hollywood than this that come up with a more appropriate and not so annoying title .", "the rookie mistakes are legion .", "willis should not be the victim of facile stereotyping . he brings more heart and humor to apocalyptic pulp fiction than any other actor i can think of offhand .", "hoorah ! john mcclane is back ! yippee-kai-ay ! right ? eh , not so much ... . live free does n't feel particularly , you know , die hardy ...", "as clueless about the original 's appeal as the previous two follow-ups .", "god must love summer movies , since he designed my nervous system so the frontal lobes could be left idle while the core delights in bursts of pulsing orange fireballs set against an otherwise gun-metal palette . but we must evolve !", "hugely enjoyable action flick that delivers likeable characters , a decent plot , plenty of wisecracks and more breathtakingly ridiculous stunts than you 'll know what to do with .", "an over-the-top , fantastically funny action extravaganza that is guaranteed to have you sauntering out of the cinema with a mile-wide grin plastered on your face .", "outside of the numerous action set pieces , what makes MOV essentially enjoyable is the odd-couple pairing of the immature hacker and the tough cop , who will ... bond and learn to respect each other .", "pesky , durable john mcclane manages to show up everywhere and anywhere a key criminal exercise is taking place .", "movie characters like mcclane are the paul bunyans and john henrys and pecos bills of our age , the stuff of tall tales spun with the technology of an age whose campfires are found in multiplexes with stadium seating .", "everything goes from bad to worse . but mcclane keeps coming ... and joking . i had a great time .", "ultimately , MOV so completely slacks our jaw and so successfully suspends our disbelief that the highest praise goes to the crew of first-class technicians who pulled it off .", "if your sense of the credible is n't awfully flexible , you 're the wrong audience for movies like this . the nonsense bounces along at such a breathless clip that most viewers should willingly give the improbabilities a free pass .", "this attempt to resuscitate the die hard franchise , after the passage of 12 years and the remainder of mr. willis ' hairline , is surprisingly effective .", "this year 's honorary it could have been worse award goes to bruce willis , who proves nearly as durable as his signature hero , john mcclane .", "more unpleasant than the notion that matt 's nationalism and manhood can only be validated with a gun , though , is the misogyny that creeps into mark bomback 's script .", "that this implausible stew works as well as it does is in part a tribute to the unlikely but enjoyable rapport that forms between old school mcclane and his youthful computer-savvy companion .", "some originality still exists in action-adventure movies : how about the way an airborne chopper is brought down by colliding with a car ? great stunts , some wit and humor .", "it 's brainlessly exhilarating until the fighter-jet scene , at which point the high-octane idiocy becomes too preposterous to bear ... and there 's still a solid half hour to go .", "-lsb- mcclane -rsb- still has the same knack for trouble , the adrenaline-pumping , cheerfully anarchic kind that causes cars to ignite , bodies to fly , eardrums to pop and hearts to race and gladden .", "there 's still some ` yippe-ki-yay ' left in this franchise .", "it has enough mind-blowing stunts to leave audience members walking out and inventing obscenity-laced catchphrases of their own .", "bring . back . mctiernan .", "turns out to be that odd sequel that works more often than it does n't .", "now that this film is here , i 'm going to need to see another `` die hard '' flick every three years or so until willis dies . hopefully by then they 'll have perfected the art of replicating willis as a virtual actotron 3001 .", "with an infectious laugh when he blows up the bad guys and the power to stay alive no matter what , bruce willis ' john mcclane is a welcome sight back in theaters .", "esta cuarta entrega de la saga entrega todo lo que promete : acción , acción , sentido del humor y más acción , con un bruce willis ideal en el papel que lo lanzó al estrellato .", "an extremely proud throwback that has the basic decency to steal from the very best .", "overall , given the long interval between films , `` MOV '' is a pleasant surprise . this may be a `` digital age , '' but `` die hard '' is a series that keeps on ticking .", "pure escapist fiction and has no relation to anything , which if you think about it , and you should n't , is perfectly fine .", "what 's the fourth `` die hard '' called ? i keep forgetting . `` die hard : with a pension '' ? `` die hardened arteries '' ? `` die laughing '' ?", "with a concept that matches its budget in terms of size and scale , the threat of virtual terrorism is the focus of die hard 4.0 , a kick-ass action thriller with electrifying stunts that are as inventive as they are huge", "one of the surprises of the fourth instalment , apart from how good it is -lrb- who expected that ? -rrb- is that the threat is internal .", "MOV gets the action job done and you better believe that bruce is still the man .", "it 's the movie equivalent of a cop on the eve of retirement : he knows what he has to do , and he gets it done . but his heart is n't really in it anymore .", "the action in this fast-paced , hysterically overproduced and surprisingly entertaining film is as realistic as a road runner cartoon .", "this time the hype is real . the latest die hard film , the first in a dozen years , is the best in the series , an invigorating return to the style of blockbuster that dominated summers back in the early 1990s .", "as implausible and over-the-top as certain elements are , this is the one big summer movie that 's actually fun . it does n't take itself too seriously , and it features so much action that you do n't really have time to think about plot inconsistencies .", "MOV is the most creative and exciting die hard film since the original , though it 's hardly the original 's equal .", "step aside captain jack . swing that web the other way , spidey . you let us down , silver surfer . yes , john mcclane just kicked the $ # % # out of all of ya 'll . `` yippee ki yay mo. . . ! ''", "goofy fun .", "bruce , justin , and the screenwriter 's well-worked banter between the two , make all that action add up to a cohesive production that commandingly entertains .", "willis has a firm grip on what has made his character popular for nearly two decades , and maintains a firm hand on the wheel . like almost everything he drives , he keeps the movie airborne . yippee-ki-yay ." ]

[ "has a charm behind it that shines through", "helped immeasurably by the voices of phil harris , eva gabor , sterling holloway , scatman crothers and others , plus some outstanding animation , songs , sentiment , some excellent dialog and even a touch of psychedelia .", "an enjoyable mix of fine animation , catchy songs , and outstanding voice characterizations .", "the animals ' exuberance is so infectious and their `` acting '' so true to human life that by the fadeout the MOV does , indeed , give the audience paws for reflection .", "one of the less successful disney offerings from the beginning of the 70s .", "this 1970 animated feature is dull , careless , and all too typical of the disney studio 's slapdash output before the unexpected renaissance of the rescuers .", "before the disastrous aughts , was there a worse decade for disney animated features than the 1970s ?", "a cute , feline version of `` lady and the tramp '' that should enthrall families ... and , of course , cat lovers .", "jazz and hijinks make this disney cat tale meow .", "insofar as the film has any real ambition driving it , that ambition seems to be that the disney brand name must be kept alive until somebody could figure out what to do with it .", "it 's a happy , all singing , very cute and well told tale that will keep the kiddies enthralled while lightening a few older hearts .", "the film is a musical , but the numbers , while pleasant enough , are not at all memorable .", "... do n't expect -lsb- the MOV -rsb- to be even close to such disney masterpieces as the lion king or beauty and the beast .", "the real beauty of the picture , which is as amusing , smoothly machined and beautifully colored as any disney should be , is in the characterizations , sustained within a sprightly but simple format .", "the cat 's pajamas , dah-ling !", "... not a bad film ... just a middle-of-the-road one from a studio that has given us some true animated classics .", "purr-fect .", "proves that even the studio 's halfhearted larks still have life in them , thanks to golden-age animators ... tunesmiths ... and vocal talent .", "the MOV is one of the slightest of director wolfgang reitherman 's contributions to the disney animated feature canon , which is to say it 's still among the studio 's least suffocatingly ornate and ideologically risible films .", "a nice-enough disney feature that some consider an under-appreciated classic and others view as a movie that 's distinguished only by the inclusion of a handful of cool jazz tunes .", "the MOV is largely an up-scale cat version of 101 dalmatians minus the deliciously dastardly villain .", "always a classic , if tepid", "fun , light disney cartoon ." ]

[ "brutal and with a plot that 's all over the place , it seems we 're taking early delivery of a christmas turkey .", "as gangster thrillers go , this one is a ripper . william monahan , oscar-winning screenwriter for the departed -lrb- 2006 -rrb- has adapted ken bruen 's book in great style and directs his top cast adroitly", "there are all kinds of weirdo supporting players and the requisite amount of bloody killing scenes , but it does n't add up to much and MOV just feels like its trying to hard to be edgy .", "this crime story smacks of all-too-familiar elements and is told with a blandly straightforward approach .", "colin farrell and keira knightley make a dynamite pairing .", "a stylish if familiar tale of a man hopelessly entangled in his past .", "screenwriter william monahan trades in south boston for south london , only to discover he forgot to pack his a to z.", "a movie is more than dialogue and a soundtrack . and direction is a lot more than making sure all your favorite parts of your own script make it to the screen intact .", "in trying to take a bite out of crime and another out of fame , -lsb- monahan has -rsb- ended up with more than he can chew for his first time in the director 's chair .", "monahan 's trademark tart dialogue is as strong as ever , and farrell and winstone make for a formidable pair of opponents .", "there is too much to be absorbed in too little time and not enough tissue connecting abbreviated , sometimes unnecessary subplots .", "i 'm blaming the staggeringly cack script , which leaves more loose ends untied than a short-sighted vasectomy doctor .", "disappointing , badly written and jarringly acted crime drama that gets bogged down in too many sub-plots and winds up as a compendium of tedious gangster movie clichés .", "as a pastiche of so many previous gangster movies , it 's lazily enjoyable . but it does n't repay any thought .", "every actor in this gangland geezerama does a `` turn '' as if it is party time at the cheeky mockney club .", "it 's a crying shame how disjointed it gets , crumpled into a narrow range of brit-gangster idioms , picking quite the wrong ending , and barely holding it together from scene to scene .", "hard-boiled crime yarn with irish wit , colorful characters and considerable style .", "MOV is like a fancy , retro-styled pocket watch that someone accidentally broke and tried to reassemble with only a vague idea of clockwork .", "this film 's distributors insisted i watch this with a public audience . for the record , out of nine people who started watching this with me , only six lasted the course . you 've been warned .", "MOV is a curio at best .", "full review at movies for the masses", "it at times dabbles too often in crime cliches - as though written by someone coming off of a sopranos box-set bender - but it is also uncomfortably tense and unsettlingly brutal .", "given the talent involved , it should have been better , but i still wanted to see how it all turned out .", "it 's a film with plenty of front , as they say , but uses up all its energy , wit and ideas in the first 20 or so minutes , before collapsing into a flurry of boring violence .", "essentially , MOV is a long but not very winding road .", "a good cast tries in vain to elevate a workmanlike script in a film that ends up as dead as joe gillis .", "guilty , with one or two mitigating circumstances .", "an unexpected pleasure , bringing some punchy hollywood professionalism to a traduced genre .", "it 's far from original and , crucially , the romance between farrell and knightley does n't have enough pull .", "knightley does an adequate job and fans of farrell , while they might admire his performance , will probably be disappointed with the overall film .", "a great cast and an intriguing premise are crowded out by a surplus of plot threads that do n't have space to play out , and accordingly come across as clichés .", "the confidence of MOV never tips into cockiness . this is style with some intelligence behind it .", "had the film stood still more often , its stylish gambit would have worked better .", "monahan 's debut has verve and charisma , but , in the end , the tension of a late-night pub shrug .", "this disastrous gangster film wastes an excellent british cast .", "flawed but impressively executed , the movie has a distinct reverberation that holds the formula together , making the mean business of unlawful behavior convincing in the face of absolute predictability .", "close this street down .", "has the kind of edge that too few movies allow themselves ... handled with skill and a blend of wit and suspense .", "equally indebted to martin scorsese , guy ritchie , and giorgio armani , MOV represents the apotheosis of style over substance .", "by far too stylized , the film loses itself in this would-be `` dynamic visual '' style over content and coherence .", "thanks to a top-notch cast , which also features thewlis as a stoned luvvie and friel as mitchel 's sluttish sot of a sister , plus a wry script , this stands head and shoulders above recent geezer fare .", "a befuddling muddle that sees a starry cast up to their necks in reheated clichés ." ]

[ "portray -lrb- s -rrb- the future in a monotone drone , forcing the poor actors to murmur their flat , lifeless dialogue .", "cirque du soleil downloaded into a three-ring video game .", "it probably looked like a good idea on paper .", "`` MOV '' is thoroughly ridiculous , all but begging to be laughed out of the multiplex and into the second-run theaters .", "bad special effects , bad action , bad costumes -- bad everything .", "the tag line is , ` the future is flux . ' personally , i think they left the ` ed ' off that last word , and it 's not only the future that 's in this state , but the movie itself .", "breeds plenty of contempt .", "an impersonal slab of sci-fi sameness , MOV wears its lethargy like a badge of honor .", "it 's as if someone just swept up the floor at the sci-fi factory , and instead of tossing the junk into the garbage , they glued it together and called it a movie .", "the movie should have been called aeon sucks .", "it 's not as bad as you might think .", "the enormous , and probably impossible , amount of style and wit required to resuscitate the original cartoon into something with real faces , bodies , gravity , and locations is beyond kusama .", "`` MOV '' is `` catwoman redux . ''", "at least half is brilliant and inspired ; frustratingly , the rest frequently lets it down", "it 's actually pretty decent .", "if the film proves anything , it 's that what made MOV compelling and special as an animated series had everything to do with the medium and the freedom chung was given to shape the story as he pleased .", "while its heart is in the right place , MOV 's head is just a little too high to make much sense .", "theron makes a mark in the video game action flick genre with this , and thereby widens her portfolio . as though she needed to .", "a failure even on the action-adventure/vicarious-butt-kicking level .", "neither cheesy fun nor laughably bad , it is just lifelessly dull .", "there is something particularly ghastly about a bad science fiction movie", "the bright , retro-futuristic pop art production design matches the 1970s ` thx-1138 ' values of a story that suggests freedom can be found within the natural world that lies outside our technological cocoons .", "kusama -lrb- girlfight -rrb- and her writers play it dead straight , and the result is n't nearly as much fun as it should be .", "the performances are plastic ...", "preposterous , pretentious and surprisingly dull ...", "MOV es el último blockbuster de la esperada temporada navideńa y resulta sin embargo , tan sólo un filme palomero de fin de semana .", "theron looks terrific and the cast do the best they can with the material they 're given , but someone really should have written aeon a snappy comeback or two .", "this year 's catwoman , a disaster of truly seismic proportions .", "... sci-fi jolting gibberish . did we already mention witnessing theron in skin-hugging get-ups acting like a curvaceous contortionist experiencing pms ?", "MOV is not a instant classic or a pants-wettingly exciting adaptation of a forgotten graphic novel , but it is also not a catwomanesque career killer nor a wasted 93 minutes .", "dashingly beautiful but distressingly dumb .", "it 's made with some style , but flags after the first rip-roaring action moments .", "the telling of this story is rather dull and lifeless ; the film is full of rote combat sequences and no real sense of danger or adventure .", "a slick-looking action movie with too much exposition and a weighty , pretentious tone .", "the 15-year-old mtv cartoon on which it is based must be better than this .", "the camera drools over each titilating catfight and gazelle-like leap .", "an effort that 's somehow both depressing and trivial .", "sometimes the film looks a little silly and the high hopes we had of talented director karyn kusama of girlfight fame , are not realised . the end result is a film that verges on boring .", "slick , sexy , and incredibly stupid .", "a high-octane , indisputably terrible piece of futuristic silliness .", "what is it that drives talented actresses to dive into a hot pile of cinematic crap soon after winning their first oscar ?", "even theron 's sexy catsuit acrobatics ca n't prevent boredom from setting in as the film 's unimaginative production design and dull dialogue take precedence .", "one would have expected something this cheesy to go direct-to-video % u2014 or at most to showtime , on late at night .", "stodgy and listless futuristic thriller that only ever echoes other cinematic sci-fi tomorrows .", "between bouts of gun fights and acrobatics , `` MOV '' is a dreadfully boring and incomprehensible mess with a screenplay that constantly jumps between clunky to just plain embarrassing ...", "there is n't a hint of the actress who earned her oscar for monster in this blank performance .", "a live-action feature that captures all too depressingly the original tv cartoon 's evolution from inventive weirdfest to a more run-of-the-mill brand of dystopian cyberpunk .", "spektakularnost potro % u0161ena zbog mtv-jevskog stila monta % u017ee koji gledateljima ne dozvoljava da shvate % u0161to se zapravo doga % u0111a na ekranu", "a story that is both poorly conceived and badly told .", "between charlize 's skimpy , spandex outfits and the equally-sparse , angular modernistic architecture this readily digestible , if implausible sci-fi adventure is laced with enough surprises to keep you engaged throughout .", "personally , after her amazing performance in monster , i prefer the ugly charlize theron .", "it was so uncomfortable to watch this film , i felt like i was desperately holding back a bout of extreme diarrhea while having dinner with my girlfriend 's folks for the first time .", "both gorgeously surreal and vacuously arty .", "it 's not terrible . it 's not so bad that it 's fun . MOV does n't rhyme with ` flux . ' it 's just watchably bad , which is no reason to watch it at all .", "a thoroughly awful and unusually incoherent piece of work .", "i usually bypass puns based upon a film 's title , but here i ca n't help myself : MOV is a flux-up of prodigious proportions .", "charlize theron has her oscar . now she has her catwoman .", "if you could n't tell the difference between a flux from an aeon before you walk into the theater , be prepared to make this response to the picture : ` whaaa ? '", "although it would be difficult to laud this movie as being anything stronger than mediocre , it is superior to what one would reasonably expect from something paramount was trying to keep under wraps .", "despite impressive sets , a fine cast and some eye-popping special effects , this sci-fi action movie does n't always work -- mostly because visual gimmicks overcome plot and character development .", "the waste of talent and money thrown into this cheesy , haphazard production should be a criminal offense the world over .", "despite the studio 's lack of confidence , it is n't exactly an awful movie -- it 's not honeymooners bad , at least , and paramount eagerly welcomed critics to that one .", "even worse than catwoman ... if you are compiling a ten worst of the year list , aeon is a must-see . otherwise , your time would be better spent doing just about anything else .", "not even the sight of theron in stylized bondage gear can atone for the muddled story , hackneyed action , and dulled-down effects .", "an estrogen-energized companion piece to michael bay 's the island .", "this live-action cartoon tries to walk the line between pleasing the faithful and appealing to a broad-based action audience . it fails on both fronts .", "the film has lots of violence , but there are n't any consequences -- it 's like a videogame , where the worst thing that could happen is you have to start over .", "kusama seems to spend most of her energy rendering theron in perfect poses and lighting schemes .", "not awful enough to be bad , nor ambitious enough to be good .", "poor pete postlethwaite comes off looking like an old man stuck in an oversize , dried out cheeto puff .", "MOV is by far the year 's worst movie , a most dubious achievement .", "flashy but incredibly dull ... a real catastrophe , the cinematic equivalent of a tsunami .", "paramount pictures and mtv films blatantly tried to keep the movie , which debuted friday , away from critics to prevent opening-day reviews . for good reason . hollywood suits did n't want anyone to know how utterly boring the movie is .", "theron plays aeon as a reluctant cipher who yearns to get back to a real existence . by the end , you 'll know the feeling .", "you know a sci-fi action film is failing when even the outfits are bad .", "thanksgiving is over , but those gluttons still hungry for turkey should enjoy picking at the carcass of MOV .", "folks , i 'll never understand studios . MOV is not that terrible . it 's certainly more fun than a lot of films that get lovingly showcased .", "theron is fetching enough in her tight outfits , but utters each line like she just downed a handful of quaaludes .", "the fact that a movie containing all of those elements could be as sterile and monotonous as this one is a wonder in itself .", "are you really willing to pay full fare just to see charlize theron do backflips in skintight s&m outfits ?", "ten years ago , chung 's animated MOV was groundbreaking , inspirational . it still is . maybe another spin through chung 's flux dvd set will wipe away all memory of its middling live-action cousin .", "there 's no way to say it but to come right out with it : MOV is a good movie . actually , it 's a really good movie .", "simultaneously silly , ostentatious and terribly boring .", "spectacularly silly .", "MOV is n't about how cool or weird or geeky it can be , but about the potential endgame of a contemporary social debate , and that is its best asset .", "this could have been , maybe , a rich and fascinating invented place to explore and hang out in , but instead it feels like exactly what it is : a bulls ** t hollywood excuse for science fiction .", "to put it succinctly ` MOV ' sucks !", "this is one of those perfect on the outside-fascist on the inside societies where everything happens in huge , cavernous spaces for no particular reason except that it 's a cool setting .", "a hokey , post-apocalyptic jumble of clunky storytelling , tin-ear dialogue , and ineptly staged action sequences .", "the futuristic thriller is overly familiar and never especially gripping -- and too somber and cerebral for the young action crowd -- but it looks terrific and is in no way an embarrassment .", "the picture climaxes with the crashing of a blimp , an image that encapsulates the hindenburg scale of its failure .", "one would figure , after 400 years of bad action movies , that leaders would learn : if a woman comes at you dressed in a tight jumpsuit , duck .", "MOV is best appreciated for the costumes , the sets and charlize theron 's haughty athleticism .", "we know it 's the future because everyone has the most ridiculous hairdos .", "weird pop-art becomes routine .", "in the dystopian future , apparently , women will be bendable barbies in leather scanties , and everyone will speak like brain-dead robots .", "99 % of the world has been killed by a fatal virus , and the remaining 1 % probably smoked like chimneys , with my luck .", "is n't as bad as i feared it might be , but it 's certainly nothing more than a run-of-the-mill action flick that just happens to have some cool set designs" ]

[ "succeeds modestly as a teen movie . expect anything else from it and you 'll be disappointed .", "for anyone under 13 , free from cynicism and with a need to believe that 17 year-old boys are n't just after one thing , maybe this film rocks .", "a shameless , compassionate tearjerker about hope , inspiration and courage .", "this is a great romantic tearjerker .", "it 's an overwrought teen weepy , terms of endearment for the trl crowd .", "this realist fairy tale of impossible love has a fair amount of nuance and charm .", "too-syrupy re-tread of love story .", "adopts a breezy anti-cynicism as a pose , and then spends the rest of the time failing in the most spectacular way to competently execute it .", "a monstrosity of a movie that i am all too eager to forget .", "an adolescent romance we 've seen a million times before .", "a sermonizing and lifeless paean to teenage dullards .", "seeing as how it 's based on a weepy nicholas sparks novel , it 's not surprising that this teen romantic drama is an almost unbearably weepy film .", "` no one was expecting remains of the day but this film could have been more than just a dawson 's creek stop gap . '", "a kind of low-rent version of love story with overt religious overtones ...", "-lsb- a -rsb- wretched teen dramedy .", "those raised on idealized romances -lrb- the ken and barbie kind -rrb- where love conquers all will no doubt love this sappy tale .", "mandy moore only has herself to blame for choosing such a tooth-rottingly sentimental weepie as this .", "director shankman ditches character development in favour of delivering an exploitative date movie and dubiously conservative moral lesson .", "this horrific teen romance-cum-weepie is best watched from between your fingers , or from under your seat , or perhaps standing outside the cinema looking in the opposite direction .", "wholly un-groundbreaking , deeply conservative , increasingly sentimental , but reflecting some of the best of those qualities ." ]

[ "-lsb- a -rsb- compelling film .", "the directors have assembled a veritable sonic museum of the band .", "dee dee is the most humorous band member , as he remembers the halcyon days of pre-fame forest hills : ` we would hang out , sniff glue or smoke pot ... listen to the stooges ... '", "there is little in this film to interest those who are not groupies of the ramones .", "as fascinating as it is flawed .", "for music fanatics and for ramones fans , there 's a sad story and a peek behind the creative process that made the band 's trademark music .", "a rough-hewn jewel of a documentary that chronicles the rise , demise and troublesome personal lives of the loud , fast new york city quartet synonymous with the term punk rock .", "offers a fascinating chronicle of the birth , glory days and waning years of a motorcycle-jacketed , bowl-haircutted quartet of middle-class geeks who unwittingly spawned the punk movement .", "what audiences will want to talk about is the way the film reveals the quixotic human dynamic between the band members , the personal neuroses that simultaneously kept the group together and pulled it apart .", "gramaglia and fields have uncovered plenty of good historical footage , and the interviews with band members , managers , friends and peer fans confirm not only how influential , but how beloved the ramones were , particularly the ever-visible joey .", "does justice to the humble punk band from queens that influenced everyone from the clash and sex pistols to u2 and green day .", "about halfway through end of the century : the story of the ramones , journalist legs mcneil asks why the ramones did n't have big hits . the achievement of the film is that it makes you wonder the same thing and provides an answer .", "end of the century is an excellent film regardless of its noticeable flaws .", "very much the movie metallica : some kind of monster should have been . it captures a band at its peak , rather than just wallowing in the desperation that sets in years later .", "an absorbing , thoroughly entertaining look at the music and feuding of the influential american punk-rock band .", "1 -rrb- it 's a richly human story about friendship , originality , professionalism and success , and 2 -rrb- there 's hardly been any new music worth a lick in the past 30 years that the ramones did n't somehow inspire .", "a comprehensive look at the punk pioneers that never wears out its welcome .", "rise and fall of punk rock pioneers", "one of the most appealing themes running through this rock-doc is the admission by all concerned that the ramones were never great musicians and never needed to be .", "an exhilaratingly brilliant film about the rise and rise of the punk band that was too tough to die .", "a deliriously musical portrait of a band that became famous and legendary without the headlining stardom that usually accompanies that .", "stellar docu on influential punk band ; talk of drugs , drink .", "everything you want to know about the ramones , as told by many of the people who were there to remember .", "necessary viewing for any music fan .", "an extensive , bittersweet scrapbook ... -lrb- that -rrb- pays tribute to both the band 's punky , never-say-die spirit and to the hard-driving , often exhilarating music they created .", "this absorbing documentary by michael gramaglia and jim fields traces the history of the seminal punk rock band in exhaustive detail .", "documentary about the rock group , which has worked its way through an amazing number of members in its long career .", "unvarnished and raw as the punk pioneers whose turbulent trajectory it traces , end of the century : the story of the ramones is a true fan 's nirvana .", "one of those rare films that , despite having a near two hour running time and being very complete in its focus , one still wishes was much longer .", "the filmmakers convey the extent of the ramones ' impact on rock without ignoring the more unsavoury elements of the story .", "a haunting study of the ramones -- if your eardrums can take it .", "fulfills its ambition to give these lost boys from queens their considerable props , not least as inspiration for arty outcasts everywhere .", "johnny 's analysis and will carry the film .", "it 's hard not to feel that the ramones , who never had a hit record , were the greatest band in 50 years to be stonewalled out of success .", "a film that does a fine job explaining their importance without airbrushing their foibles .", "a satisfying , straightforward documentary with great archive footage and interviews with band members ... and those they influenced .", "the inclusion of some little-seen musical performances by the band and the examination of its musical legacy make this documentary worthwhile .", "it 's heartwarming , if a bit spooky , to see these rock heroes speaking to us now that they 're dead .", "in the spirit of ramones ' songs , the movie should have been twice as loud and half as long and it would have been perfect .", "the ramones have been commodified , deified , even gentrified , but seldom have they been so thoroughly analyzed .", "a portrait of an unpretentious band whose sum was greater than its very flawed parts .", "it does pry much deeper into the band 's unexpectedly complex and contradictory personalities -- particularly when it comes to the more-tragic - than-comic feud over a girl between lefty lead singer joey and defiantly conservative guitarist johnny ramone .", "ranks with terry zwigoff 's crumb as one of the most searing , disturbing and oddly celebratory depictions of popular artists ever committed to film .", "an essential addition to the growing -lrb- and inherently ironic -rrb- field of punkology .", "the revelations may even deepen your appreciation for the music -- it 's incredible that so much dumb fun was generated out of such pain .", "engaging documentary .", "this documentary works best for those who understand ` hey , ho ! ' and really want to go .", "it gets on the cinematic record that the ramones were here , and that they mattered .", "chronicles their 30-year history in a style befitting the band : bare-bones , frank , nonsensationalized and adamantly unsentimental .", "more than most rock documentaries , end of the century captures the strain of any group effort , and the toll the hard-rock life can take .", "the first half of the film is a by-the-numbers rock docu . but at the halfway mark , the personalities and psychoses of the performers become as interesting as the history , and the documentary morphs into an involving human drama .", "a thorough , gutsy and appropriately scuzzy-looking documentary by michael gramaglia and jim fields , featuring rare footage and interviews with the stars of the cbgb era .", "fields and gramaglia suggest , without having to twist our arms , that the ramones helped change the course of our cultural history . they did n't just usher in the end of the century : they gave it its second wind .", "details the group 's raucous history with humor and a minimum of hero worship .", "skillfully chronicles both the pain and pleasure of the band for its members .", "music fans , especially those who remember the rock scene of the mid - '70s , will have a blast with this raw , funky look at the ramones .", "this is an exhaustive survey , not just of the ramones , but of the entire underground music scene in new york -lrb- and abroad -rrb- in the late 1970s .", "though occasionally repetitive , gramaglia and fields ' admirably evenhanded documentary gives the ramones the respect they deserve : fans will be grateful and the uninitiated should listen and learn .", "it 's as strong a document about the pleasure and pain of rock 'n' roll as has been seen in years ." ]

[ "this psychedelic trip into the minds of the beatles is certainly memorable , but you have to wonder what this movie would be like without the awesome collection of beatles tunes punctuating the soundtrack .", "the movie 's boggling matter-of-factness is a key to its enduring -- no , its deepening -- charm .", "a certified classic .", "yellow submarine is less a movie , in fact , than a series of connected music videos , animated in a dazzling variety of styles .", "almost 20 years after its release , this charming fable chronicling the beatles ' battles to save pepperland from the blue meanies is one of the best testaments ever to the redeeming value of good music .", "it 's a credit to the art direction by heinz edelmann that this feature has retained its entirely distinctive look decades later", "a music-based animated film for the ages .", "as we embrace the start of the new millennium , the message is loud and clear . the submarine is symbolic for the world in which we live , and love is still all you need .", "more than any other musical , animated or otherwise , yellow submarine is enhanced by its 11 beatles ditties rather than justified by it .", "yellow submarine is a family movie in the truest sense .", "the music and images take the film into uncharted territory and you never know where the film will go next .", "inventive animated feature . yeah , yeah , yeah .", "a movie so joyous -lrb- and mildly demented -rrb- as to rewrite the rules of what a movie can be .", "to this reviewer the film went down easier when the world seemed a lot simpler .", "-lsb- the film embidies -rsb- exactly what the beatles represented emotionally and philosophically in the mid - '60s : artistic daring , cheeky non-sentimentality , a new generation taking over , naively confident the world was ` getting better all the time . '", "a charming little fable with great beatle songs and animation", "visually inventive .", "sure , some of the puns and in-jokes sound a little dated , but any movie that strings together lines from shakespeare merely as a throwaway comic riff is , in my book , a film for the ages .", "an endlessly inventive picture that blends 1960s psychedelia with such diverse styles as pop art and art deco to create the fantastical world of pepperland and its bizarre inhabitants .", "a unique and often brilliant animated film that pictures the beatles as towering and often god-like gentlemen who have the power to change worlds ...", "an outrageously inventive piece of eye-popping pop , it still qualifies as one of the greatest animated movies ever made . -lrb- it also landed in the number 11 spot on creative loafing 's own list of the 20 greatest rock films ever made . -rrb-", "whether it was a case of inspiration or coincidence , most of yellow submarine 's more creative and graceful visuals are those that complement the songs .", "even without the beatles-endorsed drugs of the time , it 's still fascinating to watch", "the 1968 animated classic by the beatles as their declaration of independence .", "if the film 's mod trappings seem locked in a specific -lrb- and increasingly distant -rrb- era , its playful wit remains timeless .", "what a trip .", "beatles classic with great animation , music .", "a garish , gorgeous example of pop art at its finest .", "there 's a quiet note of melancholy in much of this material , which is much more persuasive and concrete than the larky , intoxicating pleasure usually claimed for the film .", "truly one of the finest animated films and one of the finest cinematic musicals of all time .", "if the result seems less a coherent story than a two-hour pot high , submarine is still a breakthrough combination of the feature film and art 's intimacy with the unconscious .", "this 1968 beatles musical gets somewhat plot heavy near the end , but it 's a marvel of innocence and free association , blending several animation techniques in a loose narrative full of gentle bad puns and flowing visual segues .", "the animation is imaginatively conceived , but stiffly executed .", "a zesty , satisfying celebration of animation , fantasy , love , and the beatles that pleases the eyes as much as the ears .", "here are all the ingredients of a novel entertainment .", "there 's such a wide disparity of graphic styles from sequence to sequence . some of them , though , still look terrific .", "not a splendid time for all ." ]

[ "director gary ross generally avoids the elaborate exterior shots and special effects that dominate high-concept blockbusters .", "if MOV on screen does n't exactly catch fire -lrb- as does its hero katniss everdeen -rrb- , its savvy pop culture mash-up and the charge of teens in life-and-death peril remain intact .", "it 's rare that a film based on a young adult novel is able to juggle so many powerful issues so profoundly .", "where collins ' book paid careful attention to detail , ross pays far too little . characters never become exhausted or desperate or gaunt ; they do n't even get chapped lips or broken nails .", "i can recommend MOV with an asterisk . it is an intriguing - and maybe even close to original - story weighed down by a plot that is starving for tension .", "while missing a bit of emotional heft , MOV ends up being an excellent dystopian fable .", "director muddles games .", "viewers who like a side order of political allegory with their science fiction will find much to savor here . so will romantics , fans of feminist heroines and action enthusiasts . `` MOV '' is that rare creation , an event movie of real significance .", "an often riveting , occasionally underwhelming chronicle of a competition forcing teenagers to kill each other , and the brave resilience of the world 's best big sister .", "-lsb- video -rsb- everything about `` MOV '' is a rehash . if not for jennifer lawrence 's ever-commanding performance , there would be no redeeming value for a movie that goes on two-and-a-half hours too long .", "a gut-wrenching , mature , young adult fiction adaptation , diffused by occasional meandering , but with enough unexpected choices to keep audiences on their toes .", "lawrence is a tremendous talent , and she is what makes `` MOV '' ultimately worth spending time with . she does n't elevate the film to the heights to which one might have wanted , but she takes it a lot higher than it would have otherwise risen .", "... turns out to be a pleasing mix of throwback sci-fi and modern cultural critique .", "this hunger games is a muscular , honorable , unflinching translation of collins ' vision . it 's brutal where it needs to be , particularly when children fight and bleed .", "it 's difficult to picture a more faithful adaptation that still works as a film and does n't push the running time over three hours .", "... the first of what is bound to spawn a lucrative franchise .", "MOV is odd , though , in that it wants its outrage at the system while , like the movie 's characters , buying into it .", "even if it was n't propelled by a compelling narrative , and even if ross ' film did n't strike a nice balance between honoring the book and slavishly adhering to it , katniss would be a fascinating character . that both of those are true only helps .", "uma experięncia eficaz graças a um universo interessante e a personagens carismáticos .", "it is the shock of recognition coupled with a plot that constantly engages , and even surprises from time to time , that propels an intriguing premise both dynamically and sensitively realized .", "more than just a battle royale with cheese ...", "the positives to MOV are largely thanks to lawrence in the lead .", "any gripes that i have with it stem from the fact that it could n't be four hours long and that it ca n't be in first person like the books .", "it is when the games begin that the potential and mythical quality of the characters is effectively conveyed despite a nagging feeling that ross is holding back .", "there 's not a shred of cynicism anywhere in it .", "there 's a whole bunch of really nice subtle things that they do that they do n't feel the need to broadcast .", "... while battle royale is good bloody dystopian fun , MOV has a better , more completely drawn story and interweaving of theme . and it has katniss everdeen , who 's a completely kick-ass female protagonist .", "people regularly complain that films ca n't be both entertaining and clever . MOV exists to prove them wrong . please go and see it .", "maintains the novel 's romance to satisfy faithful fans while supplying plenty of action to keep the whole audience entertained . i 'll take MOV over the twilight series any day , but it 's still no battle royale .", "add auds wo n't mind that there 's no time to get to know anybody , or watch a relationship unfold , or ride the dramatic rise and swell of a compelling narrative .", "` the most dangerous game ' meets ` dawson 's creek . '", "lawrence puts in a performance that will rank as one of the best of the year .", "ross keeps the sci-fi themes vivid and relevant , the camerawork jittery and involving and the action speedy and thrilling .", "MOV is a very enjoyable futurist adventure , presented with a compelling , beady-eyed intensity .", "while it misses the insights from the first-person narrative in the book , the film remains a generally effective adaptation of collins 's novel .", "MOV completely transcends the teenage genre by presenting a film with a strong emotional core mixed with an epically bad-a ** central character ! i loved this movie !", "it 's a streamlined fable with enough zing to keep the franchise flying until the next round .", "without stinting on the action , ross ' film shows us a sick , brutal society and then introduces us to a few characters who might be ready to start doing something about it .", "MOV certainly does n't lack for ambition , and although it 's mostly successful , one ca n't help wishing the film could have better integrated its different tones and agendas .", "what viewers are left with is a watchable enough picture that feels content to realize someone else 's vision rather than claim it as its own .", "ross moves between action and human drama with nimble awareness of the weight of the issues coursing through the story of fascism , propaganda , and , yes , adolescence under the weight of the world .", "again and again katniss rescues herself with resourcefulness , guts and true aim , a combination that makes her insistently watchable , despite mr. ross 's soft touch and ms. lawrence 's bland performance .", "despite its well-worn ideas and themes , gary ross 's provocative , pulse-surgingly tense adaptation could n't feel fresher , or timelier .", "hunger games has such a strong narrative structure , built-in forward movement and compelling central character that it ca n't go far wrong .", "like its source , this is both credible science fiction and a teen tale that does n't patronise or pander to its audience .", "intense adaptation is violent , thought-provoking for teens .", "fatally emasculated by the need to appease young fans . the premise alone carries it so far , but cinematically speaking , it 's a non-event .", "gary ross has a minimalist style that enhanced dialogue-dependent and character-driven efforts like seabiscuit and pleasantville , and it 's precisely why the first half works so well -- and why the second half needed a stronger presence behind the camera .", "the cinematic visualisation of the upper class of pinem - is painted with a surrealist brush that salvador dali might have dropped -lrb- but -rrb- . . falls short of expectations , registering a low emotional score despite all that is at stake", "gary ross clearly does not have enough faith in the material or the world he created to simply let the audience enjoy the ride . the constant shaky cam , out of focus zooms and other unnecessary camera gimmicks literally made me sick .", "... a junior scholastic spin on lord of the flies , logan 's run and other post-apocalyptic allegories ... lawrence scores a bull 's eye as the flinty , maddeningly tenacious katniss ...", "it 's far too long and much inferior to the ferocious japanese battle royale .", "does it really matter that this is not an entirely new idea ? nope .", "pulls its punches , content to be a glossy entertainment .", "MOV features names that are like color palette rejects at the dior counter .", "full review at movies for the masses", "a high attrition-rate , splatter flick designed to satiate the bloodlust of kids weaned on gory computer games . the most dangerous game meets lord of the flies !", "ross offers something in his film adaptation of the novel that collins , writing with katniss 's voice , never could : the experience of watching MOV , rather than being a contestant in them .", "an entertaining adventure , but while director gary ross gets terrific performances from tucci , banks , harrelson , and lawrence , he drags it out far longer than the story requires .", "was it wrong to expect something more from `` MOV '' other than pajama-party fodder ?", "the first film of the trilogy should have fans craving for more and under the skillful direction of gary ross , they will enjoy his well balanced adaptation .", "fans of the books and those new to the story should both be pleased and entertained .", "as thrilling and smart as it is terrifying . there have been a number of big-gun literary series brought to screen over the past decade . this slays them all .", "rarely does a blockbuster live up to its overheated hype , but MOV proved to be an exception . lawrence and this franchise will go far .", "MOV paints a vivid picture of stark contrast -- poverty and wealth , oppression and freedom , fear and hope . it 's these opposing forces that make collins 's world such a tantalising one .", "MOV is an exciting and sometimes intuitive take on class wars and the struggle for survival .", "both fans of the books and those brand new to the story of katniss everdeen will find MOV compelling . with the first film proving the series is in good hands , i 'm excited to see the next chapters play out onscreen .", "ross and crew succeed in converting collins ' best-selling text to the screen , and fans should reward their efforts . when it comes to MOV , the odds are ever in this film 's favor .", "the similar films , books and myths that went before do n't matter . MOV succeeds on the strength of its fresh , clearheaded narrative and depiction of a brave young woman who rejects the monstrous rules of the game .", "gary ross made a real movie . not dumbed down and not just pandering to a pg-13 teenage audience . by visually telling the story entirely through katniss ' point of view he cleverly gets around many of the potential obstacles and objections one might have .", "ross manages to keep the pacing remarkably swift , given that the games themselves do n't start until halfway through the 144-minute running time .", "MOV lacks a compelling raison d'ętre -- it 's not much of a class critique , and even less successful as an inter-generational study of how the young struggle against the old .", "-lsb- katniss is -rsb- perhaps the most engaging action-movie protagonist in recent years ... am i glad i saw MOV ? yes . but i 'm not eager to see it again .", "viewers can hope future installments retain this same thoughtful approach that works on multiple levels .", "and how old is lenny kravitz -lrb- cinna -rrb- ? he must bathe in the blood of young hendrix knockoffs .", "a dark and engaging action/drama laced with social critique and dystopian sci-fi . but most of all , it 's the story of a girl and crushed innocence .", "once we 're in the arena , the bones of collins 's story ensure an enthralling time .", "ross has successfully dissected and expanded the book and produced something that works as a film -- so long as you 're not too precious about its origins .", "gary ross has generally done a decent job , although you 'll certainly get more out of the movie if you 've read the book and can fill in the blanks .", "this adrenaline-pumping drama of survival is the most exciting and engaging action adventure since avatar .", "`` MOV '' runs nearly two and a half hours in length but is the rare film that never drags and does n't overstay its welcome . it could keep running as long as katniss does , and we 'd want to be right there every heart-pounding step of the way .", "the supporting cast is excellent -lrb- most notably stanley tucci as flamboyant television host caesar flickerman , and woody harrelson as haymitch abernathy , katniss and peeta 's troubled mentor -rrb- .", "some plot threads are underserved but MOV is a fascinating and disturbing character drama that successfully captures the core themes of the book .", "sure this entry is a ripoff of `` battle royale , '' but it 's still an entertaining ride with great casting that will more than likely please fans of the book and those who 've never even heard of it .", "despite a few minor problems , MOV proves to be a promising start to what will no doubt become the next beloved hollywood mega-series .", "while the 12a rating renders any serious violence a tad impotent , there is much more going on here than the fawning and frowning of its soppy vampire peer .", "a retread of a tale that 's the running man meets lord of the flies with a dash of twilight for tween-adoring measure .", "i never thought i 'd describe a film by pleasantville and seabiscuit director gary ross as ` whackadoodle , ' but if the shoe fits .", "MOV may be a flawed beast , to be sure , but there 's plenty of subtext to glean from the narrative , and a slew of wonderfully rich characters worth investing in .", "while a great ride of a movie , it is also one wrapped around an oddly disquieting message .", "the first genuine ca n't miss film of the year that you 'll want to go back to the theater to see over and over again .", "it 's a promising pilot for a franchise with potential to be something more than mere entertainment .", "as tough-spirited as fans would hope for - and exciting and thought-provoking in a way few adventure dramas ever are .", "`` MOV '' never really holds together or makes any sense , except as an elementary fairy tale about a young girl 's coming of age and an incipient romantic triangle -lrb- which is the focus of the film , far more than the book -rrb- .", "why is the movie like eating the white of a hard boiled egg with no salt , pepper , or any other flavor except `` white ? ''", "`` MOV '' may be derivative , but it is engrossing and at times exciting .", "that -lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- is rated pg-13 while the soon-to-be released documentary `` bully '' received an `` r , '' says some rather unflattering things about our culture .", "more in the league of the harry potter films than twilight . it 's nice to see a film aimed at kids that has such a strong , resiliant , heroic - yet human main character . a star-making part for jennifer lawrence .", "should please fans , but leave them wondering what an alternate version might have looked like that was n't afraid to get its hands dirty .", "jennifer lawrence commands the screen in smart , thrilling , dystopian sci-fi adventure .", "while MOV stops shy of truly transgressive sci-fi , it succeeds as mildly thought-provoking entertainment that presses all the right buttons on its way to box office supremacy .", "courage and sacrifice are the themes of this futuristic thriller , fantasy and video game that are mashed up into one hell of a tasty package . . . exciting , edgy and unpredictable and leaves its audience well satisfied as it waits for the next instalment", "the basic problems stem from the lackluster direction and the witless , bare-bones screenplay . this is sort of a bookrags.com take on a classic . you get the characters and the plot basics , but the art is missing .", "MOV has as much to say about oppressive politics and the bloodthirsty , heartless media as it does about the internal struggle among the combatants .", "katniss everdeen is motion pictures ' most fully realized and compelling female action hero since sigourney weaver 's ripley from the alien franchise .", "a slick , functional adaptation that seems oddly disengaged from the potential richness of its conceit ; more inquisitive minds will find its cinematic adaptation lacking in some crucial respects .", "gary ross , who directed seabiscuit , manages to get this nag out of the starting gate and across the finish line with no major blunders , but without much in the way of inspiration , either .", "katniss is the girl hero we 've been waiting for .", "in book form , MOV was smart , provocative , exciting , and fun . the movie is all those things too . everything comes together to bring a terrific story to life in a different format .", "`` hunger games '' should kick an audience directly in the groin with its presentation of the butchery foisted upon a society under the tyrannical thumb of a chosen few .", "a lot has been lost in the translation , which is a shame because there is the potential there for this intrepid young woman and jennifer lawrence has an amazing screen presence .", "a clever film that manages to combine orwellian themes with light adolescent drama and stabby teenagers .", "... a disturbing dose of science-fiction doom .", "one of the problems , i think , is that given that the books were aimed at young women , i think the filmmakers have been terrified at making anything too violent .", "it 's rare to take such a distasteful subject matter and make it into a powerhouse film .", "if , as the ads suggest , the whole world will be watching this , viewers will likely be satisfied with what they see .", "the overall combination of smart social commentary , compelling narrative , clever yet unobtrusive film style and the integrity to not be what it is critiquing , results in a very impressive film .", "as the heroine in this futuristic saga , jennifer lawrence will surely attain the rarified status of a hollywood star who 's a household name .", "does the obvious well enough , but except for lawrence 's stirring turn never goes beyond that ... -lsb- has -rsb- dedication and taste , if not much imagination .", "like the book , `` MOV '' does n't end so much as open the door to the next installment ; it 's frustrating , but you 'll probably feel you 've gotten your money 's worth .", "MOV is that rarest of beasts : a hollywood action blockbuster that is smart , taut and knotty .", "pertinent to the times , the year 's first blockbuster is a grand , beautiful film .", "MOV is a smart satire and a tragic thriller , but above all it 's a movie marvel ; particularly in this age when big-budget blockbusters are as vapid as the churned-out faux-reality programming we so cheerfully but thoughtlessly consume .", "it carefully walks a difficult line : how do you tell an essentially violent story without glorifying that violence ?", "i 'm already hungry for more .", "efficient if not electric , `` MOV '' is still epic in intent .", "displaying a sturdy professionalism throughout that stops just short of artistry , director gary ross , who co-scripted with collins and billy ray , does his strongest work in the early scenes , which set up the stakes with chilling efficiency .", "there are some sappy moments , but overall it 's exciting , with a good story and a credible , charismatic performance by lawrence that makes the whole thing work .", "it 's rare to see a blockbuster with such a sharp political sensibility . and the actors are terrific in complex roles .", "director gary ross ' solid adaptation aims to please fans and a mass audience alike , which is a double-edged sword . and a surprisingly blunt , bloodless one .", "-lsb- it -rsb- smells very much like a movie with money on its mind - not altogether successfully balancing its loftier ideas with a sense of superficial whimsy and vegas-meets-wizard of oz production design .", "the idea of a future society where the state controls the population through lethal games is familiar from films like rollerball , the running man and even doctor who , but retooled in the era of simon cowell gives it some fresh purpose .", "great idea to cast jennifer lawrence in the lead and involve collins as co-scribe : ross has made a timely , thematically provocative , emotionally engaging tale -- as of today , 2012 's most intriguing american film .", "if the series 's legions of fans miss a detail here or a sub-plot there , they 'll still recognize its bones and sinew , especially in jennifer lawrence 's eagle-eyed heroine katniss everdeen .", "this futuristic tale of teenage violence is so not my kind of movie that i approached it grudgingly , so imagine my surprise when i ended up being totally exhilarated and enjoying it immensely .", "it 's a theme which feels old - think battle royale , the running man - but ross delivers it with such commitment and imagination that it feels fresh .", "MOV has epic spectacle , yearning romance , suspense that wo n't quit and a shining star in jennifer lawrence .", "-lsb- s -rsb- omehow , some way , the core of what makes -lsb- the -rsb- books such sharp satire and such enthralling adventure was retained ... -lsb- i -rsb- s n't better than or worse than the novel -- it 's the perfect accompaniment to it .", "just as brave and loyal katniss everdeen is the heart of the wildly popular series of `` hunger games '' novels , jennifer lawrence is the heart of this faithful adaptation .", "stunningly designed and superbly written , this is an exciting , enjoyable and intelligent blockbuster with a terrific central performance from jennifer lawrence .", "ross avoids the hyperbole of gore and mayhem to keep the emotions of what is happening so near the bone it hurts .", "a ya adaptation elevated by a talented cast , skilled direction , and a tone and story that feel vibrant and applicable beyond just this single film .", "the filmmakers owe a lot to their star , jennifer lawrence , whose commitment and intensity as katniss everdeen carries the film through its many weaknesses , dead spots and cheesy visuals .", "can MOV , in the movie version directed by gary ross , successfully navigate the crossing from page to screen ? our answer : eh .", "from the décor in the luxurious apartments to the little curls at the end of wes bentley 's beard , this is a film with a strong visual footprint .", "MOV expertly toes the pg-13 line , suggesting more than showing , but not shying away from brutality as an integral part of the film 's and novels ' grim message .", "it 's rightly one of the big-ticket cinematic events of the year - do n't miss it .", "led by a superb cast and deftly directed , this is a compelling and thrilling trip , which unsettlingly pulls you into the mix .", "MOV largely transcends its teen-fiction origins to prove itself more than a money spinner .", "smarter and tougher than twilight - and with a heroine who could n't be further removed from drooping , love-struck bella swann .", "lawrence is terrific in the lead role and gives us someone to root for to survive this horrible ordeal . the supporting players carve out memorable characters . the musical score , costumes and makeup are the other strengths .", "i found the sardonic satire of the movie 's first half in the capitol -lrb- a city that suggests a meeting of l. frank baum and albert speer -rrb- more intriguing than the insufficiently suspenseful depiction of MOV competition itself ...", "i did n't read the book . while the film is entertaining enough , i never felt drawn in to this new world .", "an incredibly engaging story , told impeccably , with a moral backbone for good measure .", "if the setup behind ` MOV ' upsets you , that 's a good thing .", "lawrence is a strong role model for young girls with her character 's sacrifice , courage , moral grounding in a world that 's lost its own , and will to fight for what 's right , even if it means sacrificing her own life or sparking a revolution .", "if you 've never read collins ' novels , the odds that you 'll enjoy the film are not in your favor .", "this movie rules .", "while the hype may be overstating how good it is , i think both adults and kids will find it entertaining . and hopefully it 's a gateway drug to sci-fi for pre-teen readers .", "it does n't help , either , that star lawrence delivers a consistently competent yet wholly uncharismatic performance ...", "an exhilarating debut from the bestselling series about teenagers engaged in a deadly bloodsport .", "given the recent failure of so many big-budget films , the odds were n't in MOV favor , either . thankfully , hollywood got this one right .", "more satisfying than twilight and a stronger kickoff than the first harry potter movie . but ... -lsb- it -rsb- fails to explore the ethical dilemmas it presents .", "the filmmakers ' devotion to collins ' page-turner will please the book 's fans and anyone who likes action , sci-fi , social commentary or a female protagonist with smarts , compassion and survival skills .", "older youngsters will , of course , love the thrill of the chase and some of the action sequences will , i dare say , have them perched right on the edges of their seats .", "the film shows precious little hunger and no sense of game .", "though not at all innovative or original , is at least a worthwhile action fantasy .", "director gary ross does a great job in bringing the thrilling novel to life in this uncompromising drama .", "a refreshingly gritty and adventurous affair that packs plenty of thematic depth , it does n't let the ambitious source material down .", "has all the technical ingredients of a great -lrb- and even important -rrb- film , but sideswipes them in order to leave the audience feeling like that they have been abandoned in the wilderness of extreme cruelty .", "as action , as allegory , as cinema , MOV is the best american science-fiction film since the matrix .", "the first film in a long time that deserves hollywood 's instant-franchise ambitions because it appeals to genre fans regardless of gender by crafting a story that 's both epic and intimate , spectacular and subtle .", "whatever rough patches and shortcomings this first film has , that by the end i was indeed interested in seeing what happens next speaks to how ross got it mostly right .", "lawrence makes katniss a heroine every bit as strong , fearless and compelling as the patron saint of badass females , lisbeth salander .", "overall , this is a solid take on the material , but it could have done with a little less narrative incident and a little more cinematic sparkle .", "MOV is a mess .", "MOV stomps the twilight saga flat , and though i found those films somewhat amusing , this one is the real deal ...", "katniss embodies all that 's better than her hunger games opponents , being aptly appalled at what she sees while also learning to manipulate her audience .", "a blockbuster that has something to say about the world we could be living in . unlike twilight , this film actually has a deeper and more important philosophical meaning .", "... does a more-than-adequate job of introducing a future world and characters i wo n't mind revisiting . and it gives you a little to think about while you 're waiting .", "here 's the movie for which millions of fans have been starving .", "the movie is oddly blithe about its central premise . how can this movie set up this monstrous society and this brutal game of genocide and expect us to not only cheer for someone to `` win , '' but also hope she finds someone to kiss in the end ?", "for those unacquainted with the novel , it 's a narratively unsatisfying - not to mention visually static - affair , regardless of how much jennifer lawrence holds her own .", "if ` MOV ' represents the latest book-turned-film blockbuster franchise built on the backs of fanatical adolescents then this is progress indeed .", "even the most stalwart viewers , prior fans or not , will be squirming in their seats .", "what works on the page may not translate to the screen . that 's always been the challenge of bringing a writer 's vision to the movies . it all comes back to `` suspension of disbelief . ''", "leaner than harry potter 's adventures , meaner than the twilight saga , MOV lives up to its source if not entirely the hype .", "may the dramamine be ever in your favor .", "-lsb- overcomes -rsb- the occasional rough spot to deliver a faithful and interesting sci-fi adventure .", "not ... a bad film , it 's just that the predictability does lessen some of the impact in this violent teen-aimed franchise-starter .", "surprisingly tolerable .", "lawrence is terrific , but the film is a sleek , competent example of a big-budget , sure-fire commercial hit without much soul or style .", "the wide net cast by games may water down its message and dull the edge a bit , but i was impressed by how much more the movie shares with a film like the truman show than with something like rollerball or the running man .", "`` MOV '' is a smart cross between `` the running man '' and `` the truman show , '' with a little `` romeo and juliet '' thrown in for good measure .", "by the time the satisfyingly bold , next-chapter-generating cliffhanger comes along , insisting on a tone of distinct unease , you 'll be hungry for more .", "for a pg-13 movie , it gave me all the intensity of an r-rated one , making me feel like our little kid 's movies are all grow 'd up .", "the movie is exciting and solid , as intently focused on its goals as its protagonist is on hers .", "maybe ` MOV ' series will deepen with further adaptations , but the series is off to a pretty pedestrian start .", "MOV absolutely delivers for its target audience : younger teenagers . to them , it can be highly recommended .", "take away the hullabaloo surrounding the film adaptation of suzanne collins ' best-selling young adult book and what you have is an absorbing film with a dire premise that stands pretty much on its own .", "although i was n't always blown away by the film and/or its various elements , for the most part i was engaged by the tale . and much of that is due to the presence of and performance by jennifer lawrence . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "lawrence proved her ability to carry a character 's heavy burden in winter 's bone . as katniss everdeen , a teenage girl who is both physically and morally strong , she has gravitas , rarely breaking into a smile , but reveals no sign of self-seriousness .", "fans will be delighted . non-fans should give this movie a chance .", "for those who have not read the book , this film is a movie without a cause .", "lawrence lends katniss the kind of gravitas that , initially at least , makes the film 's bleak vision of the future seem credible .", "forced to finally show us what collins mostly left to our imaginations , it often falters .", "as if it were a survival reality tv show with a real pulse .", "finally we have a female lead character who is strong without being brutal , appealing without being objectified , and confident without being female-chauvinistic .", "while the ending is a bit of a mess , the rest is n't terrible -lrb- and nobody sparkles in the sunlight -rrb- .", "gary ross ' first foray into action filmmaking is occasionally hampered by wobbly camera-work , but is successful in the way it communicates the horror of violence without threatening the teen-friendly rating .", "this tension-filled action-adventure delivers a pulse-pounding , pop culture message of female empowerment .", "MOV is much more than a game . it is a memorable human experience . thank the gods for the wonder of literature and the vision of movies . some of us still hunger for eloquence on the screen .", "comparisons have been made to battle royale - and they 're not entirely undeserved - but this is a different film , and never feels like a watered down version of anything else .", "even when two people are just talking calmly , ross jerks the camera around . why ? as the sense of danger increases , he has nothing to build toward .", "MOV just about manages to remain within the family enclosure . little blood is spilt , but seasoned action fiends will not feel themselves overly short-changed .", "at more than two hours , the film takes its time in getting to the action but is all the better for it .", "i have to admit , i rushed home after the movie to find out what happens in the next couple of books -lrb- thank you , internet -rrb- .", "so yes , lawrence is terrific . the movie itself , unfortunately , is a disappointment .", "lawrence and the character she plays are excellent . but the movie 's story is told poorly , too slowly and with little momentum", "this is only the third movie that gary ross has ever directed . that is just all sorts of wrong .", "even if you know nothing of panem , mockingjays and katniss everdeen -lrb- silly names , ahoy -rrb- , skip this darkly suggestive first chapter of a soon-to-be-major sci-fi franchise at your own risk .", "the futuristic film is just as gripping and moving as the best-seller on which it 's based .", "MOV has a rich sense of history that bobs on the surface of its culture of grim amusement .", "overall , a solid and sometimes spectacular effort that promises even better things to come .", "MOV is largely a triumph of smart , brave , timely , heady science fiction that recalls the 60s and 70s era of big idea scifi .", "the games have begun , and so far they 're pretty gripping .", "whatever MOV lacks in originality , it makes up for with verve and relentless forward motion .", "MOV ' strength is not its social critique - rather , it 's an exhilarating sense of a character learning to control her own destiny .", "like the select participants of its savage sport , MOV stands triumphant , if scarred and a bit wobbly from the contest .", "it 's a science-fiction action-adventure for girls , faithful to its source novel , with a fiery teenage huntress battling to overcome a corrupt , male-dominated system .", "well-paced , well-directed and extremely well acted entertainment .", "an intelligent , thrill-quenching blend of sci-fi and satire introducing a welcome addition to the woefully small canon of admirable action heroines . bring on round two !", "so terrible it might , with antiquity , become a camp masterpiece .", "director gary ross ' adaptation , co-scripted by collins herself , is n't quite as crackingly paced as the novel , but it will more than satisfy existing fans of the trilogy and likely create many new ones .", "lawrence , a rock on which to build a franchise , sells all of this beautifully . her empathy roots the sci-fi extravaganza in an emotional reality that becomes crucial as the games unfold .", "the first book of suzanne collins 's prodigiously popular trilogy has been brought to the screen with a jumbotron sensibility , a shaky camera to emphasize the action and a shakier grip on the subject 's emotional core .", "the sheer spectacle , horror and ghoulishness of the scenario holds the attention and the story moves fast as we journey with katniss from her impoverished mining town to the glittering , futuristic capital city where the contest is staged .", "in a grim future , kids fight to the death for televised games . efficient adaptation of the suzanne collins bestseller wo n't disappoint fans .", "MOV is more notable for the holes it does n't fall into than the great heights it reaches .", "twilight this is not , and jennifer lawrence 's katniss everdeen ai n't bella lusting after edward . instead , you would imagine the flinty katniss driving a stake through edward 's pale , sentimental ass .", "a film that transforms a popular work of teen fiction not just by faithfully exploring its themes but , more important , by proving those themes have a very grown-up resonance .", "-lsb- it -rsb- arrives in theatres ... not only intact , but in command of the essentials of storytelling and characterization . the film deserves the massive success it will surely enjoy .", "solid sci-fi drama filled with a mature resonance about the inhumanity of classism , the corruptive nature of exploitative violence and the audacity of hope in a world which tries to rob the last remnants of spirit from a deprived people", "has all the imagination and youthful exuberance to become the next franchise to catch fire .", "i think it manages to walk that tightrope between faithful-for-the-fans and mainstream-for-the-new-blood as well as could be expected .", "it is a work of art on multiple levels with fantastic technical elements and some of the best performances in a work of science fiction in years .", "the phenomenal cast with great chemistry and sincere authentic performances from the older actors empowers the material .", "ross delivers the dystopian excitement in high style , mixing naturalistic action with retro-futuristic production design that is sure to draw oscar honors .", "not as good as the book , but MOV has lots to recommend it", "a thrilling , intelligent , deeply-felt movie that does not play by the typical rules of franchise building in modern hollywood .", "a palatable mix of riveting adventure , high-stakes drama , a compelling heroine , engaging visuals and plenty of flavor from a talented ensemble , MOV leaves you hungry for the sequel .", "the film is aided immeasurably by judianna makovsky 's costume design . clothes are an intentional method of deciphering MOV ' politics .", "jennifer lawrence 's shining talent makes it all come together .", "the movie on its own terms is an entirely likable thriller , if a bit light on intelligence and personality .", "jennifer lawrence brings to the pulpy material a sense of weight and gravity that few young actresses could muster ; she has a flinty strength that enhances , rather than belies , her soft features , and it makes katniss a completely believable protagonist .", "it has the slightly grubby , cobbled-together look of a futuristic flick from the '70s , but that is part of its charm .", "the battle that informs this adaptation is between the filmmakers ' intent to create a moneymaking franchise ... and the efforts of star jennifer lawrence to create a compelling movie .", "it is better than any of the twilight movies , which is n't saying much , but it is n't bad . it is just barely o.k. and it badly needed more steadicams .", "a triumph of restraint - but had the film been more visceral and less sanitised it might have better implicated viewers in the voyeuristic bloodlust of its entertainment", "a cheap looking , drab film .", "solid enough , but for a non-fan fairly unremarkable .", "i know we 're supposed to tut-tut about levels of cinematic violence , but this seems to me one of the rare occasions when the film needed to be bolder , and nastier .", "it features a functioning creative imagination and lots of honest-to-goodness acting by its star , jennifer lawrence , who brings her usual toughness and emotional transparency to the archer-heroine katniss .", "watching MOV , i was struck both by how slickly ross hit his marks and how many opportunities he was missing to take the film to the next level -- to make it more shocking , lyrical , crazy , daring .", "MOV is first and foremost an adventure/survival story , and director ross keeps things moving with nary a moment of downtime .", "one could ask for want more of collins ' story to be in the film : some key characters and social conventions of the new order are ill explained or not explained at all . but there are the books for that .", "it 's judy blume with more dead children .", "jennifer lawrence is an actor of subtle command , a gray-eyed beauty who can project star presence simply by being present .", "MOV ' pacing is brisk , its stakes as high as stakes get , and its leading lady engaging enough that the odds - at the box office at least - will be ever in its favor .", "the movie is undeniably a rich fantasy adventure , with plenty of narrative wiggle-room for the two books/movies to follow .", "measured against its downright subversive subtext , you have to come away impressed by the level of achievement .", "like the pacing of the novel , the film , even at almost two and a half hours , moves briskly , continuously drawing us in .", "this is a movie about an independent-minded girl who just is n't sure she can trust a boy , as true to the spirit of the shirelles as it is to greek myth .", "lawrence , who came to notice in the art house hit ` winter 's bone , ' is sensational as katniss , ably carrying the weight of the film on her shoulders .", "MOV is an effective entertainment , and jennifer lawrence is strong and convincing in the central role .", "lawrence was nominated for an oscar as a backwoods girl in the independent film `` winter 's bone , '' and she gives this character a similar feral quality . this is a movie about killing .", "derivative and overlong for sure , MOV still has just enough bite for teens likely to find battle royale a little too unwieldy ." ]

[ "the title characters lead pointless , useless lives that are cut mercifully short by early deaths .", "though dark and harrowing , explicit and unsparing , the movie proves a riveting biography of these burnt-out icons and their iconoclastic half-decade .", "... the movie takes us on a rocky , sometimes funny , sometimes annoying , often heartbreaking ride .", "the only thing that is sustained in MOV is a tone of clinical disinterest that leaves you asking why cox would want to make a movie about them .", "a few too many moralistic foreshadowings , but most of the time cox 's situations and characters develop on their own eloquently entropic terms .", "MOV is the definitive pic on the punk phenomenon .", "like sid , this is flawed but fascinating .", "despite the downward spiral of these two lives , the film never loses its drive or passion ; it never wallows in the misery .", "the film 's crowning achievement is depicting the soul-sucking toll that drugs take on the talented and the naive . eventually , drugs replace the people they were , and they turn into mere vessels to an all-consuming craving . they become their addiction .", "... the ultimate punk rock movie , brilliantly crafted , cinematic magic .", "forget jack and rose ; forget doctor zhivago and larissa ; forget lady and the tramp . this love story between MOV is one of the most fascinating ones you 'll ever see .", "oldman 's mid-film music-video performance of ` my way ' before a neon staircase compares favorably-as a revelation of character through performance-to robert de niro 's framing monologues in raging bull . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "alex cox 's best film by far .", "why then should anyone of sane disposition wish to see the film ? because it is still a love story , and a very touching one at that .", "-lsb- cox -rsb- and his actors pull off the neat trick of creating a movie full of noise and fury , and telling a meticulous story right in the middle of it .", "cox 's film is strong on the atmosphere of the day and the sordid lives of those involved .", "it 's not every film maker who credits special thanks to both luis bunuel and dee dee ramone , but then mr. cox does n't fit any recognizable mold .", "the performances of oldman and webb , both stage-trained veterans , are simply astonishing .", "an amazing movie", "a kick-your-teeth-in salute to punkdom 's self-immolating first couple .", "captures the rhythms of heroin casualty much more effectively than frantic work like requiem for a dream , with considerably less bombast .", "the inevitable deaths of MOV are the only logical conclusions to their behavior ; ironically , this is a fact they realize themselves .", "eccentric and brilliant biopic .", "a haunting love story about a mutually self-destructive and harrowing pair ." ]

[ "MOV is -- disappointingly , but not unsurprisingly -- a dull , plodding war film bursting with noble intentions , but ultimately wearing its agenda a bit too much on its sleeve .", "the movie is more about what happens between the battles than during them . it 's the plight of the men , fighting for an army that considers them second-class citizens , that raises MOV above your average war movie .", "the soldiers who battled the nazis were , indeed , brave men , but this turgid hunk of fromage is not a worthy tribute to them .", "it 's a war movie burning with discontent , a moving reminder of the sacrifices that algerian muslim infantrymen made for a motherland that treated them abominably .", "the algerian entrant for the best foreign language film oscar lacks the punch and imagination of its competition .", "the movie plods along rather deliberately until the climactic confrontation at the end -- then the action becomes riveting .", "this movie is much better than ` flags of our fathers ' and every bit as good as ` letters from iwo jima ' .", "there 's definitely something in the air , as flags of our fathers , letters from iwo jima and now MOV -lrb- cursed new title and all -rrb- have been trying to erode that formal spit and polish we associate with the greatest generation .", "MOV has good intentions and a well-executed combat scene , but it could do with more originality .", "a sad depiction of how courageous north african soldiers fighting for france during world war ii were treated shabbily by their superiors .", "the deluge of world war ii movies presents a challenge to MOV , one it can only partially overcome . very little about it is new .", "MOV is as moving as it is ingenuous .", "` MOV ' is highly effective in imaging the horror and fear of combat .", "a clear and urgent essay on the battle for soldier 's hearts and minds in the context of foreign wars . a great action war film featuring suburb acting throughout .", "a splendid war movie .", "-lsb- MOV 's -rsb- grim , cynical portrayal of young men considered worthy enough to die for a foreign country , yet unworthy of being treated as equals , proves bluntly powerful .", "it 's an unusually engrossing world war ii epic that establishes an ensemble of distinct , multidimensional characters and skillfully puts them through a gantlet of harrowing combat situations .", "it could be a better movie . but it certainly convinces you of the nobility of the souls of the men whose boots were on the ground and whose bodies went into that same ground .", "pedestrian ... employs all the usual chestnuts .", "this well intentioned picture works quite well as a history lesson . but good intentions or not , most of the movie is a rather dry and understated catalog of the ill treatment of the muslims .", "a long-view history lesson and emotionally solvent treatment of the north african role in wwii that redresses the still-lingering issue in france .", "an oscar nomination does n't tell you why a particular film is so honored , so let me suggest that this one has a lot to do with the performance level .", "big budgeted -lrb- $ 16 million -rrb- multi-national production downplays its epic scale with a nicely-tuned ensemble that concentrates on personalities rather than battles , highlighting the contribution these men made despite treatment as second-class soldiers .", "just when you think you 've viewed world war ii from every conceivable angle , a picture like MOV comes along and expands your range of vision with a stirring sense of urgency .", "it is telling when a film 's only truly emotional sequence is the one brought about by spectacular cgi explosions and digitally enhanced gunfire .", "i 've never seen a picture quite like MOV , which not only illuminates a forgotten patch of history , but also broadens and enriches the idea of what it means to be both a patriot , in the best sense of the word , and a citizen of the world .", "bouchareb nobly honors men whose sacrifices have largely gone unnoticed .", "bouchareb 's wwii epic took more than a decade to make , but dealing with racism and injustice within the french army , is at once an impressive chronicle of a nearly-forgotten unit and a timely statement vis-a-vis the recent racial riots in france .", "days of gory makes no departures from previous war films , but the tensions between the french commanders and the indigenous troops -- and the conflicts among themselves over how best to respond to provocations -- gives the film its dramatic punch .", "there are similarities to saving private ryan ... but filmmaker bouchareb has a much lighter touch than steven spielberg , never pushing the point or falling back on sentiment .", "năo tenho ilusőes de que o cinema , de modo geral , tenha forças para mudar o mundo . vez por outra , porém , surge um trabalho que desafia as probabilidades e deixa sua pequena marca na história . e este parece ser o caso de dias de glória .", "MOV instantly strikes the viewer as a personable film that carries genuine warmth towards its main characters . though not innovative in any way , there 's a rugged , worn-in feeling to it that recalls sam fuller 's the big red one .", "even stories that must be told can use excitement and imagination .", "... demonstrates that films which aim to educate modern audiences about historical injustices will never have an expiration date .", "can be heavy-handed at times but overall makes its points with considerable power .", "the notions of sacrifice , patriotism , race and self-identity are compellingly questioned , and the battle sequences are realized with stirring intensity .", "the finale , a veritable tableau of loss and frustration , is hardly surprising . the outrage , however , remains raw .", "it 's to the credit of the actors , and algerian-born director rachid bouchareb , that we become emotionally involved with the soldiers and the injustices they are forced to endure .", "algeria 's pick in the oscar race for best foreign-language film is a wounding indictment of discrimination in the trenches .", "powerful tale of african soldiers fighting nazis and the racism of their french officers .", "MOV is a rousing , old-fashioned world war ii platoon movie in the gritty tradition of combat pictures like don siegel 's hell is for heroes , sam fuller 's the big red one and steven spielberg 's saving private ryan .", "we can pretty well guess some coming deaths , but the combat for a tiny alsatian town is vividly done .", "rarely does a movie 's title prove as bitterly ironic as MOV .", "rachid bouchareb 's MOV , is a movingly acted , terrifically old-fashioned world war ii picture rethought as a post-colonial rebuke .", "MOV lacks the big-battle sequences of epic war movies , but makes up for it with emotionally rooted characterizations of its different personalities .", "MOV is an extraordinary document , part war film , part love story , part history lesson .", "in recounting this conflicted tale , director rachid bouchareb displays some valour of his own , resisting what must have been a strong temptation to deal in aggrieved agitprop , and instead confining his attentions to a small group of indigenous soldiers .", "few -lsb- war movies -rsb- are as moving as days , but even so , this film does n't romanticize . it 's hard , clear , full of empathy for its characters and lucid in its insight into their plight .", "a stupendous work .", "MOV may lack a certain complexity , but then courage under fire from all sides -- be it the enemy 's weapons or your own country 's disgusting bigotry -- is a pretty straightforward proposition . the plain facts are more than enough .", "it is n't often a movie has the power to force a country to do the right thing .", "-lsb- rachid -rsb- bouchareb 's movie combines convention with insight in a manner that may prevent it from being a great film but probably helped clinch it as a productive one .", "a cri de couer dressed out as a standard war film , MOV is a well-made if blunt appeal for justice for the nearly forgotten algerian soldiers who enlisted in the french army in 1943 .", "... a good , action-packed war movie with admirable character development , one that informs while it entertains .", "if you 're a ww2 enthusiast this may be worth a look .", "beautifully photographed , impeccably produced and wonderfully acted , but it offers no surprises ...", "instead of guys named danny and polack and sol and brooklyn , you 've got guys named said and yassir and messaoud and abdelkader . but it 's the same deal . prick them , do they not bleed ? blow them up , do their limbs not scatter and their guts not spill ?", "earnest yet heavy-handed .", "standard issue military fare that has a hard time standing apart from established classics of the combat genre .", "as by the numbers as it sometimes becomes , those very clichés also emphasize the fact that we have n't seen these men in this setting before .", "all the upright morality in the world does n't compensate for poor filmmaking .", "the horror of `` MOV '' is that its hate and tolerance are not relics from the past , but are as real today as the flickering shadows on the screen .", "like most every great war movie , it combines intense action with human drama . there 's also several overtly preachy scenes that accomplish little to further the story but they underline the already clear message .", "-lsb- director -rsb- bouchareb clearly understands that battlefield action is greatly intensified when filmgoers care about the participants , and he works artfully to make that happen .", "the first french army , composed mostly of 130,000 north africans , were referred to contemptuously by the french as indigčnes -- natives . their bravery in wartime has never , until now , been adequately described in a movie .", "through an absence of saccharine filmmaking , director rachid bouchareb embarks on a tale of war where time and vulnerability bond the viewer to the characters , not the greasy fingerprints of pretense .", "this rasping relic of a wwii `` message picture '' is hackneyed to its noble core .", "MOV has received a rapturous reception in france , where it has struck a historical nerve with its belated recognition of the sacrifices of 130,000 north african colonial soldiers .", "a war film more of sober , grim reflection than balls-out escapades . yet it grips consistently , its bursts of combat delivering gut-punches of veracity .", "... a film that is feelingly made and steeped in the strongest emotions .", "rachid bouchareb 's stirring war movie does for the north africans what ousmane sembene and thierno faty sow 's camp thiaroye did for the senegalese : it acknowledges the important role they played fighting alongside the french in world war ii .", "this remarkable film is one of the year 's best and is the first film from algeria to garner submission to the lofty heights of oscar contender for best foreign language entry .", "stands apart for its passion and patriotism in the face of hostility . the spirit of liberté , égalité and fraternité runs high for everyone , even those who have never set foot in france .", "a shattering tale of bravery and unrewarded loyalty .", "algeria 's official oscar submission for best foreign language film is a damn good war movie .", "ably performed and effective as an old-fashioned war movie .", "the film also conveniently omits the fact that many other arabs supported the germans . that smoothing out of complex issues makes indigenes more of a simple crowd pleaser than a genuinely challenging film .", "it occasionally does drop into wartime cliches of love lost and friends fallen . but the chest-thwack poinancy of those who shed blood and were shamefully shunned drags you through .", "its message is dimmed by a procession of war and race movie clichés that even the excellent cast and epic cinematography can not revive .", "a passionate , historically important film .", "bouchareb shows a real talent for action sequences .", "the story bouchareb tells is something no classic has tackled before -- that of patriots fighting for a homeland that did n't treat them with égalité .", "fusing the personal and the political , bouchareb 's stirring war drama comes with a modern-day resonance and plenty of punch . recommended .", "a solidly-constructed window onto an era and a culture clash many americans never knew existed .", "a somewhat clunky ending is n't enough to ruin MOV , which features some good performances and has a slightly different take on a much-filmed subject ." ]

[ "notably cinematic storytelling ... the deft shading byler elicits from his thesps is of a piece with his dramatics and his understated , artful approach to compositions and movement .", "MOV is a brilliant movie . it is about irrational , unexplainable life and it seems so real because it does not attempt to filter out the complexity .", "if you have any interest in seeing a challenging movie before the next few months of summer silliness , you should n't wait to see MOV .", "-lsb- the -rsb- scenes are full of pauses , lingering moments . every line spoken echoes in the memory , and the acting is good enough to sell it .", "-lsb- a -rsb- film that is both emotionally intimate and explosive beneath its deceptively serene surface .", "MOV is a gem . it 's always enthralling .", "-lsb- director -rsb- byler may yet have a great movie in him , but MOV is only half of one .", "drawing on an irresistible , languid romanticism , byler reveals the ways in which a sultry evening or a beer-fueled afternoon in the sun can inspire even the most retiring heart to venture forth .", "a work of the utmost subtlety and perception , it marks the outstanding feature debut of writer-director eric byler , who understands the power of the implicit and the virtues of simplicity and economy .", "it 's all arty and jazzy and people sit and stare and turn away from one another instead of talking and it 's all about the silences and if you 're into that , have at it .", "eric byler demonstrates a refreshing trust in his material and his audience , crafting a compact , intriguing drama from understated performances and a subtle visual sensibility .", "more interesting than arresting , perhaps , `` MOV '' is an intelligent piece of filmmaking that promises more than it delivers .", "an understated but engaging sleeper .", "as an antidote to talky american indies involving twentysomething romantic conundrums , MOV hits just the right note .", "MOV nails the subtle psychotic element that circles budding relationships .", "dry but occasionally interesting independent feature .", "this and other movies like it seem to say love is complicated and can cause much misery , but that never strikes me as insightful .", "fittingly probing , sensual , mysterious and raw . byler 's exposition is vastly taut , revealing , and firmly perceptive . MOV radiates with invigorating absorption", "` MOV ' elicits no more than restlessness .", "though the themes are n't exactly groundbreaking , they 're executed skillfully enough to make the movie well worth seeing - for fans of the genre , at any rate .", "the film 's nervous reticence makes it both precious and a little unwieldy , like a matchstick palace built on a subway platform .", "a rarity in american films", "may not be gripping in conventional ways , but it 's daring .", "an erotic mystery of sorts , the film works because it 's laconic rather than talky and its actors are all up for the material .", "it features plenty of hushed moments that suggest the presence of nuances that never really emerge from its murky tone .", "the foursome of actors , especially actresses yuan and kim , fill their portrayals with a smoldering , sometimes desperate , yearning .", "sometimes engaging , sometimes amusing and ultimately surprising .", "it 's a hushed work of restrained emotions , elliptical storytelling and spare dialogue , peopled with smart , authentic characters who have drawn you into their lives before you know it .", "a tiny film that reflects a large talent .", "a smartly made , hedonistic spectacle of alluring , nubile characters , sun-warmed narcissism and breathtaking color .", "a romantic but nevertheless clear-eyed look at the things we do for love .", "the cast is top-notch and i predict there will be plenty of female audience members drooling over michael idemoto as michael .", "byler reveals his characters in a way that intrigues and even fascinates us , and he never reduces the situation to simple melodrama .", "whether or not it 's a pose , the film 's poised reticence is refreshing in context -- a rebuke to the contemporary crop of blabbermouthed american indies .", "capably shot and acted , with a fine feel for loneliness , eric byler 's film is a mood sonata with little concern about being asian ; it is only pc in the sense of ` painfully coy . '", "a sexy , surprising romance ... idemoto and kim make a gorgeous pair ... their scenes brim with sexual possibility and emotional danger .", "left me with the visceral sensation of longing , lasting traces of charlotte 's web of desire and desperation .", "MOV is a difficult movie to describe . it 's writer and director , eric byler , calls it an ` anti-romance . ' some refer to it as a ` realistic love story . ' whatever it is , it 's terrific .", "terminally bland , painfully slow and needlessly confusing ... the movie , shot on digital videotape rather than film , is frequently indecipherable .", "it aimlessly and unsuccessfully attempts to fuse at least three dull plots into one good one .", "may take its sweet time to get wherever it 's going , but if you have the patience for it , you wo n't feel like it 's wasted yours .", "byler is too savvy a filmmaker to let this morph into a typical romantic triangle . instead , he focuses on the anguish that can develop when one mulls leaving the familiar to traverse uncharted ground .", "it is the sex , lies & videotape for a new generation ." ]

[ "frequent flashbacks , equal parts soap opera and historical fashion show , explicate the complicated relationships between kell , faith and the macleods .", "there 's little that anyone who does n't catalog `` highlander '' kills online could possibly comprehend about this mythology-heavy permutation while mocking its casio-demo score , junior-high-play scene blocking , skinemax sex and oafish action sequences .", "we have a sad attempt at action which fails miserably .", "this is the last one in this long dead franchise ... unless they do something stupid .", "thanks to its motley collection of story elements , settings , and acting styles , leaving this film is like getting off an amusement park ride you never wanted on in the first place .", "... do not under any circumstances rent this if you 've never seen the highlander tv series .", "highlander : endgame looks sensational , moves like lightning . but its script -lrb- by joel soisson -rrb- makes no pretense about being logical or even comprehensible .", "the leading contender for worst film of the year .", "och , lads and lassies , on the souls of our shape-shifting gaelic forebears , do not enter unwarned into that dark cave of confusion known as highlander : endgame .", "highlander : endgame is truer to the original than the sequels , but it plays more like a television program than a theatrical release , which will matter little to the die-hard fans .", "perhaps highlander : endgame may emerge as a cult movie -- one of those movies that is so bad , it 's good . but for it to register in that way , you probably have to see it more than once . which is a risk .", "the same pointless exercise in violence and pseudo-mystical twaddle that the whole series has represented since 1986 .", "it 's a cut above highlander ii and iii , though that 's sort of like saying rotting cheese tastes better than raw sewage .", "adrian paul carries the burden here , making endgame feel like an extended episode of the popular television show .", "a complete and utter mess . disjointed , incoherent , boring , corny , filled with bad dialogue ... and that 's just the first thirty minutes !", "they crammed a lot of bad , bad stuff into such a short flick .", "it ranks somewhere alongside -- well , sitting through star trek generations again .", "there is ... something about -lsb- the immortals -rsb- getting a special charge when they actually manage to kill each other . personally , i would have gotten a really big charge if i could have killed them all .", "kinetic but borderline incoherent , hinging entirely on character relationships whose significance it ca n't possibly slow down long enough to explain for the newbies in the audience .", "a dreadful , time-traveling , almost incomprehensible -lsb- film -rsb- .", "a slow-moving piece of garbage with choppy fight sequences and bad acting .", "you know a sequel serves no other purpose than to make money when it has no respect for the rules and history it has set up for itself .", "overall , there 's just not enough story here .", "why interrupt the blissful endorphin rush of grisly sword/martial arts/automatic weapon melees with a lot of clumsy exposition on matters that hold subzero interest for 99.9 % of the audience ?", "the action sequences are decent , but the effects end up so god-awful towards the end ... that all you can do is cringe .", "as is the case with most sequels , the quality is much lower than the original .", "this film feels like a torturously overlong tv episode , and it takes itself so seriously that it has none of the camp value of the original film or the show 's sword 'n' sorcery competition .", "even the sound effects get tiring : how many times can you hear swords being clanged , yanked from the earth or sinking squishily into quivering flesh without getting bored ?", "when highlander sticks to the hand-to-hand battles and does n't try to offer deeper thoughts on the life of an immortal , it works on its own terms .", "its story is so incompetently constructed that the long lulls between nonsensical action scenes make you wonder if it was written by a prepubescent fan .", "thinking -lrb- logically or otherwise -rrb- about this movie is a waste of your brain cells .", "the sort of movie that 's best seen late at night on tv in the company of some inebriated friends with smart mouths .", "just in case this dog 's breakfast of an action mess ... has some appeal to the adolescent generation , we forced a 10-year-old to attend highlander : endgame with us . his take : ` this movie sucks . '", "we 're left to endure this banquet of bad acting and worse dialogue with no relief save for your inner-heckler .", "it quickly goes astray with fight scenes laden with too many bullets , too many explosions , too many sparks , lightning bolts and weird lights -- and too many impalings .", "the special effects are cheap and not at all impressive . for a series that relies heavily on sword fighting , it too is surprisingly second-rate .", "it 's fast , short , restlessly plotted and , at times , pure bananas .", "if you 're a fan , there could be something here to keep you involved and maybe leave you satisfied . but for newcomers , it 's an uphill battle to make sense of it all and just about impossible to care .", "judging by what writer joel soisson has come up with here , the franchise is already dead in the water .", "the fourth sequel to a film designed to stand alone ... in the end , there should have been only one .", "hyperkinetic yet boring , with sloppy direction and editing masking some awful , stilted dialogue and wooden/hammy acting , the film will probably only appeal to diehard fans of the series or tv show .", "personally , i enjoyed it about the way i enjoyed the mortal kombat movies , meaning that its genuine fun and its unintentionally ridiculous moments are roughly in balance .", "people going to see this movie without any knowledge of the highlander tv series or the original film will be lost . fans , on the other hand , will love it !", "a fitting coda for a franchise that respects its audience with creative flights of fancy .", "kate complains about being an immortal , grousing about ` the endless , numbing sameness of it all . ' i know how she feels .", "the dialogue is cheesy , and the story 's decapitated long before any character 's noggin goes flyin ' .", "the bottom line is that highlander : endgame should be a lot more fun than it is .", "too many time trips detract from the present , and their comic shenanigans border on embarrassing .", "after this installment , i pray that this the end ." ]

[ "incalculably superior in tone , attitude , intent , and intellect to bulk of bodybuilder vehicles , shrewdly produced pic limits limber star 's acrobatics to first and last scenes without great detriment to whole .", "van damme gives a touching direct-to-camera monologue about his career and outlook on life that is the film 's virtuosic centerpiece . never underestimate MOV .", "switching it up from dumb and dumber action thrillers to smart alek moviemaking , MOV is van damme 's girlie man unplugged , and literally his own worst enemy . it 's no dog day afternoon , but still a sensitive tough guy mock reality show with balls .", "van damme puts his best work ever on screen , but ironically the guy who never relied on a good script before is let down by one here .", "the clever , stylish perception-teaser of a comic drama MOV -- a reality-twisting cousin to being john malkovich -- showcases a van damme who 's sly like a fox about his own image .", "part career-resuscitation attempt and part serious cry for help , mabrouk el mechri 's damme day afternoon rebranding effort is an incredibly intriguing failure .", "no one will ever mistake these backstage shenanigans for irma vep . but as a self-regarding expression of masculine angst , it 's a damme sight more fun than synecdoche .", "the film itself does n't rise above the level of a good try . in the absence of godardian wit , MOV needs more kickboxing .", "... is never quite able to hoist itself up to the level of its star ...", "an existential-heist thriller with moments of dark comedy , MOV is decidedly different and has its moments but you probably have to be a diehard fan to really cherish it .", "will make you see the muscles from brussels in a new light .", "-lsb- van damme -rsb- brings a kind of weary dignity to the role , and a surprising self-awareness ...", "it 's as if he 's trying to reach through the screen and show us the real guy behind the image he 's spent a lifetime creating . i 'm not sure if he 's successful , but the attempt is fascinating .", "his face has a bogart-esque haggardness , and his speeches about his life and career have at least a semblance of painful sincerity . this spectacle is n't enough to keep the film from dragging , but it certainly has curiosity value .", "it 's fun , and moderately well handled by a young french director .", "... reveals ... a supple and engaging actor with a sense of humor and a rare kind of self-recognition . van damme knows what we think of him and understands why .", "van damme has never done work like this before , and he 's supported by the director 's unique vision for the film", "it 's clever and unexpected , this confluence of dramatic fiction and real life that finds action star jean-claude van damme playing a version of himself in a heist movie", "a real departure for van dame , but it ought to help his career . who knew he could act ?", "self-referential projects are tricky territory , but van damme handles himself with such likable humor , this could be a career-changer .", "... as surprising a reconsideration of an action hero as one is likely to find .", "mines the life of a minor celebrity for equal parts comedy and pathos , and scores on both counts .", "with MOV , van damme proves he could make a viable career shift into humorous or dramatic character roles that hinge more on brains than brawn .", "whether it 's ironic or funny or deeply intelligent , MOV may actually be one of my favorite movies this year .", "a canny piece of autobiography that looks at the man behind the legend and the legend behind the man .", "this may well be the most memorable jean-claude van damme movie ever , but i 'm afraid that 's not saying much .", "instead of being a spiffy spoof , the movie gives its star little to do .", "for such a self-deluded vanity project , van damme brings the film to life , serving up a terrific lead performance .", "seagal , it 's your turn .", "you could hit up the dvd value bin and stage yourself a lionheart and kickboxer marathon to see the man the way he 'd want to be remembered . or at least the way i 'd like to remember him .", "van damme impressively takes the career comeback title from mickey rourke . it 's an acting tour de force not to be missed . van damme bears his soul .", "our chastened hero steers a confusing course between self-parody and self-justification . `` van damme needs just one thing ... '' runs the tag line , '' ... to be himself '' . but does anyone still care ?", "this may be the best movie he 's made . it 's in french , by the way .", "if you only ever watch one van damme movie , it has to be MOV .", "witty in bits , noisy in others .", "the movie is an act of image-exorcism , a preparation for his golden years ?", "van damme 's on-screen invincibility is summarily demolished , leaving us with a picture of a very different man .", "the rumours are true - this is indeed jean-claude van damme 's best film for 15 years -lrb- and a career-best performance -rrb- , but it 's also unexpectedly sad and surprisingly moving .", "van damme is so good , and el mechri 's storytelling so entertaining , that MOV takes its place alongside the wrestler as one of the unlikeliest but most welcome comeback vehicles in ages .", "jean-claude van damme , b-movie megastar gone straight-to-video , is back with a career-best performance in one of the coolest indie movies of the year .", "it 's an amusingself-portrait which you want to indulge , but the film around it is so brash , manic and pleased with itself it may be difficult .", "directed with pace and a little too much surface gloss by mabrouk el mechri , MOV works less as a suspense thriller and more as a treatise on celebrity , a confessional for its star .", "despite sounding like a mutated variant of a sexually transmitted disease , MOV is infectious for all the right reasons .", "unpredictable , engaging and even challenging , ` MOV ' is an intriguing oddity .", "seems like a spoof at first glance but this proves to be a compelling post-modern thriller with gumption .", "a godardian coup de cinéma .", "a captivating film with a superb understated , genuinely affecting performance from jean-claude van damme .", "jean-claude van damme escapes the pound-bin for a clever action-hero satire .", "MOV is an oddball delight as the muscles from brussels pokes fun at his he-man persona . the film is amusing , engaging and delightfully strange , with van damme in impressive form .", "giving the performance of his life , largely in french , van damme delivers a soulful self-analysis .", "the gentler van damme may disappear after just two pictures . if he does , i 'm happy at least to have made his acquaintance .", "at its core MOV is a classic heist film . but -lsb- director -rsb- el mechri delivers more blows to the cerebellum than his star as viewers trace the ins and outs of the flick 's spiraling structure .", "if you know van damme 's work in the least , if you have any sympathy for the plight of the third-rate action screen hero whose days come to an end , MOV will amuse and touch you .", "if not for a third act that starts to fall asleep on itself , this would be in a walk the best-written satire of 2008 .", "a generally odd project : the balance of pathos and humor never seems quite right , and the end is as puzzling as any of the rest . but it 's a remarkable van damme performance .", "there 's something seductively clever about the way french director and co-writer mabrouk el mechri has fractured chronology -lrb- ŕ la pulp fiction -rrb- to examine MOV 's plight from various perspectives .", "it 's hard to resist : here 's a battered superstar who has occupied so many fantasies , but in his fantasies he 's just like us .", "MOV has points of interest , but it may leave you feeling like you 've just slowed down to look at a car wreck .", "a clever art-imitates-life-imitates-art send-up of celebrityhood and the state of the action-hero genre , MOV juggles humor with whomping martial-arts moves and a kind of melancholy star turn from the melancholy , muscular star .", "whether or not van damme 's lengthy monologue is sincere , it 's an impressive bit of emoting from a movie star who has always let his feet do his acting for him .", "even with a smart concept and playful humor , MOV runs out of juice before its conclusion", "while it may not be a grand comeback vehicle for the so-called ` muscles from brussels ' , the film is his best in quite some time .", "the movie 's neatest trick is to let an introspective van damme muse about the perils of fame and being an aging action hero .", "the shock of seeing the `` muscles from brussels '' emote may have blinded many to the fact that his big comeback vehicle is a pretty mediocre movie .", "i was very satisfied seeing van damme prove that he can do something besides action , and what better way to do that then playing yourself ? even non-fans will be surprised by this !", "in many ways , MOV is not much different from van damme 's cheesier movies except it 's wittier and , this time , he 's in on the joke .", "this is not only a van damme movie that will make you laugh -- on purpose -- it could very well make you cry .", "the only story that matters -lrb- in the larger sense -rrb- is that MOV is a phenomenal achievement , and not despite the work of van damme , but thoroughly because of it .", "a witty self-parody/comeback vehicle for van damme would have been easy enough to make ; el mechri goes the extra mile to make it a good film , too .", "it 's fun as far as it goes , and for the most part quite well made , but in the end it 's really not about very much at all .", "mechri allows the verbally challenged action star dignity and , with this , the film works . maybe next time he could bring jean-claude and mickey rourke together . now that would be a movie .", "turns out as bad as the star 's recent string of dreadful films except for the fascination to look at it as one would a car crash .", "it has ensured MOV will be remembered as an introspective , thoughtful and altogether more profound individual than anyone who ever watched him split a skull would have thought possible .", "think of it as sunset bloodsport with jean-claude as norma desmond .", "it 's a watershed moment in van damme 's career ; the moment you realise the crazy bastard really can act . it 's a tragedy of sorts that most of his fans wo n't even care .", "... not your usual van damme movie ... and a refreshing change of pace for the actor .", "if you thought that mickey rourke had the market cornered on comebacks with his transcendent performance in darren aronofsky 's masterpiece the wrestler , then think again .", "for all we know , it 's just a big show , a put-on for our entertainment -- but what matters is that it 's really quite convincing . you do want to believe this is van damme .", "a bold attempt to humanize van damme , not by trying to ignore his personal and professional pitfalls , but by reminding us that behind ever movie star , loved or loathed , is a complex human being", "MOV sputters badly during the bank heist scenes which , unfortunately , make up the bulk of the film .", "a playful story that has no problem eviscerating its lead actor for comedic effect .", "el mechri really thinks he is making citizen kane in his non-linear deconstruction of a mythical man . he has n't , but it 's a heck of a curio .", "the film sags in the middle section , and it 's more a novelty item than a fully formed work . but it 's very entertaining . and van damme proves himself a brave , possibly foolhardy actor .", "van damme delivers a devastating performance as a downtrodden caricature of himself , infusing the role with such emotional complexity that he seems at times almost unrecognizable .", "it exudes the kind of strange fascination that keeps you glued to the screen just to see what could possibly come up next .", "i sorta enjoyed myself . i could have done without the scene where he floats in anguished reverie , making hamlet sound like an extrovert .", "playing a character based on himself , or more likely , the self that has appeared on countless tabloid and fan mag covers , van damme here invites meditation on genre , consumption , and pleasurable violence in a most visceral way .", "the film 's odd conceit is its primary strength , with van damme in a nakedly honest , bravely candid turn that for the first time in his career can be commended as ` acting ' .", "written and directed by mabrouk el mechri , this functions perfectly well as a van damme vehicle , but it 's also a funny and poignant look at a man trapped by his own ridiculous reputation .", "MOV is not an action movie but a shrewd satire about stardom and the cult of celebrity .", "it might be the most impressive stunt of his career .", "van damme is an actor , pure and simple , and proves that he is just as deft and accomplished as the movies in which he appears .", "... an action film where the flamboyant heroics occur only in fantasy and van damme 's most daring stunt is a self-pitying monologue dropped into the middle of the movie .", "what if i told you that one of the coolest and most creative films of the fall starred ... . jean claude van damme ?", "rreally inventive .", "MOV is what you might get if a french deconstructionist decided to make a drive-in flick : it reverse engineers the mayhem until it locates the humor , the sadness , and the insecure void at the heart of the genre .", "i think this may be the first ever documented case of triple van dammage .", "to the list of things you never thought you 'd read -- ` america elects black president , gas drops to 80c a litre , red sox win world series , ' etc. -- you can now add ` jean-claude van damme gives a great acting performance ' .", "put MOV into the category of films that no one saw coming ." ]

[ "there have been other docs about john waters and his coterie , and a lot of this may be familiar ground to some , but schwartz 's comprehensive focus pays off and fresh information is imparted .", "it made me fall in love with divine all over again .", "although the story ends sadly -lrb- no one should die at age 42 -rrb- , the film itself is not sad , but is instead a celebration of a performer who made the most out of the talents he had .", "hard to beat for sheer enjoyment , as when divine 's mother remembers : ` i used to always say , glenn , do n't do anything to embarrass us ' -- a sound bite accompanied by footage of divine being raped by a giant lobster in ` multiple maniacs . '", "a heartfelt , loving homage to its subject , a larger-than-life personality who proved that the traditional roads to fame were n't the only options for a shy , gay baltimore boy who wanted to be famous .", "though it may boil down to your average procession-of-talking-heads template , it 's still enlivened by the raucous words from the band of outsiders who supported and launched divine into the limelight .", "this documentary reminds us of divine 's audacious and unique impact on both film and american culture . it 's also a great way to celebrate the talented actor who gave us divine .", "a striking tribute to the pioneering spirit , radical queerness and sheer divinity of divine .", "it 's gratifying to see divine praised for being outrageous ...", "in milstead 's brief 42 years there were separations and reunions , stumbles , success and , finally , a real american family , in movies oddly ahead of their time .", "-lsb- director jeffrey -rsb- schwartz has made a film that would impress divine 's biggest fan : himself . it 's all about divine , darling and do n't you forget it .", "a viewer could suffer whiplash just from how much -lsb- divine -rsb- and pop culture changed in the course of 20 years .", "the pink flamingos star divine gets her own well-deserved spotlight .", "in `` MOV , '' bolstered by plentiful interviews with waters and other collaborators , schwarz effectively turns milstead into the life of a party that did n't really end with his death in 1988 .", "filled with heady outrageousness at the same time it continuously skirts the apparent emptiness in the man wearing those crazy wigs .", "it 's a warm , affecting tribute , taking us inside the blessed existence of the person john waters calls the world 's greatest outsider .", "schwarz understands divine , a heroine to outsiders , and glenn , who took the persona as far as he could and was ready for new roles . his film 's celebratory pizazz suits them both .", "MOV does n't get under the skin of milstead , but that may not be possible : he was layered in too many costumes , both physical and psychological , and his life became a performance .", "a glimpse of a surprisingly shy and gentle soul who longed to be a star .", "it 's hard to go wrong with a movie about famed drag queen divine , and director jeffrey schwarz certainly does n't in `` MOV , '' a serious documentary about this gloriously trashy trailblazer .", "a wonderfully assembled film that depicts harris glenn milstead as a performer , show business trouper and a dear friend to many . it 's a divine documentary .", "entertaining doc is sweeter than expected and will be an eye-opener for young fans .", "it shows what you can do with your anger at outsider status : turn it inside-out , and then you 're the star .", "a loving biographical portrait that encompasses the legendary icon 's rise to infamy while touching on the emotional complexities of its subject .", "with an appropriate explosion of humour and colour , this documentary traces the life of a fiercely individualistic actor , digging beneath the surface to explore both his origins and his legacy .", "shwarz helps paint a picture of an extraordinary boy who lived so far outside what was considered `` normal , '' he had no choice but to blaze his own trail .", "fans of divine and of waters ' work will be delighted , and anyone else who catches it will want to dive right in to the diva 's gigantic body of work .", "MOV riffs entertainingly through the career of the drag star who blazed in pink flamingoes and hairspray .", "this documentary mostly looks back on its subject 's career as a notorious drag act , with consistently amusing input from the likes of john waters , tab hunter and psychedelic theatre troupe the cockettes .", "high camp and low trash make an entertaining combo in an overdue homage to a fearless trailblazer .", "MOV may not be the blowsy riot you 'd expect given divine 's salty screen persona but it tells his story with wit , insight and compassion , revealing a rather sweet and sensitive man underneath that sparkling shell .", "divine expanded the concept of the drag queen from brash female impersonator into something much larger , more subversive and less gender specific .", "a fine , touching tribute to john waters ' larger-than-life drag diva ...", "even if this overly respectful movie never goes quite deep enough , it does shows us the man behind the garish eye shadow , the lost boy under the totie fields wig .", "sincere but overly reverential .", "the film 's heart is the chequered relationship milstead had with his mother , whose shifting regard for her larger-than-life son takes centre stage .", "a solid overview of this truly unique person 's life .", "affectionate , informative and genuinely entertaining .", "an affectionate , even triumphant bio of waters ' immortal leading `` lady . ''", "this is divine .", "touching and funny . waters fans should sign up now .", "it 's surprisingly moving stuff - dressed up with just enough archival outrage to remind you how scandalous divine once seemed .", "a fascinating larger-than-life portrait of its larger-than-life subject , MOV is a beguiling blend of poignancy , humor and glorious excess .", "this is , for the most part , a celebration of divine 's life unencumbered by guilt or oppression .", "the interviewees and even his mother , with whom he was reconciled late in his life , all portray him as a generous and very sweet-natured man .", "despite the sadness , we are reminded of what an influential figure divine was , and how his very presence continues to bring comfort to others who identify as outsiders .", "schwarz interviews friends and fans , piecing together a picture of a gentle , perhaps surprisingly shy man who channelled his family 's rejection and his anger at society into his outrageous alter-ego .", "schwarz offsets the camp with a sincere appreciation of both the obvious , larger-than-life personality and this performer 's oft-overlooked skills ...", "a joyous hurrah for a unique figure .", "-lrb- a -rrb- s a celebration of one of the most unique talents in the history of all mediums , this movie does -lrb- divine -rrb- more than justice ." ]

[ "an extremely silly flashdance remake .", "MOV is n't bad enough to be truly memorable .", "watching MOV is like having the fluids drained out of your system and replaced by a sugar-loaded , mixed-drink concoction of a color not found in nature .", "jessica alba adds the soothing MOV to MOV .", "the mostly formulaic pieces come together thanks to a well-crafted youth-savvy script and likable cast of attractive performers .", "MOV invites us , not to share in a character 's journey , but to have an audience with one young woman 's physical and spiritual loveliness . that 's not just bogus , it 's boring .", "it 's sweet , but that 's not real MOV you 're tasting . it 's more like saccharine .", "MOV is a whole festival of bad movies , from flashdance through glitter .", "MOV is naturally sweet , but a little sticky .", "yes , it 's corny ... but MOV also makes a completely sincere and mostly successful attempt to be an old-fashioned movie of heart and decency , directed to a young hip-hop audience for whom such messages are rare .", "what holds your attention most in MOV is not the treacly , pat story or even alba 's physical attributes . rather , it 's the boundless hilarity of watching the actress attempt to pull off lines like ` we just peoples . '", "cheerful , unlikely and featherweight , MOV is nevertheless charmingly optimistic and refreshingly earnest .", "evokes a warmed-over fox tv special .", "MOV 's a little too darling for reality .", "the best thing that can be said is that this is a better movie than mariah carey 's much-maligned glitter , and that 's only because alba does n't try to sing .", "flavorless blender-mix of dance movie cliches draws from the stagnant well of everything from flashdance to save the last dance .", "the dance routines are n't all that bad , but this turkey is too late for thanksgiving . give it a miss .", "there 's an entertainingly ludicrous movie lurking somewhere inside of the ludicrous , mediocre one this actually is .", "without a conflicted tony manero , a blowtorch-wielding alex owens , or even a self-mocking michael `` boogaloo shrimp '' chambers , this MOV just ai n't sweet enough .", "the muddily photographed production , with its rote script and chop-chop editing , makes for a barely passable new-school musical .", "a moderately entertaining movie that has a nice beat , although i ca n't quite dance to it .", "alba is supposed to be just a homegirl with passion for dance -- MOV from the block -- but she comes off like a slumming social worker in a halter top .", "this is not just a bad film ; it is also being marketed at the wrong time .", "MOV and i are not friends .", "snappy and charming enough to overcome its predictability and shopworn cliches .", "an instant camp classic for those with fond memories of ` breakin ' 2 : electric boogaloo ' and ` lambada , the forbidden dance . '", "-lsb- a -rsb- slight flashy footstep fable ... exhausts its lukewarm rap rhythms as a predictable and toothless showcase ... a formulaic hip-hop after-school special .", "it 's so predictable .", "alba , for all of her blandness , seems nice enough . the whole movie is nice enough - too nice , probably , to bother with .", "dopey , obvious stuff", "standard-issue live-your - dream urban dance drama .", "the star-is-born trajectory nourishes some howlers ... as well as a thumpingly unsubtle portrayal of the creative process .", "a winning film that will likely be accused of being genre fluff simply because it takes the moral high ground .", "what MOV has going for it is dazzling choreography , cinematography , a great soundtrack , cool cameos , the spunky alba , and mekhi phifer . working against the movie is pretty much everything else .", "the direction by bille woodruff is erratic yet well-intentioned ...", "overreaches its niche as a glammed-up music video and ca n't survive with everything but the kitchen sink crammed in .", "the girl 's got ta dance -- and meets little resistance -- in this hip-hop take on an age-old theme .", "the five reels of disaster that are MOV play like an urbanized version of one of those judy garland-mickey rooney things where they put on a show in an abandonned jute mill .", "so riddled with limp clichés that it does n't even qualify as a guilty pleasure .", "it 's really a judy garland-mickey rooney `` let 's put on a show '' movie set in the south bronx .", "alba 's quite easy on the eye , and admittedly , a bit of a star in the making .", "what does MOV do in the face of dilemma ? come see this touching film to find out .", "some dazzling acrobatic dance moves , but the story is pretty lame . the dvd , however , with quality extras , rates a b.", "a preposterously transparent attempt to market hip-hop in as anodyne a way as possible , but -- for its target audience of pre-teenage girls -- it works .", "there is body horror here too , and a recognisable seam of 1950s paranoid sf , but at heart this is a slow-burning allegory of the radical change that comes with marital commitment", "MOV is just dumb but teens love it .", "this is fairy tale stuff , its saintly hip-hop heroine far too worthy for comfort and its dialogue hilariously banal .", "oooh boy , whoever greenlit this baby is going to have some explaining to do .", "no work of genius , but unexpectedly endearing .", "not nearly as good as britney spears ' cheese-fest crossroads ...", "it ca n't even be said that the film has good intentions , because to have any intentions at all would have required at least a modicum of imagination .", "not terrible , just lazy .", "like those irritating tv ads , you know what 's going to happen next , and you know you 're never actually going to see anything .", "has the shelf life of a dented milk carton .", "do n't mistake this for a chorus line 2 : electric boogaloo . MOV is fixated on center-stage cameos at the expense of its too-brief dance sequences , and the idol worship undermines the film 's anti-bling moralizing .", "... her name is the first indication we may be in for a campy hoot ; the fact that there 's a `` dance-off '' and a hair-pulling cat fight within the first five minutes is another .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- tolerable during the brief music video numbers but insufferably pretentious and downright dumb the rest of the time .", "video director bille woodruff has imbued his feature debut with enough heart and genuinely likable actors to make `` MOV '' a pleasant enough entertainment", "`` MOV '' is aimed directly at the teen crowd and offers enough handsome characters , hip-hop songs and energetic dancing to keep the demographic happy .", "just about as bad as it is possible for a movie to be .", "one of 2003 's worst , MOV lazily steals its story from a host of '80s musical-themed flicks .", "if MOV were three minutes long , and had no dialogue , it 'd be completely entertaining .", "MOV brings out the wholesome , affirmative side of the hip-hop aesthetic without being overly preachy , and it offers a winningly utopian view of show-business success without real costs or compromises .", "scene after scene is either a music-video shoot or a dance scene shot like a music video . the result is a film that 's all flashdance and no substance .", "MOV is in the harmlessly junky ` let 's put on a show ' tradition of breakin ' 2 : electric boogaloo , minus electricity but with a budget for supporting-cast navel rings that 1984 's break-dance sequel certainly did n't have .", "by no means is this a good movie , but it 's warmed by the solar energy of its star , who surely deserves better than this formula empowerment flick .", "suffering from a painfully predictable narrative and characterization as deep as the average mtv spot , this lightweight bump-and-grinder owes star jessica alba and her megawatt smile for most of the minimal energy it 's able to generate .", "a lot like glitter , although glitter was actually set in the early '80s , and MOV just looks like it is .", "fame ! i wan na leave the theater . i wan na gouge out my eyes !", "a button - pressing urban fairy tale with all the sentiment and spontaneity of a wind-up christmas music box .", "sweet and syrupy , `` MOV '' is a movie you 've probably seen before .", "if -- like the filmmakers and star jessica alba -- you 're over 14 years old , it seems impossible that you could get through MOV with a straight face .", "with enough plots for half a dozen movies , MOV is less a story than a commercial for the soundtrack cd .", "flawless beauty aside , miss alba never seems like the everywoman she needs to be in order for MOV to click .", "the story is a bit cliché , but it bristles with energy and positivism .", "sparkling but slight glimpse into the lives of the lusty female dancers of the music video world .", "the only highlight is missy elliott doing a cameo , as herself .", "the plot is pure fluff , with a script structured in such a way that you never doubt anything for a second -lrb- and you never believe anything either -rrb- .", "occasionally preachy and always predictable , it 's nevertheless executed with efficiency and a little charm .", "MOV has an earnestness that 's hard to ignore , but easy to dislike .", "showgirls without the flying french fries ; hardball on the dance floor ; flashdance with less grease and elbow .", "snaps , crackles and pops along to a dynamic beat", "MOV passes the time nicely up to that last dance and does n't trip when it gets there .", "there 's a ton of dancing , a raft of cameos from hip-hop artists and a daring amount of sweetness for a movie so street conscious . it 's just enough to form a nice sugary coat over any cranky complaints about its silliness .", "it 's hard to dislike a movie as inoffensive as this one -- even the crack dealers do n't seem very threatening .", "MOV does n't have a shred of originality -lrb- except for the high-energy choreography -rrb- , but there 's something fundamentally reassuring about a movie that respects ancient formulas ; it 's like a landmark preservation program .", "-lsb- alba -rsb- is not an actress , though , or at least not much of one , so she is powerless to stop the steamroller of clichés .", "an earnest but woefully weak dance flick , the sort of feel-good musical fantasy that quickly curdles on the screen .", "the film remains watchable in the ways that delightful musicals tend to be ...", "the movie is so energetic , sincere and funny that i did n't mind the bad parts .", "MOV is a by-the - numbers , let 's - put - on-a-show quasi-musical that has absolutely nothing going for it , except alba .", "nothing about the movie feels fresh or new or energized , which would have at least helped excuse the cliches . instead , it just wallows in them , all to a throbbing hip-hop score .", "as sweet and undemanding as its name , MOV goes down smooth and simple .", "looks and sounds first-rate , but is saddled with a cliche - and stereotype-riddled story .", "overproduced and underwhelming .", "its by-the - numbers plot is depressingly familiar , and each line of dialogue is so predictable that the script could have been generated by a computer .", "MOV , there 's just too much plot getting in the way of the dancing .", "MOV is one of those movies you will see -lrb- or not , whatever -rrb- , swear you 've seen before in several other guises and incarnations , then immediately forget you ever saw to begin with .", "by the time it ended , i began wondering if ashton kutcher would run out and reveal to jessica alba that the film was the biggest prank in the history of mtv 's punk 'd .", "way past cheesy-but-fun into the realm of you-must-be-kidding , with efforts to be hip as instantly out of date as if they said `` groovy '' and `` out of sight . ''", "it really is the dumbest thing that you will ever see in your life .", "if i had never seen a movie before , i would probably find MOV perfectly enjoyable . but i have seen movies before . and so MOV is just irritating and stupid .", "there 's not a lot of depth or tension in this rags-to-riches story .", "the only thing that separates MOV from cinematic turkeydom -- just barely -- is the dancing and the hip-hop/r & b soundtrack . unless you 're a fan of those , you 're better off avoiding this one .", "MOV is basically a hip-hop flashdance by way of save the last dance , but those who are able to climb over the cliches and step up to the beat will find it an organically sweet treat .", "a disjointed , unmoving affair .", "there 's some spectacular dancing and less corn than you 'd imagine ...", "a tired remake of the usual dance movies .", "MOV is the movie for those who could n't handle the complexities of flashdance .", "it all sounds a lot cornier than it comes off in the film .", "neither hot nor square , it 's as simple and earnest as any after-school special and as cameo-laden as any rap video .", "it 's hokum 's greatest hits , shamelessly tied in with the marketing of r&b / hip-hop singers in cameos and product placement for professional sports jerseys , which characters wear as faithfully as if they were private school uniforms ." ]

[ "a strained russell brand is not a funny russell brand .", "not even the great helen mirren can calibrate with brand 's clowning . ... this is drab hackwork . and it 's not just because charlie sheen dwarfs MOV 's childish antics", "... a major disappointment , there are more laughs in the two-minute trailer than there are in the 110 minute movie , and what 's funny in the trailer is n't funny in the movie .", "floundering and unfunny , somewhere between the moon and new york city , it lost its charm .", "a minor guilty pleasure , a freewheeling comedy that offers a fair number of laughs for those who have n't yet grown tired of russell brand -lrb- a rapidly shrinking demographic , admittedly -rrb- .", "it 's not that russell brand has been wholly miscast as the titular character in the remake of MOV , rather it 's that he 's been given too much space in which to work", "russell buys abe lincoln 's stovepipe hat and wears it for the rest of this movie despite numerous autograph seekers requesting the guitar licks from welcome to the jungle .", "it 's amazing how a lifeless , pointless remake can provoke pangs of nostalgia about a mediocre movie . such is the case with MOV .", "an ill-advised remake of the 1981 classic romantic comedy co-starring dudley moore and liza minelli", "abysmal ... a serious miscalculation .", "throughout , brand 's MOV looks ready for photo shoots , with his clear complexion , tailored suits , and neatly tended tresses . moore often looked like his face was going to slide off his head .", "the last part of MOV slogs under an unfortunate burden of sentiment and sincerity .", "never have i needed a drink so badly .", "it 's pretty faithful to the original , which is to say that there 's not much there other than a wispy and frequently drunken fairy tale .", "does what most bad remakes seem to do , dropping what 's essential about the original , keeping what is n't , and wrapping it all up in a glossy , generic , heavily-promoted package .", "a pale , uninspired , unnecessary redux . greta gerwig , bless her , floats effortlessly into the film to almost single-handedly save the day .", "russell brand fails to capture the appeal of dudley moore 's mischievous drunken billionaire in this unnecessary remake of the 1981 comedy classic .", "the most hysterical thing about the new MOV is the instant wave of hatred it has drawn from the nation 's 10 million movie reviewers .", "a funny thing happened on the way to this dvd review ...", "it becomes drearily obvious that this movie was the result of nothing more than a `` let 's find a vehicle for russell '' meeting .", "blobby and a bit of a mess but offers a fair number of laughs ...", "-lsb- brand 's -rsb- snotty , improvised quips are good for a few laughs , though three decades of skyrocketing income inequality have soured the comedy of MOV 's astronomically expensive self-indulgences .", "an entire generation has come of age since 1981 and i suspect that only those who have n't seen its predecessor will find any laughs in this rote remake .", "when MOV works , it can be very funny ... but there 's something missing at the heart of this rather sloppily-assembled remake , a bit of big apple bite to complement the story 's overall fairy tale nature .", "`` MOV '' is paced too slowly for a comedy . it 's too flat to serve as a romantic diversion . and it 's too light on relevant lessons for a redemption fable .", "a flat but innocuous redo of an aggressively heartwarming film that has n't aged well since its 1981 release . if you 're not expecting much , it 's not too bad . and if that sounds like faint praise , well ...", "brand can be funny in supporting parts . but he does n't yet know how to command a front-and-center role , and MOV groans with the effort from its first moments ...", "only mirren really delivers . her depiction of hobson 's love for/exasperation with the errant MOV provides the only genuine moments in this misfire .", "there are a few things wrong with this second go-round - not the least of which is that , in 2011 , hopeless drunks are rarely seen as funny .", "the limp-d -- remake of 1981 's MOV - starring russell brand in the happy-drunk role indelibly created by dudley moore - sounds promising , but it ends in disaster .", "if this version fails , it 's at least partially because it 's been sent on the cinematic equivalent of a suicide mission .", "fluffy though it might be , `` MOV '' is a heartwarming comedy . that 's certainly more than you can say for the typical hollywood romcom .", "it feels clunky .", "the best that can be said is that the results are pleasant -- no , not even that . they 're not unpleasant , and that 's not the same thing .", "brand makes dudley moore 's performance look like pure genius - and it was n't .", "ugh , MOV is everything that 's wrong with remakes wrapped up in a one hundred minute package .", "it comes down to this : how much russell brand can you stomach ?", "... a perfectly respectable remake that is too often foiled by its reliance on hackneyed elements ...", "russell brand gives a career-killing performance .", "i hate to say it , but russell brand enacted a similar bad-boy-reforms arc last year in get him to the greek , and he was funnier there .", "gives brand ample opportunity and excuse to trot out his wisecracking , chemically-addled man-child schtick in a sturdy and believable narrative context .", "in this rehash of the 1981 smash - which featured fellow english comic dudley moore in the title role - brand looks and sounds comparatively bland .", "although his gear-loose , party guy style fits the role , brand 's stamp on MOV is good for some mild laughs but not much else .", "though it has fleeting funny moments , this russell brand vehicle is a sputtering pinto that surprises more when it runs well than when it lurches to a stop .", "lacking the charm and humor of the original , this unfunny remake is completely unnecessary .", "this feels manufactured , demographically calculated whimsy .", "if there 's anything worse than a watered-down , big-screen sitcom , it 's a watered-down , big-screen sitcom that gets all socially responsible on us at the end", "the MOV remake seems to follow the recipe as best it can , but will leave viewers wishing they had just eaten at home . it has enough one liners to keep the movie moving along , but it lacks the heart and depth that moore 's charm brought to the role", "so russell brand wrecked his marriage to katy perry ... over this ?", "slapstick dramedy fans will likely get some laughs out of the MOV remake but the film is stuck in the same naďve adolescence as its titular character .", "russell brand takes on a thankless task and earns at least some thanks .", "was the lovable lush ever funny ? i mean , honestly ?", "with a handful of solid laughs and a modicum of snappy dialogue , it 's liable to amuse , if not overwhelm , an audience seeking casual , forgettable entertainment .", "attempting to fill dudley moore 's top hat in `` MOV , '' russell brand rapidly descends the rungs of the comedy ladder from `` unfunny '' to `` irritating '' to `` vulgar '' to the bottom one - `` andy dick . ''", "the film definitely fails to live up the original in many ways , but still contains enough surprises to pull itself out of the disaster it was headed toward .", "... an utterly disposable remake that will be cycled through its theatrical release , then dvd , then pay-per-view , then cable tv and then finally forgotten ,", "fans of the original can sneer all they want , but this is about as good as we could have hoped for .", "the plot is entirely predictable even if you have n't seen the original movie , and brand once again proves his complete lack of range .", "it 's possible that my lowered expectations for this remake played into the fact this MOV actually worked for me .", "i can honestly say that the loud whirring noise you 're hearing may in fact be -lrb- original writer/director steve -rrb- gordon spinning in his grave .", "enjoyably sweet , and the third act kicks you square in the emotion-goolies .", "the humour does n't always fire , but overall the film has its charms - and a sweet innocence . the fact that russell brand is irritating works in his favour", "although meant as mere entertainment , MOV has some points to make about the cleansing power of love and its opposite , the destructive power of its absence .", "back in 1981 dudley moore won an oscar nod for MOV . it 's safe to say , russell brand will not .", "so much has changed in 30 years . the theme of ` MOV , ' which is a remake of the dudley moore vehicle in which he played a lovable drunk , is not that drunks are lovable . it 's that drunks have a problem .", "hollywood in 2011 , completely unwilling to make films based on anyone but christopher nolan 's fresh ideas , goes back to the bar and tries to make that lightning strike twice , 30 years after it luckily struck at all . guess how it all turned out ?", "a thin , insipid and oddly flavourless brew . drink it responsibly . better yet , do n't drink it at all .", "the laughs come from the ever-dependable mirren who can do one-liners with the best of 'em -lrb- and anything else she cares to with aplomb to the max -rrb- .", "where to begin counting the misdemeanors of this miserable , soulless travesty ?", "it 's still the same old contrived hollywood formula , and it 's not a particularly good version of it , but brand and mirren have fun throughout .", "MOV is well-executed tomfoolery slapped on top of sentimental predictability .", "despite some amusing bits and a very capable and handsomely mounted production , the results never truly outgrow diversionary setpiece amusement , and coalesce or gel into something humanistic and more deeply funny .", "so many things are slightly wrong with the remake of MOV that little feels right , and christopher cross ' original theme song inspires the key question for everyone involved : is this really the best that you can do ?", "the very idea of this movie suffers from a form of myopia that simply ca n't be overcome . and , of course , all would be forgiven , if only the thing were funny .", "paper and possibilities do not a movie make . i 'm guessing even christopher cross is cross .", "wretchedly unfunny stuff , and apologies should be issued post haste to any surviving member of the original 's cast and crew and the families of those no longer with us .", "`` MOV '' might be the year 's first summer movie , in the sense that if you 're stuck in the house on a rainy day with a large group that extends from tweens to grandparents , you could definitely do worse .", "there are moments here that are genuinely funnier than the 1981 dudley moore original , but the movie as a whole is less cohesive and overly melodramatic .", "there are so many reasons to dislike MOV that it 's hard to pick just one .", "peter baynham 's script has some good throwaway lines , and mirren 's approximation of gielgud is a nice touch ...", "a blander , more responsible ` MOV ' with far fewer laughs and , be warned , a painful update on the classic burt bacharach title tune over the end credits .", "turns out to work surprisingly well , thanks to likeable comic performances and a script that 's at least consistently amusing , if never laugh-out-loud funny .", "the dire script is from peter baynham - of alan partridge , brass eye and jam . i ca n't believe he wrote it . i mean i literally ca n't believe he wrote it - it has executive interventions written all over it .", "brand may be an actor of limited talents , but he is funny and so is MOV .", "much as i wanted to dislike this movie , i admit to laughing out loud a couple of times , chuckling at mirren 's dry delivery of some choice one-liners and being won over by brand by the end .", "i did n't find this film funny at all . why does russell brand have to be russell brand in every film ? is he an actor or not ?", "it 's hard to see how a remake of MOV could possibly go wrong . well , apart from the fact that russell brand is n't really likable and alcoholism is n't funny .", "MOV is riddled with clichés , suffers from a trite - occasionally offensive - screenplay , and has flatter direction than any russell brand vehicle deserves . -lsb- but -rsb- i could watch -lsb- he -rsb- and ... greta gerwig flirt for hours on end .", "a light-hearted but enjoyable remake thanks largely to russell brand 's charismatic and larger-than-life onscreen persona .", "the problems of `` MOV '' are mostly ones of scale . the set pieces are too big , and the movie becomes too labored .", "brand 's version resembles a mashup of the addams family 's lurch and beetlejuice 's not-quite-dead english cousin .", "a listless and largely laugh-free endeavor that not only fails to hold a candle to the original but which goes down in history as one of the few comedies to pale in comparison to `` MOV 2 . ''", "absolutely awful for about the first 15 minutes ; eventually , it rights itself and becomes quite fine ; then it collapses during a protracted final act ...", "remake of classic romcom has little punch , lots of alcohol .", "gerwig does n't single-handedly save the movie but she does seem to have a calming influence on those around her , bringing out the best particularly in brand and mirren .", "take off the beer goggles if you think MOV was a classic . put them back on if you plan on seeing the needless remake .", "a couple of friends who 've recently seen the original MOV say it does n't hold up . in spite of great acting , the remake does n't either .", "the problem with MOV is far more about concept than execution .", "it would be impossible to top the original `` MOV '' but this modern version is a consistently funny and sweet if not overly inspired remake .", "in light of the deplorable track record for hollywood remakes , `` MOV '' is actually a fairly serviceable return to the genially funny traits of the original and borrows some of its best moments .", "sometimes a remake is just an insult - to the original , to the audience .", "director jason winer maintains a sprightly comic pace , but the feeling persists that we 've seen it all before - and with a great deal more charm .", "far from irritate the hell out of you in this , surprisingly , brand injects a new infectious fun feeling into MOV .", "MOV 2.0 may not be a great film - and brand 's shtick is admittedly starting to wear thin - but the film contains more laughs than most of the hollywood product poured down our throats .", "it 's a cynical , profit-motivated exploitation of a warmly-regarded character ; everything about the film - most ironically , brand 's thoroughly unlikable lead performance - feels calculated .", "steve gordon 's 1981 screenplay won an oscar nomination , but there 's no danger of peter baynham 's rewrite doing the same .", "all that 's left for brand fans is to put on the dvds of his live shows to remember what a great comic he is .", "russell brand , the genuinely funny talent upon which this misbegotten remake is hung , brings his manic energy , but neither he nor oscar-winner helen mirren can resurrect MOV from a laugh-deficient fate .", "a little russell brand goes a long way .", "brand improvises his way out of duller spots , but while the man-child shtick is fine in small doses , stretched over a couple of hours , it gets rather trying .", "of the myriad things the new remake of MOV gets wrong , missing MOV 's sadness may be the most damaging .", "i really started to wonder : why are we sitting and watching this dithering , half-cocked egomaniac ?", "funny , sweet and romantic , it works .", "this `` MOV '' is missing a soul .", "could n't that billionaire MOV afford to treat us to a better show ?", "there was no need to remake the original `` MOV , '' its arrival is ill-timed , russell brand should never have been cast , and it never should have gone into production with a script this bad .", "an unappealing recycling of the 1981 romantic comedy .", "it 's difficult to believe in MOV , to root for his well-being after enduring 100 minutes of tepidly scripted buffoonery and shrill improvisation . MOV does n't need love , he needs a ball gag .", "what could have been will haunt russell brand as MOV likely receives some of the worst reviews of any film released this year .", "did MOV need to be remade ? the short answer is no but brand does bring an entertaining charisma to a rather dull and average script . catch a matinee !", "brand has a playful charm that wins us over , while co-star gerwig is the girl next door who never lived next door to you -lrb- no matter how much you wish she did -rrb- .", "if you get caught between the moon and new york city -- or even just between two movies at the multiplex -- the best that you can do is skip this one .", "on paper , the remake may have seemed like a good idea - not least given brand 's own womanising and substance abuse past - but the result is a charmless misfire that puts brand 's movie star ambitions into cold storage .", "MOV boasts some nice moments , most of them involving mirren and brand whose on screen rapport sustains interest through the 110 minute running time .", "the biggest sin is that MOV , who was such a soulful , delightful , oddly life-affirming character when played by dudley moore , is here merely a boring drunk . where 's the fun in that ?", "brand fan ? you 'll likely enjoy his antics . but russellophobics would be better off seeking out the original .", "MOV was no great shakes first time around ; this brand-new version is a full-on stinker .", "everyone concerned must have realised that they were on the proverbial hiding to nothing .", "a pitiable remake of the sloshed `` classic '' from 1981 .", "MOV could have been a caring and heartfelt comedy , but the tone is mixed , and the narrative missteps on all the wrong notes .", "the original MOV was a pretty mirthless affair , but the crude remake starring russell brand is infinitely worse ...", "-lsb- p -rsb- ointless -- and frequently downright distasteful -- remake ... great recession ? what great recession ?", "the story has n't changed much , nor have the characters . but the comedy is now crude instead of whimsical and its characters overblown caricatures instead of screwball personalities . a movie has been reduced to a sketch .", "the original MOV was a mediocre film with a few laughs , not a classic . it looks like the model of wit compared to the remake that waddles into theaters this week .", "i 've got a 40 in my hand , and i 'm pouring it out on the pavement in remembrance of the indie sensation that was greta gerwig .", "eager to please , russell brand works hard in this uninspired remake , but he lacks the natural charm and effortless delivery that dudley moore had .", "dudley moore had a real moment with the original , and this is just a karaoke version . brand and gerwig deserve something better than this , something more uniquely suited to their undeniable appeal .", "worse than film school formula , MOV 's transparently the product of some powerful hollywood agents responsible for foisting brand on american culture .", "a tired story full of pratfalls , barn-broad gags , cartoonish stuffed shirts , and the exact same story beats you 've seen in a million rom-coms , right down to the wedding-aisle confrontation .", "like its titular , well-intentioned hedonist scoundrel , MOV is really quite delightful if given the chance . romantic and playful .", "russell brand creates a distinctive character based on his own persona , rather than trying to mimic dudley moore . he is by turns hilarious and touching , with an inner core of sweetness we have n't seen from him before .", "if you must see MOV , choose a theater that serves alcohol . you 'll need it .", "why ?", "this is russell brand light , and at least to me , fits the part .", "the original `` MOV '' was harmless . the new one is charmless .", "the surest way to kill comedy is to protect your audience , in advance , from being offended by it . and that 's among the least of the problems with this new MOV .", "when you consider the uphill battle this movie faced , and the lingering legacy it had to overcome , this MOV is a winner", "it seems like an odd choice for a remake 30 years down the line , as moore 's portrayal is one of his best , and best-known , roles . but if you must , brand is the man for the job .", "a symbol of hollywood at its most creatively bankrupt .", "in the current age of austerity , it 's hard to think of a more unsympathetic starting point for a romantic hero than an infantilised billionaire boozehound who has never worked a day in his life .", "a refreshingly good-natured and gender-equal comedy .", "it 's stylishly shot , reasonably watchable , not particularly crude -lrb- see your highness instead if that 's your wish -rrb- and does n't star jennifer aniston in the kind of role with which she so often flatlines .", "if you find the brand brand toxic , you 'll probably want to give his wasted wastrel a slap , but brand 's narcissistic self-absorption actually suits the character of MOV very well .", "the screenplay would embarrass mother goose .", "go-nowhere remake is worse in every way", "this is far from a sophisticated movie but the simplicity of the story allows it to have a lot of fun playing with the outrageous characters and silly sight gags .", "although it 's about a quarter of an hour longer , MOV is surprisingly faithful to the original and brings little of its own to the table .", "it 's depressing to watch something that starts out with so much promise devolve into genre fodder .", "this rehash of the 1981 comedy seems particularly ill-timed , as it 's no longer fun to laugh at irresponsible drunks , especially when they 're billionaires", "even dudley moore realized-all too late-that a second MOV was a bad idea . so why have christopher cross 's words not been heeded ? -lrb- once in your life you find her ... -rrb-", "if you 're a russell brand fan , `` MOV '' has enough going for it in the way of moderate amusement that it 's worth seeing .", "-lsb- an -rsb- innocuous , blandly therapeutic remake of a comedy that was n't exactly edgy to begin with .", "i enjoy a frivolous film every so often , especially with a talented nutcase like brand and a terrific actress like mirren .", "a contrived , silly mess with an irritating performance by russell brand . greta gerwig and helen mirren shine , though .", "MOV may not be much of a movie but russell brand is one heck of an MOV .", "how you react to MOV will largely depend on your expectations . if you 've never seen , or heard of , the 1981 movie MOV you might find the new movie of the same name fairly ...", "i do n't buy the notion that this is all a lavish fantasy to cheer us in troubled times . it 's too clueless and condescending for that .", "the new , not so improved MOV drinks less but still brings the funny .", "brand definitely carries the first hour with his free-associative riffing and childlike energy ...", "this remake seems to exist only to zap the original of its minor pleasures .", "it 's a sardonic screenplay filled with juvenile characters , and the whole thing does n't mesh .", "apparently , somebody thought it was time for a remake . clearly , somebody was dead wrong .", "why resurrect a film that was quaint 30 years ago and can at best be tasteless today ? in fact , tastelessness might have been the right way to go .", "despite mirren 's estimable presence , the new MOV has little of its own to offer . it 's the same story , told with much less heart .", "compared to the 1981 version , this substitutes coarseness for humor and vulgarity for wit .", "the story , about a happy-go-lucky drunk who 'll lose his fortune if he does n't marry , has n't changed , but somewhere along the way it has lost its reason for being .", "russell brand steps into dudley moore 's old shoes and finds an uncomfortable fit .", "the movie is as hollow as his playboy lifestyle .", "mirren nearly saves the movie as much as nolte 's bizarre cameos nearly destroy it .", "maybe russell brand 's lot in life is to play raging substance abusers who eventually are redeemed .", "there is no real reason for this movie to exist , but with brand 's winning star turn , it 's likable and its heart is in the right place .", "russell brand 's a funny guy . but he has real trouble when he tries to spread his dramatic wings into any moment that does n't land on a punch line .", "the problem is that our soliloquising cockney comic as the `` world 's only loveable billionaire '' -lrb- as the poster has it -rrb- seems too much like a child stamping his feet , demanding that love .", "if you 're not wedded to dud 's trust fund drunk , there 's no reason not to enjoy this sweet and affectionate retread .", "whatever was inherently funny about the original film just does n't work here .", "one wonders why time and effort was put into this sorry wannabe , considering that maintaining the tone of the source material clearly was n't of much interest to anyone ." ]

[ "snakes was the best instantly disposable cinematic event i 've attended since bride of chucky was launched on an unsuspecting world eight years ago .", "this kind of film should be like a porno : do n't even bother trying to come up with a plot , just cut to the money shot .", "... mostly delivers what the title promises and the anticipation hoped for ... mostly .", "put simply , this is quite possibly the most fun you 'll have in the cinema all year . if you like the title , you 'll love the film . highly recommended .", "imagine if you will that a monstrous , cgi-sized jumbo python has squeezed together airport and alligator . what you 'd then have is MOV .", "the movie is n't just mediocre -- it 's profoundly mediocre .", "MOV has an irresistible title and an impressive promotional campaign -- but pitches are n't plots , and marketing is n't moviemaking .", "pretty fun and takes advantage of its goofy premise in every way it can ... -lsb- but -rsb- i really do n't envy the position this movie found itself in .", "the movie plays to every expectation the viewer might have -- the more absurd , the better . in this regard , it does n't miss a trick .", "this repitilian horror thriller is the stuff of which nightmares are made .", "unsure of whether to deliver scares or laughs , this aerial action-adventure winds up failing to consistently offer either , straining mightily , and ultimately futilely , to be all things to all people .", "just when you settle into laughing at the stock characters and one-liners , snakes manages to scare the hell out of you . as the deranged crime boss says , `` woo ! ''", "they 've really thought of everything . all those moments make you cheer because a film did exactly what you wanted it to .", "this is an event . it 's a rare example of a film not just living up to the hype , but surpassing it . and it 's the best time you 'll have at the movies all summer , if not all year .", "call me . i 'll see it again with you this weekend .", "jackson is the man , and he bestrides this film with the authority of someone who knows the value of honest bilge . he 's as much the auteur of this baby as the director and screenwriters , and that fierce glimmer in his eye is partly joy .", "it 's a very bad movie . so bad that the filmmakers have embraced its badness , relishing in its action-movie cliches .", "it 's certainly a prime slice of cheese-o-rama cinema , chock-full of gratuitous gore and nudity ... this is truly filmmaking as seen through a fun-house mirror .", "the ultimate example of heavy hype and puny payoff .", "me , i liked anaconda better .", "even if viewed entirely on its own terms , this film , like any snake , tapers at its end .", "it was the best of times , it was the worst of times .", "it hurts so good . mike , cro , tom , we need you ...", "its genre elements are completely honed down to their basest elements and exploited for the most fun possible .", "a snarky genre exercise and its own late-night sketch parody , it parades nothing so much as the force of the public 's lowered expectations", "although the film 's production company new line retooled the movie from a pg-13 to an r rating with ideas and dialogue from web fans , `` MOV '' is a boring ride .", "a movie about MOV does not need to be straightforward ; it only has a shot if it is either genuinely scary or so incredibly over the top it 's funny . MOV is neither , but maybe snakes on a boat will be better .", "few studio-supported films match its b-movie nirvana of stupid-goodness . it 's exactly what its title suggests and more ? the proof in the primal levels ranging from basic exploited fears to the crowd?s roaring reactions and howls of humor or horror .", "its trash pic spirit locates funny nuances of human behaviour .", "with entertainment this cardboard and weightless , is n't a response like disappointment disproportionately complex ?", "all those cgi snakes can be quite shudder-inducing . but there is also something cheerfully ridiculous in the way the film switches to rubber snakes for hand-to-hand combat .", "intentional low camp always seems wrong unless it 's very funny ; in trash , one wants clumsiness , even a certain tackiness , and this movie has the production values and the high-tech fluency of a much bigger movie .", "ends up just being a fairly good bad movie .", "has the thinnest imaginable premise -lrb- see the title -rrb- and yet manages to be more fun than most big-budget summer blockbusters .", "jackson 's unflinching eyes carry this b-movie gem , a film that turns out to be everything it , and a legion of online fans , said it would be .", "all very well , but it is by no means the giddy delight that the fans hoped for .", "the action is more repetitive than clever -lrb- snakes slide and bite , victims clutch wounds and gasp -rrb- .", "snakes plus a plane plus a year of internet hype do not a blockbuster make .", "-lsb- a -rsb- blast for anyone who appreciates scares , laughs and all-out entertainment in their summer flicks .", "make no mistake , this movie is trash , but it 's meant to be , and i 'd be lying if i said it was n't also a lot of fun .", "it 's not surprising that MOV throws every known cliche at you in the course of 100 minutes , but this works to the film 's advantage .", "... -lrb- for -rrb- people who want to cheer and thrill to absurdity and many random snake attacks , a good time should be had by all .", "snakes plus sam = super-fun !", "if you were n't among the diehard fans who went to see `` MOV '' at one of the late-night sneak peek screenings thursday night , you missed the best reason to see this movie .", "not much for the thinking viewer -- which MOV tries its best to render obsolete -- to latch onto .", "ellis and company miss out on so many opportunities for awesomeness , it 's almost depressing .", "in the end , `` MOV '' is n't so much a movie -- and a good one , in parts -- as it is the concluding installment of a long-building new-media phenomenon .", "a cheesy , b-movie thrill ride with a lot of action , over-the-top special effects and a super cool leading man .", "the equivalent of spielberg during raiders dropping thirty people in a row into the well of the souls , having them stare down the same snake , letting it lunge and then dropping another person down .", "i imagine the four screenwriters divided it up : `` i 'll make a list of places on the plane the snakes will be found , you do body parts they can bite , you do items on a plane that can be used as weapons , and you do things that can go wrong .", "finally % u2026here 's what all the hisss-teria is about .", "it 's hard to imagine a more entertaining premise for a thriller and , for the most part , MOV delivers the tongue-in-cheek fun implied by its title .", "` snakes are definitely a mid-air danger , ' said homeland security chief michael chertoff . ` it 's on the list right before ` holding your palm in front of a pilot 's eyes to block his view . '", "truly , this is the greatest movie about MOV ever made so far !", "kiss my asp .", "yeah , i know that it 's something snidely whiplash or wile e. coyote would think up , but you knew what you were getting into when you decided to see this thing .", "soap is everything its cracked up to be and more , a monster movie and disaster flick rolled into one", "do these snakes deliver ? do they ever ! more action-packed fun than just about any movie seen this summer .", "MOV is good fun that could have been great fun .", "as i said , soap makes no apologies and that is the beauty of it . it 's rare that a movie is presented as `` it is what it is '' .", "the movie is willing to throw practically anything on the screen , and a surprising amount sticks .", "the greatest trick new line cinema ever pulled was convincing the world that it had something of great amusement behind their decision to hold snakes from view up to the last minute . now that the slither is out of the bag , let the yawns begin .", "it 's a relief to discover that MOV actually is what we hoped it would be : a really , really enjoyable bad movie .", "please ensure that your disbelief is safely stowed in the overhead compartment , as unsecured continuity problems may otherwise hinder your enjoyment of the ride .", "a terrifying triumph of hype , but ... also the movie to preserve for all of earth 's recorded history samuel l. jackson lowering his gaze at julianna margulies and asking , `` sporks ? '' i dare you to look away .", "-lsb- v -rsb- ery much in the tradition of that genre of socially aware , psychologically insightful films of the 1960s that truffaut called cinema du serpent ...", "you half expect them to wheel george kennedy out for a cameo .", "MOV is fully aware of how silly its situation is , but it does n't try to take a tongue-in-cheek approach . it makes no apologies ,", "... basically a sci-fi channel movie original with better-than-usual actors and a slightly naughtier sense of humor . it never takes itself seriously , and neither should you .", "funny and scary ... the most fun i 've had at a movie all year !", "diving into the merits of a movie where people are dodging snakes whipping through a depressurized cabin is a bit like trying to pick apart the subtext of space mountain .", "a triumph of high-concept but low-ambition filmmaking .", "still , this infectious high-in-the-sky thriller radiates with an exploitative off-the-cuff sly wink that 's both calculating and campy .", "jackson is key to keeping MOV from slithering into complete preposterousness .", "faced with such an enthusiastic fanbase , all that director david ellis had to do was deliver on the promise of his brilliant title , and he has done exactly that .", "briskly paced and crassly entertaining , it 's a happy , crappy b-movie that delivers exactly what it promises . -lrb- yes , that means snakes -- plenty of them . on a plane , no less . -rrb-", "it 's easily the best popcorn movie of the summer .", "one important reason why MOV works is `` supercool '' samuel l. jackson . quite honestly , i do n't think the film would be as good if it were josh lucas , or dennis quaid , or kurt russell fighting the snakes .", "MOV is the missing badass cousin of the original kitschy airport films from the '70s", "there 's a certain knee-jerk impulse to bash snakes , just because of all the ridiculous buildup , but the film delivers on its promise of reptilian fun , with a camp mix of comedy , horror and suspense .", "... a silly , undeniably fun piece of work that certainly lives up to its promise -lrb- if anything , some folks might be disappointed that it 's not flat-out bad -rrb- .", "MOV is kind of the ultimate b movie ... one of the very best times i 've ever had in a movie theater .", "MOV may not be a good movie by conventional standards , but with the proper amount of love via audience participation , this genre picture is exactly the sort of silly fun that mega-priced , b-grade tentpole films often fail to be .", "this slitheringly good ode to '80s movie-style inconsequentiality is destined to satisfy anyone willing to leave their brains at the door and go along for the turbulent ride .", "the actual movie has moments of inspired tackiness but not nearly enough to merit its one hour and 45-minute running time .", "in short , MOV delivers exactly what it promised and then some . and how often can you say that about a movie these days ?", "after a while we 're stuck with a one-joke concept that got old months before the movie came out and gets older still as the movie wears on .", "if it could 've been a little more stupid , it would 've been bad-good . it 's worth a look for those who love bad cinema .", "while MOV is n't nearly as tight and twisted as it could have been , it 'll no doubt tickle its intended audience endlessly .", "from first frame to last , MOV is an unabashedly and unpretentiously the cheesy and campy b horror movie we expected -lrb- and wanted -rrb- it to be , delivering the thrills , frills , hisses , and other pleasures , including jackson 's notorious f-line .", "dumb and silly and fun , just not as dumb and silly and fun as i 'd hoped it would be .", "cheesy b movies tend to be more fun when they are n't so keenly aware of their cheesy b-movie status .", "this is a terrible , horrible , amazingly bad film % u2013 and i highly recommend it .", "MOV turns out to be the 2006 summer movie that out-summers them all .", "this internet-promoted lark about a hawaii-to-l.a. flight besieged by a frenzied tangle of snakes is hilariously funny , full of fang-popping scares , and guaranteed to increase travel by train .", "alas , it never quite reaches that gaga level that would truly send it over the top , but this disaster flick is hardly disastrous .", "it 's one more cheesy , broadly played , poorly paced , instantly forgettable august action movie .", "the plot is ridiculous and the characters are cardboard , but none of that really matters once the snakes get into the fuselage and start zapping people , the very definition of entertainment .", "usually you can laugh with a bad movie it or laugh at it . but MOV is laughing at you . it not only fulfills the low expectations of its title , it tasers them into submission .", "when ` fans ' respond to an unabashedly silly title like MOV and start riffing on it , how seriously do they mean for their suggestions to be taken ?", "the massaged script is now a little too knowing and calculated , nudging the audience in anticipation of each snake attack or corny gag .", "does the film deliver ? undeniably yes . MOV may , in fact , be in the top three most supremely entertaining films i have ever seen .", "i do n't know if snakes have a booty , but i know samuel l. jackson kicks some in this campy classic ! i even thought i saw some homeland security guys in the crowd taking notes , just in case .", "less like a slick , vicious snake and more like its flaky , disposable skin .", "the one thing that could kill the phenomenon that is ` MOV ' has arrived : ` MOV . '", "... offers some surprises , most notably an amusing parody of the original 1970 's disaster flick airport ...", "it pains me to say this , but , believe the hype . once it gets going , `` MOV , '' is a pure rush of fun and `` oh my god , i ca n't believe they did that , '' moments .", "never less than entertaining", "not witty enough to be a spoof and not frightening enough as a horror tale , this one would not scare dedicated ophidiophonbes .", "a rocky horror group experience . soap has too much nasty fun to miss .", "this is the stuff of direct-to-video trash , but what fun trash this is .", "a diverting bit of faddish silliness ; enjoyable for what it is , but presuming more in its oddly postmodern way than it has any right to .", "strictly b-movie but rocking with energy .", "! @ # & * ! sam arkoff must be screaming ` i told you so ' from a ! @ # & * ! mountaintop -- because it took hollywood 35 ! @ # & * ! years to discover what he knew all along .", "should convince studios that banking on computer-weaned kids to actually leave their keyboards to venture out of the house and pay for a movie was , is and will remain a bad idea .", "one day , should the american film institute loosen up and offer a list of the 100 greatest b horror movies ever made , david r. ellis ' `` MOV '' deserves a spot on that list .", "snakes fails for the simple reason that it is a terrible , terrible movie .", "the self-explanatory title of this campy disaster flick represents a rare case of cinematic truth-in-advertising , because it 's all about MOV .", "i kept imagining the zucker brothers doing this . could there be a sillier premise for a movie than snakes on crack ?", "it 's too bad to work as thriller , but not nearly bad enough to earn a place in movie infamy .", "the fact that there 's a movie called MOV is a small miracle . the bigger miracle is that ellis 's hugely engaging popcorn flick is nearly as much fun as the movie that was already running in our heads .", "click to read full review -lsb- greek -rsb-", "only gluttons for the tacky sub-genre of b-movie creature features will likely appreciate -lrb- or even see -rrb- this barge of filmic cheese , but for them , this is almost an all-you-can-eat buffet .", "a solid little b-movie arriving cloaked in the dodgy garb of a fanboy phenomenon , MOV really ought to garner some sort of award for truth in advertising : it 's exactly what it says it is and very little else .", "the director , david r. ellis , is not exactly alfred hitchcock -- he 's often messy in his stagings -- but as his picture rattles along its thrill a minute flight plan he does manage to induce a certain amnesia about its preposterous premise .", "... an exploitation film that because of the well-executed gimmicky snake angle will be ensured staying power as a cultish camp classic .", "you 'll never complain about those in-flight meals again . things could be so much worse .", "samuel l. jackson is on record as saying this movie is n't for critics . he 's right about that . the problem is , it 's not for many other people , either . unless they 're stoned . or drunk . or just enjoy making fun of bad movies .", "-lsb- we -rsb- have soap to remind us of what a b movie can be when it 's produced with utter contempt for its target audience .", "whether MOV means to be bad , or is just bad by being its own bad self , the truth is it 's so bad that it 's pretty good .", "snakes is bad in a bland , calculated , marketing-is-all way , which is what you might expect from a movie that has been shaped around its marketing campaign from the jump -lrb- or from the slither , if you will -rrb- .", "it is a great cheeseball of silliness , a ` b ' movie that has enough sense to embrace its ` b ' - ness and then squeeze , like a boa constrictor . it is intentionally sublimely ridiculous from beginning to end .", "what , exactly , is the joke ? if this cornball exploitation disaster movie had been called anaconda 3 : flight of fear -lrb- or , as was once planned , pacific air 121 -rrb- , we could all stop pretending that there was something exotically tacky about it .", "without that title and a year 's worth of internet-fueled buzz , this would be just another forgettable , mildly entertaining , mid-august throwaway movie .", "a staggeringly inane b-grade monster movie that does n't pretend to be anything but a staggeringly inane b-grade monster movie and in fact so embraces its staggering b-grade inanity that it achieves a kind of elevated pop-cultural integrity .", "MOV could have been great , good-bad fun . all it had to do was live up to its name .", "worry not . i 'm here to report MOV is a cheese crust pizza with double-cheese topping . it 's so bad it 's gouda . we 're talking the kind of bad that inspires drinking games .", "there 's no possibility it leaves unexplored . snakes in a cockpit dashboard , snakes in a barf bag , in a runaway drink cart hurtling down the center aisle -- and that 's saving the best reptile-in-an-unexpected-spot gags for your viewing pleasure .", "MOV is neither as good nor as bad as you 'd hoped it would be : it 's just a mediocre exploitation picture with an inspired premise .", "it 's merely average . director david r. ellis and three credited writers have thought up a pretty cool situation but fail to do much more than deliver the requisite shock effects .", "the first internet joke ever made into a movie , MOV is just ridiculous and depraved enough to excite a cult following among high campers who are ready to enlist in a movie that gets one over on hollywood .", "it 's the funniest thriller of the year , although i 'm not sure if everything we laugh at is supposed to be amusing .", "all anyone really needs to know about this amusingly crude , honestly satisfying artifact is snakes + plane + samuel l. jackson .", "if loving s.o.a.p. is wrong , i do n't want to be right .", "the whole enterprise has the sweaty sheen that comes from trying too hard to be cool .", "new line has nothing to fear , for MOV is a thrill , seeking , action-packed joy ride that will have you jumping in your seats .", "like the flailing airline industry -- which probably sent executives out for ice packs when they heard the title -- it gives you the ride you paid for , and nothing extra .", "chances are you 'll be too giddy to think about anything other than a second helping . tarantulas on a train ? scorpions on a sailboat perhaps ? fear not , the internet is already abuzz .", "the greatest title in history is , when executed as an actual movie , venomously awful .", "snakes takes forever to get going ... -lsb- and -rsb- once the mother **** ing snakes get loose in the mother **** ing plane , the film does n't improve .", "in one word , MOV is fun . it never aspires to be anything more than a kick - *** popcorn film that plays on a weird mash-up of fears , and that is why it 's a success .", "the movie is aware of its cheesiness , one reason it works so well . it 's an exploitation flick that knows what it wants to do , and it gets the job done expertly .", "snakes was born dumb , but was then rendered ordinary .", "MOV is pure escapist fun and absolutely nothing more .", "at the end , the crowd applauded to signify their ironic appreciation for the imperishable pleasures of trash culture . unfortunately , with MOV , there is n't much of a joke to be in on .", "it 's all mano e snako , and lots of silly fun . at least MOV does n't try to be anything but what it is .", "being as susceptible to over-the-top gratuitous absurdity as the next person , i had as good a time watching the movie as i did listening to the shrieking and hooting from the audience -- both to join in the fun and keep fears at bay .", "sick as it is , it captures more of the joy of movie-going than virtually any other summer movie this year .", "rational people can agree on two things : snakes are evil , and nobody swears more entertainingly than samuel l. jackson .", "some things you probably wo n't care about in MOV : character development , the musical score , harsh lighting that makes everyone look like they 're wearing wrinkle-enlarging cream . here 's what you will care about : it 's a lot of fun .", "the movie is slick pulp , cheaply funny , surely offensive to anyone squeamish or snake-fearing .", "if you can find a better time at the movies this year than this wild comic thriller , let me in on it . i 'm there .", "there is also something educational to be gleaned here : snakes are not indigenous to hawaii and they do n't attack unless provoked .", "MOV is at its best when it surrenders to the exuberant trashiness and matter-of-fact hilarity promised by its title ." ]

[ "clumsy plot developments carried out by characters you already know from a series of other movies .", "a lighthearted , lead-footed romantic comedy of the post-farrelly sentimental yuckfest school .", "a romantic comedy whose no-holds-barred gross-out elements sour an already graceless mix of crude pratfalls and heartache .", "trouble is , it is n't just polly who comes along : lots of extraneous matter does , too .", "firmly ensconced among the forgettables in stiller 's career .", "i ... laughed myself sick .", "a purely formulaic romantic comedy not fresh or memorable enough to garner an identity of its own .", "overdoes embarrassment at the expense of comedy .", "within the context of what is essentially a formula picture , hamburg comes up with lively and anarchic comic situations , and he comes up with them consistently .", "a waste of a talented cast .", "between them , young love and bacteria bloom . between us , bacteria consumes the movie .", "without the rom-com requisites of charm , chemistry , comedy and character , this does n't even meet low expectations .", "this entire movie proved to me that it 's never too early to start the race for next year 's golden razzies .", "the story is stale , but the execution is above average .", "talented actors in dumb film with gross sex humor .", "for a movie with a theme of living life without deferring to fear of the risks involved , the filmmakers do n't take chances in breaking the mold of run-of-the-mill romantic comedies .", "the script just does n't have enough comic moments to fill its 90-minute running time .", "the humor of this romantic comedy is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny but too often dips into the toilet tank for sprinkles of relief when the love story veers from inspired to moronic .", "inane , inorganic and predictable from the start .", "le film est prжvisible , conventionnel et on connaьt les dжnouements bien avant qu'ils ne surviennent .", "this film is for die-hard stillerians to be sure . if you 're not a card holding member of the ben stiller legion of fans you 'll probably hate it ...", "not since that famous tussle with cameron diaz 's dog in there 's something about mary has stiller connected so agreeably with a costar .", "largely innocuous and forgettable .", "the filmmakers choose a conventional narrative and pat conclusion where zany charm and improbable chemistry would have sufficed .", "when the laughs are long gone , the characters will stay with you , especially polly . she 's a real one of a kind whom you 'll be glad you met .", "it 's a pity that woody allen could n't have gotten his hands on polly to lift it above its baser instincts and give it some insightful sophistication and wily wit .", "the actors are really funny and well-cast -- especially the robust ferret who ultimately steals the show !", "i chuckled a few times at MOV , if only because ben stiller is willing to stoop as low as he can to turn himself into a clown prince of humiliation : the man who would be dork .", "maybe ben stiller should take a break", "its likable and talented stars rise above the silly material .", "a movie that sets its comedy bar too low for the talents involved .", "though obstacles are de rigeur in this kind of comic formula , the ones applied in MOV have the effect of reminding viewers of how unrealistic the pairing of reuben and polly is .", "pointless and for the most part witless .", "one of those films that celebrate spontaneity and risk-taking yet are so formulaic and un-risky that they strangle their own message .", "yes , it resorts to body-function humor . but it 's still clever and funny .", "like its protagonist , too cautious for its own good .", "ben stiller : the edwin booth in our contemporary theater of acute embarrassment and gross-out humiliation ...", "parts of MOV are hilarious . unfortunately , it 's running with a series of toilet jokes that might been called along came poopy .", "features a spot-on cast and peppy story that brightly accommodate the less-than-startling concept .", "a movie where love means diarrhea .", "` those nuts have pee on them ! ' warns ben . ` if i wanted to avoid nuts covered with pee i never would have married brad pitt , ' replies jennifer .", "the movie was like polly herself : a seemingly great date at first , but because of the lack of substance - you tire of her quickly .", "i also like shrimp and ice cream - but not together at the same time .", "more must-see tv than there 's something about mary .", "slight but occasionally riotous .", "an astounding waste of talent .", "for all of you hungry-for-decent-comic-fare , polly is a whole lotta ho-hum , a limping script with a few charming dimples .", "there is something cruelly funny about getting dumped on your honeymoon , but that was done far better in elaine may 's the heartbreak kid .", "is there any better definition of a whore than what stiller has done to himself ? how can he possibly be creatively satisfied with this ?", "one of the laziest rom-com scripts in memory ... the only joy in the film is the way the actors approach each ludicrously silly set piece .", "a dog of a script .", "they win . the publicity machine has convinced me : jennifer aniston can heal the sick !", "it 's amiable if not ambitious . but the draw here is jennifer aniston .", "a hit-and-miss comedy with reasonable numbers of laughs and lots of personality from its two leads .", "every truly successful raunchy romantic comedy has at its heart a couple worth rooting for . this one does n't .", "showing how much punishment reuben feffer -lrb- stiller -rrb- can absorb from his wife , his boss , his parents , his best friend , his girlfriend and his lower intestine is the only joke this movie has to offer .", "though everything in polly happens exactly as expected , none of it is remotely believable .", "hamburg 's script never makes a convincing argument as to why these two should be together .", "even allowing for toilet humor , long a prerequisite for mainstream comedies , the humor in ` MOV ' does n't have much texture .", "ben stiller 's latest comedic vehicle is amiable but strikingly underwritten .", "it 's likable acting that keeps us involved in polly , not only from stiller and aniston but also from philip seymour hoffman .", "superlative wasted cast and chamber pot-embarrassing humor .", "not a scandalous waste of cinematic resources -- just another limp , uninspired romantic comedy that wastes the talents of its stellar cast .", "timid and predictable , yet almost worth seeing for two fantastic supporting performances -lrb- by philip seymour hoffman and alec baldwin -rrb- that seem to have come from outer space .", "john hamburg 's remake of something about mary offers more of ben stiller 's tiresome shtick .", "by not making up for its generic redundancies with inspired lunacy , the whole thing just plays like farrely brothers lite .", "more jokes than many comedies , but wasted potential makes it seems like less", "two factors save this from being a disaster .", "MOV is not the sharpest movie ever made about a mismatched couple , but it made me laugh consistently .", "if it were n't for the ferret , this movie would be a total dog .", "similar to the way in which burger king 's food does n't so much `` satisfy your hunger '' as it does `` fill your stomach with mass '' .", "it plays more like a ben stiller/jennifer aniston romantic comedy greatest hits package .", "MOV is an engaging trifle , flatulently overwritten yet filled with enough eccentric characters and comic timing to make it worth the risk .", "there 's hardly anything memorable going on here .", "writer/director john hamburg 's comedy travels a low road , dragging at least one hand in the gutter .", "director john hamburg weaves potty humor and a predictable storyline with characters you truly take a liking too .", "MOV is a scattershot and tiring romantic ruse that depends on its notable players to sell the relentlessly lame , run-of-the-mill package of witless high jinks", "like the rest of today 's alleged comedies that are never funny , this one pretends to be hip , but lacks every semblance of intelligence and depends on the basest common instincts in the kindergarten i.q. for laughs .", "99.8 % probability obvious but valuable lessons will be learned .", "the blame for this remarkably stillborn romantic/gross-out comedy falls squarely on its writer/director , john hamburg .", "runs out of steam about the time the stiller-aniston romance is supposed to be creating some .", "this film is the very definition of a solid ` date movie . '", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- like watching 10 minutes of there 's something about mary , followed by 10 minutes of high fidelity , followed by 10 minutes of friends .", "some movies run out of gas . this one could use an alternate fuel source .", "a hit-and-miss affair with more flat moments than comic ones .", "he 's a stuffed shirt and she a free spirit , yet their romantic destiny is predetermined , if only because writer-director john hamburg 's embarrassingly schematic screenplay insists upon it , chemistry be damned .", "if this is entertainment , the port authority should consider selling tickets to the washroom facilities at its new york bus terminal , where the traffic is bustling and frequently very colorful .", "it is n't fresh . it is n't special . it is n't anything .", "... far more entertaining than its derivative nature would suggest .", "mildly recommendable ... the central romance is tepid , predictable stuff , but it 's made more palatable by some sharply-written supporting characters who are brilliantly played .", "it 's a consistently amusing tale thanks largely to the eminently watchable cast .", "decidedly unspecial .", "it looks like universal studios had their script doctors work on this one , but clearly nobody could come up with the right prescription .", "ben stiller merece mais do que interpretar variaушes de ted stroehmann -lrb- seu personagem de quem vai ficar com mary ? -rrb- pelo resto de sua carreira .", "though the cast are excellent and there are several funny scenes , the film does n't quite work , frequently relying too much on gross-out humour and not enough on a decent script .", "` es una de esas pelьculas que solamente pueden ser recomendables si es que el resto de las opciones en cartelera estрn con localidades agotadas '", "ben stiller is either a member of dysfunctions r us , or else he 's making a plea to be the next woody allen -- but even allen himself could n't save `` MOV ''", "a lot of energy is expended -- and wasted -- in this implausible comedy about opposites attracted to each other .", "except for a few unfortunate scenes -lrb- one of which is in the trailer -rrb- , it 's a funny , engaging , romantic comedy .", "un producto cрlido cuyo mayor atractivo es el bagaje carismрtico de sus protagonistas .", "the flashes of life in this ben stiller-jennifer aniston romantic comedy do n't come along often enough to rescue it .", "an annie hall knockoff , only with diarrhea jokes .", "a talented group of comedic performers getting together and celebrating some of the lowest forms of comedy -lrb- but with excellent timing -rrb- .", "any and all funny aspect of this film are overshadowed by a strong tendency toward the sick and wrong .", "there 's just not much here we have n't seen before .", "stiller has turned into a submissive dog that rolls over the instant we settle into our seats , content to bask in our affectionate derision .", "depends on the mistaken belief that jennifer aniston 's appeal is so universally recognizable it 's unnecessary to write a fully-rounded character for her .", "feels like it was cut from a bunch of other junk and pasted back together in a studio boardroom .", "this opposites attract tale does n't cover any new ground and holds few surprises .", "stiller and aniston are trapped in the constrictive material , trying to make the best of a crummy , formulaic situation .", "it almost seems as though there are whole scenes missing -- the ones containing the punchlines , for example .", "the movie has a breezy , negligible feeling to it . it earns quite a few solid laughs , and while it 's not worthy of tremendous success , it warrants a look .", "it 's stiller who seems to take the biggest hit , revealing the fact that his career has entered a stale state of self-parody .", "if all of this strikes you as funny , then you probably do n't get out much .", "the emotional arc and climax are n't as dynamic as they could have been , low brow humor abounds , but still -- there is never a dull moment .", "stiller continues with his brand of physically clinched characters who always seem to have major bathroom mishaps", "the fringes are full of brilliant digressions and hilarious supporting turns , but the central story is a black hole .", "it 's not a bad movie , nor is it memorable . the feature just came along to fill some screen space . stiller and aniston have done better work -- and worse .", "does n't represent cinema at its height , but it will evoke more than a chuckle or two .", "... so familiar you may have moments of deja vu .", "aids its cause with its inherent harmlessness , but the end result is too off-the-shelf to appeal to any but the most ardent romantic-comedy lovers .", "stiller anchors the movie in neurotic tension , literally squelching the laughs and snuffing them out .", "the super-calculated nature of reuben and polly 's ` opposites attract ' relationship and reuben 's resulting character arc rarely leaves room for doubt as to where the artificial-feeling plot is going .", "there is no central drama , no surprise , no tension .", "scene by scene , the movie offers a pretty bumpy ride , and there 's not enough chemistry between stiller and aniston to make the romantic parts of the movie credible .", "there is n't a lot in the movie that is funny .", "hamburg stoops to cheap toilet humor and dumb slapstick rather than exploring his characters .", "it 's a workmanlike romantic comedy that by the end has quietly added up to a little more than you expected .", "let 's face it : it 's really fun to watch ben stiller suffer .", "another high-brow laugher that delights in running -lrb- ben stiller -rrb- through the ringer .", "the tragic thing is -lsb- the film -rsb- make -lsb- s -rsb- you laugh.it 's the same as the cheap scare in a horror movie.it makes you jump , but you 're mad that the movie played such a cheap card .", "like feffer , things go better for the movie when it abandons its original aims .", "practically everyone here is a collection of tics , gimmicks and mannerisms .", "remove the razzle-dazzle provided by azaria , hoffman , baldwin , the gross jokes and that ferret , and you wind up with a pretty dull and ordinary face .", "you can sense the lack of imagination .", "it achieves the flavor of the commercially processed : blandly crass , inanely edgy , pointlessly bold .", "there 's enough originality here to offset some of the more questionable humor .", "hoffman is especially funny in his first mainstream hollywood comedy .", "a middling effort that should have been much better given the caliber of the cast .", "this flat romantic comedy fails to provide any reason why a spunky girl-next-door like jennifer aniston 's character would give ben stiller 's uptight nerd the time of day .", "recycles gags from various , more successful gross-out and romantic comedies , but without any zest or imagination .", "the whole thing starts out amiably enough , but then loses all momentum just as it 's supposed to be lifting off .", "though polly packs ample comic punch , it also demonstrates that life is n't about the safe past or the uncertain future but the journeys we make each day .", "unfolds with brisk professionalism and enough smiles to keep you engaged .", "tame and predictable , with the gastric-distress sound-effects machine working overtime .", "something we 've all seen before , far too many times , not only in its premise but also in its lame parade of scatological jokes and its sad , tired pratfalls .", "it 's only stiller 's skillful execution that keeps the pratfalls from being monotonous .", "unpromising premise proves an ideal showcase for the comic talents of ben stiller and , to a lesser extent , supporting player philip seymour hoffman .", "takes the oldest romantic comedy notion that there is -- opposites attract -- and does absolutely nothing new or even clever with it .", "delivers the laughs , but it feels more like an extended tv sitcom than a feature film .", "this is mediocre tv fare , somehow extended from the permitted 30-minute slot to feature film length .", "aniston is so far above this material she should never , ever have signed on ." ]

[ "MOV ... has a scruffy charm that 's ultimately disarming and persuasive , and the sheer novelty of the voiceover culture bell explores , with its hilarious pomposities and tribalism , takes the film a long way .", "at times , bell seems to forget her premise entirely . but there are enough solid gags-even if many of them are barely germane to the voiceover biz-to confirm her abundant talent .", "a spunky and snappy romantic comedy set in los angeles 's voiceover industry .", "a sparky combination of workplace satire , family tapestry and hipster star-is-born goofs , `` MOV ... '' is able to pitch its theme in several places .", "ms. bell , who plays carol with a perfect blend of diffidence , goofiness and charm , has written and directed an insightful comedy that is much more complex and ambitious than it sometimes seems .", "`` MOV ... '' is completely endearing . i ca n't wait to see what bell will do next .", "it 's rare to complain that a movie has too many ideas , but it feels as though bell took every last notecard off of her bulletin board and crammed them into a single screenplay .", "mostly it 's about family - about sisterly bonding , about domineering fathers , about long-lost , still-missed mothers . about any adult child 's fight to establish herself as an independent entity .", "MOV ... is mild entertainment that provides a credible look inside the trailer voice world and its actor populace that makes do on the fringe of hollywood and the big time .", "bell has made a lively , modern screwball comedy with a terrible title ; the dialogue moves fast and sometimes takes nutty , unexpected loops , like puppies scrambling over one another in a basket .", "one of the most charming and delightful movies in a very long time .", "bell 's revelation is that females -lrb- even high-achieving ones -rrb- are surprisingly likely to use a voice that suggests they 're an ickle-wickle pushover .", "lake a triple threat with `` MOV ... ''", "`` unfocused and erratic , but with an undeniable charm ''", "a comic director finds her voice", "this smart , funny comedy is not just about voice-overs , it is about the massive egos of men who tend to lose sight of what is really important -lrb- family for instance -rrb- in the pursuit of their careers .", "actress lake bell 's smart and funny feature-directing debut MOV ... juggles sex farce , feminist critique , family conflict and showbiz satire pretty deftly .", "take notice hollywood , your next most promising triple threat has arrived with one of the freshest and funniest comedies this year .", "much of the humour here is barbed and cynical .", "ca n't wait to see what lake bell the filmmaker does next .", "MOV ... is a brilliant first feature from writer/director lake bell , proving her talents go far beyond just being a hilarious sidekick to the stars .", "cute and very lightweight look inside an arcane and amusingly sexist corner of the film biz -- trailer voice-over actors .", "a fresh , funny slice-of-life , casually cutting in its feminism and utterly charming in its storytelling .", "MOV where american comedies often die in ditches , pushed in by negative roadblocking -lrb- useless scripts , miscast stars -rrb- , here is an affirmative mirth work , modestly cast , which actually makes you giggle", "it 's good news for those who would rather not see funny women relegated to a world of pink-tinged pratfalls .", "a film that 's sweet and smart and funny about so many things in so many quietly surprising ways it feels like it 's breaking the mould ...", "the male-dominated world of voiceover artists is explored from a female perspective in this touching comedy from lake bell , who stars , writes and directs .", "MOV ... is thankfully more endearing hangout movie than erratic sitcom , and it shows significant promise for future endeavours from its helmer .", "MOV ... where the trailers for hollywood blockbusters are only ever voiced by men who sound as though they gargle with gravel and molasses , a female vocal coach gets to challenge the status quo in lake bell 's sharp , smart and genuinely funny comedy .", "savvy , screwball , feminist comedy gem .", "this snappy treat tickles up belly laughs from the golden larynx of the entertainment industry , as it delves into the strangely competitive world of the voiceover artist .", "there is great invention , fine writing and spirited direction on display here .", "would be better classified as a pilot for a sitcom .", "bell 's film wants to tell the tale of hollywood and its vocally-gifted minions picking up the mantle for a new era , but shockingly buries its own lead until it practically becomes an ironic parody of itself .", "`` MOV ... '' shows that a clever idea and an engaging protagonist do not a movie make .", "bell , who showcases a rib-tickling array of silly accents , is someone we should be seeing and hearing from a lot more .", "after playing comical sidekicks in rom-coms like no strings attached and what happens in vegas , lake bell emerges as a rising-star filmmaker with the smartest , funniest comedy of the year .", "lake bell is a wildly exciting and much needed new voice .", "well , it 's engaging and eccentric , and bell deserves her star turn .", "the plotting is a bit scattershot but it 's quirky and good fun .", "there 's a difference between paying your dues and self-abasement , but you would n't know it from this overstuffed and joyless film .", "it heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice on the filmmaking scene . that by itself makes it something you should see .", "it 's tempting to call MOV ... one of the best romantic comedies of the year , but that would short-change it - a romcom counts for about 20 per cent of all it is .", "an engaging and frequently funny comedy with a superb comic cast , likeable characters and a refreshingly different setting .", "disappointingly less than the sum of its parts .", "bell 's script deftly dovetails carol 's professional angst with her daddy-daughter dilemma and her clumsy attempts at romance . her dialogue is bouncy and funny , yet grounded in the characters ' neurotic normalness .", "frequently funny and wholly charming , lake bell 's assured debut is that rare indie comedy-drama that discovers a fresh perspective on the well-worn themes of family , fame and finding your own voice .", "like her character , bell has made herself a contender in a male-dominated industry . and a damn funny one at that .", "sweet , witty and exquisitely observed , MOV ... sees the emergence of an exciting talent : any agents looking for a new triple threat should ring that bell .", "witty , wry , and just a little bit scattershot , this good-natured satire takes on cinema 's last taboo with small-screen plotting , but big-screen gusto .", "it 's a well-conceived and acted female empowerment tale that smartly answers its question of why women are rarely hired to do the voice-overs of trailers .", "bell makes a promising directorial debut with this quirky low-budget comedy .", "it 's an exhilarating comic rush called MOV ... and in it lake bell spins inspired lunacy around the subject of , among other things like family dysfunction , sexual healing and female empowerment , voiceovers .", "a clever , likable comedy that sends up sexism , satirizes hollywood , examines family ties and features a surprisingly tender romance at its core", "to call lake bell a magnetic , intelligent , blithely screwball leading lady in the carole lombard tradition might be selling her short .", "the world of hollywood voice-over talent provides a ripe backdrop for lake bell 's funny and engaging directorial debut .", "a delightful comedy that goes a long way on the strength of its very likeable cast , MOV ... is n't uproariously funny , but its steady stream of chuckles and ingratiating tone leave a very warm afterglow .", "MOV in which cookie-cutter , unchallenging movie heroines are assembled according to hollywood 's cynical assumption that jane q. public is a flaming idiot , bell 's breath-of-fresh-air creation definitely has something interesting to say .", "an indie comedy as surprisingly tender and wise as it is deftly wise-cracking .", "it 's a female empowerment story both on and off the screen .", "`` lean in , '' facebook executive sheryl sandberg famously advised women this year . to which lake bell would add , `` speak up . and not with a sexy-baby voice either . ''", "we 've already met lake bell , versatile actress ... it 's time to meet lake bell , feature film writer , director -lrb- and producer -rrb- . and what a debut it is : her film has heart , soul and a message without getting too preachy .", "it 's clear that bell has found her voice , and with any luck , she 'll be sounding off for years to come .", "bell has built a sweet comedy that manages to be a bit romantic , a bit political and hugely enjoyable .", "lake bell 's MOV ... desperately wants to be clever , and sometimes it is . but not as often as you hope it will be .", "it 's the kind of low-key movie that vanishes from memory relatively quickly . but watching it is an unexpected pleasure .", "it is a refreshing and unique film that marks the longtime romantic comedy side player as not only a leading lady but an impressive writing talent with a considerable future .", "although MOV ... won bell a screenwriting award at the sundance film festival , what 's more compelling is how well this low-key comedy exhibits her charms as an actress .", "what pleasure then to find an august release that 's built around real , identifiable humans , and sports a complicated but lovably flawed woman at its center .", "the entire cast operates at the top of their game . yet it 's bell who is undeniably the main attraction .", "writer-director lake bell is also the star of this quick-witted beguiling comedy of female identity , family ties and an unseen but fiercely competitive aspect of the film business .", "very funny semi-satirical look at the bitchy , male-dominated world of movie trailer voice over people .", "a fascinating look into the realm of voice over performance .", "while certainly funny and goofy , MOV ... also imparts an important message about the power of voice , and bell is clearly a voice to be heard .", "father-daughter dramedy about an aspiring voiceover artist eager to follow in her deep-voiced daddy 's footsteps .", "it will gently settle into the undistinguished ranks of history 's perfectly okay works of art . i wo n't sing it 's praises , but i do n't regret watching it either .", "though she had to write , direct , and produce the damn thing herself , bell finally has a film that puts her full range of comedic , rom-com-ready abilities on display .", "lake bell holds the thing together through sheer charisma , and in fact the foibles of the movie only start to show when she absents herself for extended stretches of time .", "MOV ... where female writers are scarce and female writer/directors even more so , lake bell has done both with panache in her feature debut , MOV ...", "funny , touching and warm-hearted , you ca n't ask for too much more from the first feature film by a young director , and one made on a relatively low-budget .", "serves as an uproarious coming out party for writer-director-lead lake bell , and you 'll never watch a movie trailer the same way again .", "with so many ideas to work with , why does bell infantilize her elsewhere-confident main character as yet another disheveled woman-child ?", "announces the arrival of a new triple-threat talent : lake bell . . a delight at sundance , it arrives in the dog days of summer like a cool breeze .", "i am eagerly anticipating watching where this talented writer-director-actor , lake bell , goes next .", "this comedy about a gawky female voice-over artist is disarmingly graceful , generous , even life enhancing .", "so alive , identifiably clumsy and deliciously complicated -- so of the real world -- as to put a smile on viewers ' faces .", "bell 's character may be stressed and a bit awkward but her direction is smooth and confident .", "... a rare and smart comedy that 's insider without being exclusive and fresh without being precious ; hopefully it 's the first of many for bell .", "... a passable yet far-from-flawless debut for bell .", "bell manages to pull the disparate elements together by the end , crafting a satisfying , funny and sometimes moving story about both family and career expectations .", "a smart , fresh , and funny film that sends up hollywood , sexism , and the conventions of the romantic comedy and yet somehow has us rooting for the characters .", "it 's not only a fresh and funny spoof of the movie business , it represents a real-life triumph within it .", "a good deal smarter than most big-budget romantic comedies , but its shrillness makes it less pleasurable than it should be .", "you can almost see the plot points being shuffled around like index cards as the movie unreels .", "bell has lurked around the best-friend margins of hollywood , but `` MOV '' shows she 's a star .", "this feature debut by writer/director lake bell , who also takes the lead role , finds a bastion of previously unexplored male chauvinism that makes for grand mirth .", "bell resourcefully uses ` MOV ... ' to showcase her vast comedic talents , mixing bits of humor , romance and smoldering sexuality with an enormously appealing amount of self-deprecation .", "bell has written the voice-over business as a microcosm of big hollywood , and it 's a funny joke .", "bell summons up a rich creative voice and projects it at just the right volume . everything in this cheerful , concise comedy rings out loud and clear .", "bell 's debut feature is pretty terrific .", "-lsb- bell 's -rsb- smart , enjoyable writing-directing debut in which she finally , deservedly stars .", "bell wrote and directed the film and also stars , and her voice , sensibility , timing , and pitch-perfect ear for the absurd layer every scene .", "it 's a movie to make you happy to see the next movie written , directed and starring lake bell . she has an engaging presence and has a distinct comic sensibility .", "` MOV ... ' is pretty much a perfect movie , chock full of fun , endless laughter , realistic love and that all-important magical movie ingredient - originality .", "bell has targeted a microcosm of the industry she works in and mixed in romantic comedy and family drama elements all while maintaining focus on her throughline and hilariously showcasing her own talent for mimicry .", "a character-driven comedy that gets most of its oomph from an unusual inside-hollywood setting", "while bell definitely shows some first-timer growing pains behind the camera , she 's got a snappy ear for dialogue and she 's given lake bell what may be her best part ever .", "bell reveals herself to be an observant filmmaker and a splattery comedienne , but she 's even better with this subject matter , pulling the curtain back on an industry that values its anonymity .", "a message movie guided by good sense , and a good sense of humor .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- smart , sharp in all the right places and funny . beyond that , it 's got heart . even the jerks are ok to be around , at least for a time . and this world seems to be full of them .", "`` MOV ... '' is too good a film to merely focus on ... one plot element , or to present its male characters as one-note villains . these are complex people , funny one moment and infuriating the next .", "extremely well-written , with a unique and original plot . a great showcase for writer-director-star lake bell .", "this is bell 's show , and she proves herself a versatile comedian , a first-rate impressionist -lrb- check out her russian `` star wars '' stormtrooper ! -rrb- and a shrewd satirist , especially of her own gender ." ]

[ "el director hilvana sensaciones , alegorías , representaciones más bien absurdas , e inspiradas en el cine mudo o la comedia física de buster keaton o jacques tati .", "suleiman works in slow , poetic scenes that build to hilarious climaxes .", "provocative yet self-reflective , hilarious yet heartbreaking chronicle of love and pain .", "a hard film to get , but an enjoyable one to watch .", "elia suleiman is a talented man who made a striking film to voice the sorrows of his people and there are sorrows to be lamented , but his film is drawn from an ugliness and intellectual dishonesty that besmirches any lesson that could possibly be extracte", "a mordantly amusing black comedy about life among the arab citizens of israel .", "life in the arab-israeli region has a random and arbitrary unintelligibility , if this surreal stylization validly reflects it . but , validity comes into question .", "... a non-narrative film that mixes agitprop with pythonesque silliness and an almost stately , rueful kind of slapstick that recalls buster keaton in tone if not physicality .", "as the film progresses , it becomes considerably more focused ... even though it does n't always make sense .", "some of suleiman 's symbols are maddeningly obtuse , while others -- like the final shot of a pressure cooker -- are ridiculously obvious .", "suleiman serves up another winning deadpan comedy set in the tense , violent world of the middle east .", "the interlocking series of setups , punch lines and non sequiturs add up to something touching , provocative and wonderfully strange .", "this competition film achieves a level of artistry and firm control over a clear , concise vision that makes it worthy of festival honors .", "MOV is very clear that the conflict in the middle east is all one big farce .", "equally absurd and despairingly angry , the result is simply divine .", "unfortunately the gags here vary enormously in their effectiveness .", "veers uneasily and unsatisfyingly from kitschy , agitprop surrealism to a laconic spareness that is less profound than tedious .", "something of a rarity : a wry , mordantly funny black comedy that boldly embraces fantasies of palestinian power .", "a mixed bag of angry social satire , as scattershot as an uzi , hitting many of its targets with about as much subtlety .", "it 's impossible not to be impressed by the resourcefulness of palestinian director elia suleiman 's new film , MOV , which actually manages to find humour in the condition of living in arab israel .", "a movie of long , expressive silences , MOV articulates things that have never been articulated , at least on the screen .", "a divinely absurdist comedy .", "some scenes are just meant to be amusing , while others are calculated specifically to give some psychic satisfaction to palestinian viewers .", "the movie is so busy being clever , in ways that do n't fit with each other , that it is unable to communicate .", "while its deadpan comedy recalls jim jarmusch , and its deep humanity might remind you of abbas kiarostami , MOV is calmly unsettling in a way that feels entirely new .", "suleiman 's exquisite anguish is evident .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sly and corrosively funny political comedy .", "it makes for an intriguing example of how to use art , rather than bombs , to make a sustained political point .", "a film to be studied and analyzed . too bad it 's not accessible enough to connect on an entertainment level .", "it 's ridiculous and smart , hilarious and terrifying , difficult to swallow and probably a necessary antidote to the cacophonous history of a land that all too often seems anything but holy .", "elusive but fascinating .", "a brilliant comic cry of pain , a surrealistically piercing protest at what its maker sees as brutal oppression and chooses to attack with satire rather than rocks or bombs .", "from the first scenes -- a sorry-looking santa huffing and puffing his way up a hill to flee a gang of palestinian youths -- MOV intercedes to offer the most unexpected of film experiences .", "wonderfully effective , funny and yet horrific .", "presents , in its collagelike way , a sad socio-psychological study of a people whose hatred for a mutual enemy is turning in against themselves and eroding whatever is left of civil behavior a little bit more each day .", "the movie can be labored and sometimes obvious , but it 's the work of someone who 's trying to find ways to express alienation , longing and a pervasive sense of frustration .", "becomes oppressive as suleiman relies on pro-palestinian propaganda .", "an almost irresistible work of art .", "the visual puns , sight gags and the little parables told by the few speaking characters are rarely laugh-out-loud funny . but they provoke thought , debate and diverse interpretations .", "biting irony and an unusual combination of grounded reality and quirky fantasy , occasionally slipping into puzzling obscurity .", "the dr. strangelove of the palestinian-israeli conflict , bringing barely acknowledged fears to the surface so they can be understood .", "laughing at the cruelty of man , of one neighbor 's inhumanity to the other , suleiman uses comedy to dig under the skin . the film 's subtitle is , after all , a chronicle of love and pain .", "it 's an effective , arresting and terribly moving picture , even when suleiman 's polemical points are ambiguous .", "no matter what your political sensibilities , you ca n't deny this movie 's striking originality .", "what to make of it ? call it a red balloon lofted into the collective imagination to unsettle , to haunt , even , perhaps , to arouse faint dreams of possibility , if not hope .", "suleiman creates a sense of profound disorientation and somehow comical psychic wounds with immense skill , and silences teeming with insight into his uniquely tragic universe .", "elia suleiman 's wry , sometimes unsettling comedy is a political allegory in deadpan black-out sketches worthy of the theater of the absurd ...", "a film of bits and pieces , of sly humor and quiet realizations of deeper meaning .", "aside from getting a unique opportunity to view daily life in nazareth , this film has little else to offer that 's appealing .", "the film offers up simultaneous critiques of palestinian and israeli extremism , but the most radical thing about it is that it 's often disquietingly funny .", "a pleasant surprise .", "elia suleiman ... shows a real knack for getting to the human foibles upon which great political turmoil are built", "frequently hilarious and frustratingly underdeveloped at the same time .", "a collection of repetitive , seemingly unrelated vignettes , as symbolic as they are self-consciously waggish .", "an imaginative and daring palestinian film about the fights and feuds in nazareth that have shredded community life and banished civility under the terror of israeli occupation .", "women take on a role of auxiliary endurance ... the only character -lsb- s -rsb- to confront the camera head-on , in close up , or direct stares .", "suleiman 's argument seems to be that the situation between palestinians and israelis has settled into an hopeless stalemate , in which everyday life incorporates elements of paranoia , resentment and craziness .", "simmering , sharply observed work .", "do n't try for buster keaton deadpan effects unless you have buster keaton .", "existence under these conditions is difficult and unpredictable at best . but suleiman has also found the funny and poignant aspects , using satire and absurdist comedy to make his points .", "elia suleiman is an international filmmaking talent to watch .", "may be too culture-specific for most americans , but international film lovers should seek it out", "it succeeds because suleiman applies the same kind of minimalism and silent comedy that made tati 's films ... always so winning .", "a film whose eerie blend of deadpan wit and inner angst upset all your expectations ." ]

[ "an endearing life story . wonderfully nostalgic but also heart-wrenching at times for anyone who grew up with the support of pbs 's children 's television workshop .", "you 'll probably be happy to know that , as per this kickstarter-funded documentary , the man in the puffy yellow suit is just as kind and loving as the overgrown fowl he portrays", "the film will remind audiences of the important role big bird -lrb- and the man in the yellow suit -rrb- played in shaping both culture , children 's education and even politics .", "every bit as warm and kind-hearted as the man whose story it tells .", "schmaltz continually threatens to overcome genius in this super-sentimental account of gifted puppeteer caroll spinney .", "a celebration of an artist who 's utterly delighted an international audience of children - and more than a few adults .", "a touching , overdue round of applause .", "perhaps a sharper exploration of spinney 's life is n't presented , but the documentary gets by on the basics , supplying a new perspective on the puppeteer and his legacy .", "it is impossible to observe the film 's interviews with spinney and not be taken aback by the man 's extraordinary sensitivity , and the deeply unhappy childhood that seems still very much with him today .", "the kind of heartwarming , sentimental tale of a gentle soul that the pbs show 's iconic character would love .", "behind-the-scenes footage provides some fascinating glimpses of sesame street being blocked .", "spinney comes across as a man whose warm spirit is literally at the core of the loving , if loopy big bird .", "befitting the subject matter , the movie is sweet-natured and sentimental .", "not a definitive story of sesame street , but it 's a superb portrait of one of its longest residents , and a peek behind the scenes well worth taking for anyone who grew up with one of pop culture 's most identifiable and most long-lived children 's icons .", "in less than 90 minutes , it 's a reasonably complete history of the big bird character and the man in it .", "spinney is well-deserving of the attention , and from a standpoint of sheer curiosity and fascination , knowing more about this man who created a character that we loved as children and that our children now love , is a gently poignant experience .", "the purity of intent and sophisticated craft -lsb- spinney -rsb- has poured into their creation remains unacknowledged by the general public . the modestly appointed , crowd-funded documentary i am big bird should clear up that oversight once and for all .", "there 's little sour to temper the sweetness of this portrait .", "this adulatory doco of spinney 's life and work is a handful of love stories glued together by spinney , who is at the centre of it . a kinda this is your life doco", "though its gooey , sentimental soundtrack is a misstep - this story is quite sweet enough already - `` i am big bird '' is mesmerizing for anyone -lrb- and that 's a lot of us -rrb- who grew up with `` sesame street . ''", "while nice -- arguably too nice , in fact -- it feels like fifty minutes of material drawn out to nearly ninety .", "spinney is a one-of-a-kind personality , an oddball even among the oddballs who pioneered sesame street 's children 's television workshop .", "very much a heartwarming tribute , bordering on treacly .", "you 'll find a few touching moments and some iconic images for gen-x viewers , but do n't expect any feathers to get ruffled .", "if there was ever a man lucky enough to have found his true calling in life , it 's the subject of dave lamattina and chad n. walker 's affecting documentary .", "a warm-hearted documentary look at the man behind one of the most beloved and iconic sesame street characters of all time .", "offers just what the title promises , an involving and affectionate study of caroll spinney , whose sesame street bird we 've all been following for almost half a century now .", "in an era when so many celebrities from our childhoods have turned out to have feet of clay or worse , it 's tremendously reassuring to find out that spinney is just the sort of kind-hearted sweetheart you 'd expect ...", "a charming insight into the life and art of caroll spinney , the puppeteer who has played big bird on sesame street since it was launched in 1969 .", "-lsb- a -rsb- loving documentary about a puppeteer who 's brightened the lives of countless children weaned on sesame street .", "this is a story that belongs on the small screen . it simply is n't interesting enough to hold the attention for 90 minutes .", "the problem with i am big bird is simply that spinney 's story may be heartwarming but it entirely lacks drama .", "this sweet if superfluous doc shows that spinney is big bird , a tireless performer who refuses to retire .", "it coalesces into a highly entertaining , surprise-packed and enjoyably nostalgic experience .", "an affectionate portrait of a big-hearted man and a fitting testament to the enduring appeal of sesame street .", "yes , there 's a lot of information in `` i am big bird , '' and sometimes it is a bit self-serving . but at the heart is a love story between spinney , that big , yellow bird and all of us .", "mushy at times but likable all over .", "there 's no ducking the frank admiration and love on display in `` i am big bird : the carroll spinney story . '' then again , there 's a lot to love and admire here . it 's freaking big bird .", "with the heyday of `` sesame street '' undeniably in the past , `` i am big bird '' will primarily appeal to nostalgic grownups . but as spinney demonstrates , you 're never too old to be a kid at heart .", "i am big bird : the caroll spinney story , for the most part , is a puff piece . a feather film , if you will . it 's as nice and flavorful and yellow as a nilla cookie .", "children love and understand the majestic galoot .", "affectionately saccharine .", "a gentle , sensitive film about a gentle , sensitive man .", "charming and fascinating .", "spinney 's unassuming career is worth celebrating , even if it does n't provide much of a story .", "a wonderful , inspiring look at how the best art , regardless of the age group at which it 's aimed , always comes with a special personal touch that makes it indelible .", "... i am big bird : the caroll spinney story is a profoundly moving documentary .", "for muppet enthusiasts or just folks who like to hear about unusual jobs , it 's worth seeking out .", "the main thing i got out of `` i am big bird '' is this : big bird = unconditional love .", "four years after `` being elmo : a puppeteer 's journey '' promoted the idea that a muppet character embodied love , along come the documentarian duo dave lamattina and chad n. walker to reinstate the legacy of sesame street 's original star .", "we get the surface of who this man is , but -- and perhaps this is a testament to the man himself -- we want to know more .", "these sobering moments aside , the great bulk of `` i am big bird '' is a sunny day , sweepin ' the clouds away , brightly colored tribute to the man and his art .", "`` i am big bird '' is a loving personal profile of spinney , with memories and anecdotes shared by his wife , his children , his co-workers and friends .", "one to warm your cockles .", "i am big bird , is a must if you want to listen to 90 minutes of bland platitudes about the `` genius '' of a man who dresses as a giant yellow bird for a living .", "the overall effect , drenched by joshua johnson 's unnecessarily surging score , is far too portentous for its own good .", "the transcendence that the film offers is n't to be taken lightly considering the near impossibility of living professionally as an artist .", "the film gets a little syrupy at times , but mr. spinney is forthright and engaging throughout .", "an incessantly schmaltzy tv score threatens to drown us in syrup , but the sight of big bird singing it 's not easy being green at jim henson 's memorial provides a powerful emotional sucker-punch .", "it gives you the impression of knowing him well , and it does it , amazingly , while barely showing his face .", "we learn about the highs and lows of spinney 's life , and get some insight into his character - a character which , not surprisingly , seems to have the same capacity for childlike wonder and joy the much-mourned henson had .", "this is a profile of a decent man who is permanently associated with a revered pop-cultural icon .", "the man lurking beneath all those big bird yellow feathers takes the spotlight in this highly endearing documentary ." ]

[ "what becomes apparent is how well the story stands up , and how it still wreaks havoc with our moral compasses .", "unlike most remakes , this is just as good as the original , maybe even better .", "reeves ramps up the action ... and spells out some things that were only hinted at by his swedish precursor ... but -lsb- his film -rsb- remains chilling and touching in equal measure .", "in a world where on-screen adolescent vampires spew fluffy drivel about love and longing more often than puncturing carotid arteries with gleaming fangs , MOV is quite the raw , fresh , and meaty approach .", "apesar de ser um esforуo digno -lrb- e mesmo um зtimo filme -rrb- , soa apenas como uma empreitada comercial , nсo como um projeto movido por ambiушes artьsticas .", "in many ways , matt reeves ' vision is both more feral and more vulnerable than the swedish original ...", "this film makes me angry . not because it 's bad - i gave it four stars - but because it 's unneccessary and shows up one of the biggest problems with hollywood and audiences .", "for anyone who can be bothered to read subtitles , it is essentially a pointless endeavour , but MOV has a strident regard for what made the original so enthralling ...", "there was no good reason for this movie to exist beyond a lazy american disinterest in subtitles . but having said that , it 's pretty great on its own .", "MOV is slow and thoughtful and its most chilling aspects require consideration after the fact by the viewer rather than simple thrills that wash over you viscerally and are just quickly gone .", "a masterpiece of subtle horror told in hushed tones and lurking tension", "the camerawork is so integral to the film 's success because owen is experiencing everything for the first time , the sound design is downright lynchian and his innocence makes it seem like he 's not being corrupted , but learning , maturing , and socializing .", "though it 's a too-soon remake , matt reeves ' genre-defying gem is a real grabber , with terrific performances by chloe grace moretz and kodi smit-mcphee .", "` MOV ' is bloody , gory and scary . but it is also smartly written and directed , heartbreakingly acted , and artistically photographed .", "altogether more confident and dramatically sound , this is the rare remake that makes a convincing case for existing by exceeding expectations in nearly every way .", "a rare exception to the rule against american remakes of great foreign-language films , matt reeves ' terrifying `` MOV , '' a remake of a 2008 swedish film , is perhaps the most accomplished -lrb- and goriest -rrb- genre film of its kind in ages .", "bloodless , compared to the swedish original .", "can something be both great and completely pointless ? because MOV is .", "somber , supernatural spooky - it 's an admirable adaptation of the swedish vampire thriller .", "a serious vampire movie that starts the mind thinking and the heart pounding", "the only time it shows any crassness is when reeves pours on the violence and gore instead of cutting away and saving , as alfredson did so wisely , the best for last .", "a pleasant sort of déjŕ vu .", "attention twilight fans . you need to see MOV . this is a `` real '' vampire love story .", "unnecessary remake that replicates rather than originates , neither truly scary nor even mildly disturbing . surprisingly poor special effects and the neutering of a big plot point negate any potential .", "the poetic swedish vampire picture -lrb- with arterial spray -rrb- let the right one in has been hauntingly well transplanted to the high desert of los alamos , new mexico , and renamed MOV .", "if you have n't seen the original , that just means you have two treats in store .", "it 's impossible to deny that the subtlety has been dialled down by a good 5-10 % ... still , as hollywood remakes go , a mere 5-10 % is a good result .", "how to care and feed your very own vampire , or how to ensnare and manipulate your very own human ?", "visceral , corroded , tender", "a solid vampire remake doubles as a solid work of cinematic vampirism .", "joins werner herzog 's nosferatu and david cronenberg 's the fly as one of the greatest horror movie remakes", "on one hand it is probably the best vampire story ever to come from hammer with the most interesting vampire plot ... but is so similar a remake so soon really a film that is needed ?", "not as good as the original but able to stand on its own feet .", "the symbolism and undertones are nowhere to be found , but the highlights are the performances , and the atmosphere , both of which this film brings in droves .", "another month , another teen vampire flick .", "it may not have the depth or nuance of the original , but it 's still a great story , stylishly told .", "... easily one of the best horror films i have ever seen .", "it 's actually strong enough to make the case that not all remakes bite .", "anyone unfamiliar with the swedish original should find this film to be among the year 's better pictures . those who have seen the earlier movie , however ...", "writer/director matt reeves wants to make MOV a moody , sullen shocker with a touch of romance tossed in , but boring is a better term for it all .", "if you like dank , disturbing little horror movies , invite MOV into your moviegoing schedule .", "if you were one of the people who thought an american remake of the 2008 swedish vampire masterpiece let the right one in was a lousy idea , you might want to dial back on the outrage .", "reeves so deeply understands the nature of childhood terror that MOV burns with a white-hot clarity .", "a good looking film ... using the snow covered exteriors to convey the frigid cold and abby 's immunity to it .", "matt reeves takes a step toward making everyone 's favorite bloodsuckers scary again .", "it 's a movie driven by commerce , but it does find some moments of inspiration .", "certainly well-made on its own , its adherence to almost being a direct copy of the beloved original with a few crucially damaging changes ultimately reveal this to be rather pointless for those already initimately familiar with it .", "a very good film , slightly overpraised , has been remade as a slightly good film , very overpraised .", "the swedish original , let the right one in , was blanched , spooky and sombre . this remake by matt cloverfield reeves misses almost everything .", "although this merely reheats 95 per cent of the original , if you have n't seen that , then this is worth a bite .", "to those who admired the swedish vampire movie let the right one in this american remake will not cause offence , though it signally lacks the original 's haunting impact .", "a surprisingly personal reimagination that will shake up mainstream horror cinema .", "i 'm surprised MOV has received mostly enthusiastic reviews , for it is a dim-witted hollywood remake of the acclaimed 2008 swedish film let the right one in .", "to his credit , cloverfield director matt reeves makes a good fist of this .", "MOV remains a rare beast -- a strikingly original vampire thriller , remake or not .", "MOV is n't as rich or daring as let the right one in and seldom improves on it -- but it plays better as a horror film , more concentrated in its focus on the creepy and shocking aspects of its unusual love story .", "it 's so reminiscent of the arthouse original you are tempted to say `` why bother ? '' but for those coming new to the story it 's a treat and , for my money , punchier and more compelling .", "it is at once artful and unpretentious , more interested in intimacy and implication than in easy scares or slick effects .", "a rare american remake of a foreign horror film that 's actually good . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "reeves 's direction lunges more resolutely for the mainstream jugular , but that 's no bad thing .", "MOV is by far one of the best-looking films of the year , genre or no genre . it 's a nightmare , sure , but what childhood is n't ?", "if subtitle-phobia hinders you from seeing the brilliant , swedish original , than director matt reeves ' remarkable american remake is the next best thing .", "as good as it is , there is never a time when it transcends the earlier film and strikes out on its own .", "both suitably reverential to the excellent swedish original and entirely successful as a work of authentic american horror . smart , scary , and heartbreaking .", "every bit as moody , as melancholy and as meaningful as its swedish inspiration , as it explores heartbreaking themes of alienation and the universal need for human contact .", "... not so much a remake as a reimagining of the material . it 's a brilliant film that offers a different , but in no way inferior , take on the story ...", "i absolutely adored the original swedish film and was more than worried about a remake . reeves proved me wrong and delivers one of the best remakes i have ever seen .", "stands firmly on its own two bare feet as not only one of the best horror films of the year but one of the best films , period .", "if a story is truly interesting , it can only be more interesting to see different versions of it . that 's my first line of defense against the many people who get very worked up over the thought of an american version of let the right one in .", "before i saw the movie , i was ready to deem it unnecessary . if anything , it just proves that this twisted little tale of childhood alienation works across cultures .", "rest assured , much of what made the first film so special remains intact .", "the gist remains the same , and in some cases improved upon .", "the new MOV does more than merely preserve the original 's mood ; it actually improves on it .", "a truly memorable horror classic filled with the same degree of tension and emotion as the swedish film .", "in color , composition , and tone , both MOV and let the right one in are strikingly alike , but their differences are almost as remarkable .", "no matter how many times this eerie and romantic horror fairy tale is told , it 's sure to remain a true original .", "a successful film for newcomers to the material , but it fails to justify its existence to those familiar with its previous incarnation .", "there 's a human tragedy somewhere here -- but aggrandized puppy-love romance and stylish revenge fantasy is all that lingers .", "MOV is a fine film ; well performed and -lrb- mostly -rrb- well made . but the only reason to see this instead of let the right one in is to avoid some subtitles .", "could teen torment ever be this moody ?", "if we had n't already seen it in swedish , we 'd probably be talking up reeves ' dark , gripping vampire remake -- and its two lead performances -- as something rather special . actually , we 're going to do that anyway .", "has the emotional depth to break your heart as well as stop it .", "it 's an impressive , thoughtful version with reeves ' reverence for his source material winning through and the performances of his two young leads well up to snuff .", "a remake that in no way soils its source and stands on its own two bare feet as a classy , nerve-jangling slice of horror .", "not as deep as the original , but certainly more of a crowdpleaser -- and it 's hard to imagine a more intelligent and well-crafted american horror being released this year .", "what more could you want ? great reviews , awards-season glory , lousy ticket sales . maybe reeves made an art movie after all .", "matt reeves ' MOV may be a pointless exercise , but as pointless exercises go , it 's not a bad effort .", "this americanisation of the elegantly eerie swedish cult hit let the right one in is an honourable effort .", "not to worry - the redo is neither dumbed-down nor especially softened up .", "-lsb- director -rsb- reeves had the smarts to identify and appropriate everything that made the original film so moving and visually memorable . even better , he invigorates this faithful reproduction with remarkably effective contributions of his own .", "this version follows the plot and dialogue of its swedish predecessor , capturing a tender -lrb- often blood-splattered -rrb- young relationship . but reeves has upped the suspense and gore , creating a more hollywood-friendly horror thriller .", "MOV is one of the few horror films that will trouble you long after the credits roll .", "MOV has a muddled storyline that never quite finds its focus . every element here is just not as good as it was in the original , making this another pointless remake .", "as far as remakes go , this is a pretty good one .", "the film is this year 's best horror due to smit-mcphee and moretz displaying a vulnerability and a skill in characterization that belies their tender ages .", "this is a story about two isolated kids making friends in a cold world . those drops of blood in the snow could have come from anywhere .", "MOV does n't need to exist unless , that is , the very notion of swedish cinema is strange and unpalatable to you .", "matt reeves has succeeded in presenting the story in a thoughtful , respectful manner , while still americanizing the swedish text .", "an awful lot of trouble to go to just because some people do n't like reading subtitles .", "you wo n't find a much bigger fan of the original film than yours truly -- and still i was very impressed by this crafty remake .", "this unsettling , effective american remake really gets under the skin as one of the year 's most powerful thrillers .", "given that tomas alfredson 's 2008 chiller let the right one in was so distinctly swedish , it 's amazing how well the material withstands the transfer to a new mexico setting .", "ultimately , if the swedish version is near perfection , matt reeves 's version achieves complete supremacy . masterpiece is an overused word , but it 's hard to think of another so powerful . MOV is the new standard for vampire movies .", "while all that is artful about MOV comes straight from the original , the hollywood version commands respect for not dumbing things down .", "... a respectable remake ...", "reeves ' film sticks fairly close to the original 's plot and characters -- and even sometimes its shots -- but he ingeniously alters the context in order to capture a similar mood .", "-lsb- a -rsb- haunting , touching and unforgettable thriller .", "one of the best remakes to come along in quite some time .", "it 's obvious no one was sitting around on set thinking about this as a `` remake . '' it 's just an impeccably crafted version of this story , and matt reeves should be very , very proud of what he 's done here .", "elegant , creepy , but a little too faithful to the original .", "far from the bloodlusty teen fantasies of twilight and true blood , MOV serves as a delicate metaphor for adolescent angst in the reagan-era 1980s .", "eerie , poetic and terrifying as a portrait of childhood need and vulnerability ; still , the film 's very existence is a sad judgment on the timidity of american moviegoers , whose aversion to subtitles justified this remake ...", "MOV is one of the finest american horror films of recent years . it may be a remake but , when it 's this good , who cares ? bloody great !", "... most of the story and characters -- and all of the creepy , unsettling mood -- remain intact ...", "MOV deserves attention for its thoughtful rendition of adolescent torment and its restrained handling of the so-hot-right-now vampire genre . if that attention draws new fans to its top-shelf source material , all the better .", "... will seem a revelation to viewers who missed the limited release of the swedish original .", "MOV is simultaneously a joy and a disappointment .", "it is a pleasure to report that MOV is a very good film . both in its own right , and also out of respect to the original production .", "fails to add anything to set it apart and there 's no reason to prefer this to the fine swedish original .", "at best it 's on a par with -- not better than -- its predecessor . given how good tomas alfredson 's film was , that 's not a bad achievement .", "MOV is a rare example of a film that gives remakes a good name .", "harrowing and heartfelt , this is one of the best films i 've seen this year .", "stripping away the mysticism and sexuality of vampire lore , MOV has taken everything tantalizing about fanged thrillers and converted it instead into an element of agony", "i simply can not admire what reeves does with the remake . the best i can do is commend his skill at imitating the original .", "at once tender and brutal , MOV is a transfixing elegy the likes of which the supernatural horror genre rarely produces .", "like the original film it maintains an incredible mood of dread and foreboding while also being a strangely touching story about young love .", "creepy , eerie and a solid vampire thriller", "stylish and effectively creepy , if mostly secondhand .", "a solid work that may be a needless retread , but one that is respectful and smartly done .", "MOV wants to make your flesh crawl , and it probably will . but it 's unlikely to ever get under anyone 's skin , the way let the right one in did .", "perhaps the best recommendation one can give MOV is that you walk out thinking not about the horror but about the heartbreak .", "it 's a remake that surpasses its predecessor in depth and vision .", "the scariest , creepiest and most elegantly filmed horror movie i 've seen in years -- it positively drives a stake through the competition .", "MOV might be so well-liked by english-speaking audiences and chloe moretz fans they will seek out the more arty version . win/win . it can only do good for our favorite genre .", "if i had n't seen the original , i might have gone ga-ga over reeves ' version . but even with the shock of novelty gone , the film still draws you into its chilly , demonic heart .", "reeves has retained all the uncanny pathos of alfredson 's original , and he 's added a layer of domestic angst and despair , as well as overtones of genuine tragedy .", "will work better for those who have not seen the original film . ... it 's subtle , but far from slow . it 's artistic , yet not artsy .", "this is a really good movie , good enough that whether it needed to be made is beside the point . if you 've seen the original , you 'll be happy with the results . if you have n't , then just sit back and enjoy .", "its unique and affecting juxtaposition of tenderness and savagery , combined with a slew of stellar performances , makes for an experience unlike any other in recent horror-movie memory .", "reeves has n't just remade the swedish cult vampire film let the right one in into a more fluid and visceral movie . he 's made it more dangerous .", "a striking picture to study , but a blunt , condensed take on the source material , sacrificing an unsettling sense of macabre harmony to keep elements blocky enough so they might be appreciated by a wide , profitable audience .", "children should not be exposed to this lurid display of helplessness and pessimism -- and adult viewers should be wary of the nihilistic indulgence .", "a better adaptation of the swedish film than we had any reason to expect . writer/director matt reeves kept the original 's creepy atmospherics , although he did punch up the action beats .", "a watchable remake that captures the look and feel of the original and features terrific performances from its two young leads but it also strips out all the subtlety and complexity of the swedish version in favour of more overt horror sequences .", "stunningly photographed on wintry locations by australia 's talented greig fraser , the film is unnerving throughout , but it 's more than just a horror film .", "on its own , the american adaptation is rather remarkable . it 's an incredibly tense , artfully constructed and beautifully acted portrait of loneliness , nascent love and manipulation .", "as a remake , MOV can never really be seen in its own terms . it has nearly everything that filmgoers loved about alfredson 's swedish original - except the originality .", "a beautifully understated story of young lovers played out with the dark side of vampire mythology as a backdrop that occasionally and shockingly intrudes .", "horror film , serial killer drama , revenge fantasy , or coming-of-age romance , MOV succeeds whichever way you want to look at it .", "i think this is a very competent film . it just did n't match the original for me .", "MOV is a very accomplished thriller , perfectly brooding and moody without ever going over the top . is it better than let the right one in ? it does n't matter , the film does more than enough to stand on its own two feet .", "a thoughtful and compelling horror film boosted by the astounding performances of the two young lead actors .", "compliments where they are due to director reeves for bringing it all together . turns out there 's room in the world for more than one movie about vampires ... who 'd have thought it .", "reeves has done the impossible and made a foreign film for a mainstream american audience .", "moody and atmospheric , the film subverts expectations by mixing darkly introspective drama with full-on horror .", "reeves ' direction is a subdued , safe , clean -- and a bit boring .", "while reeves gets no points for originality-and you should really see the first movie immediately if you have n't yet-he aptly reproduces the story 's emotional core .", "the kids ' performances are hugely satisfying -- these are two immensely talented young actors ... definitely a must-see for anyone who loves vampires but hates what twilight has done to them ...", "MOV is simply riveting , dark and ominous , cruel and unrelenting , sprinkled with bittersweet moments and sentiment .", "the tragedy in jenkins ' pathetic protector focuses the film 's themes of desperation and the myopia of puppy love when you 're young enough -lrb- or undead enough -rrb- to feel immortal", "in reeves hands , MOV has a calm demeanor and a methodical almost '70s film visual beauty .", "reeves largely sticks close to the look and tone of the first film , but not in the annoying manner of gus van sant 's atrocious psycho remake .", "MOV actually improves on the source material without resorting to the pathetic tics of most american horror films .", "reeves understands what made the first film so eerie and effective , and here the same things work again .", "a smart horror film that exploits a deep-seated fear in america : subtitle-phobia .", "it 's still a striking piece of character-driven horror , and it still ranks -lrb- despite the effects -rrb- among the more understated fright fests to hit the mainstream in recent memory .", "the language has been changed to english , of course , which is the only real reason this movie exists ; the story development , desolate tone , and key set pieces are mostly copied from the original movie .", "moretz and smit-mcphee perform in synch with reeves ' stealthy sense of dread ... so effectively understated that the tricks he feels obligated to add seem out of place . yet the movie never seems unnecessary , as remakes of foreign films typically are .", "one of the best films of 2010 -- with or without its celebrated source material .", "so far superior to the usual run of hollywood horror films that one can easily forgive the fact that it does n't quite match its swedish model .", "this american remake of 2008 's small swedish gem is a valiant effort but rarely evokes the eerie essence of the original .", "mercifully free of vampire lore or rules . . there 's none of the usual romantic blather ... when abby bites a victim , pleasure is the last thing they 're thinking about .", "strips away the soul and the vision until it 's butchered its source material as badly as the recent nightmare on elm street remake .", "the original was a very good thriller . the new one is simply a good one .", "MOV is not as fantastic as let the right one in , which you should rent immediately . but it is undeniably powerful and made with obvious admiration and respect for the source material .", "MOV both tweaks and fulfills right-wingy , quasi-religious views by making the most virulent embodiment of evil a little girl .", "the american version of a beloved swedish vampire tale comes with an irritating sense of déjŕ vu .", "what works so well here is the juxtaposition of youthful innocence and downright puppy love with monstrosity and murder . mean kids are scary . kids who drink blood are scarier .", "it 's called MOV . that demanding title says something about how the gentle poetry of the original gets lost a bit in reeves ' translation .", "movies this bloody are rarely this heady . it 's one trend we would n't mind seeing catch on .", "... for audiences who have had the pleasure of seeing `` let the right one in , '' this version does n't improve on its source material .", "to his credit , reeves preserves much of the original 's creepy essence ...", "it 's a heartbreaker of a coming-of-age tale , even if there 's a string of exsanguinated corpses to be accounted for .", "it 's an honorable attempt , but there 's still no genuine need for this film to exist .", "i thought for sure that any hollywood remake of tomas alfredson 's artful swedish vampire film , let the right one in , would be a crass desecration . well , color me blushing .", "the first film had barbed fangs . the more visceral remake has less bite .", "instead of exploring uncanny realms of psychological terror usually reserved for poe or lovecraft , -lsb- reeves -rsb- goes all freddy krueger .", "despite being about vampires , MOV can feel chillingly real .", "if you 've never seen the original , you may not sense that something 's missing . and the casting is in some ways an improvement .", "an unusually smart , subtle and resonant horror movie , one that will linger long after slasher-film shocks are long forgotten .", "the americanized version is a nice parlor trick , and will satisfy those who believe fidelity is the principal virtue of a good adaptation , but what 's the point ?", "MOV may not be its own movie , but it 's good just the same .", "a fatal lack of introspection dooms its hero to be , with full knowledge aforethought , the same psychopathic moron responsible for all this destruction in the first place .", "MOV is a brilliantly effective horror film that is a thoroughly gripping and does n't shirk from its supernatural chills .", "reeves , for the most part , delivers a film that 's every bit as compelling as alfredson 's original .", "with its mix of true-blood romance and full-moon madness , MOV should hasten the twilight of the twerpy pretenders .", "reeves ' fresh vision and utterly compelling storytelling more than justify the making of this american iteration that could very well make a surprise appearance on year-end lists the way its predecessor did .", "vale la pena verla , por supuesto , pero mi mejor recomendación sería ver -lrb- antes o después -rrb- la versión sueca . puede ser incluso un interesante ejercicio de comparación ...", "in playing up the bullying , reeves has americanized a very good swedish film without de-fanging it .", "this is one of the best films of its kind in the recent years . it 's not better than the original , but that 's not what matt reeves set out to do - the man wanted to make a solid film and he did just that .", "the result , though no less creepy than the swedish film , mislays its lyricism and otherworldliness .", "it 's winter in reagan 's america ... but was n't it always ?", "it does n't have the emotional depth or resonance of the original , but it 's a sutiable genre entry .", "american remakes of well regarded foreign films are almost always poor imitations , but director matt reeves -lrb- `` cloverfield '' -rrb- ... has made a film that plays better than the original - for its first half .", "beautifully shot , sensitively directed , and elegantly scripted , it is a horror movie with the kind of substance and depth that 99 % of genre fare lacks . it lingers in your mind and your heart .", "the film deserves immediate comparison with the horror genre?s all-time classics .", "MOV is the rare remake that maintains the strengths of the original while staking out new ground .", "this is more than a respectful remake ; MOV is quietly stylish and thoroughly chilling in its own right .", "MOV is gorgeously shot , with bravura onscreen performances and a gripping narrative . so why does it seem so secondary ?", "MOV represents one of the best and most brutal vampire movies to come along in a while ...", "MOV is an smart blend of very rich moments both innocent and extremely dark and twisted .", "-lsb- reeves -rsb- has taken someone else 's work and so infused it with apt and knowing choices that if feels as if it began with him personally -- a heck of a thing to achieve with such a potentially dubious project .", "if you do n't want your vampires to sparkle , then ` MOV ' is the movie for you .", "it redresses the original with a keen eye and original perspective .", "moving and haunting , sometimes bloody but always deeply affecting , the story carries the eternal truth about human nature that shakespeare captured so vividly in romeo & juliet", "shimmering with the same tremor as the swedish original , this bitingly different vampire movie offers a similarly heart jolting experience", "-lsb- director matt reeves -rsb- manages to both stay true to and improve upon the swedish original , notably in the climactic swimming-pool scene .", "haunting and tragic .", "MOV mimics the mood and mastery of alfredson?s original almost to the point where it 's a shot for shot remake . yes , it?s good . but only because the original was good to begin with .", "it?s still just an efficient imitation of a superior film , and it?s largely superfluous ." ]

[ "bodily fluids and the sounds they generate are a big part of this gory and wholly unsatisfying slasher film .", "the acting is better than the script deserves and lexi alexander 's cut-to-the-hearse direction lends the film considerable kick . but there is a steel spike at the end of punisher 's boot that will gouge your eyes out .", "i would n't say that one decapitation ... or a dozen ... or a string of pervasive , grisly , bloody violence saved this film . but ... we were getting an unrelenting action film .", "the film actually wants us to ponder its moral and ethical implications -- which is like a stripper telling you she wants to go to law school . yeah , sure , whatever you say , movie . i 'm not paying you to talk .", "at one point , the punisher is asked who punishes him . the better question for those who made this inane bloodfest is : why punish us ?", "punisher : war zone is not a movie that i can tell people to go see in good conscience , but there is an audience out there who likes watching excessive violence , and i must admit there were times when i was entertained .", "the ultraviolent third stab at marvel 's homicidal vigilante is the best and closest to the source material .", "brisk , violent and packed with outlandish stunts , punisher : war zone gets the job done , although not as effectively as the first one .", "punisher : war zone is bad enough that it may remind viewers how lucky we have been this year to get two superior superhero movies in iron man and the dark knight .", "assuming you can appreciate the high level of gore and assorted sadistic weirdness , the action is satisfying and the dark story is close to the tone of its marvel comics source material .", "about as entertaining as being slapped by a stranger .", "whether you enjoy punisher : war zone or not will depend completely on what you 're looking to get out of it .", "there are so many tones at work in the non-script that the only suspense is in wondering what genre will be used -lrb- badly -rrb- next .", "a one-man invasion . good he 's on our side .", "... i also question whether this will be one of those movies where , after you get the joke , the second viewing may be more pleasurable . sadly , the first time was n't a charm ...", "the only person remotely having fun is doug hutchinson who plays jigsaw 's brother loony bin jim . if everyone else had that good a time , war zone would have been a great movie .", "hopefully it 's three strikes and you 're out for the punisher , as this latest attempt at creating another comic book franchise will prove once and for all that maybe this character just does n't deserve the big screen treatment .", "normally a character with a skull on his shirt is too busy flicking his lighter at the judas priest tribute band show to bother with fighting the kind of crime that does n't require an amp and a guitar .", "this movie is exactly what a punisher film should be and that 's both good and bad . it 's over the top blood and gore , relentless , humorless and hopeless . i did n't go in expecting shakespeare in the park .", "there is a lot of shooting . there is a tremendous amount of shooting . you could build a large house just from the shell casings we see expended in the course of the movie .", "this was a terrible movie .", "violent vigilante comic book story is gory , grim stuff .", "if you 're on the wavelength that can laugh with this stuff instead of laugh at it , punisher : war zone is about as fun as commercial cinema gets this season .", "without a consistent style , `` punisher : war zone '' never establishes a real identity .", "it 's not a great film . it 's not even a particularly good film . it is , however , a film that almost entirely succeeds at a tremendously modest aim .", "opening-weekend box office indicates punisher could be in the wal-mart $ 5 dump bin in time for christmas as a worthy replacement for those hard-to-find lumps of coal .", "the guiltiest of guilty pleasures .", "the film boasts some of the more revolting special effects ever conceived . there is n't really any acting to speak of , although jigsaw and loony bin jim get to chew people and scenery ; the dialogue is pretty much what you 'd expect .", "once in a while someone will come up to me and ask why movies are so violent . generally , they 're talking about a war movie or a horror movie such as ` saw . ' in the future , i will throw out ` the punisher : war zone ' as a comparison .", "if you can stomach the gore and pick up on the underlying humor , you 'll likely have a good time .", "the iq is as low as the body count is high and the uncharismatic ray stevenson might as well have been wearing a mask for all the emotion he shows .", "it 's a good old-fashioned guns-andaction romp - and i love it .", "a blithely depraved shoot - 'em - up in which its glum protagonist cuts a retributive swath across a vast criminal underworld , punisher : war zone echoes back to the unthinking low-budget action movies of the 1980s .", "the final damning verdict left by the american box office , whom far from raced out to see it , meaning takings of 8m leave punisher : war zone the lowest grossing marvel adaptation to date .", "... stands as the best offering out of hollywood that punisher fans could 've hoped for .", "one can assume another reboot will be in the offing after this monstrosity tanks at the box office .", "part '80s action movie , part gross-out horror , this guilty pleasure is saw meets rambo ...", "god i love my revenge films ...", "unlike more high-powered marvel heroes like spider-man and x-men , the punisher has never enjoyed much box office success and this excruciatingly terrible film certainly wo n't change that .", "earning an 18 certificate with its violence , the film is kids ' stuff in all other respects : over-the-top shootouts , monstrous and barking-mad villains , a bumbling sidekick and so on . highly enjoyable tosh .", "bad writing , worse acting and violence that redefines the word ` excessive ' makes it clear that the punisher is one marvel character that probably should stay in the comic books .", "gore-drenched actioner is guaranteed to draw fans of wretched excess like moths to a nuclear holocaust .", "if at first you do n't succeed , punish , punish again .", "on the plus side , punisher : war zone has one of the all-time great b-movie last lines : ` oh , god , now i 've got brains splattered all over me ! '", "it 's not often that i get to trot out this little critical bon mot , but here goes : punisher : war zone kicks ass .", "when the punisher kills people , he really kills them good . head shots explode out of nowhere with comic timing . they get that action movie violence is a joke so they do n't try to justify it .", "bodily fluids and the sounds they generate are a big part of this gory and wholly unsatisfying slasher film .", "the movie is simply a lot of noise and energy that inspires no emotional impact , although you may feel like you need to take a shower once the credits roll .", "as entertaining as punisher : war zone is , there 's no real depth , the plot is obvious and it 's a wee bit charmless .", "this is as true to a marvel comic tale as i 've ever seen - gory , serious , intense , dark and utterly psychotic .", "another violently unsuccessful attempt to bring this comic book character to screen .", "` oh god , now i 've got brains spattered all over me , ' exclaims the punisher 's slippery inside man , detective soap . you may feel the same at the end of this messy , sadistic reboot of the marvel comic-book series .", "you could n't call it shoddy , exactly , and the actors take it painfully seriously ; it 's just dispiriting to see all this endeavour in the service of something so humourless and disgusting .", "the punishment does n't end there , with anyone who hands over good money to watch this dreck also likely to feel the pain .", "the franchise simply ca n't compete with better written and directed comic book offerings out there . this includes howard the duck ...", "marvel , stop punishing yourselves and put this unworkable franchise out of our misery .", "pleasantly surprising - providing you 're not put off by all the gore and dismemberment .", "castle/the punisher is not the most charismatic comic book hero at the best of times but stevenson 's jowly pallor and oil slick of hair makes him look more like an eastern european abattoir worker than a vigilante to be reckoned with .", "west 's performance as jigsaw is eerily similar to what tommy lee jones did as two-face in batman forever and if that comparison has n't made you vomit a little , wait there 's more !", "a ` castle ' complete with a torture chamber .", "you used to be able to depend on a bad film being poorly made . no longer . the punisher : war zone is one of the best-made bad movies i 've seen .", "like the punisher says to one of his victims : ` let me put you out of my misery . '", "... like a seagal movie on crank , only with friday the 13th bogeyman jason voorhees in the lead , provided jason were smart enough to use guns and missiles", "junk , pure and simple ... stevenson -lsb- is -rsb- a beefy , taciturn fellow with all the charisma of steven seagal and an emotional range that goes from a to somewhere just shy of a - .", "the third attempt to kick-start a franchise based on the marvel comics punisher character is probably the best of the bunch , but that is n't saying much .", "if scenes of extreme gore being played for dark laughs disturb you , you sure ai n't the target audience here .", "marvel 's latest chunk of comic-book pulp strikes the usual brooding poses , but the film is so utterly ridiculous -- make that bloody ridiculous -- that its self-induced giggle fits become downright hilarious .", "a picture of deliberate stupidity and derivative artistry , punisher : war zone is so atrocious it makes professional wrestling look like a whimsical afternoon with shakespeare in the park by comparison .", "in the spirit of teaming up franchises , if lions gate were to continue reviving hope with the punisher , maybe the next time around he can protect the winner from vh-1 's scream queens against the other jigsaw in saw vi .", "punisher : war zone marks the third time hollywood has brough frank castle to the big screen . maybe the fourth time will be the charm .", "occasionally terrible enough to be funny , but never funny enough to overcome its thundering stupidity", "-lrb- t -rrb- here is no stylistic thrill to this blunt object of a callous action film .", "anyone with a modicum of good sense -- or a weak stomach -- will take it as a warning to stay the heck away from this literally and figuratively deadly war zone .", "one of the few non-direct-to-dvd films being produced these days that is laughably awful .", "it 's a joyless plunge into gunfire that does n't even know how to draw blood .", "squish squish , bang bang .", "the film works a bit better than the 2004 punisher installment , the one starring surly , dislikable thomas jane as frank castle .", "steeped in as much over-the-top brutality and gore as comedy , this artless revenge tale would seem to have a limited fan base and shelf life .", "there 's too much good stuff here to let the bad stuff off the hook .", "this atrocity is even worse than the 2004 version , if such a thing is possible , though i have to grudgingly admit that while it is as foul , vile and stupid as all get out , it is still somewhat better than the dolph lundgren version .", "frank castle is supposed to be the dark dark knight , but the question i have is does this director actually think `` i want people to laugh at my movie ? ''", "if most of the budget has gone to ordnance and blood squibs , director lexi alexander films the sprays of gore with an artisan 's eye , and the results make effective if morally indefensible movie red meat .", "the premise is so awful it veers toward sublime : the angry white guy kills everyone .", "parental content review", "despite some smart casting choices and appropriately over-the-top violence , the third time is n't the charm for marvel comics ' cinematically challenged vigilante .", "` oh god , now i 've got brains splattered all over me , ' are the final words heard in ` punisher : war zone . ' the cop who utters that line likely will be the only person on record to accuse this ultraviolent movie of an excess of brains .", "while not a typical slasher film , it has more in common with ` hellraiser ' than ` hellboy , ' which should come as welcome news to those with a taste for exploding skulls , graphic decapitations and cannibalistic feasts .", "punisher : war zone is 100 minutes of people getting shot in the face - bad italian stereotypes , non-existent narrative , and people getting shot in the face .", "all -lsb- director -rsb- alexander proves in punisher : war movie is that a martial-arts-trained woman can make a film just as stupid , coarse and numbing as any muscle man .", "for a guilty pleasure i can recommend it . as a punisher movie , it does n't quite work . good effort , but sorry ...", "this is the third crack hollywood has taken at the comic-book hero the punisher . they say the third time 's the charm . but then , they say a lot of things .", "this awful sequel dispenses with any such pretense , its cartoonish characters running an endless gauntlet of hypergruesome violence .", "incompetent and cartoonish are the best words to describe punisher : war zone .", "does it have to be so witless , so stupid , so openly contemptuous of the very audience itâ -lrb- tm -rrb- s supposed to be pandering to ?", "punisher : war zone is the best punisher movie of the three made so far . that said , it 's still terrible .", "this is purely gutter , fanboy , cheez whiz cinema , but alexander delivers the goods .", "with its dopey fight scenes , grimy look and goopy gore , this movie is so far from ept that inept is the wrong word . it 's anti-ept .", "war zone does n't cheat action fans of intense violence ; they 'll be treated to a vast array of vicious butchery ." ]

[ "a sensitive and expertly acted crowd-pleaser that is n't above a little broad comedy and a few unabashedly sentimental tears .", "nice performances all around and a lighter-than-expected dusting of sugary sweetness keeps it just this side of insufferable .", "jose campanella delivers a loosely autobiographical story brushed with sentimentality but brimming with gentle humor , bittersweet pathos , and lyric moments that linger like snapshots of memory .", "if you 're able to go , relax and lower your expectations , you might be carried away by it .", "a pleasant and sometimes heartwarming two hours ' diversion .", "this is a sweet film , one not without a certain emotional intelligence and fleeting bursts of wit and humor .", "passion , melodrama , sorrow , laugther , and tears cascade over the screen effortlessly ...", "campanella gets the tone just right -- funny in the middle of sad in the middle of hopeful .", "MOV manages to be affectionate without drawing too deeply from a well of sugar and schmaltz .", "too often , MOV becomes an exercise in trying to predict when a preordained `` big moment '' will occur and not `` if . ''", "... a sweet , thoughtful movie ...", "a comedy-drama of nearly epic proportions rooted in a sincere performance by the title character undergoing midlife crisis .", "a perfect example of rancid , well-intentioned , but shamelessly manipulative movie making .", "an entertaining and poignantly bittersweet take-down of a good man 's midlife crisis .", "offers a quieter version of the midlife-crisis roller coaster .", "poignant without being treacly or cloyingly phony .", "director juan jose campanella could have turned this into an argentine retread of `` iris '' or `` american beauty , '' but instead pulls a little from each film and creates something more beautiful than either of those films .", "the MOV 's humour is born out of an engaging storyline , which also is n't embarrassed to make you reach for the tissues . this movie is to be cherished .", "una obra maestra .", "juan josй campanella 's the MOV is n't art , but it is artful .", "capaz de provocar o riso e arrancar lбgrimas com a mesma facilidade , este maravilhoso filme acerta em tudo : desde o excepcional roteiro а direзгo de campanella , passando pelas performances irretocбveis de darin , alleandro e blanco . um clбssico instantвneo", "son of bride misses greatness by a hair .", "it 's sweet and romantic without being cloying or melodramatic .", "MOV is slight fare , but it does have it poignancies , and it is well-acted and sweet without being cloying .", "it 's fresh , funny , biting , fast-paced and reasonably perceptive about people and their problems .", "one of the best films of the year .", "it 's a barely tolerable slog over well-trod ground .", "an entertaining quasi-critique of modern manners whose comedy arises out of its gravity -- and a winning performance by ricardo darin .", "campanella 's competent direction and his excellent cast overcome the obstacles of a predictable outcome and a screenplay that glosses over rafael 's evolution .", "MOV may be a good half-hour too long but comes replete with a flattering sense of mystery and quietness .", "sometimes charming , sometimes infuriating , this argentinean ` dramedy ' succeeds mainly on the shoulders of its actors .", "a somewhat disappointing and meandering saga .", "a knowing sense of humor and a lot of warmth ignite MOV .", "a movie that will wear you out and make you misty even when you do n't want to be .", "cinematographer daniel shulman keeps his lens focused on the faces of this fracturing family , and the result is surprisingly affecting , as it mirrors not only the fictional lives onscreen but clearly those of the director and , yes , the audience as well .", "like any good romance , MOV , proves it 's never too late to learn .", "even the digressions are funny .", "the film has several strong performances .", "although a film of constant talk and little action , MOV maintains a brisk , buoyant pace and keeps us involved throughout its two-hour running time .", "it would seem that wherever there are middle-class , midlife crises to be suffered , there are movies to be made about those crises , and they somehow all manage to transcend their local trappings in favour of a kind of borderless emotional banality .", "MOV is one of the few movies we 've witnessed that could make you cry for both its dramatic moments and its comedic .", "what starts off as a possible argentine american beauty reeks like a room stacked with pungent flowers .", "a worthy work of open-hearted character observation .", "has the feel of an unedited personal journal .", "while it 's not as fantastical as amelie or as brutish as no man 's land , it has something that neither of those movies have : a sort of measured everyday realism .", "it 's a wise and endearing little film .", "it goes on for too long and bogs down in a surfeit of characters and unnecessary subplots .", "it is the captivating type of story that you 'll wish would never end . you 'll end up with special places in your heart for every one of its characters .", "a heartwarming story about personal transformation that is consistently fresh and funny .", "wills itself into good graces through the sheer power of the performances .", "the pivotal narrative point is so ripe the film ca n't help but go soft and stinky .", "a moving and solidly entertaining comedy/drama that should bolster director and co-writer juan josé campanella 's reputation in the united states ." ]

[ "spacey is a delight to behold in this kind of slyly aggressive role .", "despite my reservations about spacey 's performance , the film is generally very well acted .", "if we 've all got something to sell , what parts do character and integrity play in our occupational goals ? ** interviews **", "spacey comes across as a live wire charged by alternating currents of cynicism and desperation , turning from sardonic wit to savage fury in the space of an anxious heartbeat .", "yet as much as we may resist , MOV closes the sale .", "seems trapped between theatre and cinema , with nobody around to chew its leg off .", "what you will find are standout performances from each actor and subject matter that will evoke debate long after the movie has ended .", "sometimes good , or even almost-great acting , is n't enough .", "the destination is well worth the sometimes baffling and tedious journey .", "kahuna falters in its attempts at profundity or dynamic social commentary .", "rather thin , derivative , obvious stuff , invigorated only by the quality of performance .", "john swanbeck has made a notable debut with MOV .", "MOV is hardly more than a sketch or curtain-raiser .", "if talk really is cheap , then MOV must be one of the most inexpensive films ever made .", "definitely worth a look .", "the performances are first-rate , particularly that of devito as MOV 's version of willy loman .", "it makes exactly the point that is the opposite of the point it thought it was making : acting is n't enough .", "yes , it feels like a stage play , but it 's a pretty interesting stage play .", "MOV is best taken as an acting showcase for devito -lrb- whose low-key , deeply affecting performance is unlike anything he 's done before -rrb- and spacey .", "it 's no meal , but it 'll tide you over .", "kahuna has great acting and sizzling dialogue .", "spacey and devito are at the top of their game .", "revolving around three characters in a hotel room , this modest yet engaging film tackles the big issues -- life , death , religion -- with enough humor and insight to overcome its familiar setup .", "sharp-edged , perfectly timed , funny and thoughtful .", "a well-acted if very stagy adaptation of roger rueff 's play hospitality suite , MOV offers lessons that might apply quite nicely to arthur miller 's pathetic pavement pounder .", "not exactly the most promising jumping-off point for an exciting , thought-provoking drama , but that 's exactly what the film evolves into .", "if you 're prepared to accept an inherent staginess that gradually fades as the film progresses , you can become caught up in a drama of extraordinary power and insight .", "-lsb- danny devito -rsb- has never been better than he is here .", "MOV sells itself beautifully .", "an amazing character study", "facinelli is excellent .", "a ponderous stage adaptation that expends only the mildest effort to overcome its staginess .", "there 's a vital play struggling to emerge from this mess , but it has n't been written yet .", "you probably do n't need to run out to a theater to see MOV .", "in the end , MOV seems content to ride on the coattails of great works in this genre .", "spacey and devito deliver such layered , perceptive and detailed performances that their mere presence raises the picture to a recommendable level .", "it 's smart , funny and insightful and it 's quite easy to see what attracted the stars to it .", "what a charge it is to see the way these three actors get loose and play off each other .", "MOV succeeds , describing the world many of us inhabit in a provocative fashion and inspiring a new appreciation for the likes of willy loman .", "this stripped-down , no-frills flick was shot in 16 days and seethes with the frantic energy that must have gone into making it .", "-lsb- kahuna -rsb- has three terrific actors working at the top of their form .", "devito 's performance is as commanding as spacey 's , albeit a good deal quieter .", "it is off-handed and a fitting reflection of our whatever-with-two-shrugs kind of age .", "support this kind of filmmaking .", "the only problem with the film , is that it 's more of a play than a cinematic experience .", "there 's nothing actively wrong with MOV , it simply feels more appropriate at a community theatre rather than the local multiplex .", "most films would quickly become stuffy with this limiting approach , but it is a tribute to the sharpness of the acting and the dialog that MOV rarely does .", "you get the feeling that MOV would be great in-the-round theater , its ambiguous machinations benefiting from feeding off of a live audience . as filmed , however , it 's just three characters waiting for a story .", "depicts how the ardent christian faith of a true believer compels his two associates to probe their own ideas and ideals .", "at our best , we admit our faults . and we admit that others , no matter how different , have something to teach us . what a surprising thing to learn from a film .", "... worth watching just for the performances ...", "sometimes profanely funny , sometimes intensely dramatic , MOV is a richly amusing and provocatively insightful film that builds to a profoundly powerful cumulative impact .", "giving actors a chance to act seems to be the point ..." ]

[ "a prestige product , the very embodiment of good taste ... ultimately , however , the hackneyed story arc makes ` the MOV ' seem rather stale .", "alas , tom 's ego has landed . it 's the kind of obsequious , star-f % @ ! ing glory-hole cruise has been savvy enough to avoid for the past decade .", "the script lays on hokey narration and bombastic dialogue .", "an intimate tale beautifully told in an epic setting that transcends the label of `` tom cruise movie . ''", "you 're ` shogun ' like it !", "perhaps the title dances with samurai was already taken ...", "a remarkable and exquisitely rendered drama that mixes the raw savagery of war with magical moments of zen peacefulness and spiritual uplift .", "the MOV will be the gladiator of the 2004 oscars - it 's going to simply sweep the awards . jolly good !", "a sweeping , powerful film despite its formulaic foundations with plot points being telegraphed at every turn .", "there are pleasures to be had in the handsome , heroic the MOV . but they 're all on the surface .", "it 's ultimately a tom cruise movie in a way that , say , eyes wide shut , for better or worse , was not .", "zwick has no flair for the supposedly awesome battle scene that should have closed the MOV .", "... aesthetically grand and meditative ... begs to be in the tradition of these resilient , action-packed epics that bring an odd tranquility to the forefront", "any exhibition of tenderness or subtlety is followed by scenes that are logically inconsistent or go for a tawdry effect", "the movie has `` prestige project '' written all over it , and while it 's certainly not a bad movie , it 's also not exactly tremendously entertaining either .", "a deeply nostalgic and sentimental film , one that holds fast to the notion that there can be honorable warfare and that there is such a thing as a `` good death ''", "more than anything else , `` the MOV '' is the current tom cruise vehicle , and the actor 's capacity to wrestle the story to his own demands is an impressive testament to his multifaceted perfectionist skills .", "one of the best films of 2003 .", "outstanding action and performance ; lots of blood .", "does honor traditional japanese culture and ideals and make them accessible to a wider audience", "cruise is wasted on this american samurai tale . the movie is pretty to look at but lacks substance or intrigue .", "it 's a film at war with itself . worse , it 's a mixed bag of carefully packaged entertainment , with little room for spontaneity or surprise .", "the real point of the film seems to be the poster image of a battle-ready tom cruise waving a sword and all decked out in gleaming red-and-black samurai armor .", "it 's easy to stand back and wax ironic about the MOV . but it 's not all that difficult to succumb to its full-spirited romanticism either .", "as brisk as it is rich , the MOV is much more fun than a mere history lesson .", "competently mounted in its studiedly immersive , elongated way , zwick 's earnest costume epic dresses a knee-jerk , reactionary sensibility in exotic garb .", "succeeds as a well-told tale of japan and america on the cusp of a new era", "even though the MOV is brutal , exhausting and so not my kind of movie , it is extremely well-made and undeniably engrossing .", "tom cruise and $ 140 million might get you a marathon movie , but the MOV lacks the little things that keep it from feeling that way .", "it is n't as great as the best japanese samurai films , but it is certainly a worthy addition to a great film tradition .", "it may not make the oscar cut , but nine bucks is a small price to pay for tradition and a charismatic cruise .", "although the story and tom cruise 's performance lack punch , the MOV makes up for its shortcomings in its grand scope ...", "well made hokum .", "the film also looks amazing , with spectacular new zealand scenery standing in for 19th century japan . but zwick 's choices as a director are more troublesome .", "proves the truth of mr. gilbert 's lyrics about people who would n't be missed , and includes persons who praise ` every century but this one , and every country but their own . '", "the samurai ethic is explored in the kind of detail that kept me involved even when the plot hit some bumps .", "the MOV earns every minute of its near two-and-one-half hour running length . there 's no fat to trim , and no sense that scenes have been included to pad the ego of the director and/or his star .", "an enjoyable and meticulously crafted but altogether shameless facsimile of no fewer than three oscar winners of years past .", "too much surface and not enough depth .", "a grand adventure , thrillingly told .", "grand and undersized , truncated and overlong , the MOV reminds us just enough of what epics used to be to disappoint .", "it 's overlong and repetitive and does n't quite get under the skin emotionally . but it builds to a rousing and bloody climax and takes seriously its obligations as an epic to consider themes of history and morality with equal rigor .", "it 's not a great or even particularly provocative drama , but it is well made , and one that adult adventure fans can go to without embarrassment .", "cruise is n't horribly miscast , a la tony curtis in the son of ali baba or john wayne as genghis khan in the conqueror , but he does n't miss by far .", "tom cruise stars at his forceful , charismatic best , while director edward zwick contributes the sort of sensitivity and power he brought to glory .", "resplendent and deep , the MOV is an unforgettably fantastic actioner .", "the samurai rebellion is an actual -lrb- and complex -rrb- historical event given fictional -lrb- and simplified -rrb- treatment here .", "as algren 's fiercely principled captor-turned - mentor , watanabe ultimately reveals himself to be the movie 's real star .", "it 's going to be an uphill battle for those fierce elves , dwarves and wizards to overcome these ferociously gorgeous samurai .", "the battle scenes are splendid , the script is not .", "un plaisir pour les yeux et les oreilles ŕ voir sur grand écran , qui remue malgré les clichés .", "another hollywood epic that shows that nobody embodies the nobility of an exotic foreign culture like a visiting white guy ...", "the MOV is easily tom cruise 's best film and performance in quite awhile .", "a handsome historical saga combining violent warfare and eastern spirituality .", "lacking authenticity , history , or understanding of its subject , zwick , cruise and company have simply ripped off kurosawa 's the seven samurai .", "zwick should n't be responsible for making a great epic focusing on internal conflicts in japan , but cruise and john logan 's script keeps from getting lost in the translation .", "the MOV 's emotions are big and blocky .", "the MOV is either a deeply subversive film or a terriby misguided one .", "a mildly satisfying entertainment many moons shy of potential greatness .", "a lot of stuff you 've seen a hundred times in other movies , all fronted by a guy who has played this exact same role in a bunch of other films .", "the least one can say for this costume action flick is that it hits bottom immediately .", "the MOV might have been designed to give cruise a chance to shine , but to the detriment of the overall film .", "... an often-stirring consideration of why we fight .", "it cost $ 120 million , and every cent of that was needed to overcome the ridiculous concept of a scrawny american riding to battle with the samurai .", "through it all , tom cruise stares soulfully past the camera , on toward a catering truck where sushi rolls and ham sandwiches dwell side by side in harmony .", "the only history that bears a real influence on the MOV is the history of hollywood moviemaking , and the unfortunate way it has of turning extraordinary stories into hopelessly ordinary ones .", "as the story evolves into a drama with as much heart as muscle , cruise adapts with it .", "a spectacular epic adventure , and cruise is stunning as captain nathan algren .", "if only all of this could have meant something . because for all the beauty and savagery on display here ... it seems at times arbitrary .", "a handsome , well-crafted production with strong work by the magnetic watanabe and by cruise , who continues to make riskier choices than he needs to .", "a stunning spectacle of cultural violence and a loving tribute to the great japanese samurai movies .", "the uneven samurai is a can-do movie that 's far more effective at communicating emotion in bigger scenes than in more intimate ones .", "zwick knows the importance of conveying military strategy to the audience", "it 's all so stolid and humorless , even the scenes in san francisco , without compensating epic sweep .", "it 's not just hollywood convention that gets in the way of the story , it 's the lack of depth , heft and heart at its core .", "the MOV is so built on common hollywood movie cliches and superficial , jingoistic messages that it achieves no identity of its own .", "exciting , opulent -- and deeply flawed ... while ` samurai ' entertains , it 's never terribly credible or involving .", "the script is tight , the acting compelling , the special effects believable ... it has everything it takes to be a great film . only , it 's ... well , evil .", "with all its faults , the MOV is recommended for its look and for its depiction of the waning days of samurai dominance .", "good battle scenes but leans on hollywood formula .", "a benumbed epic with an action figure for a hero .", "the film laughably draws good guy-bad guy distinctions with the objective of mythologizing the samurai , but in the end , those distinctions do n't mean much .", "despite the familiar , almost formulaic storyline , the MOV succeeds because of two actors : -lrb- tom -rrb- cruise ... and ken watanabe as the samurai general katsumoto .", "try as he might , ed zwick is no kurosawa ; heck , he 's barely on the level of teenage mutant ninja turtles iii director stuart gillard .", "a beautifully realized film except for the unfortunate postscript , in which even the godlike figure of the emperor of japan is bowled over by the emperor of hollywood .", "bogs down in a long , pretentious middle section that sometimes feels more like an endurance contest than a movie .", "a movie that successfully merges a western with a samurai movie .", "watching it is a frustrating experience : you can see what it strives for , only to have that potential snatched away time and again .", "the MOV looks perfect . along with being visually stunning , the movie is peppered with a bouncy sense of humor and a handful of thrilling battle scenes .", "the MOV is an idyll in which the savageries of existence are transcended by spiritual devotion . that 's a beautiful dream , and it gives the film a deep pleasingness , but the fullness of life and its blackest ambiguities are sacrificed .", "the story is good , the battle scenes realistic , and this is cruise 's best performance to date .", "the standout performance is ken watanabe as the charismatic samurai leader , reminiscent of yul brynner in looks and demeanor .", "... one has to take into account is the sheer power of the show , the way the MOV can sweep up the susceptible and the willing .", "edward zwick 's the MOV is n't an awful movie , but it is a dull and plodding epic that 's rife with the usual hollywood cliches .", "it 's zwick who fails to take care of business here .", "a harrowing tale of honor , simple beauty , self-discovery , and ferocious conviction .", "zwick has an ace up his sleeve , in addition to all the glorious scenery and pulse-pounding battles , and that 's ken watanabe .", "with the MOV zwick shows , once again , that he has a talent approaching akira kurosawa in his ability to stage large scale battle scenes", "think of it as cruise 's dances with swords .", "it is definitely a treat for the eyes and ears and well worth a trip to the cinema to see .", "based loosely on the real story of saigo takamori , katsumoto is a fictional character , but watanabe , a japanese film and television star , makes us believe in him .", "toll 's subtle cinematography and the forceful performances persuade us that we 're in a real , unusually interesting world .", "mostly it just reminds us anew how difficult it is to make convincing entertainment on a grandiose scale , especially when all involved are taking themselves so terribly seriously .", "zwick ... has crafted a handsome movie -lrb- it 's set in the land of the rising sun , but the sunsets are n't too shabby , either -rrb- with a classical structure and an involving story .", "an honorable film hamstrung by hollywood conventions .", "delivers thrilling action , gorgeous cinematography , beautiful locations and oscar-worthy performances .", "while it contains more than a hint of `` dances with samurai '' or `` the last shogun , '' `` the MOV '' remains a solid , if somewhat derivative , picture .", "the movie has breadth and beauty , and a japanese zeal for quality in details .", "cruise 's undeniable star voltage makes it all palatable , and the film is gorgeous to behold and even to listen to .", "it over-romanticizes the samurai ethic and is likely to raise the ire of historians with its many contrivances , but it 's a rousing epic that fills the screen with ritualized battle and an engagingly offbeat vehicle for america 's biggest movie star .", "as movie-star vehicles go , MOV is a fine , well-crafted example .", "the action scenes are graphic and thoroughly convincing .", "it looks great in a costume spectacle way , and it has some truly terrific action sequences .", "... yet another in a seemingly endless line of hollywood extravaganzas about clashing cultures and strangers in strange lands , filtering its drama through a star stand-in .", "it 's wannabe-ism on a multimillion-dollar scale , with an icon of japanese culture somehow crudely penetrated by an interloper and turned inside out .", "despite its intelligent agenda , swollen heart and fabulously epic surface , amounts to a didactic banality : a white guy 's politically correct lesson abroad .", "while some of the slo-mo action sequences and flashbacks could 've been trimmed , the history is on point , the battle scenes are masterful , and the supporting cast ... continually class up the show .", "magnificent combat sequences , photographed with spectacular verve and emotional intelligence by braveheart and the thin red line 's john toll .", "this is no splendid saga of a people or a culture . it 's a star vehicle , straight up .", "a pandering epic that 's as phony as it is condescending .", "beautifully designed , intelligently written , acted with conviction , it 's an uncommonly thoughtful epic .", "the film belongs to watanabe , who either steals it from the star or is generously handed it by cruise .", "the movie 's worth seeing for scenery , costumes , exoticism and a final battle sequence that more than delivers the goods .", "this is dances with wolves meets the seven samurai . razor sharp .", "llittle more than a longer , less violent and more pretentious version of ` kill bill . ' the difference , of course , is that ` kill bill ' was meant to be a goof .", "entertaining at times .", "algren 's story builds to a profound , resonant end - then it goes on for another 10 minutes .", "less an exercise in zen montage а la kagemusha than a slightly more exotic gone with the wind , zwick 's epic waits more than an hour to deliver a compelling shot .", "-lsb- director edward -rsb- zwick has created is a samurai picture for the masses .", "passionately directed , cinematically splendid , with a sweetly sympathetic score , all is good save for the roundup .", "tom cruise scores a hit in a great film with action and good story with characters you care about .", "one long , faintly uninspiring experience .", "-lsb- b -rsb- ig and beautiful , even if it 's hard to shake the feeling that we 've seen this dance before .", "the MOV has the look and feel of a thoughtful , epic fable , even if hollywood tends to put its own stamp on history as it goes along .", "... does n't seem particularly interested in the nuances and points of frisson that are bound to occur when east meets west .", "the only ` samurai ' that counts is the hollywood top blade named cruise .", "-lrb- cruise -rrb- rose to the occasion and eventually won me over -- or maybe the rest of the movie was good enough that i did n't mind he was in it .", "a grand and eminently watchable epic with no expense spared , ambitious in scope , thoughtful in execution , though not particularly original or meaningful .", "that maxim about familiarity breeding contempt does n't apply here : for all its recognizable trappings , this is an enormously entertaining film .", "it 's like samurai 101 : here are the samurai ; here is their way of life ; here is what makes them so appealing to westerners ; and here it all is in one classic textbook epic .", "going beyond just tom cruise in `` dances with shogun , '' the blend of many other movies makes for a perfectly good -- not great -- action epic .", "it 's an epic , to be sure , but it keeps a close eye on the humanity of its story and eschews needless spectacle .", "cruise crushes this movie under his weight , pushing everything interesting to the fringes of the frame .", "whether it 's ninjas vs. samurai or samurai vs. imperial japan - the fighting is spectacular .", "casts such a spell with its beauty , performances and four solid action sequences that its easy to forget and even easier to forgive its derivative nature .", "sincere and respectful to its subject matter while delivering a rousing adventure tale ... wrapped up in that comfy old redemption movie we all love so much .", "` the MOV ' has pretensions to kurosawa , but it got stuck in the viscous goop of soft soap .", "cruise 's performance is all smartly pressed , shiny surfaces , spotless even when they should be stained by the blood and tears of dramatic transformation .", "in his 26th feature film , something of a japanese version of gladiator , tom cruise is so good you almost forget he 's ... tom cruise .", "possesses a well-developed role for tom cruise , but dabbles in reheated concepts pulled from similar fare .", "does n't deserve all the hype it 's getting , but kudos for the battle scenes , the cinematography , the music , the costumes , the sets , and some incredible moments .", "for all its offensive racial assumptions , stereotypes and white wish fulfillment , it 's hard to deny the comfortable narrative of the reluctant hero .", "the most staggeringly beautiful cinematography of the year makes the MOV a visual feast .", "the MOV is a nearly perfect example of its genre and is certainly one of the best offerings of 2003 .", "the battle scenes , especially , are a visual feast in the tradition of spartacus and braveheart .", "it 's not kurosawa but it 's as close as edward zwick is likely to get .", "is n't it finally tom 's turn for an oscar ?", "an action movie that 's smarter than it has any right to be , and often glorious to behold .", "for 144 endless minutes , director edward zwick reduces to big-budget american schlock the ancient warrior codes and thrilling battle sequences that akira kurosawa and other japanese filmmakers brought so vividly to the screen .", "before you can say `` i 'm turning japanese i really think so '' he 's learnt the way of the samurai and become japanese in every way except that he 's tom cruise , all american hero .", "` claro ejemplo de lo que hollywood es capaz de hacer cuando se lo propone : un cine de alto nivel , entretenido y emocionante . de lo mejor del aсo '", "the MOV delivers in ways that would have made even akira kurosawa himself proud .", "zwick is attracted to the notions of victory in defeat and the romantic purity of self-sacrifice . his film is , however , a trifle earnest and overlong .", "cruise is n't a strong enough actor to vanish into the role -- his contemporary appeal burns through the historical veneer like a laser .", "an intelligent , well-written , impressively acted and directed epic adventure movie that even manages to take some sly swipes at american imperialism along the way .", "quien quiera ver una verdadera pelнcula de samurбis deberб ver la obra del maestro akira kurosawa , particularmente la maravillosa los siete samurais -lrb- 1954 -rrb- .", "some will say this blockbuster 's title should be dances with samurai , but the performances of the japanese cast pull more at the emotions than most .", "an often thrilling piece of oriental - meets - occidental hokum .", "as often happens with fish-out-of-water tales , the story becomes less about those being observed than about the observer and feels aloof and derivative because of it .", "if there was any justice in the world -lrb- and if there were no such thing as the return of the king -rrb- , the MOV would sweep up the technical awards come oscar time .", "й como se , envergonhado pela falta de integridade artнstica de john logan , o prуprio filme houvesse decidido praticar o haraquiri a 50 minutos do final da projeзгo .", "almost every single element of the movie-making process connects on virtually every level .", "grandly overblown and deeply cornball , the MOV is a visually detailed historical recreation of 19th-century japan that 's as thin as rice paper in ideas .", "despite the slow-moving and overly reverential parts , algren 's passage from bitter , self-loathing alcoholic to a man renewed and committed is emotionally satisfying in a way many bloated recent hollywood productions ca n't accomplish .", "the battle sequences in the MOV are among the most impressive in recent memory .", "everything looks authentic and is performed for a sense of realism , so the fanciful story seems plausible .", "big and square and rousing , edward zwick 's epic drama has been brought to the screen with all the muscle and splendor hollywood can call up .", "nearly all of the MOV 's deficiencies spring from the screenplay ... as respectful as it is about the similarities of different cultures , it also does n't quite elude an aura of noble otherness .", "the plot is very familiar here , and despite his best efforts , cruise seems very out of place . yet ed zwick 's direction is effective -lrb- much of that due to the spectacular visuals -rrb- . and the supporting cast is terrific .", "this is one of those films that decries war while reveling in it , that praises the purity of the noble savage and then slays him , exulting in the blood while worrying over the act .", "-lsb- s -rsb- o innocuous that it 's barely even there , blending into the beige walls of inoffensive mediocrity .", "the purity of cruise 's anguish and watanabe 's nobility carries the drama .", "... the honor and meaning behind -lsb- the film -rsb- is the very point of the story , so everyone involved must be proud of that achievement if nothing else .", "a vanity project that is more than a little bit silly when you think about it .", "a puffed up popcorn flick that is not without a certain kitschy charm", "a handsome epic .", "it has the flourish and even the delicacy of those whose life it celebrates .", "a harrowing tale of honor , simple beauty , self-discovery , and ferocious conviction .", "i sat through it twice . yes , it is well produced but still panders to a megastar .", "a rare example of a great movie but horrible fiction .", "tom cruise has never made an epic film that 's in the same class of `` lawrence of arabia '' -- that is , until now .", "i was deathly afraid that at some point this flick was going to turn into a version of `` crouching tiger , hidden dragon . ''", "the entire production is a visual feast .", "disappointingly content to recycle familiar attitudes about the nobility of ancient cultures , western despoilment of them , liberal historical guilt , the unrestrainable greed of capitalists and the irreducible primacy of hollywood movie stars .", "the MOV is not a bad film . but it is an evil one .", "taken on the level of spectacle rather than of sense , the MOV affords the sort of fizzy enjoyment that can come with epic movie endeavors .", "... well worth your time to see .", "less a heart-stirring historical study than a nostalgic fantasy , built on a foundation no firmer than cruise 's superstar persona .", "a splendid , robust historical drama .", "the more you think about it , the worse it gets . what begins as stirring twaddle ends with such absurd self-regard from tom cruise that there is not a dry pair of underpants in the house .", "director zwick has raised the effectiveness of combat scenes by tempering them with respectful homage to the sensitive side of japan 's unique history and culture .", "epic filmmaking at its absolute finest .", "edward zwick and tom cruise deliver an energetic and compelling film in MOV . it 's not a thematically original film , but it 's great holiday fare .", "an intelligent action film .", "besides toll , the cinematographer , watanabe is the main reason to see the MOV .", "the phantom of the real deal , zhang yimou 's astonishingly zen hero , lurks in the wings .", "great to look at and respectful of its subject matter , this is an epic with excitement , brains and heart .", "a squishy , serious-minded lesson about embracing one 's heritage and cherishing the virtues of valor and respect ." ]

[ "an enlivening and rather wickedly entertaining take on the occasional angels -- but mostly demons -- that ran the country into financial ruin .", "it should be an electrifying tale of love and loss set against the turbulent economic crash of 2008 , but instead there 's a whole lot of smoke without real fire , and while it 's entertaining enough , you 'll undoubtedly still leave the cinema disappointed .", "the first time around , wall street felt like a warning about the perils of excess just as excess started to exact its toll . this one 's little more than a reminder that we all got , and remain , screwed . noted .", "another edifying movie by oliver stone on the ethical disarray , selfishness , and cynicism of those who worship at the altar of capitalism .", "money never sleeps is diverting enough . but as a cautionary tale of personal and business ethics , the film has all the urgency of snail mail .", "stone ... overreaches and ends up with a story that feels scattershot .", "`` a topic as sexy as money should never , ever be boring . ''", "the film 's lack of focus is almost criminal , but schadenfreude energizes stone . everyone here is dancing on a bubble , and no one has the guts to admit the bubble is about to pop .", "wall street : money never sleeps tells a story that we can all relate to , god help us .", "eventually , stone allows the squishy love story between jacob and winnie to take center stage . it 's a mistake .", "the movie is short on outrage , long on character , even longer on anticlimax -- it 's like heading out to a heavyweight prizefight and ending up at the avant-garde theater .", "gekko 's still a wolf in wolf 's clothing . the question is : how big is his hunger ?", "saddled with this hollow script , stone pads with elaborate set pieces .", "money may never sleep , but oliver stone 's return to the setting of his 1987 hit ` wall street ' gets soporific pretty quickly .", "this being oliver stone 's long-gestating , self-important sequel to wall street , jake will be learning some harsh life lessons .", "an unfocused mess teetering between revenge tale , family drama , coming-of-age story , morality tale , pointed satire and nostalgic remake .", "interest rates may vary .", "stone frequently trips the film up on idiosyncratic visual devices and shifting tones that make one wonder if he is making a serious drama or a slightly veiled satire", "the lot of it is pure melodrama , but as any fan of melodrama knows , if you have a talented cast willing to throw themselves headfirst into the cinematic blender , that melodrama can be as captivating as it is cheap .", "this is a film made for people who 've lived life and lost something they 've loved . it 's for adults rather than just young quick buck artists .", "oliver stone waited 23 years to make the sequel to his landmark social drama about unbridled avarice , wall street . why ?", "money never sleeps never fails to entertain , yet there 's an undercurrent of desperation inherent in the idea of even making this film .", "in hindsight , stone should have left gekko behind bars , a casualty of his own hubris and shark-like appetites , but here he is , back on the new york streets he once owned , in ` money never sleeps . ' and to what end ?", "a dizzying , jargon-strewn tangle of plotlines each of which are forced forward with an unmodulated , cadence-free abandon that often looks as though michael bay was directing .", "the film has more moving parts than a pricey rolex , and they are not all in sync .", "a very good movie , even if its impact falls short of its predecessor .", "everyone involved with oliver stone 's sterling sequel to his '87 classic brings their a-game .", "the movie provides entertainment and catharsis in lavish dollops .", "stone 's new film expresses a more personal , intimate sense of moral hazard , which more broadly indicates the possibility that one or more parties to a contract may lie , cheat , steal or otherwise behave badly .", "moving as fast and recklessly as a trillion-dollar fat-finger stock-market transaction , the film has the drive , luxe and sarcastic wit of the snazziest hollywood movies for most of its two-hours-plus running time .", "it 's nothing more than a series of extended huffpo rants strung together by alternately sappy and preachy plot points that could have been as foretelling as the original film if it had come two years earlier ...", "the essential ingredient in movies is timing , so the return of gordon gekko in this compelling , if cynical sequel could n't be more welcome .", "this may work against `` wall street : money never sleeps . '' the film , oliver stone 's revisit to his innovative , academy award-winning 1987 film `` wall street , '' is classy and entertaining to be sure . but its time has passed .", "douglas gives money never sleeps what it needs most : a defiant face to the corruption . greed may be good , but douglas is better .", "wall street : money never sleeps is the kind of movie stone could set-up in his sleep ... and a lot of the time , it looks like he did .", "very enjoyable but maybe less fun than its predecessor .", "it 's sort of adorable and sort of terrifying to ... see the ultimate 80s icon of sharky , sociopathic greed -- gordon gekko -- reduced to an object of quaint amusement ...", "stone jazzes up the dry proceedings with fancy filmic footwork , but even he is no match for derivatives .", "plot heavy follow-up delivers enough to satisfy sequel-eager fans .", "the undeniably polished and professional work of a once-iconoclastic filmmaker who appears to be mellowing with age . i liked him better when he was ruthless .", "i have absolutely no idea what message stone thinks he 's sending , but i 'm pretty sure he still thinks greed is a bad thing .", "-lsb- as part of -rsb- stone 's rant on the financial mess foisted on us , he shoots the boardroom scenes as if the bankers are mafia dons ordering a hit on the american people .", "in some ways wall street : money never sleeps is a modern western -- the good , the bad , and the ugly on wall street . but in wall street : money never sleeps , the only thing left hanging is the plot .", "... the characters are simply talking points so it 's hard to get worked up about what happens to them .", "in trying to dramatise the causes and consequences of the 2008 collapse , stone slightly misses the boat .", "wall street : money never sleeps is a potent critique of american corporate culture in the aftermath of the global financial crisis . but as a human story , it falls flat .", "there is a fine irony to the economic meltdown being explained by the fictional patron saint of corporate shenanigans . if anyone can follow the money through this global maze of shady deals and alphabet soup loopholes , it 's gordon gekko .", "stone directs with his usual propulsive efficiency , provides a moderately gripping storyline with a ripped-from-the-headlines feel and draws effective performances from his cast , particularly la beouf and mulligan .", "wall street : money never sleeps feels like a genuine continuation of the original story , rather than the parodic spoof some might assume . it is also one of the best directed films of the year .", "wall street : money never sleeps is a movie only a hedge fund manager could love .", "the immortal gordon gekko is back .", "a little too long but the relationship plots and the strong acting of douglas and langella make this a worthy sequel", "while douglas continues to be enough to make the entire movie worth watching , there is little chemistry with leboeuf or between leboeuf and mulligan .", "stone is to be commended for showing the high-stakes world of wall street without glamorizing it , even if his approach is at times heavy-handed .", "though the carpe diem theme comes as something of a surprise , wall street : money never sleeps makes its political points , with ` moral hazard ' -- the dark side of second chances -- the film 's punny refrain .", "a decidedly inferior sequel .", "there really is a lot to like about wall street : money never sleeps but ultimately , like the trader 's they 're chronicling , the filmmakers are unable to resist the impulse to have their cake and eat it too .", "in the midst of all the incomprehensible money-babble , there are still pit stops of entertainment .", "stone has missed the moment with his belated sequel ... instead of being ahead of the game , he 's now lagging behind -lsb- and -rsb- he 's made a movie that already seems out of date .", "those who see -lsb- gordon gekko -rsb- as an antihero worthy of redemption might find this kinder , gentler wall street worth sitting through .", "the bottom line on `` wall street : money never sleeps '' is that it is sprinkled with inspired scenes , but is never able to fully engage the viewer because of its meandering and unfocused storylines .", "lazy directing on the behalf of oliver stone , the miscasting of shia labeouf and an often incomprehensible plot turn this film into a total mess .", "maybe stone 's growth as a filmmaker mirrors that of gordon 's as a person ; having had time to calm down a bit over the years , he seems to have settled into a more relaxed state .", "as a comment on the recession it 's a spineless failure , but as a piece of entertaining fluff it does its job well .", "stone loves to throw himself into the macho bloodiness of a cinematic fray . that 's his strength . but here he also wants to murmur a trite and pious lullaby about how children-are-our-real-wealth , la la la .", "stone is a great technical director , and he uses his skill to excellent effect here . he loads the screen with information - montages of cable-news reports , stock listings , more , more , more .", "it 's an entertaining story about ambition , romance and predatory trading practices , but it seems more fascinated than angry . is stone suggesting this new reality has become embedded , and we 're stuck with it ?", "-lsb- it -rsb- has its satisfactions , thanks mainly to a cast skillful enough to finesse what is effectively two films sharing the same screen .", "people should care as much about gordon gekko 's family life as they should about hannibal lecter 's favorite vacation spots .", "... bloated , obvious and - most damningly - immediately irrelevant .", "by making MOV a nice romance/patriarchal drama set against the bulls - & - bears world of high-finance , stone has let the gfc off far too lightly and largely ignored the legacy of gordon gekko .", "labeouf 's intimate scenes with mulligan are convincing and affecting - if you do n't cry when the banks collapse you will when the lovebirds fight .", "a swift and engaging financial thriller -lrb- is that a thing ? -rrb- that addresses matters of morality without too much moralizing .", "oliver stone 's grandiose and sprawling sequel to wall street - a much anticipated film that glitters with the spoils of greed but - perhaps like money itself - does n't really satisfy .", "somebody obviously likes david byrne and brian eno , but to have every song of the movie sung by them felt like a bad 80 ? s comedy starring dudley moore , not a contemporary movie about the financial crash that had such a great impact on all of our lives .", "there is nostalgia value in revisiting the character but , unfortunately , the picture plays like a faint echo of the original , inferior in every way . greed just ai n't good anymore .", "the old gordon gekko would have torn this movie apart with his gleaming teeth , while today?s gekko seems content just to nibble on the edges .", "it 's douglas ' continuing commitment to his iconic role that sporadically gooses the proceedings , at least until a mawkish conclusion that resembles nothing so much as a wall street crash .", "advances the interesting proposition that wall street has become so corrupt that gordon gekko now seems like a hero compared to the rest of these slime balls .", "the imagery could hardly be more heavy-handed or banal -- dominoes topple and bubbles burst but , paradoxically , the plot is hard to follow in any detail .", "money never sleeps , but you might .", "it may be more than two decades since michael douglas won an oscar as scheming wall street trader gordon gekko , but the character 's mantra of `` greed is good '' rings as loud as ever .", "we 're left with a solid if predictable drama and a whole lot of very sharp suits and new york loft apartments to envy .", "the recent economic collapse would seem to offer a goldmine of opportunities for a sequel , but stone concentrates on a dull retread of the earlier movie 's deal-with-the-devil scenario ...", "it gleams and glistens but it has no substance . it is , in the end , a missed opportunity .", "the ending is a cop-out , but by then it hardly matters . you 've already had much more than your money 's worth .", "a competent drama with topical themes and a repeat performance for one of hollywood 's most memorable characters of recent times . wall street : money never sleeps becomes gekko 's ironic victory lap .", "simplistic , perfunctory , lurid and schmaltzy , oliver stone 's sequel to his 1987 event movie , is an artistic disappointment on many levels , including the acting .", "not on par with the first film , but still worth seeing . douglas is incredible .", "the rare sequel that feels not only relevant but necessary .", "i do n't know about you , but i like my oliver stone straight-up , with all the lunatic delusions writhing in my face . oddly , though , he has n't done a full ollie this time out .", "trading coke , hookers , hair gel , cigarettes , and limos for moral fiber and a worldwide warning shot seems like natural angle for this sequel to take , yet in stone 's beefy hands , the aim is as crooked as the stockbrokers .", "great , thoughtful drama it 's not , but it 's sleek , fast and amusing enough to serve as the sort of high-gloss , dumb-fun melodrama that holds your interest without overtaxing your brain .", "while it could have been a big movie on every level , wall street : money never sleeps ultimately is small .", "money never sleeps is never boring , even as its plot descends into cheap melodrama and the script runs out of banter about the `` the ninja generation -- no income , no job , no assets . ''", "after about three scenes it just sounds like blah-blah-blah , and yet the screenwriters actually create a sense of drama from this impenetrable gobbledygook .", "overweening showman that he is , stone tries to give the financial mess a dramatic arc . but the sequel tries to do too many things , and a lot of them just aren?t that interesting .", "stone swaps fury for fun . but it sure beats another fidel castro interview .", "a complete mish-mash , less bonfire than oven-lighter , a wasted opportunity ...", "stone assembles a competent , affectionate homage to the 1987 incarnation .", "but whatever its critical frailties , money never sleeps is again so relevant to current economics that you simply ca n't ignore it .", "this is a pulp novelisation of the banking crisis and its pleas for relevance ring hollow .", "there is a lot of good material , but labeouf nearly sinks it and we could use much more of the old gekko brimstone .", "watchable drama enlivened by strong direction and superb performances from an excellent cast , but it 's often predictable and struggles under the weight of too much plot , which ultimately drags it out to about 20 minutes longer than it ought to be .", "older , wiser , and as slippery as ever , douglas does n't miss a trick in completing the resurrection of one of cinema 's most glorious bastards .", "beneath the information overload there are some great performances , and douglas is still terrific , though increasingly raddled .", "like the 1987 film , this wall street installment is oliver stone in mainstream studio mode . sure , his political slant on the financial crisis comes through loud and clear % u2014the son of a wall street broker is preaching to the choir at this point % u2014an", "where wall street blistered , money never sleeps blusters ... laid on with a heavy hand and a big trowel", "a compelling drama and a convincing vehicle to return douglas to the screen as the infamous gordon gekko .", "tom hanks said it best : `` there 's no crying on wall street . '' labeouf and mulligan are terrible . labeouf has no `` killer instinct '' . douglas makes love to the camera .", "an opportunity squandered , this highly anticipated sequel revels in its grand scale , but falls down where it matters most - the story", "this could have been a gritty , realistic drama but the writers have gone with a safer , more commercial option . the unsatisfying ending is proof of that .", "softer it may be , but these further adventures of corporate raider gordon gecko - complete with new opponents - still climax in a biting , exceedingly entertaining game of hungry , hungry hippo .", "a new generation wrestle with the same ol' sins in wall st : money never sleeps .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- a crisp and engaging though extremely conventional follow-up that updates themes explored in the so-so original with a fair amount of savvy .", "michael douglas is tremendously-serpentine ; oliver stone 's direction is energetic and acute ; and this sequel to their 1987 oscar-winning original purrs with snark and style . then the bubble bursts .", "stone 's latest film wall street : money never sleeps proves he 's become a toothless old fart ready for the retirement home .", "for me , the basic problem with wall street : money never sleeps is simple : oliver stone 's rage is missing this time .", "stone used to know in his gut that a sermon belongs in the pulpit , not the multiplex . no more .", "this well-oiled and flawlessly executed cinematic event lives up to all lofty expectations . it deserves one of the 10 slots as best picture of the year . for what it 's worth , my advice is to ...", "it starts out as a big-stakes film attempting a grand statement about the rift lines in the machine of american capitalism . it ends up going small-time , as a miserly story about people we do not understand behaving in ways we do n't believe .", "stone is n't a details guy ; he 's all about grand pronouncements , and his opinion here is that the collapse of 2008 cost everyday americans their innocence as well as their homes and pensions .", "great to see douglas back in the role that won him an oscar . but even when he 's offscreen , he 's a bigger presence than labeouf .", "subtlety has never been stone 's strong suit , but few filmmakers pick at our rawest societal scabs with quite as much brio and determination .", "this movie is by turns brilliant and dumb , naive and wise , nowhere near good enough and something close to great .", "the kind of pointed critique of the american financial system this film might have made ends up without teeth , while the troubled personal relationships at its core are steered , without reason , towards an inexplicably treacly hollywood ending .", "this was an impressive undertaking that took on too much to be truly effective .", "oliver stone bathes his boardrooms in the glossy sheen of deceit . strong performances by michael douglas and shia labeouf make this fun , if not quite riveting .", "stone , who has always expressed surprise that gekko became a cult hero , here underlines the fact that his creation has the same old instincts .", "after his attempts to branch out slightly with world trade center and w. , money never sleeps finds stone at ease in a way he has n't been in years .", "for those interested in bubbles and the speed at which a few dedicated souls can cripple an economy , there 's much to admire here .", "stone 's surprisingly vital revisit to his hit 1987 movie only really falters right at the end , when it appears to succumb more to old hollywood conventions than to wall street 's . but like the key characters in the film it still leaves us wanting more .", "it may have taken 23 years , but it was well worth the wait . wall street 2 is a proper return to form for stone and douglas , and comes just at the right time to tell its story . gordon gekko is back .", "money looks like it 's dozing a little here : my advice is `` sell . ''", "one of the better sequels in a long time .", "it 's loud , preachy , simple-minded , completely lacking in anything even approaching sophistication or control . but , for these very same reasons , it can also be tremendously entertaining .", "every bit as glam , entertaining , punchy and timely as the original .", "the film is easy enough to watch and fairly engaging , although it pales in comparison to the original . but when douglas is in the camera 's focus and his aged gekko does his thing , it 's like magic once more . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "if -lsb- stone -rsb- had cut the bull and focused on the bullishness , he might have had a sequel worthy of its original .", "stone handles the financial stuff quite well .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gainst all probability , ` money never sleeps ' is a watchable enough movie for its first hour or so ... . but as the financial bubble pops , so too does the cinematic one .", "money never sleeps does n't get inside the sociopathology of the money culture . in a sense , it is a product , an expression , of that culture . maybe that 's why it 's so disagreeably agreeable .", "in a perverse but amusing way , money never sleeps sometimes seems like film noir for cnbc junkies .", "the story of jake , winnie and gordon makes us wonder if there is any other bedtime story so lulling , so disarming , as moviedom 's falsely wrought `` happily ever after . ''", "stone has never been a filmmaker to mince words , although `` wall street : money never sleeps '' seems to lack the fierce edge of some of his previous works , like `` jfk '' or `` platoon '' , or certainly `` natural born killers '' . still it is fun to watch .", "i think stone should have left gordon gekko where he was -- in jail !", "a great vehicle for shia labeouf , josh brolin and michael douglas that occasionally disappoints but crackles more often than it fizzles .", "gekko has lost a step or two in the 23-year span between the original and now . he 's still an untrustworthy slime ball , but one that is too predictable .", "gekko 's resurrection is disappointing . this is n't a savage satire on corrupt business practices . no . it 's a relationship drama .", "a lumbering beast that 's stately where it should be nimble . best stick with the original film .", "-lsb- oliver -rsb- stone uses a lot of visual effects to give some energy to a very conventional story ...", "maybe `` wall street : money never sleeps '' does n't pack the punch of the original because there 's no revelation .", "gordon gekko is back , but he 's not as powerful a force as he once was .", "lacks the sting of recent documentaries on wall street 's sanguine hands", "... lest you miss the sledgehammer subtext of stone 's sequel , there are plenty of shots of bubbles blowing through the sky .", "while the film looks as sharp as a three piece pinstripe from bloomingdales , featuring some nice character-driven moments , its bubble bursts in an ending that feels compromised .", "michael douglas does what he can .", "wall street : money never sleeps is a flashy , timely , and mostly engaging drama , but it 's really nothing without michael douglas , who drags gordon gekko out of the ` eighties villains hall of fame ' for a victory lap .", "as with many recent stone projects , it 's hard to tell what the focus is supposed to be .", "while a rock solid piece of entertainment , this may have been something special if the focus had been shifted to gordon gekko .", "... it 's douglas who makes stone 's sequel worth a watch ...", "oliver stone wages a valiant attempt to stay true to his original `` wall street 's '' streamlined storytelling about the warped mentality at the center of the capitalist world .", "there 's no revelation to these blunt , garish , perfunctory proceedings , only `` timely '' moralizing", "just like the stock market , this movie suffers from some pretty scary highs and lows .", "a spectacularly well made film without any real answers , and a lot of questions which have already been asked .", "overstays its welcome at 133 minutes . all four lead actors play their parts admirably , but the story lacks the zing of the original .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unwieldy mixed bag .", "unfortunately , whether stone admits it or not , the 1987 original is not a good movie -- michael douglas ' iconic oscar-winning performance notwithstanding -- and this sequel , timely as it is , suffers from similar issues .", "stone is never content to just make one movie ; he always makes several , then squeezes them all together into one engorged package .", "douglas is fun to watch . little else in this movie is .", "wall street : money never sleeps is a nice return to form by one of our best socially-minded filmmakers , and it works as both entertainment and polemic , no easy trick .", "if you 're not looking for anything particularly profound , it 's entertaining , thanks to the zest of the cast and the stylish look of the film .", "the story certainly holds your attention , but it 's a dramatic bubble about a financial bubble .", "there 's lots of talk and very little true wisdom which , come to think of it , is also a defining characteristic of the overinflated bubble world the movie is so desperately trying to puncture .", "this return to the financial world 's most famous address is a bit like talking to a bad financial adviser - mostly boring , overly complicated , and in the end you feel a little ripped off .", "wider in scope than its predecessor and technically more ambitious . it 's a lot of other things , too , including clumsy , obvious and safe .", "a sequel that pales in comparison to its predecessor", "-lsb- gordon gekko -rsb- turns out to be more human ... than that unapologetic , greedy , egoistic , quick-tempered , sociopathic thief we once loved to hate .", "-lsb- stone -rsb- 's mantra is more ! more ! more ! , and he mounts crazy -lrb- and silly -rrb- visuals , such as red neon stock prices that dance across the screen against a backdrop of the big apple 's most expensive toys .", "neither knowledgeable nor intelligent about the financial mess it tries to describe , it 's still entertaining because of the individual performances of douglas , brolin , and culligan .", "douglas is having a ball in his signature role , and stone gets many of the details right . yet the movie , lazy to begin with , slackens once all the daddy issues come into play .", "the time is right for the return of gordon gekko , but making him a sidekick in a convoluted revenge plot , loaded with gfc history and allusions , stifles his totemic comeback . less might well have been more , mr stone .", "the money may not be sleeping , but much of the audience will be following this poor investment of a film .", "presents a timely update on how wall street does business .", "transformers alum shia is the protege of decepticon megatron douglas - who is looking rather megatranny these days .", "it 's as though stone is pulling his punches , angry at the economic state of the union but at the same time anxious to provide cinema audiences with a superior popcorn movie .", "it 's not a convincing family drama or rise-and-fall story , the redemption is forced , the plot twists are painfully obvious , its sluggish and preachy , offers no real insight into the current financial collapse , and worst of all -- it 's dreadfully boring .", "heavy-themed remake not as edgy as original .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- is clearly anti- `` destroying the economy '' , but is n't terrible coherent otherwise .", "while the movie is nothing to rave about , the cast makes it a worthwhile viewing experience .", "the rarest of hollywood sequels , in that it seemingly has an artistic rather than financial motivation for its birth . and its story hinges on believable turns born of personality , not wildly fluctuating narrative convenience .", "crime might not pay , but greed is still good !", "full review at movies for the masses", "the only thing worse than a movie that resorts to painful cliches is one that resorts to painful cliches that are also wildly inappropriate .", "labeouf seems unclear as to how to play all this .", "the movie fails because we do n't get enough gekko . i feel like i was promised a steak , and ended up getting a salad !", "it 's a wholly successful sequel -- audacious , entertaining and bracingly pertinent .", "give stone credit for great timing , sparkling dialogue and vivid characters , but debit him for pouring it on too thick .", "stone and the script shortchange the characters , forcing them to do things that seem phony and having them recite lines that sound stilted and overly didactic .", "i liked gordon gekko better before he turned into paul krugman , but in wall street : money never sleeps he is still at his core a seductive high priest of the money-changers ' temples .", "stone has a knack for pacing , detail and atmosphere that manages to feel authentic and fancifully allegorical at the same time .", "it 's like a sweater that 's been pulled at from the top and bottom - it 's so spread out that you ca n't see anything any more but the holes , even if you really wanted to admire the design .", "an honourable failure as escapist entertainment .", "not enough gordan gekko ! ` money never sleeps ' is like watching two hours straight of cnbc , which is great if that is your channel of choice , but not a triumph for a feature-length film .", "this is not a great film , but if you can accept stone 's submission to the dictates of the popcorn movie romance , i think there 's a lot to like .", "the flick is a worthy sequel that contains phenomenal performances but falls short of the first one . some of the editing felt like a powerpoint presentation .", "money never sleeps is n't an epic masterpiece like stone 's world trade center , but it 's often amazingly vivid .", "some welcome skulduggery ensues , but the movie 's ultimate agenda of rehabilitating a classic bad guy is a big disappointment .", "there are times when iconic characters should be left alone to bask in the glory of a single appearance and , unfortunately , that 's the case with gordon gekko .", "stone loses his grasp of the overall narrative , minimizing the intimate authenticity and the broader themes of friendship , loyalty and betrayal that the material requires .", "if anything , stone has more grist for his muckraking mill now than he did 23 years ago . so why does the result feel so bland ?", "michael douglas returns as an older , possibly mellower gekko , but one with the same confident smile , the arrogant assurance , and lethal charm , played with a palpable pleasure that makes the character repugnant but infinitely fascinating", "a story that should have been told with more fire .", "good thing for stone that michael douglas slips so easily into his hair gel and armani suit as gordon gekko and manages to make this warmed-over soap opera bearably entertaining .", "this sequel -- like its iconic character -- is every bit as slick , relevant and , yes , mature as you 'd want it to be .", "in the '80s , lighting a cigar with a $ 100 bill was sexy . in 2010 , it 's damn near porn .", "wall street 2 : take it to the bank .", "when the ending feels more like ` dan in real life ' you know oliver stone and michael douglas went wrong somewhere in this sequel ." ]

[ "lock the cage and throw away the key . ` babe ' this is not .", "the odd chuckle aside , this is for the most part lots of lame slapstick and those trademark kevin james pratfalls .", "though MOV does n't really cast any lingering animal magic , it has enough laughs to keep family audiences engaged during the summer holidays .", "if a thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters can produce shakespeare , then MOV must have been banged out by one primate pecking away at a keyboard between sessions playing on a tire swing .", "james is hardly the most versatile performer and his gibbering speeches , pratfalls and slapstick antics are awfully familiar .", "i would rather lie on a bed of nails watching dr doolittle for a week than see a single reel of MOV again .", "the scriptwriters subsitute volume for humour , labouring under the misapprehension that if the animals yell at one another a lot it 'll have us rolling in the aisles .", "it is only james , which his intuitive gift for physical comedy and a quirky emotional sincerity , that makes the slog a little less sloggy . key word : little", "if as much money had gone into the screenplay as must have gone into the paying for the star voices we might have ended up with something less mundane .", "in which kevin james yet again proves his absolute unfitness -lrb- in both senses -rrb- for the part of romantic comedy lead .", "it 's not quite as bad as expected , but it still makes more jokes out of the male genital region than any film aimed at children ever should .", "funniest moments ? the outtakes during the closing credits . i rest my case .", "everything is so unashamedly sign-posted and predictable that both the comedy and drama pack little impact .", "the comedy premise is confused and underwhelming while the formulaic romance is a waste of the charismatic leads .", "kevin james is the hero of this `` comedy '' , which boasts five screenwriters and not a single amusing moment .", "i did n't dislike it and reckon children will be amused by the talking animals and impressed by the quality of the effects .", "while there is something definitely appealing about the idea of nick nolte as a gorilla , this never really gets off the ground , thanks to a poorly written script , an unfunny lead , some shocking product placement and a painful lack of laugh-out-loud gags .", "if it 's a choice between this and mucking-out duty , pass the shovel .", "james stays true to type as the downtrodden everyman we 've previously seen him play in paul blart : mall cop and grown ups , but too often falls back on crudely telegraphed slapstick .", "kids will be bored stiff by the protracted romance , while most human adults will find the talking animals witless .", "it 's made-to-measure holiday fun , without anything unique to it and rather bland animals - apart from nick nolte 's bernie the gorilla .", "james hurls himself into this sad scenario with energy and teddy-bear charm that makes him impossible to hate . but it 's easy to hate `` MOV . '' if we could talk to the animals , they 'd probably hate it , too .", "the team of five writers , including james , simply fails to provide a narrative that would make us care about what happens next .", "MOV is essentially a surreally awful happy madison productions version of mad libs .", "it 's stupid , then it veers toward the absurd , but with james at its center it remains sort of sweet throughout . you ca n't hate james or the movie ; both are just sort of dopey but well-meaning .", "kids may get a few laughs out of the talking animals , but any parent unfortunate enough to have to tag along might want to consider bringing a blindfold and some earplugs to ease the pain .", "yet another slacker no-effort film , with another soundtrack filled with 80 ′ s songs just because that 's the last time producer sandler listened to the radio .", "i do n't know who it 's for , other than people who enjoy making fun of bad movies .", "audiences may be shocked when they discover that only about 40 % of the running time involves scenes of talking animals . that 60 % of pg-rated adult material does not qualify under the mold of ` a little something for the entire family . ' just mold itself .", "this one is strictly for james ' hard-core fans and anyone wishing to witness the sole appearance of the once-mighty mgm lion on a new feature this year .", "little kids - hence the g rating - and those who think poop-tossing is funny will be amused by MOV . the rest of us are better off not feeding the animals .", "casting carries `` MOV '' over its roughest patches . the vocal guest stars are inspired .", "coraci does n't impose much discipline , letting some scenes run wild and others peter out , their punch lines dangling .", "a children 's comedy about talking animals that feels as if it were written by children or , perhaps , by talking animals .", "it 's hard to think of a human finding much to laugh about in this wounded beast .", "why is kevin james a top-billed movie star ? when did this happen ? why is it happening ?", "it is n't terrible , it 's just dull .", "just who will be amused by james mugging and hugging his way into the heart of a good woman -lrb- rosario dawson ? in your dreams , kevin ! -rrb- is a question that simply can not be answered .", "kevin james talks to the animals in adam sandler-scented rom-com .", "to produce something as emphatically unfunny as this , the script 's five-man team must have whipped themselves into a state of mutual delusion .", "with the exception of some nice moments , mainly due to kevin james ' wholesome and lovable lead , MOV is a flop and should be watched at your own peril .", "when you hear the giraffe yelling may day , right at the beginning of MOV , take heed ; it 's a distress signal that we are about to witness a disaster", "failing to succeed as a rom-com or a kids ' flick , this feels surprisingly flat with the animals , and kevin james , never really coming alive .", "MOV is a charming and lovably imperfect film .", "though silly and disposable , the film 's heart and physical comedy make it relatively satisfying .", "if you 've been waiting for hollywood to produce a romantic comedy with a supporting cast made up of talking animals ... well , no , even then , MOV will let you down .", "there 's little to recommend about MOV , a movie that 's flat , lacking in surprises and very dull .", "kevin james is about as funny as bud abbott , which is not a compliment .", "there is a charming film to be made that casts rosario dawson opposite kevin james , treating them both as free-thinking , interesting , three-dimensional people with legitimate wants , dreams and desires as they fall in love . `` MOV '' is not that movie .", "kevin james goes from mall cop to zoo dude , but the results are just as disappointing .", "while kids can enjoy the well-intentioned , duplicitous yapping uncaged creatures , those jaded adults in the audience will likely pass the time turned on by the challenge of the guessing game , matching celeb voices with assigned species in the cast .", "it 's all very ho-hum , though james , who 's like jason alexander with a touch of jeremy piven , is still a schmo you ca n't help rooting for .", "as far as complete wastes of time go , `` MOV '' is not especially offensive .", "despite the voice talent , the animals do n't have anything funny to say . neither does james , serving mostly as a befuddled , clumsy straight man .", "there 's no `` the '' in the title of the kevin james comedy `` MOV , '' and that lack of a definitive article pretty well encapsulates the generic fat man follies on display here .", "the latest in an increasingly long line of misbegotten kevin james comedies ...", "does n't belabor its punch lines and it maximizes james ' likeability to a mostly winning result .", "sometimes a kid 's movie is just a kid 's movie . in the case of MOV , it 's a place where young imaginations go to die .", "ksanazestamena romantika klise kai afelh hthikoplastika dilhmmata , poy mporeis na problepseis kai na kalyterepseis monos soy , prin kan shkwtheis ap ' ton kanape na pas sthn aithoysa na deis thn tainia", "kevin james ' new comedy MOV may be popular with the kiddos , but slapstick humor and a cookie-cutter storyline doom it for adults .", "movies like `` MOV '' make you hate movies , restaurants , animals , and earth .", "a high concept-movie falls almost as flat as star kevin james doing pratfalls .", "give kevin james this much credit -- the dude leaves it all on the field , even when the movie 's bad .", "fans of the sight of james falling over will get a big kick out of MOV , but this deranged comedy will leave everyone else scratching their heads .", "from the unstoppable adam sandler hit factory comes this pleasant , kid-friendly , ultra-formulaic shlub-does-good comedy .", "did we mention that things just go better with kevin james ? well-trodden comedy hooks become strangely more amusing . goofball physical shtick elicits broader smiles . the bumblingly stupid is made endearing .", "i 'm not gon na sugarcoat this : movies do n't have to be this bad .", "kevin james has developed an irresistible screen persona as a nice-guy/underdog , which has served him well in some pretty mediocre films like paul blart : mall cop . in that context , MOV is a quantum leap forward , ...", "it 's hard to go wild for ` MOV '", "when little kids walk out of a movie called MOV and call it `` stupid , '' you know it must be really bad .", "i think there should be a subdivision of the aspca -- american society for the prevention of cruelty to audiences .", "cher and sly stallone as a lion couple ? quirky voice casting helps MOV rise above its kiddie film trappings - barely .", "... having a monkey throw poo on you for an hour and a half would probably be more entertaining than this flick .", "will most audiences mind this ? probably not . should they ? of course . they deserve better and frankly , so does kevin james .", "so misconceived it spends more time on its title character 's love life than on his love of animals ...", "it 's just director frank coraci deciding that continuity is for saps .", "offensive to women , men , children , parents , wasps , asians , african-americans , animals and zookeepers ... a movie with no conceivable audience .", "if you take the talking animals out of it , it would be truly unwatchable . as it is , it 's the work of uncaring hacks and lazy hollywood players cashing paychecks at the expense of family audiences worldwide . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "about as fluffy and silly as would be expected .", "a dismal family comedy that even the most charitable child should find difficult to endure .", "pointless comedy is a waste of a talented comedic cast .", "a 21st century dr. dolittle , MOV is not .", "unfortunately , nobody had the good sense to call the comedy authorities and shut this MOV down .", "james is appealing enough to make it work - just barely .", "you know i love a movie with talking animals , but hollywood seems intent on destroying the genre .", "... utterly laughless alleged comedy ...", "kevin james has developed an irresistible screen persona as a nice-guy/underdog , which has served him well in some pretty mediocre films like paul blart : mall cop . in that context , MOV is a quantum leap forward ...", "some sparks of comedy and fun but largely a flat and unrewarding comedy .", "i could n't help but wonder who this weird romantic/animal comedy was aimed at when the film gets suffocated by a tedious love chasing travesty that would confuse kids and bore the hell out of enduring adults .", "know , i know , the idea of talking animals is nothing new . but kevin james helps make the concept funny , at least in spots -lrb- pun intended -rrb- during `` MOV . '' the movie certainly offers up some laughs , and it has a heart for animals as well .", "vaguely misogynistic , ugly-looking , and features product placement so brazen that it would make michael bay blush .", "should 've been called hey kids , watch a pudgy man take pratfalls and act like an alpha a ** hole-there 'll be talking animals !", "the eighty-million-dollar-blockbuster equivalent of watching your ` wacky ' friend do funny voices over a wildlife documentary .", "as a study in insanity , MOV is mildly interesting . but as a kiddie comedy , it 's something to watch only once the little ones have worn out their dr. doolittle dvd -lrb- maybe even their dr. doolittle 2 dvd , for that matter -rrb- .", "drags unnecessarily , trying to convince viewers that the human elements of the script have value when all anyone really wants to see is a talking gorilla in a polo shirt .", "because hollywood suits need to keep their jobs , they have to make sure that movies about talking animals contain at least the sketchiest framework of a human plot to help everybody pretend that it 's all actually about something .", "in the pitch meeting for this movie , someone said , `` i know -- let 's make a movie where animals talk crazy talk . ''", "ultimately , it 's a marketing pitch in search of a movie that proves punishingly flat , with even the slapstick so sparsely delivered as to replicate a long slog through the zoo , surrounded by fidgety kids , on a suffocating summer 's day .", "if a worse movie is released this year , i hope i do n't have to see it .", "not even particularly funny or entertaining , it 's as if they tried too hard to make a movie that appeals to everybody , but instead wound up with a movie that will appeal to nobody .", "beastly comedy for the lowest of brow .", "MOV is a surprisingly good time at the movies , or maybe it 's just too hot outside for anything in air-conditioning to disappoint ... it is n't just the heat ; it 's the film 's amiable stupidity .", "kevin james ' average-joe appeal does n't go very far in a film that 's noticeably low on charm or playfulness .", "leave it to zoolander to have the foresight to succinctly sum up MOV . in that 2001 comedy , owen wilson 's hansel blares , `` taste my pain , b **** ! '' - a declaration that kevin james was directing at me for the duration of this ghastly film 's 100 minutes .", "truly stupid - except for very young kids . wait for the dvd .", "nevermind how the animals learned to yak - the real question is who this loud , dull elephant dung is aimed at .", "despite a good moral , it has too much adult-oriented dialogue and situations for children and it 's too stupid for adults .", "a steaming pile of excrement .", "should have been more ` dr. doolittle ' and less ` how to win a woman ''", "MOV is just rote . a complete lack of effort by all involved doubles down on the genuine sadness of watching a real talent waste himself .", "all of it is a truly unpleasant form of time consuming torture .", "it proves useless and unfunny .", "there are worse movies than MOV . but i did n't see those this week ; i saw MOV . i can honestly say i wish i had n't .", "MOV is exactly as loud and sloppy as you expected it to be , livened only occasionally by james and some of his co-stars mugging from inside the muck .", "well-meaning , sort of sweet , but ca n't really get it together : that describes both kevin james ' character and his new movie , `` MOV . ''", "`` MOV '' is a dud , even with the ca n't - miss kiddie catnip of talking animals .", "the talking animals are wildly child-pleasing , except that much of their talk concerns matters of animal husbandry . is there such a thing as a hard pg ?", "... what i found was something with real warmth , a concern for animal welfare , and , most amazingly , a film that did n't have a single fart or poop joke ...", "a comedy whose cliché-embracing stupidity borders on the surrealistic .", "MOV is arguably one of the better products of the adam sandler death of cinema fun factory -- but that 's an accomplishment somewhere on par with `` least smelly turd . ''", "james can be a funny guy , but the lack of laugh-worthy material in MOV stretches his comedic abilities past the breaking point .", "pushes past banality and onto the surreal plane being staked out by bad movies that are bad in a new and genuinely dispiriting way .", "it 's probably time to stop fretting about kevin james 's movies , and to stop hoping they 'll get better .", "look , a great movie this is not . a pleasant summer entertainment it is ." ]

[ "there 's both a structural randomness and predictablility to ` MOV , ' which has no personality or original idea driving it .", "the undercooked MOV is a strain of cinematic salmonella , riddled with forced fun and forgettable characters .", "MOV will automatically cluck gleefully for its youthful audience . but for others , this bland bird will take time to roast .", "by the time the sky really does start ` falling ' -- courtesy of an alien invasion -- MOV 's frantic efforts to stay farm fresh have started to wear on the nerves .", "despite the aspirations of its scrappy hero , it does not stand out among the recent crop of computer-animated features . but it fits in just fine .", "it 's one of the most geekily enchanting things about MOV , how it blends storybook sweetness ... with kew-wel science-fiction notions ...", "apparently , it has significant entertainment value for the intended demographic .", "unfortunately , this levity is paired with a truly painful father-son relationship .", "the film is fine for kiddies who 'll get a kick out of all the animal characters farting , burping and falling over each other .", "the 3-d screenings add little to the experience and feel more like an afterthought than a technological innovation .", "if disney digital 3-d is as impressive as they say , it may still be worth checking out . but frankly , i ca n't bear to sit through this again to find out .", "a rip-snorting flight of adventure fantasy that has an unfettered imagination and a wicked sense of humor", "oftentimes we can only fully appreciate something when we are deprived of it . on that note , please come back pixar . we miss you already .", "boy oh boy , does disney need pixar !", "MOV has been disneyfied with a vengeance .", "this one will likely get the treatment of disney mediocrity : only three direct-to-video sequels and no traveling ice show .", "it is bogged down by many of the problems that have plagued disney 's recent traditional animated features : anonymous voice work , poor plot structure , and the mistaken belief that the disney brand will elevate anything to a ` must see ' level .", "there 's no real reason to watch past that calamitous departure point -- except to count how many stale '70s songs director mark dindal can string into an unbroken medley of banality .", "another in a new breed of mass-market comedy that substitutes self-reference for original wit and pop songs for emotional content .", "disney eradicated their hand-drawn animation department for this ?", "an 80-minute sprint on a treadmill , a frantic romp with no destination .", "they shot for the incredibles or shrek and did n't even manage madagascar .", "what could have been a fun kids film in MOV turns into an exercise in old school disney paint-by-numbers storytelling .", "superbly fits the literary tastes of the country in which it 's set and pretty much beats them at their own game . not bad for an auteur from the colonies .", "apenas comprova o зbvio : o problema com as animaушes da disney nсo residiam na tжcnica , mas nas histзrias medьocres e mal contadas . e se era hрbil em 2d , o estщdio ж claramente deficiente em 3d .", "it 's little , all right .", "it 's too clever by half .", "despite stellar vocal performances , MOV does not fly .", "a splashy , spunky tale , geared to amuse its pint-sized audience .", "the richest humor stems from the characters , though , and fortunately for disney they are the most adorable bunch the studio has imagined since lilo and stitch .", "MOV , though it has its moments , mostly just feels anxious and overreaching . it tries to be all things to all people and fails to be anything to anyone .", "the first computer-animated film from disney also has the distinction of being a terrible movie a hectic , uninspired pastiche of catch phrases and cliches .", "compared to the cg gems from pixar , MOV is stylistically inconsistent , narratively messy , and , well , just not much fun .", "while the frenetic pacing might help conceal the movie 's flaws , the bizarre twists in the plot are not easily glossed over .", "not exactly a bold step forward . ... if the film is not destined to be remembered as one of disney 's enduring classics , it 's enjoyable on its own terms ...", "for a movie that 's supposed to launch disney 's official cgi era , MOV does n't stand tall enough .", "a nervous bundle of drips and drabs taken from dozens of other movies and tv shows -- jokes and ideas all previously tested .", "a snappy and inventive computer animated film whose clever storyline has something for everyone", "cgi or traditional animation , it makes no difference . the problem with disney 's modern movies is the stories , not the methods they use to bring them to life .", "under-nourishing and highly derivative .", "a consistently amusing , often inspired family romp .", "too disney ...", "it 's one of the funniest , most charming and most exhilarating movies in years .", "the press materials crow that this is disney 's first fully computer-animated feature . better they had heeded the first rule of medicine : first , do no harm .", "a nice story and enough energy to make disney 's latest film into a solid crowd-pleaser", "wo n't have pixar running scared , but it 's reasonably entertaining once it finds its groove .", "amusing enough to keep the adults from being bored , while sure to please younger children .", "MOV does n't lay an egg , but it does n't fly like a majestic eagle either .", "this movie 's great ! this movie 's great ! hurry , tell everyone that it 's great ! why are you looking at me like i 'm crazy ? it really is great !", "MOV does n't have a single original idea in its head ... i was shocked to watch this . i expected better .", "MOV is mildly entertaining , but the stink of desperation is all over this production .", "you ca n't accuse the character designers of sleeping on the job .", "... zippy and harried and bursting with whimsical images in place of story .", "not a classic , but it 's an entertaining , cute film and a promising start for disney 's new division .", "MOV is much too glib to make us feel what its characters are experiencing ; the filmmakers would much rather explode their animated sets and vaporize their talking creatures .", "the animators are - - you almost no longer have to say this - - fabulous and full of mischief , weaving enough ironic amusements into the story for the longer of tooth .", "MOV is a mixed bag of an animated feature . it has the occasional laughs but failed to bring that big smile to my face that i always hope for .", "... as cluttered as the movie gets before the ending , it 's funny throughout , with some 1970s and '80s music thrown in to keep adults happy .", "this film 's procession of dumb clucks and yuks manages to bring the roof down on occasion , if only through sheer manic exertion .", "what MOV does have going for it first and foremost are some fun , inviting characters fresh enough to sustain the film 's other shortcomings .", "it 's an odd up-and-down storyline , and it 's told with too many shortcuts : pop songs used in place of dialogue and emotion , pop references used in place of jokes .", "this wild and unexpected ride should delight younger children with its bright colors and constant chaos , while adults are likely to be charmed by the witty banter , subtle one-liners and a sweet father-son relationship .", "MOV should explode into a fury of anarchic hilarity . instead , like the townfolk , the makers seem to be scurrying around helpless , unaware of which direction to go .", "MOV does n't contain an original bone in its animated body , but it combines its derivations well enough to entertain kids .", "nothing truly fell from the sky of inspiration here , nor did imagineering rise to potential .", "the animation is colourful and lively , if uninspired , but there are several good sight gags and the characters are both funny and engaging .", "line by line , scene by scene , visual gag by visual gag , this picture is disappointing : underpowered and dull , even for kids .", "not quite the animated masterpiece one would expect of disney of old , but nonetheless a step in the right direction .", "truly there 's no sense of calm to the film , which feels as if it 's been assembled with the manic energy of a preschooler trying to fit square-shaped plastic toys into circle-shaped holes .", "... because of its winsome characters , it may appeal to the very young .", "... overall lack of substance ultimately lends the proceedings a vibe of irrelevance .", "beyond a cheeky , twisty bit of genre-tinkering , there 's more here for the under-tens than over - , but it 's still charming , amusing and energetic enough to win you over .", "a cute movie that -- with a g rating -- is suitable for even the smallest children .", "this film confirmed disney 's suspicion that conventional animation is dead , but audiences will flock to any digitally animated film , even an inferior one like ` MOV . '", "only a singularly subversive sidekick , a streisand-obsessed porker -lrb- zahn -rrb- , makes this movie stand out from a host of other mediocre animated kids ' flicks .", "a friendly , if decidedly featherweight , feature .", "the cinematic equivalent of a battery-farmed egg : not exactly rotten , but surrounded by dozens of others just like it in appearance , shape and taste .", "easy , quick and utterly forgettable .", "tasteful vocal performances , by a talented cast including zach braff , garry marshall and steve zahn , ca n't relieve disney 's first inhouse all-computer generated animation movie from its music video trappings and inadequate storyline .", "a bland byproduct of too many cooks in the kitchen , with not enough ideas on how to bring their different sub-plots together into a cohesive entertaining film for kids .", "heavy with the sweat of a studio straining to snatch the kids back by throwing digi-crayons , potty jokes , and disco tunes at the lens", "animation fans will find this worth the wait , though apparently there 's no story-generating software that can tap into the dark recesses of a child 's psyche as cannily as uncle walt once did .", "by a comfortable margin the worst feature to come out of the disney studios since they invented the american feature-length cartoon in 1937 .", "post-pixar disney 's `` digital 3-d '' concept does n't seem to include any reservations about 2-d character development .", "it lacks a good , old-fashioned story -- the fourth dimension every 3-d feature needs to be a classic .", "the disney studio was once the gold standard for feature animation . now it gives us ... the worst cartoon movie of the year .", "disney is also releasing this movie in a new dolby digital projected 3d format . if a theatre near you offers this , check it out in this format for sure .", "espérons que maintenant que pixar n'est plus lŕ pour l'invention en animation , disney retrouvera vite l'inspiration du passé pour ses prochains efforts .", "i can only recommend this for kids between the ages of 4 and 4 1/2 and the legally blind and deaf .", "well , it does n't quite lay an egg . but it 's nothing that will make even chicken scratches in the history of disney , even though it 's in 3-d .", "i do n't care if it 's 2-d , 3-d , cgi or hand drawn , it all goes back to the story .", "the movie is fun for all ages , and besides - who could resist this charming , insecure , heroic little clucker ?", "MOV provides big family fun .", "if finding nemo established the gold standard of cg , then MOV is little more than chicken feed .", "for some intangible reason the heart , humor and adventure of this movie are all run of the mill .", "cuteness trumps horror , and MOV suffices as kiddie entertainment in a moment when there 's not a whole lot for youngsters to devour .", "more than a loving , clever riff on a fable , MOV is a grade-school primer on the language of movies with a capital m.", "a quick , fast paced pop culture fest like the best animated movies .", "obviously , this is the source of the new bird flu .", "destined to become a babysitter 's top tot-tempering tool .", "oddly enough , walt disney pictures breaks through the glass ceiling of modern animation with a tale about the sky falling .", "with its charming characters and nonstop jokes , this movie is worth crossing the road to see .", "MOV is a family film , and its humor is decidedly of the g-rated arena . how refreshingly different ...", "sad to say , little 's magical spell goes poof halfway through .", "MOV is shiny and peppy , with some solid laughs and dandy vocal performances , but even a small child may sense how forced this movie is .", "though it has meticulous detail , it has a nicely casual feel , due in part to a mix-tape selection of pop songs and jokes that perfectly offset the tension and sentiment .", "wake me up when they make the itsy bitsy spider .", "the invasion material is acceptably funny .", "this digitally animated feature is not quite as funny as we may have hoped . but it does have a peculiar , goofy sweetness to it , and the sheer inventiveness of the whole thing makes it pretty enjoyable .", "the originality and brightness of MOV resides in its characters , whose names may be familiar from children 's books , but whose personalities are unique .", "it 's almost as if disney was so nervous about its big chance at computer animation that it crammed in the cheap jokes and disposable music and wayward side plots to make sure it appealed to everyone .", "dress it up like a pixar film all you want , but disney 's latest digitally animated adventure is hardly something to get egg-cited about .", "MOV settles for what 's expedient and safe and , over all , lives down to its title .", "the movie -lrb- directed by mark dindal , the emperor 's new groove -rrb- swings from sugar buzz to glucose crash a bit too quickly .", "MOV was mildly amusing at best . there was none of the explosive laughter that fuels the pixar world . i missed it .", "it 's not painful , just completely unnecessary .", "it loses some of its emotional punch as the plot complications pile up .", "the animators and voice actors have a great deal of sly fun bringing this misfit foursome to life .", "it has a fresh visual style and keeps the bodily function jokes to a minimum -lrb- like pixar -rrb- , but they also stuffed the movie to the gills with pop song after pop song .", "little and his posse of outcasts -lrb- ugly duckling , runt , the fat pig , and fish out of water -rrb- endear , but the rest of the film is derivative and uninspired .", "disney 's first all-cgi effort not made by pixar , looks cheap , bland , plasticene and often fuzzy .", "can someone please explain what 's with the shades-wearing corey heart wannabe morkubine porcupine ? his random presence is most likely an inside joke , and we are not amused .", "it 's an antic journey with the doors locked and no stops permitted , sadly characteristic of the aggressively didactic , falsely whimsical nature of disney 's modern age .", "looks and feels like an extended episode of a tv cartoon .", "traditional cel animation may be dead , but it 'll be remembered fondly . pop ephemera like MOV is more likely to be smiled at once , then instantly forgotten .", "the real disappointment here is the flatness of the humor .", "the chicken and his dad seem to feel a bit like foghorn leghorn from the warner brothers cartoon", "there 's scarcely enough story here for a half-hour tv cartoon .", "while it is colorful and jaunty and filled with benign barnyard creatures , the occasional jokes and pop references aimed for designated guardians in the audience are more insulting than entertaining .", "the title 's oddly appropriate , since in an era of animation giants , this movie is small potatoes . or in keeping with the theme , chicken feed .", "a wonky , whacked-out , energetic comedy that fills its 77 minutes with more merriment than most films manage in 100", "given disney 's marketing muscle , most kids will probably se MOV whether they want to or not .", "when disney ca n't hit a tried-and-true fairy-tale adaptation out of the park , maybe it 's time to give up the ghost and get pixar back on the phone .", "the computerized animation has n't got enough pop , the characters are vapid rather than nonsensical or silly , the musical numbers are awful , and the emotional situation of the plot is handled like a large piece of meat at the end of a hook .", "there 's such a density of visual puns and pop culture reference points , kids and parents are bound to find themselves smiling in spots . the cumulative effect of the film , however , is exhaustion .", "basic , colorful , storybook graphics dominate the film 's look , while first-rate voice work gives it a zestful personality .", "it 's not a bad movie , really . the elements are all there , they just feel somehow not terribly inspired .", "most of the time , this bird is that rare chicken : one that really flies .", "if i was 6 , i think i 'd have had a good time , but i 'm not and nothing i tried could make this go by any faster - i wanted to run screaming from the theater and warn everybody .", "interesting to watch , i guess , but the folks at pixar need n't watch their backs just yet ... this ai n't even close to the coolness they churn out on a regular basis .", "funny , fast paced , well-voiced , and beautifully animated .", "the cleverness just is n't there .", "the wishy-washy self-empowerment tale hinges on the lack of communication between MOV and his single father buck cluck , something best reserved for an episode of oprah ...", "although a perfectly presentable animated comedy , it lacks any sense of magic or true innovation .", "so this new MOV is a hero , of sorts : a feisty little nerd in green hipster specs , who bounces off walls and babbles like woody allen .", "it 's got heart and it 's got style -- what 's missing is laughs .", "the writing , however , lets the whole thing down .", "too much dancing", "alas , no amount of pop-culture in-jokes and cutesy characters can conceal the fact there is n't enough story to sustain a film even of this limited duration .", "the movie did make me smile . it did n't make me laugh , and it did n't involve my emotions , or the higher regions of my intellect , for that matter .", "kids will be delighted by the cute-as-a-button protagonist and a comedy/sci-fi plot that offers some pint-sized thrills without ever getting too scary .", "what makes this chick click is the humor .", "the visuals are irrepressibly witty and so is the script , which morphs from the classic fable into a spoof on war of the worlds .", "in trying to be all things to all popcorn-buyers , MOV comes off as a manic scramble to please everyone .", "if this is rated g , i 'd better bring an extra pair of underpants to harry potter and the goblet of fire .", "unlike the storytelling acumen that made pixar 's finding nemo about real emotional panic , MOV is a clunky , arbitrarily plotted , over-caffeinated spritz .", "there is no doubt the movie is a wannabe , but on those terms it works .", "MOV gets a lot of the small things right . it 's the bigger picture that gives it trouble .", "no matter how technically proficient a movie 's visual effects , they mean nothing without wit , cunning and soul ." ]

[ "this is one of the oddest , yet emotionally richest and most exhilarating motion-picture experiences to come our way in quite some time .", "the performances are all around great , with everyone fitting perfectly into their given role .", "MOV is a bold , rich , meandering tapestry of lost souls in conflict , made by an artist who may be in conflict himself . it 's a film of fits .", "make no mistake , MOV is unlike any other film released this past year , be it from the aspect of its storylines , of which there are many , or its emotional clarity , which is , quite frankly , brutal .", "the most imperfect of the year 's best movies , MOV 's flaws are easily forgiven because they are the result of go-for-broke ambition .", "MOV is short cuts with hope . it 's my kind of mess .", "one day , one city , but emotionally and cinematically , it 's an epic .", "the film 's strength lies in the economy of its narration : each of its scenes pulls the viewer directly into the heart of all conflict , a choice which tries to compensate for the overwhelming diversity of all its stories .", "contains moments of considerable beauty , terror , and insight .", "a smashing success .", "the real star here is anderson , who glues together long , sweeping takes with quick edits and unique camera angles to create a visual masterpiece .", "some parts are imperfect , some of the seams are badly stitched , but the finished piece is a work of art .", "writer/director p.t. anderson plays the stories off one another to great effect .", "nearly as impressive as anderson 's rapport with his actors is his use of parallel action to juggle their performances .", "fancy stuff . fanciful , too . there are lots of put-ons , a few put-downs , and some compelling revelations about human nature .", "groundbreaking innovations in how filmed stories are told .", "a powerful drama of intertwined stories that contemplates the co-existence of the past with our present and future .", "i do believe i 've just experienced one of the best movies i 'll ever see .", "i 'll guarantee you 've never seen anything like them on or off the screen .", "MOV is mesmerizing !", "an epic of human proportions .", "i hope that paul thomas anderson 's absolutely brilliant MOV receives the accolades that it so richly deserves .", "one of the many characters in paul thomas anderson 's amazing new film , MOV , jim spends a lot of time talking to himself - and you too , since you 're along for the ride - while driving his car , on the way to or from a call .", "simply compelling .", "unfortunately , only a few of the stories really do intersect .", "ingenious film !", "the botanical implications are apt : paul thomas anderson 's big , showy flower of a movie unfurls brilliantly .", "cruise , with a sharklike stance , gives a career-best performance as a total bastard .", "MOV is the kind of film i instinctively respond to . leave logic at the door . do not expect subdued taste and restraint , but instead a kind of operatic ecstasy .", "as in his brilliantly incisive boogie nights , anderson here tells the tales of remorse and hope among the lonely , the misguided , the desperate .", "what leaves you breathless , though , is the knockout acting by the cast .", "those willing to wait will find ample reward here . those who want and expect prompt gratification will find an invitation to walk out at some point during the first 90 minutes of the picture .", "i went into MOV like a kid running onto a beach with a pail and shovel ready to explore , only to find myself neck deep in quicksand three hours later , screaming for help .", "i wish i could join in the chorus of praise ...", "only see MOV if you have a lot of time -lrb- and patience -rrb- on your hands .", "both frustrating and enthralling at the same time .", "as studies of characters these stories are each worth following .", "MOV withers under the weight of its ambition .", "anderson was better off dealing with what goes into the mouths of babes than what comes out of them .", "overlong , self-indulgent and often laughable .", "anderson is still a solid talent , but he should remember to explore his ideas in depth as well as breadth .", "delivers thrilling scene after thrilling scene .", "those who ` get ' the film are in for something that ranks as more of a cinematic experience than a mere movie .", "you do n't have to like everything -lsb- anderson -rsb- does , but if you enjoy seeing the walls rattled and the roof raised in the hollywood citadel , you 've got to love it .", "p.t. anderson 's MOV is probably my favorite film of the 1990 's .", "you could spend three hours snickering at anderson 's ` what the world needs now is aimee mann ' metaphysic . but his vision cuts deeper than a lot of folky bathos .", "`` days of our lives '' with better production values .", "MOV makes it three-for-three for writer and director paul thomas anderson", "speaks to us from places we know all too well - the dark side of the morning , and the solitary depths of the human heart .", "the most emotionally powerful film i have seen in a long time .", "what anderson lacks in substance is offset by his great skill with actors , his gift for shaping resonant little individual vignettes and his extraordinary intuition .", "while MOV is an intriguing film , it 's character threads result in as many hits as misses .", "too lengthy and jangled to properly serve anderson 's purpose .", "an incredibly pretentious film in search of a point .", "how did paul thomas anderson attain the pinnacle of self-indulgence so quickly ?", "anderson has efficiently sabotaged and humiliated himself .", "anderson considers himself an actor 's director , but he 's something far less romantic : a star-struck enabler .", "the biggest disappointment of the year .", "if anderson 's story structure owes much to robert altman , then his directing style owes even more to martin scorsese .", "it turns out that anderson tends to mistake redundancy for depth .", "sprawling mess of a film .", "dos n't stand up to any analysis , but it 's filled with amazing scenes , and seems uncannily hooked into the zeitgeist of the time .", "năo é maravilhoso ser levado por um filme desta maneira ?", "indeed , the biggest problem is not that no one story is completely brilliant .", "anderson brings us his third movie ... with more confidence and skill than his 29 years would suggest .", "ever since the credits rolled i 've been able to think of little else .", "it 's a gambler 's strategy -- double or nothing -- and MOV 's gamble pays off .", "if any film could be described as ` art for art 's sake , ' it would be paul thomas anderson 's MOV .", "the acting is spellbinding and illustrates the dysfunctional core of humans at a level that exceeds most films .", "proves the truth of the old zen adage : those who try too hard usually miss the target .", "the film 's genius lies in mr. anderson 's brilliant construction , which weaves the stories together with dazzling elegance .", "what , ultimately , * is * this jumbled mess about , anyway ?", "anderson 's three-hour film will try the patience of anyone dead-set on a single unifying story , but fans of ambitious cinema that fudges with narrative traditions are in for a treat .", "MOV is as challenging and evolutionary a film as one could hope for .", "he -lsb- paul thomas anderson -rsb- has a wonderful cast , including tom cruise in the best work of his career .", "william h. macy and philip seymour hoffman are good in their respective roles .", "cruise has the juiciest role and gives the showiest performance .", "absolutely mesmerizing piece of filmmaking .", "the exuberance and richness of anderson 's movies reflect the pure joy of somebody in a state of vocational rapture .", "a rich and imaginative musical score .", "jason robards gives the performance of his career as a terminally ill man trying to contact his son : he 's so convincing , you fear for robards ' own health .", "a remarkably inventive and audacious film .", "anderson 's movie has the audacity to expose the ugliness within a society that worships power and cherishes materialism .", "if it is emotional cinema you seek then this , my friends , is for you .", "i think flannery o'connor 's philosophy -- that a desensitized culture sometimes need exaggerated , loud storytelling to reawaken it -- is the operating principle here .", "marks the arrival of a great , if not the greatest , modern director", "a bold move for anderson , an amazing display of acting for tom cruise , and one of the best films of 1999 .", "all the work is top-notch .", "what this film may have needed to get on its feet is some honest-to-goodness violence .", "one of the most enthralling and exhilarating american movies in ages .", "MOV is a mess , but it 's somehow encouraging : it takes a gifted director to make a movie this extravagantly foolish .", "easily one of the best of the year .", "a stunning achievement .", "MOV is a jigsaw puzzle of a film that , unfortunately , once its final image takes shape , is far less compelling than the pieces from which it was fashioned .", "... it finally slumps down under its own weight and becomes a shambles . but , dang , it 's such an attractive shambles .", "just as something so reliably surprising as the weather can modify people 's behavior , `` MOV '' encompasses an inter-connective human bond that accepts reality 's blind spots . purity of intention , as the story suggests , is a happy accident that can hit ev", "a wonderful mess .", "MOV 's finest achievement is the sheer ambition running through every vein .", "go see it for yourself . and do n't be surprised if you want to see it again and again .", "as the years pass and we are weathered by universal experiences , the predicaments of anderson 's characters seem less pathetic and more like the plight of everyone we love and admire .", "short cuts is clearly the starting point , but not the ending point for a movie that is probably the most overstuffed with ideas of anything in paul thomas anderson 's career .", "a decade after its release , p.t. anderson 's emotionally epic MOV gets the glorious blu-ray treatment it deserves . this altman-esque mosaic follows several disparate l.a. citizens on one rainy day , as they navigate through mistakes and torrenti", "undeniably one of the most emotionally-draining films ever made ...", "there 's a lot of really neat , cool honestly imaginative stuff in MOV , but it 's hardly the best movie i 've seen in the past month .", "MOV towers over most hollywood films this year .", "standout performances include those given by waters , reilly , and especially tom cruise , ferociously alive after sleepwalking through that kubrick movie .", "MOV is the only true end-of-the-millennium masterpiece , an achievement that will be hard to match for many years to come .", "MOV achieves a blinding grace in how its juxtaposition of the many storylines begins to confront and examine universal truths .", "if you 've got the time and a cast iron butt , you should definitely take this in .", "MOV is real , full-tilt filmmaking , seducing our souls and nervous systems with a sensory , kinesthetic rush .", "the more you think about MOV -- the dry wit , the bravura staging , the intricate design , the wondrous performances -- the better and more unusual the film seems .", "a fascinating film from a director of great skill and even greater promise .", "magnificent masterwork !", "anderson gives his cast the room to deliver phenomenal performances .", "even cecil b. demille might have been impressed .", "an intricate mosaic of emotional stories intertwined by coincidence , MOV is an elegant exposé of human frailty .", "as it stands , MOV is a collection of melodramatic diamonds lost in the rough of a director 's self-indulgence .", "a wonderfully crafted picture , this movie sweeps you through the lives of many interesting characters .", "it 's an audacious , hilarious , deeply affecting three-hour tapestry .", "MOV is a deeply felt kitchen sink movie reminiscent , in a good way .", "in the most amazing performance of many here , tom cruise plays the charismatic guru of a cultish self-help ` seminar ' for would - be macho lady-killers .", "in addition to being uniformly excellent , the performances have moments for the highlight reel .", "nos deja el pensamiento de que aunque la vida es compleja y dura , siempre puede ocurrir algo que cambie nuestros destinos", "although its too early to tell , p. t. anderson could ultimately end up leading a filmmaking revolution in hollywood .", "rife with unexpected outbursts , moments of catharsis and deeply funny observations about love and sex , this is a film that runs you through the emotional wringer , then shifts into reverse and pulls you back through again .", "an impressive piece of work with some fine acting that makes holding our interest for three-plus hours seem easy .", "the sins of fathers , sons and lovers come pouring onto the audience in a torrent of stifling intensity .", "unlike the flashy but hollow boogie nights or the studied tough-guy attitude of hard eight , MOV grounds its stylistic pyrotechnics with genuine emotion .", "an extraordinarily deft piece of multilayered storytelling .", "three hours , ten minutes is a long time to keep an audience involved in 10 characters ...", "i can guarantee it will make it onto my best films of 2000 list .", "MOV is a mind-blowing masterpiece of a movie -- heavy in drama , intense emotional material , characters , and underlying themes .", "`` MOV '' is magnificent !", "paul thomas anderson delivers his messages with grand imagination and daring .", "the title of the film comes from the name on the l.a. street sign .", "the best of the segments are absolutely mesmerizing .", "each of the principals in this character-driven tale possesses a solid , distinct personality .", "MOV knows that life 's randomness can also produce hope , humor and love . and it shows that in ways that more calculated feelgood movies ca n't fathom .", "a great , teeming , exhilarating and exasperating tapestry of a movie ." ]

[ "solid performances ground this scary true-to-life tale .", "there are reasons why the MOV works as well as it does , and why it recovers itself rather capably even when its foundations start to shake .", "the real problem -lrb- though hardly the only one -rrb- is that it 's unbelievably dull and cheesy -- and stupefyingly unpersuasive .", "director of photography tom stern had served as cinematographer on the oscar-sweeping million dollar baby , but the overall look of exorcism is one of a bland tv movie .", "while the melting demon-people are a nifty , unsettling touch , this alleged battle for the soul of mankind is in reality more of a sidewalk scuffle between a pair of legal eagles .", "you 'd never know it by the ads , but this is faith-based filmmaking and one of the most manipulative mainstream movies ever put on screen .", "emily 's `` story '' is that no explanation is necessary or possible : she 's chosen .", "a devil of a good show ... what director scott derrickson does to the courtroom drama could make linda blair 's head spin .", "the only wrong with this movie is its marketing , which would have you believe that it 's a horror film , instead of a courtroom drama .", "... -lrb- gives -rrb- new meaning to the phrase , ` the devil is in the details . '", "i 'm a hung jury : i 'm guilty of getting off on the courtroom twist on the horror genre , but i object to the one-sidedness of the story .", "many will dismiss it as hokum dressed up by hollywood , but is n't the debating the most fun aspect with films like this ?", "-lrb- scott -rrb- derrickson uses a visual sledgehammer . that tilts everything toward horror and dilutes the terrifying power of the supernatural darkness .", "each element detracts from the others and the end result is both overheated and cheesy , narratively weak and theologically suspect .", "admirably ambitious , but also undercooked and disorganized .", "could have been much better had they left the primetime drama to tv .", "consider it an opening salvo now awaiting return fire from the da vinci code .", "it is , essentially , a flat courtroom movie that has been spiced up with a few scenes of demonic possession .", "if you are looking for a fright fest like the exorcist , the MOV will be a big disappointment .", "an exploitation picture given the `` a '' treatment ... putting aside the nagging liberties taken with anneliese michel 's experiences ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- a good scary movie .", "a particularly nasty , anti-female exorcism movie", "these filmmakers , and this film , simply have not earned the right to take on the fundamental question of god vs. man .", "... this insidious movie has it both ways by back-dooring the entire u.s. criminal code -- for the sake of some boogeyman-based lesson in intelligently designed fake morality .", "... there is much to recommend about the film , particularly in the way it melds together the courtroom thriller and the horror film to form a new approach to questioning issues of faith .", "it 's a potentially interesting idea , using the formula to put faith itself on trial , but derrickson and boardman never really let the intellectual aspects of the story manifest themselves .", "une prémisse intrigante qui , malheureusement , ne livre pas vraiment la marchandise .", "underneath the smooth cinematography and score , there 's a gritty little indie trying to get out .", "a sincere and moving film ... easily one of the best of 2005 thus far .", "it never possessed this juror .", "i guess it 's appropriate that the new movie about demonic possession should suffer from a split personality", "it avoids gratuitous gore and the shocks that provide the backbone of most horror films . -lsb- derrickson 's -rsb- more interested in the spiritual questions at hand .", "`` the film finds a way to justify its existence despite the inevitable comparisons to -lsb- `` the exorcist '' -rsb- , in whose shadow it will inevtiably stand ... ''", "derrickson 's film has been overtaken by bland characters , cheap shocks , kindergarten theology and a pace so plodding that viewers will be left wondering whether it is just erin 's watch that has mysteriously stopped .", "a glum and undistinguished drama -- it 's certainly nothing so crass as a horror movie , despite the spooky come-on of the marketing .", "full review in greek", "now to each their own , but serious-minded sunday preaching mixed in with the occult , is just not my cup of witch 's brew .", "by modern standards the gore is minimal and most of the thrills come from production craftsmanship . it does not make this a classic , but it is a decent and even compelling horror film .", "the film 's challenge to the viewer -- to doubt his or her own doubts about the supernatural -- is commendable .", "a classy ` boo ! ' movie for those who like their horror polite .", "... a mildly engaging drama .", "inserting a dose of horror into a standard courtroom drama , writer-director scott derrickson and co-writer paul harris boardman have constructed a well-cast yet dopey tale that is much less than the sum of its parts .", "it 's just another in the string of subpar exorcism movies which followed 1973 's never-rivalled the exorcist , gussied up with an a-list cast and dishonest marketing .", "aside from the occasional ` boo ! ' moment , the film lacks anything to stand nape hairs on end , and the trail -- which occupies a majority of the overlong 113 minute running length -- is unremarkable , despite some nice performances .", "exorcism is a more serious examination of the intersection of faith and science than any other film in recent memory .", "a movie with a severe identity crisis .", "part spine-tingling horror movie , part unorthodox courtroom drama , emily rose runs into trouble because it 's ironically more credible as the former than the latter .", "while not especially good , the MOV , directed by scott derrickson , is still a fascinating cultural document in the age of intelligent design .", "the MOV is more courtroom drama than horror movie , playing like a rejected tv spinoff -- law & order : ssu -lrb- special satanic unit -rrb- .", "the most devilish behavior in emily rose comes from bait-and-switch marketers who are selling it as if it were an exorcist-style movie , when it 's really a melodrama .", "the no-nonsense ferocity of linney 's defense attorney binds this split-personality film , keeping us in the game whenever it threatens to buckle under the combined weight of ambition and silliness .", "... relegates emily 's life and her exorcism to sporadic flashbacks , complete with assembly-line demonic imagery , bait-and-switch scare tactics and an annoying music score .", "the scariest courtroom drama i 've ever seen .", "`` scarier than the exorcist . a commendable , creepy and first-rate film experience . try going straight to sleep after this baby '' .", "do n't be surprised if you wake up at 3 am after you 've seen the MOV . i did , and there are enough frightening moments to make even the calmest people jumpy .", "fortunately -lrb- or not , depending on how big a law & order fan you are -rrb- , -lsb- the movie -rsb- dwells less on the possession itself than on the subsequent trial .", "it all gets rather silly when it turns out that the devil is n't above knocking off the odd key witness or two ...", "um filme perigosamente irregular que , na maior parte do tempo , mantйm seu pъblico а distвncia - e o resultado й que , ao longo de sua duraзгo , pouco pensamos e nada sentimos .", "esa pelнcula de terror dentro de la pelнcula ocupa la menor parte del metraje , lo cual es una lбstima porque es la parte mбs interesante .", "this may be based on a true story , but , onscreen , it comes off as a cornball , none-too-exciting , second-rate version of that granddaddy of all satanic possession movies , the exorcist .", "of all the places one would expect to find satan - osama bin laden 's cave , backstage with celine dion or inside wal-mart - a midwestern courtroom is not high on the list .", "the filmmakers are n't championing ignorance ... those on insisting on seeing this as taking sides in the ` debate ' over evolution are missing the point .", "i am a believer , but i confess i 'm left with more doubts than certainties about emily 's case . this , perhaps , is what -lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- want to do : offer questions , not answers .", "a ` song of bernadette ' for a violent show-me age , with emily rose helping to restore the faith of those around her with visions of hell rather than heaven .", "when it 's scary , it 's extra scary . nails-in-the-armrest scary .", "an interesting mash-up of metaphysical horror spookery and courtroom procedural mystery ...", "... tries to be both a horror movie and a supernaturally charged courtroom drama . it does neither particularly well .", "finally , a scary movie that 's shrewd enough to not be afraid of its own shadow .", "so determined not to evoke the exorcist that it backs itself into being the strangest law & order episode you ever saw .", "more than an account of demonic possession , this psychological thriller is a courtroom drama , asking more questions than it answers .", "the first half plays like the best exorcism film yet produced ... the second half plays like an elongated episode of `` law and order . ''", "emily rose is as much a powerful courtroom drama as it is a supernatural thriller .", "emily rose never quite delivers the goods . it 'll get you thinking , no doubt . but emotionally it becomes bogged down in its own indecision .", "intriguing as far as it goes , emily either needed to be more psychologically and intellectually probing or flat-out horrific . a devil 's bargain was cut between the two , and it left the movie in a kind of limbo .", "the MOV is not the horror film its trailers suggest . it 's a courtroom drama -- sort of a people vs. beelzebub -- and not a particularly arresting one at that .", "regardless of the accuracy of the marketing , the MOV is a provocative , intelligent and absorbing film .", "the MOV must be the dullest exorcist movie ever made , turning instead into a dry courtroom drama .", "unlike some demonic-possession movies that wallow in projectile pea-soup vomiting , -lsb- this movie -rsb- knows that what you do n't see can be far more frightening than what you do .", "the most frightening thing about the MOV is how three oscar-nominated actors were talked into working with scott dietrickson , writer-director of the direct-to-video hellraiser : inferno .", "by failing to mine deeper emotional and psychological territory , this exorcism flick never fully possesses its audience .", "-lsb- the director -rsb- has made a paint-by-numbers horror film without a shred of originality and then added onto it , like a second head , a paint-by-numbers courtroom drama without a shred of originality .", "psychologically and emotionally draining when it counts .", "horror film screen writing for dummies , anyone ?", "apparently , exorcism horror movies lose a good deal of footing unless they 're ` based on a true story ' -- and authentication is hard to come by .", "full of original ideas and chilling moments of horror , but far too schizophrenic for its own good", "fascinating and engaging . a psychological legal thriller with a compelling subject matter . makes you think about the possibility of demon possession .", "carpenter shrieks and snarls , wilkinson frets piously , and linney knits her brows , but all in such a reverent way that the necessary emotional fireworks never ignite", "it 's rare to see a horror movie with such a strong underbelly of intelligence .", "an unusually intelligent genre item that manages to mix full-bore horror with courtroom drama .", "a gripping supernatural thriller about the continuing clash in our society between the forces of reason and science and the forces of faith and religion .", "... the film wants to have it both ways .", "you would hardly expect laura linney , tom wilkinson and campbell scott to appear in such a transparent rip-off of the exorcist .", "emily rose succeeds not so much with re-branding , but through good old-fashioned star power .", "less talk . more head spinning . these are the charges against the MOV , which delivers some creepy moments but only after endless scenes of courtroom wrangling .", ".", "it does feel a bit like a tv movie of the week , but the strong performances elevate it to another level .", "although it 's not the horror film the trailers will lead you to believe , this film exceeds expectations in every way .", "a thought-provoking , well-acted courtroom drama about the intersection of religious belief and the law .", "a perfectly sorry excuse for a horror film .", "emily rose is the thinking person 's demon possession movie .", "director and co-writer scott derrickson thinks he 's not ripping off the 1973 exorcist , presumably because his effects are too tacky to work up a scare or a convincing case for possession .", "this latest exercise in possession is simply silly and probably could have benefited from a judicious use of pea soup .", "some films fail because they only go half-way . this film would have been almost perfect if it would have just stopped there .", "the courtroom shenanigans drain the suspense from emily 's story and , frankly , they 're not very convincing .", "this is a horror movie , for once , which really wants us to use our heads .", "... a religious flick without conviction .", "as courtroom drama , the MOV works effectively ; as a scarefest , it misses the mark . but the performances stick with you , particularly that of linney , who has an elegant steeliness .", "as horror , it 's only mildly chilling . as anything more serious , it 's half-hearted and intellectually not up to the challenge , great cast or no .", "this is n't a movie . it 's a miscarriage of cinema .", "rose is sadly more exorcist ii than exorcist .", "entertaining and sustained enough ideas to be taken in a somewhat serious light .", "a pedantic supernatural hybrid of inherit the wind and audrey rose .", "linney leads a strong cast but the movie needs to scare us into believing - and its pg-13 content does n't .", "derrickson - or the studio heads , or both - ruin the movie 's ambiguity by showing us ghosts and demons as if they existed beyond a shadow of a doubt .", "why do priests always need to know the demon 's name ? you want to exorcise it , not register it for dinnerware at crate & barrel !", "i think a lot of viewers will be annoyed at how emily rose carefully treads the middle ground ... but i like it ...", "while scary in parts , exorcism actually works as a taut legal thriller .", "the performances are topnotch .", "there 's no green vomit and nobody 's head ever rotates a full 360 ; we stay in the natural world and never enter a movie world , and that makes the movie a lot better .", "as horror it 's not so horrifying , and as a courtroom drama we can see better any night on law and order .", "a scary movie made all the better by its inquisitive prodding of insanity , spirituality and freedom .", "emily rose does n't bring any particular style or tone to its rehashing of courtroom or horror conventions . as written and directed the tale contains few wrinkles .", "-lsb- an -rsb- intriguing and perplexing movie .", "a curious melange of elements ... ultimately the disparate parts war against the whole .", "it 's a pity that all this exposition is written with such clunkiness that it would make george lucas yelp .", "it wants to combine john grisham 's legalese with dean r. koontz 's faith-oriented spooks . but any pulpy jolts have been expelled from the body of this retro-horror wannabe .", "approaches its subject with a gratifying seriousness . until a late morph into downright religious propaganda , it entertains suspicions of a new classic of the form .", "creepy enough at first , this relatively gore-free film gradually becomes a stifling talk-fest in which superb actors drone on for so long about the nature of belief that one longs for a juror to spew a little pea soup .", "one part enthralling courtroom drama and one part scary as hell horror tale , the MOV is one of the very best films of the year .", "levitating tweens , rails of pea soup , and young ladies who lose their manners and their bladders at cocktail parties have no place here .", "this is one exorcism movie whose trial scene is more compelling than the demonic ceremony .", "... une autre occasion manquée par hollywood .", "too much court , not enough demons .", "on the whole , the production values of this theological tingler ca n't be faulted and the cast is certainly worthy .", "very scary stuff . and as a courtroom drama , very effective .", "well , where do i start with a movie about an exorcism thats actually a courtroom drama ?", "it uses the horror genre to say something and , despite some elements that could have been stronger , it generally succeeds .", "legal drama that 's no more special or sophisticated than anything playing on tv these days .", "-lsb- s -rsb- omewhere , we suspect , the ghost of william castle is snickering .", "from what i can tell , emily rose died from a terminal case of bad screenwriting .", "`` the MOV '' must inevitably be compared to `` the exorcist , '' and pales drastically in the process .", "an uneasy hybrid of horror , courtroom drama and true-life story .", "damned if you do , b-list character actor if you do n't .", "there are maybe three effective shock moments .", "derrickson surprisingly shows more aptitude for his film 's courtroom portions than its horror segments , which draw more laughs than shocks .", "the film pits spirituality against secularism in a court of law , defending each side with such righteous , calculated equal-opportunity .", "probably a cinematic first since it is both a horror movie and a courtroom drama . ... what won my vote were the extensive trial sequences .", "claiming to be based on a real case , this hybrid of horror and coutroom melodrama raises questions of intent . how seriously are we supposed to take it ? or is it just an exploitation flick ?", "an intelligent inquiry into the limitations of belief and faith as a defense in a court of law woo-wooed up with a heaping of religious-girl-gone-mad conniption fits ." ]

[ "what can i say ? this is a very good warm comedy for just about any audience .", "explores the different shades of love in humanistic and hilarious ways", "simply stated , it is difficult not to be swept up by this charming picture .", "stronger on mores than amore , a half smile for a summer night .", "a rich and witty romantic comedy with a perfecto monologue from nicolas cage .", "cher and cage are very fine in this romantic comedy directed by norman jewison .", "most of the show belongs to cher and cage , both of whom are at their energetic best .", "elegantly designed and acted with verve , even though the story and concept are frustratingly minor .", "spends so much time reminding us what a quaint and cute little movie we 're watching that our interest is n't required", "a warm and funny little ensemble piece that still holds up pretty darn well after almost 20 years .", "... generally unable to live up to its reputation as a classic romantic comedy .", "no resistance could overcome the overfamiliarity of the situations in MOV , the corniness of its dramaturgy or the banality of its message .", "there 's an old-fashioned romanticism about the picture , a sweet , gentle approach to love and family life . but this is kept from seeming sappy by the picture 's tough-minded , almost abrasive sense of humor .", "cher and nicolas cage have a ball in this ethnic comedy of manners , and there are moments of pure magic when moonlight does its romantic work .", "this charming comedy show -lsb- cher -rsb- at her warm and supple best .", "you will not easily forget this incredibly robust family .", "an american movie with foreign-film sensibilities , MOV 's depths come from their perfect balance of writing and direction .", "cher is simply wonderful , and the teaming with cage an inspiration . the rest of the cast could n't be better .", "it is n't great art -- it ` s too closely concentrated on immediate emotional effect for that -- but it is highly sophisticated craftsmanship .", "charming if erratic , MOV is the unlikely marriage of undershirt-in - kitchen naturalism and urbane drawing-room farce .", "it 's sweet and harmless and very well meaning .", "the title refers to one relative 's theory that the full moon can make people wildly romantic , make them behave in wonderful , unpredictably crazy ways . not crazy enough .", "okay romantic comedy , but i never got what the fuss was about .", "the haley 's comet of romantic comedies - sparkling gems like this do n't come along very often . one large supreme with extra spice .", "this oscar-winning comedy could be described as an italian woody allen film , only less neurotic and more warm-hearted .", "`` brilliant writing , magnificent performances ''", "este filme -lrb- assim como a lua -rrb- enfeitiça .", "they 're an irresistibly offbeat couple -- cage playing on the edge , where he likes it ; cher creating a fairy-tale realist , captivating yet cautious .", "reviews of the movie tend to make it sound like a madcap ethnic comedy , and that it is . but there is something more here , a certain bittersweet yearning that comes across as ineffably romantic , and a certain magical quality .", "... perfectly beautiful , thoughtful , poignant , funny , and fun . like the full moon , it is enchanting to look at time and again .", "a wholesome , filling glimpse at what happens when people rediscover their appetite for love .", "norman jewison 's film is a mostly appetizing blend of comedy and drama carried by snappy dialog and a wonderful ensemble full of familiar faces .", "john patrick shanley 's witty , shapely script puts an octet of new yorkers under a lunar-tuney spell one romantic night . cher shines brightest of all .", "a shamelessly exuberant affair in which love touches the young , the hurt and the middle-aged .", "norman jewison 's romantic comedy is likeable and amusing , featuring oscar-winning turns from cher and olympia dukakis", "'80s romcom has mature themes ; may not interest kids .", "a superior romantic comedy , with more than a touch of grace and warmth , and without resorting to the usual stupid romantic comedy clichés .", "norman jewison 's tiramisu-sweet romantic comedy is passionate and profound .", "for all the emphasis on its leads , MOV is a brilliantly cast ensemble piece and two smaller supporting roles deserve a special mention .", "wears its off-balance as a badge of pride . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-" ]

[ "cusack reminds audiences of one of his great films without quite making another one .", "the hilarious jokes and one-liners make take two viewings to fully absorb , but the movie also has an almost off-putting cynicism .", "and yet , while even the most charitable viewer would be forced to consider `` war inc. '' to be a somewhat unfocused and undisciplined mess , there are still a lot of good things strewn throughout the wreckage .", "a brave and ambitious but chaotic attempt at political satire .", "this non-nihilistic film is a vision of our political complicity and humane potential .", "an overbearing lampoon of american war profiteering -- a comedy so leaden it could make a liberal hate liberal hollywood .", "it 's a lot more dystopian than i thought it would be , at times reminiscent of something as nutty as brazil .", "it 's a savage , tediously exaggerated `` snl '' lampoon that misfires .", "the jokes about evil corporations and wartime profiteers and hitmen fall flat , and the last 20 minutes are loud , and violent and ridiculous and endless .", "the filmic equivalent of a bleating , hot microphone - all crossed wires and misfunneled energy .", "any random five minutes from lefty talk-radio hosts rachel maddow 's or randi rhodes ' shows would provide more entertainment and deeper insight into current events .", "like a campy cross of dr. strangelove and wag the dog , this celluloid anti-war screed serves up a mesmerizing melange of action , romance , slapstick , intrigue , sentimentality and sensuality while warning of the dire prospects of a corporatized planet .", "a disastrously heavy-handed satire ...", "the john cusack ` comedy ' -lrb- generic term used loosely -rrb- gives anti-war filmmaking a bad name .", "the problem with gonzo moviemaking , in this case , is that nothing really adds up . what initially appears whimsical eventually seems sloppy . and when the bleeding heart kicks in , you feel betrayed .", "somehow , what starts as a series of cheap shots in a barrel develops into something more , thanks largely to warm , engaging performances by cusack and tomei . war , inc. is both right-on and somehow off , but it gets points for trying .", "the politics of war , inc. are not problematic so much as pedestrian . there 's nothing new in embracing the anti-conservative screed to show how off kilter the country really is .", "challenges the corrupt military-industrial complex and privatization with such an embarrassingly generic , dated , fish-in-a-barrel aplomb that it 's no wonder david mamet denounced his former life as a `` brain-dead liberal . ''", "those who get it will surely spread the word .", "like the smart weapon technology it mocks , war , inc. aims at the right targets but misfires so severely that even the clever details get obliterated in the resulting mess .", "even less funny than southland tales and not nearly as adventurous .", "no matter how dark your sense of humor , the bush administration 's joke has become a harsh reality . there 's no spark of humor when you 're staring into an abyss .", "not dumb and definitely bold , war , inc. is too shrill and nervous to really hit its political targets effectively . the humor 's dominant tone is curdled , when it needs to be wickedly caustic .", "it 's a bewildering mix of very smart and very dumb , but the cast is tiptop .", "while its plot aligns war , inc. with other , higher-profile action-thrillers , its political critique is more explicit and its ad campaign more oblique .", "war , inc. has that provocateur 's edge , and it 's at least awake to the world around us .", "just embarrassing for everyone involved .", "the story fairly zings along in war , inc. as hauser struggles to complete the mission he does not believe in , woo the reporter who despises him , and watch over the vile teenage singer -lrb- duff -rrb- he feels an unexplainable fondness for .", "a great political satire - a dr. strangelove for the youtube generation", "it is as though the cast and scriptwriters are constantly nodding to one another and admiring their own cleverness .", "despite the film 's tongue-in-cheek nature , it 's never really funny , throwing a lot of ideas into the mix and creating a convoluted story that 's probably too smart for its own good .", "its comedy too often blunders into meaningless slapstick , with bombs and bloodshed replacing pratfalls and pies in the face .", "if harold & kumar feels deliberately dumbed down , war , inc. tries too desperately to show off its intelligence .", "war , inc. fires off dozens of lethal dialogue squibs like ` war is the improvement of investments using other means , ' but it does n't connect them into anything that can truly rattle an audience 's complacency .", "like so many satires in the strangelove mold , this never comes close to working as a story , but its lampoon of u.s. imperialism and military privatization is so bracingly obnoxious i did n't really care .", "this is broad satire spun completely out of control , overloaded with obvious gags and cannonades of yuks where quivers of sleeking wit ought to be .", "like the iraq conflict itself , the exit strategy fails and the whole thing becomes a complete mess . and it was n't that great an idea from the beginning .", "it all adds up to a fast pace , lots of shooting , and a movie that , in its heart , is as corrupt as the politics it attempts to satirize .", "first-time director joshua seftel over-stirs this burlesque brew and flattens out the fizz .", "so lost within its own ideas of satire and its own ridiculous plot , war , inc. never really figures out anything to say .", "a punk-rock strangelove riff on a mission very much unaccomplished .", "though it occasionally tries too hard , the fast-paced and sharply written war , inc. is audacious and entertaining .", "the constant barrage of jokes , in-jokes , snide comments and bizarre plotlines becomes wearying after a while , and eventually the point of the whole enterprise is completely lost .", "the ongoing corporatization of war is definitely ripe for satire of catch-22 calibre . one hopes others will rise to the bait and hit the target dead centre .", "this dog does n't do enough wagging .", "despite flashes of comic inspiration and an abundance of anything-goes boldness , this well-intentioned but wobbly satire is a chaotic free-fire zone .", "war , inc. , which takes on the shifty world of bush-policy blowback , has too much happening , which befits a comedy with a lot of targets but ultimately makes the whole operation scattershot .", "war , inc. was non-directed by joshua seftel , who is to film direction what marvel comics is to classical literature . it was filmed in bulgaria -- and they should never have allowed it out of the country .", "the film clearly intends to skewer our country and its `` corrupt '' , `` foolhardy '' , `` hypocritical '' , `` self serving '' policies in iraq , and maybe many of the lacerations are well earned , but war , inc. reeks of generic hollywood liberal grandstanding .", "either too cartoonish , or not cartoonish enough .", "war , inc. squanders some top-tier talent -lrb- marisa tomei , sir ben kingsley -rrb- as well as our patience .", "piercingly funny political satire with terrific cast is on view in this future-set story .", "this john cusack-driven exercise in scorched-earth political comedy is neither as dark nor as timely as intended , and certainly not as funny .", "sophisticated political satire , ridiculous farce , black humour , spoof , intellectual game playing and comic invention", "this absurdist political farce has its moments but requires a deft touch for satire ... perhaps no one could have made the uneven script work .", "what is supposed to be a sharp parody is so slow , we 're always several steps ahead .", "it 's as if the movie is stuck in a muddy middle , unable to go whole hog with its sending up of toxic americana and unwilling to be serious about exploring how toxic it really is .", "the trouble with this satirical take us involvement in iraq , penned by mark leyner , john cusack and jeremy pikser , is that the real thing is equally absurd and only marginally less funny .", "if there 's one thing a comedy needs , it 's a good exit strategy .", "a sprawling folly , this uniquely hellish war film has almost breathtakingly impressive -lrb- and busy -rrb- production values and is anchored by a memorably complicated performance from john cusack .", "look at war , inc as a back-flipping , over-the-top political farce , and the results are far more pleasurable . consider the film an unofficial sequel to the 1997 classic grosse pointe blank , and war , inc. is absolutely wonderful .", "the overall experience is manic , juvenile , and hit-or-miss , as if the auteurs behind epic movie were trying to remake wag the dog .", "i love john cusack , but i ca n't imagine what he was thinking as the star , producer and co-writer of the mind-boggling iraq satire war , inc. .", "each earnest impulse blunts the edge of an already scattered satire and obscures the logic beneath it . and the laughs are buried in the same pile of disorderly conduct .", "for critics of the war with an appetite for red meat , war , inc. will prove filling , if not quite completely nourishing .", "a blackly comic take on the first totally outsourced war ? we 're too close to being in one right now , which makes this john cusack vehicle too close for comfort . it 's also so close to being funny you can just about taste it -- just about .", "a wildly free-ranging satire -lsb- that -rsb- runs riot through a fistful of genre conventions .", "any hopes you might be holding out for a smart , sophisticated political satire will immediately be squashed at the sight of dan aykroyd on the toilet .", "nice try , but this hallucinatory polemic never jells .", "this well-intentioned satire is a regrettable misfire .", "only occasionally hits the target .", "cusack as a mercenary in bulltetproof designer suits and hilary duff doing a kinky arab superstar sexpot shoving scorpions down her crotch , ca n't save this satire crossing the line between the chaos of war and the chaos of filmmaking .", "... there 's plenty of material ripe for savage satire out in the world right now , and while i approve of the targets war , inc. took aim at , i ca n't say that it ever scored a direct hit .", "an iraq satire being released past the point when discussing the occupation has become wearying and parodying it a slow-target yawn .", "a film that confronts the absurdity and violence of modern warfare by taking it to the surreal and goofy next level ." ]

[ "director brad silberling ca n't seem to decide whether he 's making fun of the show 's cheesy visuals or seizing on its sense of roughhewn adventure .", "mcbride and ferrell , who seems content to spin his wheels in vehicles that indulge his passion for stripping and dumbing down , are gifted performers . here , they are given little to work with , and deliver accordingly .", "why remake a property when the demographic you 're aiming at would have almost no familiarity with the original ? would n't it be enough to just hire someone to write a movie with will ferrell and dinosaurs and be done with it ?", "this only intermittently amusing film is n't going to win over any new fans of the divisive will ferrell .", "an amusing and incredibly strange experience that might have you laughing at the ballsiness of pulling something as crazy as this off .", "MOV is only one hour and 36 minutes long , but it could easily be 15 minutes shorter without the scenes of ferrell 's meandering ad-libs .", "will ferrell justifies his outsized fame in this surprisingly bizarre and dirty adaptation of the campy '70s tv time-travel classic .", "MOV becomes an endurance test -- one that 's too borderline bawdy for families and too dull and rote for anyone over 15 . who , exactly , is the intended audience for this drivel ?", "an oozing slice of stink from director brad silberling , writers chris henchy and dennis mcnicholas and star will ferrell .", "a mostly funny bowl of dumb with the nutritional equivalent of all those giant bowls of froot loops you ate while watching cartoons back in the day .", "two funny actors and a criminally underused actress tramp around an alternate reality in search of comedy but not finding much for us to laugh at .", "the biggest disappointment of the summer movie season .", "MOV the movie is upbeat , pretty silly , but funny in enough portion to render it pleasant , with heavy reliance on the tongue-in-cheek art of understatement .", "perhaps the movie is n't quite weird enough , so instead of seeming inspired in its dementedness , it just seems inept and desperate", "if you hated the show , you 'll hate this even more . if you loved it , prepare to find your precious childhood memories drenched -lrb- literally -rrb- in dinosaur pee .", "the year 's funniest moment may involve dino pee .", "the technical quality -lsb- of the effects -rsb- has improved , but the inherent cheesiness of the saucer-eyed sleestak remains intact .", "this just might be one of the most confused , cluttered , and off-the-mark tv adaptations to ever hit the big screen .", "there are countless mentions of feces and urine . a woman is fondled several times . the lead character mouths a two-word vulgarity to another character .", "... too flawed to love unconditionally , while at the same time being too bizarre to hate .", "the great irony of the new big-screen MOV adaptation is that the filmmakers have spent a reported $ 100 million to make a movie that looks like it cost $ 1.95 . and you know what ? in a weird kind of way , i actually appreciate that ethic", "... -lsb- will -rsb- ferrell 's talents do n't extend to making something out of a nothing script .", "ferrell plays dr. rick marshall , quantum paleologist . well , kinda . he 's really just will ferrell , guy who wears speedos no matter what movie he 's in .", "a wildly bizarre and frequently hilarious adventure that appears to be whacked-out by design , not out of sloppiness .", "there are a few funny-ish moments , but the filmmakers rely too much on self parody", "all in all , MOV is big scale escapism , even if the escapism is wanting .", "the result is a giant mess , albeit one with about a dozen solid laughs .", "MOV is n't the butt of the joke , will ferrell is , and we 've seen this movie before .", "will ferrell and danny mcbride can find the dumb fun in anything . too bad that MOV is so much less than anything .", "not exactly a hundred million dollars ' worth of classic comedy .", "the only discernible intention in MOV , the latest comedy starring will ferrell acting like will ferrell , seems to have been to take a slight idea and make the least of it in a very expensive way .", "the only marginally interesting , if unsurprising , thing about MOV is that a lot of money has been spent on yet another cultural throwaway .", "MOV probably looked hilarious in pre-production , but on the big screen , it only induces the odd chuckle .", "the original was unbelievably cheesy in its special effects but more sophisticated in its concepts , employing real science-fiction writers to work up ideas . will ferrell and partners have succeeded in reversing those priorities in this spoof .", "a misbegotten project that immediately alienates kid-toting parents with shameless and incessant product plugs , surprisingly foul language and other inappropriate references ...", "lost is putting it mildly .", "i had a good , dumb time .", "somewhere in a distant corner of the near infinite universe there must be a life form that finds will ferrell funny . come and take him . please .", "a sure-fire candidate for one of the year 's worse films .", "a will ferrell comedy comes with certain expectations , and the latest hollywood adaptation of a beloved tv show does not disappoint on that front . whether fans of the original krofft brothers cult tv show will go along with it is another story .", "MOV is flimsy stuff , but in an appealing way . its brainlessness and lightness of touch and ability to turn in a new direction in the blink of an eye keeps it ticking over and means it 'd be churlish to say much bad about it .", "saying it 's slop is sort of like saying that entering a dank subway restroom at the height of the lunch rush hour is like wandering into a french perfumery . this baby stinks from start to finish .", "whatever it was these filmmakers were hoping to achieve , i very much doubt the reaction they were looking for was `` weird '' .", "in the interim , however , he makes us laugh now and then , and that is supposedly why we 're there in the first place .", "there should be criminal penalties for wasting $ 100 million on a movie this dreadful . abandon hope , all ye who enter .", "tiresome , repetitive and time-warped , the title says it all .", "will ferrell is a buzz kill to this innuendo-laced comedy that 's unrelated to the television series it 's ostensibly based on .", "more rudely silly than funny , action-comedy MOV is staged with colour and a fair amount of energy , but not much in the way of inventiveness or surprise .", "about once a year , i like a film everyone else despises , a film so admittedly and indefensibly bad that i have no justification whatsoever for having enjoyed it . last year it was the love guru . this year it is MOV .", "the pathetic , witless state of modern film comedy and mass appeal . even at this level , ` MOV ' bores .", "it 's a little dismaying to hear a man as funny as will ferrell give forth with witless exclamations like `` captain kirk 's nipples ! ''", "farrell and mcbride are great together at times in this movie .", "danny mcbride is funny in the movie , not nearly often enough .", "caught in an unfunny netherworld between kid-oriented mainstream summer entertainment and a cheap-looking green-screened sort of surreality , it might have been a watchable , no , bearable movie had it just embraced one or the other fully .", "MOV seems more intent on being off-putting than being funny . mission accomplished , i guess , but it 's not entertaining . and whoever thought it would be must have been out of his gourd .", "nothing at all besides two funnymen and one disposable , objectified woman running from place to place , screaming a bit , joking about bodily functions , and running around a bit more .", "will ferrell 's latest movie fiasco is just one more nail in the coffin of his career", "i do n't know why this ridiculous film works as well as it does . possibly it has to do with will ferrell being fearless about making a complete idiot of himself that is just dumbfounding and eventually seductive .", "the ideal viewer would be , i guess , a 5-year-old who still thinks dinosaurs and urine jokes are cool , but realizes they pale in comparison with breasts and gropings .", "it 's hard to say what audience silberling had in mind . for the kids , there 's a steady parade of dinosaurs , time-travel adventures and absent-minded - professor jokes . but there are no kids to identify with .", "the only positive thing i can say about MOV is that it 's so bad perhaps it will put an end to the classic-tv-to-film machine .", "with his belligerent blankness and gawky aplomb , ferrell has made me laugh as much as any comic of his generation , but he 's not doing anything fresh in MOV .", "MOV is an enjoyable regression to saturday mornings gone by , as junky and sweet as a strawberry pop-tart .", "i 'm pleased to report the new MOV movie keenly understands that what was once scary is now ridiculous .", "when it comes to movies , there 's good stupid and there 's just plain stupid . MOV is just plain stupid , and that 's not good .", "MOV is harmless enough . it just is n't , with the exception of a few odd air pockets , particularly funny .", "what next : the banana splits movie ?", "this big screen re-invention of the hokey old saturday morning series is a passably silly summer guilty pleasure thanks to the antics of will ferrell and danny mcbride .", "defying space and time , we will see one of the worse films of this year .", "asks viewers to take off their thinking caps and put on their dunce hats . comic rewards await for those who agree to do just that .", "... one ca n't help but wonder if a more serious version would n't have been better ... possibly even in the hands of someone like terry gilliam -lrb- time bandits anyone ? -rrb-", "this seems like a good fit . a mediocre comedian featured in a parody of what some believe is the worst saturday morning kiddie show in history .", "embrace the inane wackiness that is MOV . seriously , you need to chuck any rational thought and just let yourself enjoy this one % u2013 and do n't feel ashamed about it .", "unfortunately , the best moments are all on view in the various trailers and film clips available on the internet , which makes the experience of watching the complete film somewhat disappointing .", "you sit for long stretches where set pieces fail on every level and then laugh at a pg-13-skirting entendre or an strange reference or a rambling bit of improv from mcbride", "... an aimless romp lost in the land of juvenile humor and missed opportunities .", "always weird , sometimes aimless but occasionally really funny .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gigantic chunk of scat .", "MOV makes a wise decision to never poke fun at its source material 's campy flaws ; instead it takes the best parts of the beloved series and puts a hilariously off-the-wall spin on it .", "the reason this new picture works on occasion is precisely because it is n't a will ferrell movie ; rather , it 's a movie that just happens to star will ferrell .", "the will ferrell comedy train might be out of steam .", "MOV is halfway toward amusing , which means it 's just as close to awful .", "it bears too much resemblance to the detritus jumbled across its frame : patchwork components trying vainly to form a cohesive whole .", "would that a time machine actually existed that could somehow restore the 106 minutes spent watching MOV .", "a big budget , limp comedic exercise in male adolescence .", "the movie 's abbreviated title is lol , which is ironic since ferrell offers hardly a smile , much less laughter out loud .", "maybe those lowered expectations played some part , but i was very , very surprised by the actual movie .", "a dumb , fun amusement park ride , and it touched a certain level of childlike excitement in myself . i 'm a little embarrassed to admit it , but i had a blast watching it .", "MOV amounts to a $ 100 million bet that will ferrell 's brand of sketch comedy can survive contact with the day-glo sludge sid & marty krofft purveyed . and vice versa .", "boasts a lewd monkey man fond of fondling human private parts without permission , apparently not a felony in prehistoric times , boob sign language chuckles , tyrannosaurus tongue baths , and moments of humor that seem to arrive centuries apart .", "a spin-off of the '70s tv kids ' show of the same name , it 's far from a good movie , but it 's also more enjoyable than this season 's heavier or more pretentious misfires .", "MOV sheds its tv-formula origins as a 1970s network series and becomes glib fun .", "we 're in howard the duck and pluto nash territory here ... so awful that watching all forty-three episodes of the original without a break would be less painful .", "this is the worst adaptation of a classic kids tv show to the big screen since ... well , since last year 's joyless movie speed racer . but land raises the bar on joylessness .", "dull , unfunny , and completely unsuitable for viewing by anyone who is n't a charter member of the will farrell fan club .", "the movie is 90 minutes of bickering and blase under-reaction to outrageous events , interrupted by gross-out scraps such as ferrell 's run-in with an enormous mosquito , which ends with a tremendous amount of blood and guts .", "MOV is if nothing else an interesting place to visit .", "it lives down to the source material .", "even will ferrell ca n't save the repetitive , inane and uninspired humor from often falling flat .", "it 's a little more than half and half , definitely fun to watch with some memorable parts .", "many of the bits are far too adult for children , yet no adult with a brain bigger than a walnut -- inside joke the filmmakers evidently thought was hilarious -- would find the story the least bit compelling .", "stupid on an epic scale or epic on a stupid one , MOV is as close as will ferrell comes these days to a ` kid friendly ' movie .", "it all amounts to a certain brand of comedy -- something closer to long-form dada than conventional humor .", "i hereby pronounce MOV the funniest dinosaur movie since caveman .", "pity the unwitting parents who take their kids to see MOV , will ferrell 's terminally stupid , sloppy , campy and cheesy -- and thoroughly unexciting and unfunny -- experiment in ` family entertainment . '", "the humour is lame and more than a little smutty , while the plot barely hangs together .", "it is very surreal , absurd , and often quite gross , with loads of very arch and knowing gags . it 's not going to win any awards . really , it 's a dvd rental . there are some laughs . i laughed , anyway .", "a doughily inexpressive will ferrell extinguishes any flicker of originality in one of the worst performances of his career .", "it 's not just the land that feels lost in ferrell 's lumbering latest . after bewitched , you 'd have thought he 'd have learned to leave old tv shows well alone .", "a ragbag of lackadaisical plotting , drugs references , puerile lechery and shiny effects work , an assemblage far from child-friendly yet not quite grungey enough to wow older teens .", "humdrum adaptation that should , given the ripe nature of its source material , have been much better .", "there 's a docu-drama to be made about movies like this . about how no-one had the courage to tell the star : this ai n't funny !", "by and large , it 's knockabout kids ' stuff -lrb- and has been advertised on that basis -rrb- , but it has some quite risqué smut .", "there are genuine thrills , gross-out moments , zingy lines and a will ferrell in solid form . no one asked for this movie , but now that it 's here , we should be pleased .", "an odd film , which will hardly be enough to turn it into the massive hit that it needs to be .", "lame sketch comedy , an uninspired performance from will ferrell and an overall failure of the imagination turn brad silberling 's MOV into a lethargic meander through a wilderness of misfiring gags .", "still boring , senseless and something no one should be proud of .", "confronted with such effects , the actors make not the slightest effort to appear terrified , amazed or sometimes even mildly concerned . some might consider that a weakness . i suspect it is more of a deliberate choice , and i say i enjoyed it .", "an aggressively weird , suitably uneven and decidedly un-kid-friendly keg-stand of nostalgia for those unable to scrub the fever-dream of a series from their memories .", "-lsb- m -rsb- erely a cynical attempt to mine some cash from one of the few remnants of generation x 's collective childhood that has yet to be picked over for the sake of nostalgia ...", "MOV is , unfortunately , a perfect example of studio bloat : it 's all noise and flash and chaos , but it lacks virtually everything that made the original television series so memorable .", "on the ferrell scale , MOV ranks squarely below anchorman and leagues above semi-pro , landing right in that murky middle-ground talladega nights territory . let your tolerance level for the comedian be your guide . if", "preteen boys and ferrell followers will like it fine . wider audiences might be harder to impress .", "it 's not that MOV is devoid of humor or adventure ... ultimately , though , the film feels like a series of ideas thrown at the wall , with only some of them sticking .", "audiences of a certain sort will be dumbstruck by how high the silliness gets piled ; but whether or not you 're puffin ' stuff , you 'll likely get lost in laughter .", "surprisingly , the film actually delivers some great visuals , laughs and gives hope that will ferrell can be funny again . rent it .", "MOV is not completely terrible , and it moves briskly and safely , even though its more laugh-worthy bits have already been seen in endless commercials for the movie .", "this dramatically , thematically and artistically bankrupt comic fantasy cost something in the neighborhood of $ 100 million to make and is n't worth the celluloid it 's printed on .", "this is n't the MOV you remember from childhood , but get on its antisocial wavelength and it 's fitfully laugh-out-loud funny .", "-lsb- the screenwriters -rsb- have n't given ferrell a single witty line , which may explain why he seems to be so grimly going through the motions . the jokes are n't just worn out , they 're clubbed to death .", "a lumbering and largely unamusing comedy adventure . ferrell and mcbride are occasionally funny when they head into improv territory , but on the whole it is a limp affair .", "the interesting thing , though , when you actually see `` MOV , '' is that it ... essentially functions as a high-cost , high-gloss parody of itself .", "like a valley of sedimentary rock , the film is comprised of layer upon crumbling layer of dumbness .", "MOV will have kids asking if they can just go see up again . hopefully mom and dad have a little money left after blowing it on this .", "neither conventional action-adventure or enough of an out-there pastiche , this really is the MOV .", "it 's not clear whether the director , brad silberling , is camping it up or simply trying to get through it all without too much strain .", "the funniest aspect of this turkey is that it cost more than $ 100 million to make , yet it still looks like something assembled by idiots . it 's one of the most abject family films ever to have slithered out of hollywood 's nether regions .", "the crude humour is as unfunny as it is ill-judged . set to become a favourite of bad movie clubs everywhere .", "drawn out to 100 punishing minutes , this has all the markings of 2009 's flabbiest summer turkey .", "as a tv-to-movie remake , lotl ranks with lost in space : fitfully entertaining , largely uninspired . ferrell does his best , but ends up stranded in the middle of an ideas desert .", "will ferrell 's and danny mcbride 's natural charisma is n't sufficient to save MOV", "not really a film version of the oft-rerun '70s saturday morning staple that happens to star will ferrell , but rather a will ferrell movie that happens to bear the title and some concepts of the show .", "as long as you enjoy the actors involved , MOV will mostly deliver . if you do n't , you 'll vanish into an entertainment void all your own .", "by stringing together a bunch of campy retro set-ups and witty improvs , MOV manages to be a watchable comedy with plenty of laughs .", "who is this movie being made for in the first place ?", "danny mcbride and will ferrell make it worth a trip to MOV .", "parental content review", "... the film boasts a pervasively puerile sensibility that 's reflected in virtually all of its attributes ...", "better than `` bewitched , '' if only for its straightforwardness . then again , even nora ephron did n't turn will ferrell into a colonoscopic agent for a dinosaur . depending on if you like him , that may be a comic equivalent to the berlin wall 's collapse .", "ladies and gentlemen - this is it . this is the moment where will ferrell 's shtick -lrb- already wearing thin after his last couple of films -rrb- officially got old .", "MOV is a terrible family film - let 's just get that out there - but it is certain to live on as a staple of bleary-eyed uni students ' movie nights ; sandwiched in-between repeat viewings of the wall .", "the movie races around to nowhere in particular , more concerned with rarely spectacular spectacle than a beating heart .", "a pleasantly undistinguished pudding .", "genially terrible , lost is lazy , sloppy multiplex filler , good for a few solid giggles and not much more .", "-lrb- t -rrb- he equivalent of a nonsexual succubus , slowly sucking out the audience 's intellect with each succeeding scene .", "it does n't help that neither ferrell nor mcbride bring their best material , with mcbride offering yet another variation on an angry redneck , and ferrell falling back on ron burgundy-like bluster and nonsense exclamations .", "a soulless special effects flick crossed with a tired gross-out comedy .", "as much of a nonsensical head-scratcher as the source show .", "will ferrell has officially used up my cache of good will ...", "this land exists at the bottom of the pop-cultural barrel .", "not a children 's movie , but a movie for people with childlike minds , MOV '' combines the kind of juvenile humor that might amuse a 14-year-old with a shoddy plot that would n't satisfy a 5-year-old .", "find your juvenile inner self and you might just enjoy MOV .", "it 's far too raunchy for family audiences , nowhere near funny enough to satisfy comedy fans , and asks us to get all nostalgic about a 70s tv show that nobody in the uk has heard about .", "MOV has decent special effects but ultimately fails thanks to a poorly written script , a general lack of imagination , a series of painfully unfunny gags .", "in a summer of terrible blockbusters , MOV 's ability to distinguish itself as the worst of the bunch -lrb- so far -rrb- is almost commendable , given that its awfulness appears to have been achieved so effortlessly .", "a jumbled , incoherent mess of ad-libbed indulgences .", "it 's a kind of cut-price jurassic park , with a support cast of gabbling monkeys and lizardish humanoids , and if they do n't seem far-fetched you might believe anna friel as a cambridge - educated scientist .", "will ferrell capers earnestly through a journey to the center of the earth-style comic romp witless of script , wan of invention and pasty of imagery .", "the insane comedy/action hybrid emerges as a nutty , funny , unashamedly weird action comedy hybrid that is more consistently laugh-grabbing than many of its contemporaries doing far better business at the box office .", "this big-budget revamp of the seventies tv series flounders around with little consistency of tone , courting kids with roaring dinosaurs and visual gags , then winking at adults with near‑the‑knuckle asides .", "be it dead serious , moronic racecar driver ricky bobby or idiotic , deadpan ron burgandy , ferrell has managed to create quite the niche for himself as the honest , earnest moron .", "just too random and silly to make any sense at all . although there are a few laughs along the way", "director silberberg should have known better than to go with this draft by tv writers chris henchy and dennis mcnicholas , an `` snl '' shtick-meister .", "tonally inconsistent , incoherently plotted and almost never funny .", "too rude for kids and too dumb for grown-ups , this laboured romp is a dino-snore .", "modernizing a 1970s children 's tv show known for its cheap special effects offered certain possibilities , but the filmmakers have traded in any kid-friendly elements for bathroom humor of dinosaur-sized proportions .", "MOV has stray amusing tidbits , but overall it leaves you feeling splattered ." ]

[ "one of those small cinematic miracles that movie audiences hope and pray for . that it makes a powerful social argument in favor of lgbt families without breaking a sweat in the process is a wonderful bonus .", "up to the challenge , and clearly relishing roles of unusual substance , are moore , ruffalo and bening -- who could well nab an oscar nomination for her work as an iron-willed smother-mother for the ages .", "writing and directing a movie about family and relationships is always challenging , but cholodenko seems to have found the right balance .", "the bottom line is that i did n't find `` the MOV '' to be particularly intriguing on any level . it seems too calculated to be taken as serious entertainment .", "-lsb- filled with -rsb- funny , gripping and very precise scenes played to perfection by superior actors .", "if you liked the cosby show and do n't reflexively hate gay people then you 're pretty much going to dig this movie because it 's that show 's r-rated lesbian equivalent .", "the MOV is the movie we 've been waiting for all year : a comedy that does n't take cheap shots , a drama that does n't manipulate , a movie of ideas that does n't preach .", "somewhere around the halfway mark , the realization arrives with a dull thud : turns out that unconventional families can be just as tedious in their melodramatic dysfunctions as any traditional clan .", "the director realizes she has a great actress at her disposal and gives bening her due ... cholodenko knows when , for greater impact , her characters should remain silent .", "it 's a great piece of filmmaking because of its characters , all of whom feel genuine and three-dimensional in ways that typical screenwriting fails to pull off .", "cholodenko 's film is about family , traditional or otherwise . and you do n't have to have two moms to relate .", "this is a witty and insightful film . lisa cholodenko has a talent for observational comedy ; comedies which capture the zeitgeist , usually achieved by throwing together people with two different sets of expectations .", "common to all cholodenko 's films is a fascination with the mayhem that can result when the chronically stitched-up come up against the amoral and fancy-free .", "it is a miracle of mainstreaming - but in making her film just like any other family drama , cholodenko also risks bringing a certain generic blandness to her ` unconventional family ' . perhaps that is the acceptable price of equality ...", "hugely entertaining , frequently funny and genuinely moving , this is a sharply written comedy-drama with refreshingly original characters and terrific performances from all five leads .", "the critics are all wrong .", "five of this year 's best screen characters appear in this comedy-drama about a relatively ordinary family facing some unusual challenges . and while the premise seems extremely offbeat , it 's actually beside the point .", "there are few films as soulful and human as lisa cholodenko 's the MOV . that a film can set itself apart from the pack by merely being human is somewhat depressing , but there you have it .", "a smart , funny , insightful take on the dynamics of modern families . it taps into both the universal and specific dynamics of the family unit . bening gives a career best performance .", "the MOV is funny , touching and honest , all the elements that make independent cinema so much more rewarding , most of the time , than the mainstream .", "the MOV is a film about marriage , family and parenthood and it explores these themes with far more integrity , insight and humour than many other films .", "it 's -lsb- ruffalo 's -rsb- best work since you can count on me , and he 's at his most likable here ...", "few long-term relationships have been portrayed with such a palpable feeling of shared history .", "moore and bening have showcase scenes that will make fine awards show clips , and ruffalo 's scruffy sexiness makes jules ' infidelity somewhat understandable . the affair also risks giving opponents of same-sex marriage a chance to crow , `` see , i told you so .", "the family dynamic feasibly develops and deteriorates as it might when someone who 's both a critical component , and yet a complete stranger , is introduced .", "if you give the film a chance , it might just entertain and/or enlighten to one degree or another thanks to the solid performances , writing and the filmmaker deftly balancing all of that . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "the characters in the film feel real , even a bit lived-in , and it 's because of the efforts of the cast ; particularly those veteran actors who play the adults .", "a twist on the traditional family drama , where every character has depth and deserves redemption .", "bening hoists this heavy-handed dramedy high with a burst of superhuman strength . and all you can do is sit in awe .", "we 're shown real life problems in a fictional story that gives us real life solutions . bravo lisa , your film is more than all right .", "i want to high five the person who cast benning and moore as a couple . they 're scenes are the most delicious parts of the film .", "the MOV is witty , touching and humane - and decidedly up to the minute .", "what it lacks in grandstanding and pandering to the ` issues ' , this film more than makes up for with its great story , rounded characters and genuine sense of fun .", "this is very tricky material to parse , mainly because the movie is telling us one thing in dialogue and showing us quite another visually .", "the dialog seems like it was pulled from a magazine full of bad liberal clichés . it feels as if people who used to be progressives , but want people to think they still are wrote this movie .", "more of a breezy drama , as opposed to a weighty comedy ... the ace up its sleeve , aside from its `` modern family '' plot device , is its characters , brought to life with welcome layers and depth by the cast .", "its emotional pull remains consistent to the end .", "... with its femme leads , -lsb- this -rsb- may be seen as a lady flick , but this is far from the case . this is for adults , male and female , who are up for a solid , family-bound story .", "a captivating , honest , unpretentious and intelligent portrait of an american family that 's genuinely poignant , warm and funny . it brims with well-nuanced , brave and resonating performances .", "the screenplay is beautifully honest and well observed ; not only is it truthful about human nature , it finds the humanity as well as the flaws in all the characters", "sure , the MOV , but poor dad has been beaten to a pulp !", "what makes this film , by lisa cholodenko , who co-wrote it with stuart blumberg , work , are the performances . annette bening is sublime .", "excellent performances , notably ruffalo , fuel a fine family affair .", "a shrewd , well-observed modern comedy about achieving acceptance with no exceptions , the MOV is the freshest feelgood film to drop in quite some time .", "the MOV gets at basic , underlying truths , and opens them up with both sly humour and brittle neediness . lisa cholodenko has found her home .", "one of the most compelling cinematic depictions of family life to come along for some time .", "this intelligent , non-confronting film does n't set out to change the world . rather , it presents a compassionate view of family life today , without judgement or undue comment .", "a near masterpiece ; part sex-comedy , part radiant and wry portrait of contemporary relationships .", "i did n't take a lot away from the film but there are some wonderfully uncomfortable scenes that make it worth seeing .", "sparked by wonderfully lived-in performances from julianne moore and mark ruffalo , `` the MOV '' is alright , if not up to the level of writer-director lisa cholodenko 's earlier pair of new bohemian dramas .", "this love letter to gay-marriage supporters is respectably entertaining filmmaking .", "it 's so real , so sexy , so sad , so honest and so truly , heartbreakingly funny .", "a crowd-pleasing , feel-good comedy for an era in which the very definition of `` family '' is fluid and in flux .", "a delightful and timely comedy", "a sweet film that plays relatively fast and loose with sexuality , but never loses focus on it 's core story .", "cholodenko challenges our most basic assumptions , whether they fall to the right or left of the political spectrum , and at the heart of her film are the most powerful themes .", "what we have is an amiable character portrait that is enjoyable at times , but for me , difficult to get emotionally invested in .", "cleverly peppered with laughs in its examination of the modern `` untraditional '' family .", "movies like the MOV -- beautifully written , impeccably played , funny and randy and true -- do n't come along very often .", "the acting in this film is so good , across the board , that it does n't feel like acting ; we 're simply watching a family going through some drama -lrb- and comedy -rrb- over a summer before its eldest child leaves for college .", "if the goings-on occasionally become slim or perfunctory , the film is rescued repeatedly by an absolutely top-drawer cast .", "the dynamic of affection , distraction , familiarity , and frustration is deftly portrayed .", "emotionally raw , emotionally riveting . no lesbian bed death here .", "cholodenko 's film stands as one of the best american films of the year precisely because it 's willing to look at what love truly gives , and what it truly takes .", "you can tell cholodenko loves people , and that 's why , in the MOV , she wanted to show how funny and weird and foolish we often are .", "generous and warm-hearted to a fault , though as faults go , that 's one of the best to have .", "could very well be the pilot for a new comedy central series about the antics of a pair of zany lesbian mothers trying to raise their teenagers . well , yes and no .", "as a slice-of-life alternately affectionate and biting , the film is nothing if not naturalistic and consistently watchable .", "kids more than just all right .", "an ultra-contemporary , intelligent drama sprinkled with humor .", "in a world where pop culture shields us from the truth , this movie is something of a novelty . it is n't afraid to tell it .", "cholodenko ... nicely grounds herself here in the mechanics of day-to-day relationship maintenance .", "does n't offer much beyond the rather depressing realization that , in today 's screens , progressive sexual politics boil down to making a gay family 's dysfunction as hackneyed as a straight family 's", "the leads in this beautifully told drama are more than just all right - they 're oscar worthy .", "outrageously funny situations and two sterling performances make this smartly written film about an unconventional family a sure-fire winner .", "rich and funny , a film that does n't condescend or strike a single false note , and one whose structure and detail work together in lockstep .", "it 's no less than a classic portrait of an american family .", "some of the year 's best performances .", "the film , like its central family , succeeds as best it can under the circumstances in which it finds itself .", "problems like betrayal , disappointment , anger , regret and reconciliation are universal themes that ring true no matter what sexual orientation is featured .", "sophisticated and funny , but once you get past the unusual premise and the fact that the main couple is realistically portrayed , there 's nothing surprising about it .", "a comedy that perfectly balances natural hilarity with genuine drama while exploring a whole slew of issues .", "armed with a handful of deftly drawn characters and an occasionally wicked sense of humor , cholodenko has created a thoroughly and unmistakably modern film .", "` the MOV ' is a warm film about flawed people .", "buoyant and engaging .", "heartfelt and funny , the MOV is like a cool shower on an oppressively hot day-refreshing and invigorating , the sort of unexpected surprise that catches you off guard and sticks with you for days .", "a warm , funny , entertaining , slyly subversive little movie built around five very solid performances .", "could easily have been of a straight , infertile marriage thrown off balance by their biological donor , but then we would have been deprived of the singular pleasure of getting to watch bening and moore play such a wonderful married couple .", "... is at its best in its early scenes ...", "during the summer of 3d glasses , `` the MOV '' proves that what you really need to create an immersive , real-life film experience is a sharp pencil and some interesting friends .", "cholodenko understands that the family , any family , remains a primal source for drama that is both mirthful and maddening .", "inoffensively amusing , and occasionally touching , but also a little bland .", "the MOV is a sudsy soap opera . it 's a concoction of lilac water and spermatozoa -- with lots of wine and whine .", "-lsb- it -rsb- embraces its formulaic premise , but then resists developing in formulaic directions , resulting in one of the most refreshing and honest screen comedies of recent memory .", "the subtle intelligence of this film is reflective in the title itself . by employing the words ` all right , ' we are alerted to the fact that this film , however unique , addresses a sense of normalcy .", "while firmly set in a privileged , locavorian california milieu , `` the MOV '' is downright chaucerian in its warts-and-all , roll-in-the-hay view of human behavior .", "a comedy of modern manners with the texture of a great short story .", "cholodenko and cowriter stuart blumberg have crafted a loving work about family that will resonate as true for those who find their experience reflected on the big screen and will be revelatory to others .", "just about everyone who has been a parent , child or partner will find resonance in its bittersweet depiction of the joys and trials of lifelong intimacy .", "a perfect combination of fantastic writing , strong storytelling and an all-star acting ensemble .", "cholodenko has not delivered a pro-gay marriage treatise , but a funny , touching and relatable story about the colossal effort and love it takes to create and maintain a family .", "while certainly not its intent , this film is so vapid in its plot and empty in character it ends up being anti-gay in message .", "... a wonderful thing , intelligent in the ways of human foible , and generous with sinners .", "it 's a happy , horny movie that loves its characters and their messy human imperfections . you will , too .", "never preachy , but instead relies on the characters to ground the issues and make them feel real , rather than manufactured", "leaves a lot on the table for those to ponder who might still be unsure if same sex marriages can work .", "the drama and comedy , conflict and reconciliation are fairly conventional , despite the unconventional context ; what elevates the material are the marvelous performances and the agreeably loose vibe established by cholodenko .", "i really enjoyed being dropped into this family 's world for two hours . the MOV is one of my favorite movies so far in 2010 .", "cholodenko 's third feature is not great -lrb- it 's too broad -rrb- , but the film is enjoyable , well-acted , timely and relevant in ways that most american comedies are not : it says something about the new family structures and values .", "lisa cholodenko is one of the more radical visionaries working in american indie cinema today .", "the title , like nicole holofcener 's please give , is one that trails you out of the theater and gives you something to brood on .", "there are not only glancing moments but whole sequences in this movie when the agony of social embarrassment makes you want to haul the characters to their feet and slap them in the chops .", "despite its script 's considerable shortcomings , -lrb- the film -rrb- is a timely , engaging story that provides the sublime pleasure of watching two lovely , exceptional actresses in great form .", "the mid-life parenting crisis of a lesbian couple -lrb- awesomely played by julianne moore and annette bening -rrb- is the narrative cornerstone for a memorable comedic family drama from writer/director lisa cholodenko .", "touchingly and amusingly treats the last summer home before college as just as fraught for families who have two moms and a sperm donor as any other , just more complicated .", "guided by an outstanding script , everyone is able to go deep into her or his character . particular huzzahs are due bening for the precision she brings to the brusque yet emotionally expressive nic .", "a nontraditional couple lives the hurts , regrets and joys of any loving family", "i love that this is a film about a family where being gay is n't the controversy .", "operates within a calculated , hipster environment ... -lrb- though -rrb- we eventually stop noticing because cholodenko 's ensemble is so powerful .", "it 's about the slow , inevitable grind of marriage . it 's about the eternally unknowable curveballs life throws at you and how you either step up to the plate toward triumph or turn away in tears or terror or both . it 's about love .", "cholodenko gets moods right , and her five leading actors have been either perfectly cast or well-handled .", "definitions of family , love and friendship all get put to the test with wit and warmth in the MOV , one of the year 's most honest and endearing films .", "a solid family drama filled with authentic characters and some great performances from its amazing ensemble cast .", "it 's a terrific film .", "the MOV is written with such perception , directed with such sensitivity and acted with such brio that the result is not only a path paved with good intentions but also one lined with loving detail .", "no matter what its plot particulars , the MOV ultimately takes place within the human heart .", "`` a great drama that is sure to be remembered at oscar time -lrb- note to the academy -- the last name is spelled b-e-n-i-n-g -rrb- ... ''", "a slight but bittersweet tale about a neurotic lesbian couple whose formerly anonymous sperm donor becomes their potential home wrecker .", "a poignant human story deeply rooted in feelings we all can relate to even if we come from a more conventional family than this one .", "the film 's main strength is the screenplay , co-written by cholodenko and stuart blumberg . it 's perceptive and mercurial , perfectly in tune with the churning tensions within every family .", "the actresses are loose and funny , trading off big scenes and clearly enjoying themselves throughout .", "whatever the facts of your own family life , you 're likely to see some of it reflected in this wonderful movie , which you should see as soon as you can .", "cholodenko 's films always falter through their obvious , self-congratulatory point-making .", "the director alternates incident-laden storytelling with penetrating character moments that her terrific cast acts to the fullest .", "touching and funny in their upheaval , the people in the MOV open the door to a brand new examination of family values that leaves you charged and cheering .", "the MOV is an incredibly clear-eyed look at who we are right now , and how the definition of `` family '' is changing , featuring a great cast , a wise and witty screenplay , and pitch-perfect direction .", "no film has left me with a fuller sense of satisfaction this year so far .", "annette bening , julianne moore and mark ruffalo give award-caliber performances in this funny and poignant comedy about a lesbian couple whose teenage children seek out their biological father .", "cholodenko and her cast turn what could have been an utterly artificial story into a warm , funny , sharp-tongued and broiling examination of the volatility underlying even the happiest of families .", "kids makes its own special magic . it 's irresistible .", "plenty of movies strive for topicality , but occasionally something like the MOV slaps you in the face with the world you 're actually living in .", "witty , urbane and thoroughly entertaining .", "the movie 's overrated , the performances are n't .", "this is n't a movie about gay marriage ; it 's a movie about marriage , period , and the way complacency and resentment can undermine a relationship .", "it 's a film about marriage itself , an institution with challenges that are universal .", "`` all right '' does n't begin to describe it ... the easiest movie to love i 've seen all year .", "all right , but not great : that phrase not only describes the kids -lrb- of all ages -rrb- in this likeable family drama , but the film , as a whole , too .", "a remarkable family drama with five endearing characters whose struggles and foibles are both genuine and touching .", "there 's considerable originality in a story centering on a sperm donor whose identity and visits upend a household .", "what starts as a comedy about unconventional family relationships turns into a drama with ironically more conventional relationships .", "it would be criminal if , come oscar time , annette bening and julianne moore are not competing for a best actress award .", "without any humor in the story , this would be a very sad story about a destructive mix of personalities causing havoc in a family . but the film does have a lot of humor in it .", "... all the pieces are in place -- i just wish cholodenko had been a little more precious about the execution .", "a long-form sitcom overly pleased with its own progressiveness .", "the combined troupe do a good enough job to make the movie get by , but not enough to mask the huge gears running the story , nor the accidental and ironic anti-progressiveness the movie has the potential to convey .", "a bittersweet family dramedy that challenges the perceptions of the perfect family ...", "the MOV would have been a highly regarded , stinging family drama in the tradition of american beauty and ordinary people even if the subject family was not so proudly unorthodox .", "regardless of the orientations , ` the MOV ' is an all-american film .", "how , despite such a talented , femme-centric cast , does ruffalo 's loveable idiot manage to walk off with the film ?", "una sensible comedia dramática sobre la falta de certezas -lrb- o la eterna búsqueda de ellas -rrb- que implica formar una familia , más allá de definiciones y preferencias sexuales . excelente elenco en el que brilla especialmente annette bening .", "full review at movies for the masses", "such a low-key feat of filmmaking that the scope of its offhanded generosity -- toward its characters , its story , its actors and its audience -- may not hit you until days after you 've seen it .", "sideways , it is not , but the MOV is , in a particularly dull summer at the movies , a friendly reminder that there are ... alternatives .", "this gem features five topnotch , multidimensional performances in one of this summer 's most engaging films .", "expect a human comedy about relationships that have n't been fully explored on film before , told in a fashion that ensures tenderness trumps self-importance at every turn .", "the basic joke here , and it 's a rich one , is that the dynamics of gay marriages differ little from those of straight marriages . but that joke also serves as a catalyst for some startlingly beautiful considerations ...", "kids may sound like typically quirky arthouse fare . but this is a movie for everyone -- and , in one way or another , about everyone , too .", "-lsb- f -rsb- unny and smart and poignant and real and universal . it 's one of the best movies about family i 've ever seen ...", "an intimate , funny , occasionally upsetting depiction of a loving family that is , like so many families , often only just functional .", "the best thing about the film is its bigheartedness . it 's not out to mock these people , but rather to show how any person of any orientation can become unraveled when high-minded principles meet with base human instincts .", "cholodenko examines human behavior with insight and wit and has been blessed with one of the best ensemble casts of the year .", "funny and warm , the MOV feels lived in and acutely observed , and is as steeped in joy as in regret .", "a sleek , smart , enormously entertaining film , -lrb- ... -rrb- it has the feel of a classic hollywood comedy at its snappiest .", "a light , lovingly handled tale about the difficulties of staying in love .", "if it was n't for the distractingly wall-to-wall indie soundtrack ... and mildly cop-out ending , i 'd be pushing this straight to the top end of our best of 2010 list .", "the MOV is warmly recommended to anyone in search of smart , grown-up entertainment .", "only those without a funnybone will fail to be seduced by its sheer verve , wit and charm .", "this is a much better made , more persuasive film than the switch or the back-up plan but just as much about wish fulfilment , and no more honest about conflicts that can leave the kids far from all right .", "the film joyfully allows us to embrace , rather than escape , the wonderful , awkward embarrassment of familial love .", "the film taps into the neuroses of middle-class america without exploiting its premise for egregious quirk value or for dry , tub-thumping agenda-setting .", "piercingly funny , subtle and moving .", "funny , aching , rueful -- often at the same time -- the MOV makes most mainstream releases this year seem decadent by comparison .", "here are five gifted actors at the top of their games as five characters in search of what makes a family .", "it 's a brilliant screenplay , but happily , this is also cholodenko 's most visually satisfying movie .", "the specifics of the story only underlie its general , and universal theme : marriages and families can be hard work -- and kind of worth it .", "the MOV might not be as edgy as cholodenko 's past work , but this more mainstream effort has lots of smarts , lots of heart and an open mind .", "it 's a new kind of family film , smarter than most and funnier than many .", "mature , witty family dramedy explores love , parenthood .", "a deft and engaging social comedy that 's shaping up to be the summer movie season 's savviest piece of counter-programming .", "the performances are all close to perfect , which is to say that the imperfections of each character are precisely measured and honestly presented .", "it 's a movie about basic things , about the meaning of family and the vulnerability of families , with the suggestion that the ones most subject to bombardment are the families least protected by custom and tradition .", "an all-american tale with award-level performances that is at its best when going for laughs rather than dramatic depths , where it comes disturbingly close to shifting the gears on its casual principles .", "a glibly intelligent yet unconventional feel-good film , it grapples with commitment issues inherent in long-term relationships .", "-lsb- a -rsb- charming , uplifting , and very funny subversion of the traditional patriarchal family .", "the acting is close to flawless .", "so much tension does n't quite translate into a gutsy finale , still , this film is never less than heartfelt .", "there are good performances and a smart and occasionally funny script , plus some good observations about relationships , but you do wonder what the point is to it all .", "the last act makes up for a lot of the movie 's earlier flaws , as cholodenko nudges the material beyond the somewhat generic comedy of the first half into rawer , more compelling emotional territory .", "best of all is bening , capping even her performance in american beauty , as a woman forced to face her partner 's betrayal .", "a witty portrait of postmodern family life in which script , casting , direction and location all just float together without any apparent effort at all .", "a witty , warm exploration of family life that 's conventional and unconventional in equal measure .", "smart , funny , slyly satirical and wonderfully warm , this deft ` dramedy ' is bitter-sweet film-making at its best .", "films about the stresses and strains of marriage do n't come any better -- or more entertaining -- than this .", "an intelligent , well observed movie about adult relationships . the kids are alright but this is a film for grown ups .", "family-centric comedy has never felt so fresh .", "the film gets better and better , powered by a sharp , wise script and superlative acting .", "an authentic sense of soul to the couple , who struggle , fail , and love with a realism that takes kids somewhere amazing , beyond the dull routine of broken hearts and clichéd dysfunction .", "directing from the tart , laugh-out-loud script she cowrote , lisa cholodenko -lrb- laurel canyon -rrb- has crafted an honest , generous portrait of the challenges of american family life -- gay or straight .", "the MOV is a smart , cheerful , character-driven relationship comedy . in other words , it 's a miracle ." ]

[ "woo does n't have yimou 's natural feel for the courtly culture , or , perhaps , his sweeping way with this type of story . but his hand is sure and his eye , as ever , finds beauty in everything , even death .", "returning to his roots after a stint in hollywood , woo has made the most expensive film in mainland chinese history , a pleasantly traditional picture that marks a new direction for one of the world 's premier action maestros .", "not a bad consolation prize , but not the complex , multilayered drama that made MOV a hit in asia .", "from landscape shots that have the serene beauty of a han dynasty watercolor , to its dramatic naval engagements and thundering cavalry charges , this is magnificent filmmaking , and a magnificent film .", "the cuts may be appalling to those who 've seen the original , but i 'm not one of them , and i think this version is pretty solid .", "it 's all about the action .", "the compelling emotion that marks the best woo movies is awol . the pacing is choppy , with most of the human moments lopped off . is the han emperor the good guy ? or should we cheer the rebellious opposition warlords ? and what the heck is a viceroy ?", "it 's almost 2 1/2 hours , and too much is corny , cramped , and vague .", "a magnificent achievement ... both fascinating and fun -- so good , in fact , that after watching this cut you just might to search out the director 's original 280-minute version .", "a historical epic featuring great characters , extremely clever tactical maneuvering , and scope , scope , scope ...", "the director 's magnum opus .", "... a magnificent military epic with the scale of lord of the rings and the grand visual majesty of the recent wave of chinese historical epics ...", "thank god that woo left hollywood . this is the masterpiece he was destined to make .", "the art of war done john woo style , MOV is an entertaining and grandiose return to form by the master of action cinema .", "you may have the biggest flat-screen dlp monitor in the city , but MOV will never look half as spectacular as it will on the big -- and i mean really big -- screen .", "john woo 's best work has always been mysterious to me . he makes operas - we do n't need to understand the words to sense their power .", "after years of civil war , prime minister general cao cao attempts to unite the empire under the han dynasty by quashing two troublesome warlords .", "it 's like the most complicated game of stratego ever . still , if you used to while away saturday afternoons watching martial arts epics on cable , you 'll have a good time .", "the result is an awfully big and powerful movie , even in abbreviated form .", "it 's not top-notch woo , but it 's also not hollywood so-so woo .", "i left the movie thinking , `` wow , those were some really good formations those soldiers invented . who were they again , anyway ? ''", "i loved watching MOV from a purely technical level but never cared about it on a human one .", "... a triumph -lsb- that -rsb- demands to be seen on the biggest possible screen .", "with the costumed epic MOV , celebrated hong kong and hollywood action director john woo wanders into unaccustomed turf .", "many people see MOV as hong kong actioneer john woo 's return to form . i 'm not one of them . john woo has never once made a film i 've liked . until now .", "the biggest film of the year opens this week , though you may be forgiven if you have n't heard about it , as it has committed the unpardonable sin of being in chinese .", "it 's a historical war movie with impressive sweep , strong characterizations and the kind of idiosyncratic flourishes that made woo such an irresistible storyteller .", "it is a very focused movie , centred on the chesslike manoeuvres of a few key characters , and nicely paced with some quiet , almost zen-like moments .", "spectacular is the most appropriate word to describe this epic historical adventure - it 's visually impeccable and impressive .", "what remains is still plenty rousing , especially to moviegoers eager to see woo regain his footing after an increasingly dismal series of outings in hollywood .", "blazes across the screen with a sweep that most movies can only dream of . it 's nice to see a master like woo at the height of his powers , after slipping hollywood 's shackle .", "the characters function less as flesh-and-blood figures than obtuse archetypes . they look and act as if they know they belong in an epic .", "a user-friendly spectacle of warriors and weapons , MOV is a majestic motion picture that returns woo to the sort of whirlwind screen restlessness he built his legendary name upon .", "a sensationally entertaining , visually stunning epic filled with enough thrilling and invigorating action sequences to compensate for its dull , less captivating dramatic scenes .", "warring armies clash in third-century china . epic adventure marks a return to form for director john woo .", "what remains on screen is impressive -- grand battles , dazzling action , sumptuous sets , magnificent panoramas . what 's lost in the abbreviation is the emotional element as woo chronicles an epic clash of warriors in the 3rd century .", "there 's plenty of vivid action to fill two and a half hours in john woo 's chinese historical war epic MOV , a rewarding change of terrain and era for the inventive hong kong director .", "dripping with lush detail , spectacular battles , and superb acting performances , MOV is a nuanced approach to combat rarely seen on screen in modern times", "watching MOV feels like being in the presence of gods who have momentarily deigned to walk upon the earth .", "hard not to be impressed by the spectacular way woo gives western audiences an asian history lesson that 's thoroughly entertaining at the same time .", "this is basically the art of war : the movie .", "mr. woo , who can make romantic poetry out of a battle among 20 men in the confines of a teahouse , seems defeated , or at least defused , by this increase in scale .", "as impressively mounted as braveheart and gladiator , but as directed by hong kong action master john woo , it easily surpasses them in terms of style and grace , action and cinematography", "woo had the chance of a lifetime ... to film one of the greatest chinese stories , and blew it by tinkering with it so much that not only is it no longer the story many of us know and love , it 's also a version that ca n't even be considered on par .", "MOV is a legendary filmmaker 's visual symphony .", "overlong but ambitious , woo proves he 's as good at tactical maneuvers as he is at close-quarters combat .", "the most interesting and freshest part of MOV is its emphasis on battle strategy", "the film is both traditional and modern : austere in its engagement with history , and insistent in its showy action beats .", "john woo does n't make films , he makes movies -- and MOV is one pretty darn good movie .", "what we 're seeing is n't all that woo intended . it 's merely a strong reminder of just how good he can be .", "john woo returns to china to make a film he has been burning to make , an adaptation from the much read book , romance of the three kingdoms , written in about the 14th century ; many years after the events depicted , but then these events are as important in", "camp , over-the-top and entirely unbelievable : in short , the best thing john woo has made in years .", "the mix of real history and imagined events results in filmmaking of high quality , despite the gaps and possible confusion of the foreign story .", "woo has a knack for the spectacular , and MOV is certainly something to behold .", "john woo 's original two part epic telling of an ancient chinese battle tale is amalgamated and cut to create a stylised but characterless piece with some spectacular fighting scenes .", "woo revels in a gritty realism that genuinely imparts both the brutality and creativity of ancient warfare .", "a handsome , vigorous , entertaining film that never becomes exhilarating .", "the decision to release only an ` international ' cut-down version , combining the two original films and almost halving the running time is a terrible one -- it 's akin to screening half of lawrence of arabia .", "it 's all technically impressive , but with none of the characters having much personality , it rarely stirs your senses .", "with some of the best battle scenes since peter jackson 's the two towers , a smattering of 1980s love scenes and all the far eastern promise of a twinings advert , you ca n't really beat MOV as the classiest and most fabulous blockbuster of the summer .", "a thoroughly entertaining slice of brilliant cinema .", "MOV is extravagant and expensive , but at least all the money has gone on screen .", "the script is leaden but the action speaks volumes as woo delivers an efficient spectacle of naval battles , slow-motion combat , death-defying stunt work , daredevil espionage , noble deeds , self-sacrifice and more plotting than a labour cabinet meeting .", "thrilling , beautifully shot and superbly acted , this is a return to form for director john woo .", "john woo applies his whizzing , sweeping visual style to chinese history , making this film one of the most hugely entertaining battle epics in recent memory . utterly riveting , we barely feel two and a half hours pass .", "if it 's an eyeball-searing historical epic you 're after , then woo 's your daddy .", "his period war spectacular MOV may be better than several of his american blockbusters , but it falls some way below the absurdly entertaining face/off .", "with battle scenes to rival those of the lord of the rings trilogy , this is a beautiful piece of cinematography .", "MOV gets everything right - sensationally right - except this one vital pulse of engagement .", "the battle choreography is superb , and woo 's peckinpah-style slo-mo violence ensures that every lopping and skewering gets our full attention . the film could do with some lopping itself - at least half an hour - but the effect is dizzyingly grand .", "john woo fulfills on `` MOV 's '' reputation as the most expensive chinese-language film ever made with a mesmerizing war epic that concentrates on ancient techniques of war strategy as played out on a grand stage .", "the film 's shortcomings have less to do with woo 's orchestration of his ambitious tale and more to do with the frankenstein hatchet job enacted against it .", "any war picture in which the heroine stalls the villain with a quiet , painstaking tea ceremony until the wind shifts direction and the good guys can firebomb the bad guys into oblivion is too ineffably zen not to love .", "the drama tends to be pitched over the top % u2026 before , woo could pull off such extremes because he did it in an operatic fashion of gonzo emotion , but here it often comes off as inadvertently hokey .", "i would have given the original film at least a four-star rating ; the cut version is diminished but not entirely ruined . the nuances may have been left on the cutting-room floor but the spectacle just about survives .", "truly spectacular visually , john woo 's historical epic is not particularly engaging from a dramatic standpoint , and the u.s. abridged version -lrb- half in length of the chinese -rrb- makes involvement evem more demanding .", "like your chinese action ? the huge battles , physics defying fight sequences , the sense of history in the making ? then you 'll love MOV .", "MOV marks his return to form with the most expensive chinese-speaking film ever made .", "the most beautiful asian epic since bernardo bertolucci 's oscar triumph , the last emperor , 22 years ago .", "-lsb- woo -rsb- pulls out all the stops to recreate extensive battle scenes with high spectacle impact , but fails to capture the nuance and personal touch of his early action films .", "a bloodthirsty costume epic directed for maximum gruesomeness .", "woo has created a resounding epic , blending a distinctly chinese ethos with a hollywood sense of scale .", "a sweeping , stirring breath-snatcher that finds the director on his finest form since face/off . even half-cut , it 's a whole lot of epic .", "with superb planning and execution from woo , his stuntmen and the backroom boys , the action unfolds like a game of risk played on the grandest scale .", "MOV makes brutal violence look gracefully balletic . in this period war film he 's managed to temper the stylistic indulgences that hollywood encouraged .", "at two and a half hours , it 's a long haul . but there 's entertainment and fun along the way .", "after 15 years expertly playing the hollywood game , the hong kong director john woo returns to his roots , and to form . and what a relief it clearly is for the world 's slickest action director to spill copious amounts of blood .", "a highly impressive historical epic , MOV shows just how john woo got his mojo back after a bumpy ride in hollywood . full of stunning action sequences , the only shame is how the international version leaves westerners wanting more .", "as old-fashioned mythic entertainment , ` MOV ' succeeds in solid , sometimes magnificent fashion .", "the numerous battle scenes , culminating in the famous battle of MOV , prove woo is an action director par excellence .", "click for full review", "as a lavish spectacle , this historical epic takes us back to the great days of king vidor or joseph l mankiewicz , when sets were framed by incidental stars .", "balances character , grit , spectacle and visceral action in a meaty , dramatically satisfying pie that delivers on the hype and will surprise many who felt the hong kong helmer progressively lost his mojo during his long years stateside .", "as hard as it tries , MOV just ca n't muster the heavily filtered mythmaking of the war films of steven spielberg and david lean . and thank goodness for that .", "woo has re-embraced his chinese roots with brutal commitment .", "flaws and all , you ca n't watch a frame of it without feeling that it has been generations since hollywood tackled anything on this scale .", "one of the most exhilarating action movies of the year .", "this is one of the best foreign language films of 2009 . woo demonstrates a storytelling style of swiftness and grandeur that has been compared to the samurai classics of akira kurosawa .", "a formidable prelude to an epic battle with resplendent effects and action spectacles .", "as drama MOV is overwrought . as spectacle , though , john woo 's latest is the real thing , an old-fashioned cast-of-thousands collision of armies .", "it reminded me of a road runner cartoon . the battlefield violence is essentially repetitious , but woo -- the auteur as wile e. coyote -- introduces gimmicks -lrb- ` the tortoise formation ' -rrb- , tricks and variations to keep things interesting .", "it 's hard to know what we 're missing from the extended cut , but this MOV feels awfully complete to me .", "the film 's countless canned platitudes aside , an intriguing plot unfolds wherein intellect and brute strength play against one another ..." ]

[ "a black-blooded hoot .", "ninety percent ... is fun , but that fun is compromised by the 10 percent that is n't % u2013 i.e. , the conclusions .", "the general population may not get this one , but asian cult cinema fanatics and some horror buffs will be absolutely thrilled .", "irregular como a maior parte das antologias , traz episзdios longos a ponto de diluьrem suas tramas , mas curtos demais para permitirem um bom desenvolvimento das situaушes e personagens . mas ж um esforуo intrigante .", "a great horror anthology that thankfully restores my faith in the anthology gimmick that hollywood completely diminished years ago ...", "this anthology is a mixed bag .", "all the episodes are interesting and disturbing - perhaps too much so , without any clear reason for the audience to endure the suffering .", "these films give you a rush that most american horror movies do n't , even if you 're not entirely certain what 's going on .", "things that are unique are interesting , and that can only be a plus to the stuck-up , artsy-fartsy horror film critic like myself .", "this is n't for the weak of heart or stomach . this is disturbing stuff , people .", "un ensemble de films extrжmement intжressant я explorer , mais chacun pour des raisons bien distinctes .", "it has three stories , and each is extreme . yet even literalism can be an understatement .", "you ca n't watch these three mini-movies without wondering what you possibly can take from them , but there 's warped creativity at work in all of them , and if you can separate talent from content , you 'll see three very adventurous filmmakers at work .", "this high profile anthology of shorts by fruit chan , park chan-wook , and takashi miike is related by their chilling structuralist rigor .", "the dumplings short may be hard to watch -lrb- not to mention stomach -rrb- , but it 's even harder to listen to without getting a major case of the heebie-jeebies .", "what 's significant about this is that three of asia 's most creative forces have come together in a single project .", "it 's just three gifted filmmakers with vision to spare , daring you to go to their extremes .", "one is haunting and wonderful , one is very good , and one spoils the fun .", "ask three of asia 's most extreme filmmakers to contribute a short horror film each , and the result is , well , extreme .", "blood , grotesquerie and humor mix equally in the first two , but the full combo makes a savory witches ' brew for asian-cinema cultists -lrb- or halloween lovers in need of a gore fix -rrb- .", "all three offer provocative , distinct and gorgeous twists on horror and splatter conventions .", "evokes a queasy fascination .", "miike fans may want to pretend he had nothing to do with his segment", "cross-cultural asian horror triptych is a bloody good time .", "what all three of these stories share is the quality found in edgar allan poe , h.p. lovecraft and stephen king : an attention to horror as it emerges from everyday life as transformed by fear , fantasy and depravity .", "three of asia 's best-regarded young filmmakers contribute to this terror trilogy , each giving his segment a distinctive flavor of bleak black comedy and elegant dread .", "title notwithstanding , three ... extremes really offers only two . the first is one of nausea .", "another pulpy creepshow movie would be more welcome than a second installment of this stiff stuff .", "miike , known as japanese cinema 's bad-boy shock master , delivers the most textured , delicate and finely crafted episode of the bunch .", "not a dish for the faint of heart , perhaps , but for those with a taste for cruelty with a side order of irony and a dash of gore , it will be a perversely delicious treat .", "three extremes would be better if it were two extremes .", "a bloody strange movie -- and a surprise .", "if you 're familiar with any of those three directors , you might expect that three ... extremes lives up to its name . and you would be correct .", "all three look great and the filmmakers deliver a certain artiness , but their overall triviality and the unpleasantness of the first two make for an extremely distasteful experience .", "this trilogy provides a sampler of three short horror films from high-profile asian directors .", "asian horror like the new three ... extremes beats an american film like saw ii at its own game .", "you ca n't believe what they 're doing here .", "a satisfying trio of twisted tales .", "takes the tension to an extreme by deliberately trying to shock the audience 's sensibility", "the tension , of balancing visceral horror with psychological sadomasochism , requires a disciplined viewer .", "a strong effort from everyone involved , though they 're not all wholly successful .", "` cut , ' park 's contribution to three ... extremes full review | original score : 2/4", "an instantly memorable , at times squirm-inducing , assemblage as likely to take your breath away as it is to trigger the gag reflex .", "unevenness is the strongest facet of three ... extremes , a diverse and successfully chilling horror triptych .", "do n't expect scary from this trilogy of short horror films from a trio of asia 's most interesting directors , which are not so much extreme as twisted .", "the first is the best , the second most riveting , the third most disturbing , but all will stay with you for weeks .", "more than lives up to its name .", "three ... extremes will be a must-see only for fans of asian horror , but it may also send some people looking for full-length films by these gifted filmmakers .", "makes a persuasive argument for what 's wrong with so many horror films today .", "for those in the middle , fasten your seat belts for a bumpy ride -- narratively and artistically -- and do n't go in on a full stomach .", "this is not for the faint of heart , stomach or any other vital organ .", "although quite different in their respective plotlines , pacing and moods , the trio of segments in three ... extremes gel together smoothly to form a complementary and memorable final product both fascinating and utterly horrific .", "bracingly twisted .", "the consistently high production values and legitimately creepy storylines ensure that even those who do n't consider themselves horror fans will likely feel satisfied after this three-course meal .", "an arena rock type film event for lovers of asian cinema .", "the result falls somewhere between psychodrama and horror .", "park is the one director represented here with both a great `` extreme '' tale and the means at his disposal to tell it to full effect .", "so you 'd like to see work from a few asian horror directors , but do n't have time to watch three separate movies ? then here 's the sampler platter you 're looking for !", "while most anthology films have one standout and one weak link , all three tales are short , sharp shockers .", "a trio of horror pics , one , dumpling , being the best , the other two just fine .", "a perfect sampler platter of the best of a-horror ." ]

[ "more than anything else , MOV injects freshness and spirit into the romantic comedy genre , which has been held hostage by generic scripts that seek to remake sleepless in seattle again and again .", "a frisky and fresh romantic comedy exporing sexual politics and the challenges of friendships between women .", "-lsb- a -rsb- bright and funny romantic comedy .", "where jessica stein could have been brave and daring , it 's instead cowardly .", "the charms of the lead performances allow us to forget most of the film 's problems .", "... a lazy girl-on-girl courtship comedy that never accomplishes the daring commentary it only flirts at with benign , banal results . atmospheric and excursively derivative , kissing keeps one 's lips sealed without much forethought", "a very witty take on change , risk and romance , and the film uses humour to make its points about acceptance and growth .", "the woodman seems to have directly influenced this girl-meets-girl love story , but even more reassuring is how its makers actually seem to understand what made allen 's romantic comedies so pertinent and enduring .", "a sassy , savvy romantic comedy with a shrewd sensibility .", "what makes the movie a comedy is the way it avoids the more serious emotions involved .", "the script manages the rare trick of seeming at once both refreshingly different and reassuringly familiar .", "it 's the best romantic comedy i 've seen in a long time .", "there are some really wonderful moments that build beautifully , chronicling the pitfalls in bringing old baggage , traditional family and romantic love under the same roof .", "it 's funny and human and really pretty damned wonderful , all at once .", "it 's a charmer .", "throws in enough clever and unexpected twists to make the formula feel fresh .", "the people in jessica are so recognizable and true that , as in real life , we 're never sure how things will work out .", "westfeldt and juergensen have that most elusive romantic comedy element - real chemistry .", "the film 's desire to be liked sometimes undermines the possibility for an exploration of the thornier aspects of the nature/nurture argument in regards to homosexuality .", "revives a genre that 's been listing badly , infusing it with wit and intelligence and a welcome shot of indie energy .", "though the film 's scenario is certainly not earthshaking , this depiction of fluctuating female sexuality has two winning lead performances and charm to spare .", "charming and witty , it 's also somewhat clumsy .", "MOV is your standard romantic comedy , only better : twice the chicks and half the guys .", "... the film is relentlessly peppy , often quite funny , sometimes a bit too convinced of its own adorableness and ultimately as smoothly reassuring as a tv sitcom .", "not perfect , but it stands head and shoulders above the cookie-cutter romantic comedies that hollywood produces with such depressing regularity .", "gay or straight , MOV is one of the greatest date movies in years .", "a paradoxically sophisticated and yet fluffy sex comedy .", "... if i waver in my enthusiasm , less than easily charmed by a movie trying so cheerfully to entertain , it 's because MOV is all too content to be a comedy of surfaces and stereotypes .", "... a delightfully unpredictable , hilarious comedy with wonderful performances that tug at your heart in ways that utterly transcend gender labels .", "a sweet-yet-subtle romantic comedy that seduces you more with humor and compassion than with its kinky premise .", "` divertida , enternecedora , universal y profundamente sincera , es una de las mejores comedias románticas en mucho tiempo . una verdadera delicia . '", "enjoyable , new york-set ` bi-try ' romantic comedy with a sharp script and sweet performances by its two leads .", "smart and sassy , MOV is a warm and playful romantic comedy where sexuality plays as large a role as any leading character .", "venturesome yet unthreatening , this movie is box-office smart enough to seem cutting-edge without ever drawing blood .", "i 'd be interested to see these women star in another movie , but i 'm not crossing my fingers that they write another one .", "this charming , thought-provoking new york fest of life and love has its rewards .", "an indie romantic comedy that never makes it past first base .", "esta baboseira com pretensőes intelectuais possui um roteiro -lrb- escrito pelas duas protagonistas -rrb- cheio de absurdos e um vocabulário rebuscado que denuncia sua própria arrogância .", "westfeldt and juergensen are both appealing actresses .", "funny , sweet , and intelligent .", "the story and the storytelling has a literary feel in both the best and worst ways .", "works as well as it does is because the two leads have a deep understanding of their characters and bring to their roles both an infectious charm and an underlying conviction to everything they do", "if you 're jewish , female , gay , straight , and/or like to laugh , see this film .", "MOV no es sólo una comedia simplista y socarrona ; es un producto inteligente , incisivo , culto , reflexivo .", "... the movie invests the ordinary with such uncommon charm and grace , i should imagine it would easily win over all but the most reluctant audience . call me reluctant .", "the manner in which the story resolves may irk the politically correct crowd , but it seems pointedly plausible to those living in the real world .", "a fresh , entertaining comedy that looks at relationships minus traditional gender roles .", "a cutesy romantic tale with a twist .", "the good news for jessica and the rest of us is that MOV delivers that rare combination of winning traits .", "an entertaining , likeable comedy which has been cleverly and fluently developed from its stage origins .", "three years of writing , rehearsing , and performing jessica together helped develop the film organically for westfeldt and juergensen .", "westfeldt and juergensen 's wordy script tries for both mainstream and offbeat , but gets lost in between .", "what neither the trailers nor the newspaper features written about MOV will have prepared you for is quite how funny it is .", "i was very angry with the ending of this film .", "charles herman-wurmfeld 's comedy remains the best film spawned by `` sex and the city . '' this sharp-tongued story about emotional curiosity and the politics of passion draws on the words of a dead austrian poet to muse about modern romance .", "sweet comedy about when a girl meets girl .", "it 's the best kind of chick-flick , fun and intelligent without being pandering .", "pure pleasure .", "director charles herman-wurmfeld 's movie knows what it wants , what its limits are , and delivers its delights accordingly .", "the cast is wonderful and the story is commendably free of the sectarian us-versus-them tone of many romantic gay movies .", "witty dialog between realistic characters showing honest emotions . it 's touching and tender and proves that even in sorrow you can find humor . like blended shades of lipstick , these components combine into one terrific story with lots of laughs .", "the ending is n't entirely convincing , but it 's easy to forgive flaws in such a hilarious date movie , and the history of first-date hell sequence is priceless .", "the performances are quite good , the screenplay is full of observant moments and sharp one-liners .", "you do n't have to be `` bi curious '' to appreciate it , your love life does n't have to be in shambles , you do n't even need to take a date to see and enjoy the film .", "as a girl-meets-girl romantic comedy , kissing jessica steinis quirky , charming and often hilarious . yet it 's not quite the genre-busting film it 's been hyped to be because it plays everything too safe .", "... delivers a fresh look at same-sex romance that could actually break into the mainstream market .", "a funny , refreshing take on the romantic comedy genre that may sidestep a few of the political issues it raises , but delivers great performances and plenty of laughs .", "a soft little romantic comedy , nothing very special .", "as we often do with these kinds of movies , we mostly sit there thinking , `` nobody talks like this . ''", "the picture works best when it is n't so concerned about its hot button lesbian sexual subject matter .", "without resorting to hyperbole , i can state that MOV may be the best same-sex romance i have seen .", "a very funny , lively , upbeat film about sexual confusion among the relationship-challenged .", "every once in a while , a movie comes out of nowhere to kick up your spirits .", "this comedy of manners and romance is a charmer that should have broad cross-over appeal to audiences , gay and straight .", "this is not an outstanding film , but certainly parts of it work very well .", "puts a refreshing and comical spin on the all-too-familiar saga of the contemporary single woman .", "frequently funny in that low-key , amiable manner of a droll friend telling good jokes .", "a breezy romantic comedy that has the punch of a good sitcom , while offering exceptionally well-detailed characters .", "what makes the film break the relatively new gay-film formula is the wit and charm of the two actresses , who have written themselves some sparkling lines .", "charming , if clumsy .", "the only time the writers deviated from the formula is when they replaced troubled , handsome beau with troubled , pretty lesbian .", "westfeldt and juergensen give energetic , bubbly performances , and their script is a winner .", "one of the greatest romantic comedies of the past decade .", "it would n't be out of place on television , where its cultural stereotypes and comfortable humor belong .", "it 's pretty lightweight fare that does n't really resonate or linger in the memory , and its ending is entirely too predictable for its own good .", "a glorified installment of ally mcbeal .", "the costarring screenwriters not only have an ear for dialogue , they work their affinity for language into their plot", "a shot of espresso for the tired romantic-comedy genre", "... for an american film it is a groundbreaker in exploring the realm of sexual fluidity , and it does so with wit , wisdom and in a completely entertaining fashion .", "... amusing but extremely derivative ...", "laugh-out-loud lines , adorably ditsy but heartfelt performances , and sparkling , bittersweet dialogue that cuts to the chase of the modern girl 's dilemma .", "will doubtlessly please many , so long as expectations are not more than a notch above sitcom standards .", "written , developed and coproduced by the two up-and-comers , this clever labor of love stands for everything good and different -lrb- see : un-meg ryan-like -rrb- in the genre .", "... a charming , well-acted , observant and tough-minded inquiry into the elusive nature of love .", "a trite and forgettable comedic parable .", "westfeldt and juergensen exude a chemistry and comfort level that 's both saucy and endearing .", "smart and sassy , here is one helluva terrific word-of-mouth feature . watch it , then tell all your friends to see it .", "this is all pretty enjoyable , especially the witty banter between the characters -lrb- though , strangely , the dialogue between jessica and helen is often the weakest in the film -rrb- .", "packed with sharp , intelligent dialogue about relationships , sexuality , art , family , careers and maturing .", "a terrific date movie , whatever your orientation .", "amiable and even adventurous .", "romantic comedies have needed a dose of intelligence and depth for quite a while , and MOV has just the thing .", "it wants to be thought of as a subversive little indie film , but it has all the qualities of a modern situation comedy .", "with genuinely astute observations , this new york rom-com features a good script and an engaging cast that keeps us laughing .", "likeable leads , sparkling dialog , a story that is more than a rack to hang cliches from , competent direction , and an ending that does n't insult my intelligence .", "westfeldt and juergensen write to their own strengths and it helps that they are so appealing , both individually and as a pair .", "funny , cute and slightly subversive .", "this is a pleasant , sometimes very funny film which manages to explore some interesting topics .", "everything is pegged into the groove of a new york dating comedy with ` issues ' to simplify .", "herman-wurmfeld 's film poses all of these questions with insight and humor but suffers from the disappointing feeling that it could have been so much better .", "so irresistibly funny and likable that its lack of depth is easily forgiven .", "nothing earth-shattering but certainly entertaining to watch for the most part .", "its boldness comes across with such subtly that you 're scarcely aware of it until it hits you in the face .", "it all works on the level of a sprightly sitcom : lesbianism for the lucy-and-ethel crowd .", "it frustrates me that this writing team would be so satisfied with just another humdrum new york romancer .", "the performers bring freshness to what could have been cliched roles ." ]

[ "not very impressive from a storytelling aspect .", "the summer blockbuster we 've been waiting for .", "it does n't even seem like burton showed up to direct this turkey .", "whatever the faults of the first planet and its sequels , they were all about something ; this film is pure , empty -lrb- if gorgeous -rrb- spectacle .", "works equally well as a popcorn adrenaline-heart-pumper as it does a pop-philosophical inquiry into the nature of humanity .", "burton provides plenty of eye candy and a few giggles , but ultimately his film has little soul .", "one more disappointment in a summer of lackluster ` event pictures . '", "in the tradition of independence day , twister , and the original jurassic park , this is a great summer movie .", "the most uneven motion picture tim burton has ever made .", "it is a potent action film with some philosophical meat on its bones", "MOV is n't a real burton movie ; it 's just another summer title in a monkey suit .", "as it is , it 's one of burton 's lesser works -- above the goofy mars attacks ! , but below sleepy hollow and his batman films when it comes to earnest adventure .", "as we 've come to expect from burton , MOV is a movie of unusual beauty and spooky visual qualities .", "whatever its flaws , however , the new MOV displays an abundance of highly evolved cinematic craftsmanship at a time when that 's looking more and more like an endangered species in corporate hollywood .", "it does n't take a brain , or even opposable thumbs , to make a summer movie .", "unimaginative fare , generic and humorless hero , banal villain .", "very much a child of today 's hollywood , it 's a triumph of production design over storytelling , of clichés over creativity .", "planet is impressive but cold .", "the best effects-driven action film of the summer has just arrived .", "the most disappointing aspect of MOV is that , despite its presentation , the film is so very ordinary , without urgency or revelation .", "burton does , for the most part , a pretty decent job with his ` revisitation ' of apes .", "offers proof of hollywood 's simian instincts : monkey see old hit , monkey do remake .", "burton 's film is n't the effects-driven barrage i had worried it might be , but neither does it pack the emotional wallop and sense of wonder that schaffner 's original film carried .", "tim burton does n't quite manage to hit a homerun , but he does give us 2 hours of superficial fun , and , as far as this summer goes , that 's good enough .", "a rather tame flick intellectually , going for pop culture jokes and obvious political quotes , rather than the character-driven , satirical allegory of the original .", "a campy , juiced-up ker-splat , busy with clumsy pyrotechnics and never nearing the vicinity of satire .", "gives us another chance to experience the skewed vision of tim burton .", "though burton 's planet is a mixed success , the world he creates is exactly what it should be : a madhouse ... a madhouse !", "the kind of two-finger salute you expect from the creators of tomb raider , not broyles jr. and burton .", "it 's hard to justify the remake , er , `` revisit , '' beyond the improvements in make-up special effects and computer-generated imagery", "a lightweight , slight movie which only looks savagely convincing .", "while respectable enough on its own low terms , the picture is disappointingly conventional and unimaginative .", "unequivocally , the best plotted , acted , designed , and directed summer movie of 2001 !", "burton did a wonderful job of weaving a fun and interesting ape culture .", "begins with both polish and promise and boasts consistently strong visuals . but plot structure , never a burton forte , dissolves in a fizzle of fits and start , and the ending is a real groaner .", "it 's a shame , because visually the film is astounding . burton 's bold style and unique point of view are front and center . yet apes is a classic example of ` all dressed up with nowhere to go . '", "the sad truth about MOV is that , disappointingly , it 's just not very much fun to watch .", "a nonstop pleasure for the eye .", "a mildly underachieving film that , while entertaining , could have been an ape for the new millennium .", "burton and his screenwriters are not clear about whether they want to send up the original , itself a campy cautionary tale , or whether they want to rethink it .", "without the faintest hint of director tim burton 's uniquely uncanny style , MOV version 2.0 feels like nothing more than a generic -lrb- albeit overblown -rrb- sci-fi summer movie -- and a forgettably mediocre one at that .", "as in all of burton 's movies , including beetlejuice and edward scissorhands , the art direction is intricate , meticulous , and strangely beautiful .", "monkeying around .", "the fascinating visuals are one reason to see the new MOV .", "the new planet , while certainly unable to duplicate the exuberance related to the discovery of a fascinating new world for those who 've seen the original , is every bit as much fun as its predecessor .", "... if 20th century fox had set the proverbial 100 chimps in front of typewriters they would have gotten a better result than this adaptation of the pierre boulle novel ...", "this MOV is destined to become the box-office champ .", "this summer 's most beautiful , most exciting and most intelligent new movie .", "easily the best of this summer 's generally rotten serving of popcorn movies , planet keeps you on the edge of your seat for nearly two hours .", "adds a whole new dimension to the experience while keeping the essence of original intact .", "tim burton offers an eye-appealing world but a truly disappointing story .", "mission accomplished , and in high style .", "the best -lrb- if not the nastiest -rrb- interspecies love-triangle flick you 'll ever see .", "the movie fails to rise to the high emotional and imaginative standards burton has set for himself in such films as edward scissorhands , ed wood and the first two batman movies .", "a fun , summer movie with laughs , creepiness and a really cool premise .", "unlike the vast majority of its competition this year , it 's actually interesting , exciting and even a little thought-provoking .", "MOV has talking monkees , yes , but it does n't seem to have figured out a damn thing about human behavior , primate behavior or , most importantly , even what it wants to say .", "tim burton 's `` reinvention '' of '68 sci-fi classic boasts awesome makeup and design -- and awful writing .", "yes , the apes are very , very cool . the costumes , the sets , the makeup , the stunts , the music and the special effects : cool , cool , cool .", "if you 're as much of a sucker for apes as i am you 're in for a treat , but if you 're looking for compelling human characters and challenging subtext , you 've got the wrong movie .", "does n't have the solidity of theme of the 1968 movie . also ... burton 's version seems to force an ending that is neither thoughtful nor effective .", "only serves as evidence there are some bits of seventies nostalgia that belong in the same closet with whip inflation now buttons and the swine flu vaccine .", "signing tim burton as director was a textbook example of a great idea on page ...", "the only message the new apes seemed to convey was that it ran out of things to say before it even started .", "sometimes , it does n't help to write a review a few minutes after seeing a movie . completely forgettable .", "los puristas dirán que esta nueva versión es una afrenta a la anterior ; la única verdad es que estamos delante de otra cinta . no existe ni puede existir la comparación .", "it has its flaws , and traditionalists are likely to think it falls well short of its inspiration , but it works on its own terms .", "this movie may be descended from the -lsb- original -rsb- apes , but it exceeds it at almost every turn .", "burton brings time and experience to this advanced retelling of the familiar tale .", "dreary and overwrought .", "i ca n't think of a better person to have directed this film than tim burton . his touch is sly and whimsical .", "anyone looking for a good , fun popcorn movie in which monkeys get their butts kicked will get what precisely they expect .", "overall , burton delivers a competently staged affair that somehow seems safe and conventional .", "it 's hard to get your dander up about who 's on what side or what side will ` win , ' because the characters are so underdeveloped and the plot kind of lurches from set-piece to set-piece .", "hits the bull 's eye with its thematically relevant portrait of the clash between hostility and hospitality as the major challenge facing humans in the twenty-first century .", "cheesy but not much fun , and it never reaches the level of pulp poetry .", "intelligent , well paced and engrossing .", "features backlot spectacle , a cast of hundreds battle , a weak whisper of gladiatorial vengeance -- everything , in fact , but imagination .", "the movie is n't interested in scoring any genuine cultural points ; it just recycles second-hand social cliches while biding time for the big chases and generic action scenes .", "this century 's MOV is a rouser , a screaming-banshee fun house .", "the screenplay , from william broyles , jr. , lawrence konner and mark d. rosenthal is one of the worst i 've ever experienced .", "let the gray matter rest and enjoy what may be the best two hours of nonsense you 'll see this year .", "a visually extravagant but curiously flat , muted adventure -- one so lackadaisically plotted and structured that it 's easy to lose track of what is happening on the screen , even though there 's never much to keep track of to begin with .", "this MOV is perfectly acceptable , deliriously charming -- a goofy b-movie dolled up like a square-jawed a-list blockbuster .", "burton manages to keep the audience on the edge of their seats .", "MOV works as an action flick , it works as a comedy , it just plain works .", "MOV is n't as badly miscalculated as burton 's mars attacks from a few years ago , but there 's little here to admire beyond the design and some of the staging of the action scenes .", "delivers a stimulating popcorn adventure that 's enough like the original 1968 MOV to deserve the name , but has enough differences to carve out its own entertaining identity .", "tim roth dominates as the big bad ape , the set design is inspired , but you might say the human element is lacking . and that ending ? possibly written by a chimp .", "well-acted , beautifully shot and splendidly costumed , it 's superior to the original in its looks , but not as potent or meaningful in its story line .", "there 's one reason to see tim burton 's flawed , somewhat declawed but often amusing do-over of MOV . the apes .", "though often swank , it might be too harsh and clammy to be a natural high , unless you 're deep into species masochism .", "despite its flashes of wizardry , MOV does n't serve his restless , wild imagination .", "by the time the picture rattled to its confusing and badly conceived ending , i could n't help wishing it had somehow added up to more .", "the movie can be both a gas and distant , a toy sealed in its unbreakable box .", "the script is a pathetic hodgepodge ... the acting is horrible , and the ` surprise ' ending feels like a swing from a ball-peen hammer into the temple .", "overall , i recommend MOV for fun . just do n't expect anything more than a remake .", "burton loads his MOV with scenes that fans of the series have long dreamed of .", "the picture just feels listless at the centre .", "ten years from now , it will be the 1968 version that people are still renting .", "the new surprise ending ? it delivers , in a mode that 's half burton , half twilight zone .", "perhaps most disappointing is the lack of psychological subtleties ...", "style over substance .", "dull and aimless and lacks even the slightest hint of heart .", "this will not be remembered as the finest hour for burton 's neo-goth sensibilities .", "tim burton has put together an artistically cranked-up remake that improves on many aspects of the original -- most everything , in fact , except the simple , clear storytelling that made it a classic in the first place .", "call it a letdown , worsened by the forces of shoddy screenwriting .", "the fruits of burton 's imagination are almost always worth seeing on the big screen , but do n't go expecting anything intelligent .", "this latest incarnation of the robust franchise is more entertaining and intelligent than several of the summer 's other tentpoles .", "burton es mucho mejor cineasta de lo que el planeta de los simios deja ver", "the technical wizardry redeems a largely uninspired script that resorts to a forced , nonsensical twist to fuel post-movie discussion .", "MOV rocked my world .", "neither a thought provoking metaphor for racism , nor a jaw-dropping blockbuster loaded to the max with action .", "... will forever be remembered as one of the most unforgivable remakes i 've ever seen .", "stunning , amazing , oscar-caliber makeup by rick baker ; astoundingly flexible and natural , allows for great lip movement and facial expressions of the actors underneath .", "its dialogue , action , and effects are as mired in formulas , clichés , and stereotypes as the simian world our hero finds himself imprisoned on .", "mark wahlberg is no chuck heston , and lady liberty does n't make an appearance .", "it does n't hold a candle to the original .", "as is all too familiar with modern adventure movies , it gets trapped in formula - big action scenes that offer few surprises , a predictable story arc , dialogue peppered with cliched bon mots and obligatory big ideas that are spoken rather than dramatized .", "the apes of '68 may now appear more comical than scary but their 2001 descendants are truly terrifying .", "it is like an elaborate card trick that has 30 steps but the deck was rigged so that the card you picked was obviously predetermined", "... one of the most entertaining check-your-brain-at-the-door flicks in recent years .", "burton 's singular vision is missing from this mishmash of a remake , part sci-fi , part adventure , part ape-human romance , but unsatisfying on any level . mark wahlberg 's pallid turn does n't help and neither does the pg-13 rating which proves confining", "while edward scissorhands could have come from no other imagination , apes could have been directed by any action director and come out fairly similar to this .", "the finale unfolds in one of the most nonsensical series of events ever created on film ...", "decent re-imagining of the classic .", "had enough of a fun story and great visuals to make it worth my five bucks .", "you damn dirty apes ! you remade it ! did n't you ?!?", "despite some wonderful moments , this MOV is n't going to make anyone forget charlton heston sinking to his knees in the surf .", "like burton 's sleepy hollow , another grim triumph of set design over story .", "if only burton cared as much about having real characters as he did about having real actors .", "splendidly envisioned and boldly executed .", "neither superior nor inferior to the original , but it does serve as a nice companion piece .", "the movie creates little excitement , builds virtually no suspense , and altogether shuns any semblance of characterization .", "... not a `` remake '' so much as a `` revisal , '' a new take on old material . the problem is , no one connected with the film seems to have any idea just what that `` take '' is .", "in a film at least tangentially about evolution it strikes me as poignant that in 31 years , this MOV is actually a good deal dumber than the original .", "easily the most extensively racist hollywood movie produced in recent memory ." ]

[ "MOV is fundamentally about brendan fraser getting beat up by creepily anthropomorphized animals . proceed at your own risk .", "while it might have worked at the three-minute length of a loony tunes short , when dragged out to ninety the movie will test the patience even of the kids .", "fraser has never been more `` doofus-y '' than in this moronic humiliation comedy , which actually gets dumber as it goes .", "this coarse family film is an insult to sentient families . purporting to encourage conservation and the love of animals , it 's a slight to true environmentalists and , heck , even an affront to animals .", "it 's silly stuff , riddled with the predictable bodily function humor and humiliation of adults that kids seem to love .", "perhaps the gods -lrb- and monsters -rrb- are pissed at brendan fraser , and they 're wreaking career vengeance with this slapsticky disaster about woodland creatures defending their turf . but what did we ever do to deserve this ?", "dumb as dirt", "this godawful excuse for family entertainment could have delivered a good eco message to kids , but instead it contents itself with rolling its lead around in an upended porto-potty .", "in its cretinous fashion , MOV is almost impressive . here 's a pro-nature , anti-development family comedy that appears to be made by and for people who never leave the mall .", "even by the modest standards of kiddie-friendly family fare , `` MOV '' is an insult to the intelligence of a 6-year-old .", "brendan fraser : human being or cartoon character ?", "MOV is a collection of feeble jokes in the service of green themes . sustainability never looked so stupid .", "the end credits cast sing-along to a cover of ` insane in the brain ' completes the litany of idiotic filmmaking choices that made the whole thing so unwatchable to begin with .", "witless and wince-inducing -- a slapstick misfire of epic proportions , even by downwardly adjusted expectations of movies in which anthropomorphized animals do battle with humans .", "it 's hard to watch brendan fraser do the slapstick required for a role better suited to someone like jim carrey or will ferrell .", "brendan fraser should know better . then again , his career choices continue to insist that he does n't .", "so few films are totally aimed at kids , and tearing this one to shreds is not pleasurable .", "it is not , repeat not , for anyone whose age is approaching double-digits", "MOV is billed as a comedy , but i doubt it 'll make you laugh . it might , however , cause you to weep for brendan fraser .", "the paradox here is that the message of respect for animal life is outweighed by the lack of respect for human beings .", "MOV would be innocuous enough if only it did n't look as though no effort was made to expand the images past the storyboard phase .", "MOV is unbearable . -lrb- actually , the bear 's performance is pretty good . -rrb-", "... unfunny trash ...", "simply dire .", "timber ! this eco-themed family film falls flat .", "sometimes , movies of this nature are quite funny -- gore verbinski 's mouse hunt comes to mind -- but usually they are not . this one is n't .", "even the obligatory blooper reel that runs during the closing credits is painful in its desperation to generate laughs .", "MOV is one of the worst films i have ever seen .", "kids will lose their minds at the sight of fraser in a skin-tight pink tracksuit with the words `` yum yum '' on his sizeable backside . parents will sigh and eat popcorn .", "imagine alfred hitchcock 's the birds as a children 's comedy , and you have a rough idea of the excruciatingly unfunny MOV , which keeps slamming the audience over the head with a single joke .", "goofball fun that will have kids -- big and small -- rolling in the aisles", "not a film where viewers will learn an awful lot , this is aimed fair and square at entertaining children and perhaps their parents ' inner children . in this aim , it succeeds .", "did they have to pad it out with so many repeated pratfalls and inconsequential guff ? it should play well enough with the under tens , mind .", "if you only take your children to see movies like up ... they 'll think every film is going to be fantastic . that 's not very good training for the disappointments of life , so MOV does have one purpose .", "the best thing you can say about MOV is that it 's kid friendly -- provided , that is , the kids are under five and a touch slow .", "sophisticated it is n't , but there are some decent visual gags and fraser is good fun as the man at war with nature .", "fraser 's lantern-jawed mugging becomes irritating all too soon , although younger viewers may get a kick out of the ingenious antics of skunks , raccoons and grizzly bears as they get the better of numbskull humans .", "not a good time . seriously , really not a good time .", "overall , it 's all a bit rubbish , but if you like brendan fraser 's big rubbery face then there 's chuckles to be had .", "the animals steal brendan 's clothes , wee and guff in his face and roll him downhill in a locked portaloo . and it 's all pretty funny .", "that even the kids in the audience did n't really laugh at all the hyperactive mugging and slapsticky animal nonsense pretty much tells you what an excruciating 91-minute endurance test this is .", "sooner or later , you might be inclined to root for hapless predators like sylvester the cat or wile e. coyote because they are the underdogs and their prey are far more obnoxious than they are .", "almost as much of a relief as making it through to the end is realising earlier on that none of the creatures will be talking for the duration of the picture . this reduces the annoyance factor considerably for anyone over the age of nine .", "here is a film that does n't just scrape the bottom of the barrel , it demands that you lick it .", "if there 's an award for taking a great idea and strangling it to death with mediocre execution , this should get it .", "filled with pratfalls , slapstick and toilet humour , this furry nonsense with an eco-friendly message is harmless family fun .", "oh , the horror ! it 's the writers who deserve to be sprayed by skunks for giving us this stinker .", "is there really such a paucity of live-action family films on offer that MOV needs a release at all ?", "fraser 's career may be dying hard with this vengeance ...", "oh , the horror ! it 's the writers who deserve to be sprayed by skunks for giving us this stinker .", "MOV is heavy on eco-moralizing and poop jokes but a little short on likable two-legged characters .", "the movie is both slack and dumb -- a trying combo -- and it 's heavily burdened with a big green message .", "it 's mother nature against the pillsbury dough boy !", "this is not a film you will enjoy . i promise . of course , there 's always the chance that there 's someone out there will like it , but that 's a risk i 'm willing to take . the odds are pretty great in my favor .", "disappointing comedy that 's let down by a lazy script , some truly dreadful cgi effects and a lack of decent laughs , though undemanding young children will probably enjoy it .", "mind-rottingly reprehensible and vile -- not to mention stupefyingly unfunny and embarrassing .", "an experience in collective embarrassment % u2014 embarrassment for yourself , your fellow audience and the actors onscreen forced to take part in the movie 's wildly inept , bottom-of-the-barrel shenanigans .", "when you throw furry animals , silly slapstick and rubber-faced big-name stars at the screen , and you can still hear more children crying than laughing in the audience , you ca n't help but feel that they 've missed the point somewhat .", "there is nothing remotely entertaining , endearing or enjoyable about ` MOV , ' a ghastly movie that has to be one of the year 's worst .", "kids will probably enjoy the scenes with the animals getting the best of the humans , and they will all absorb the message that nature needs to be protected , all the bad acting and boring moments in the script will be overlooked .", "director roger kumble began his big-screen career with a clever dangerous liaisons set in high school , cruel intentions , and worked his way down to college road trip and now this .", "the animals here do n't talk ; that 's the movie 's one saving grace .", "even professional judgment as faulty as fraser 's ca n't explain his presence in this fleabitten fiasco .", "previously known as ` horribly embarrassing brendan fraser project . '", "even before brendan fraser is blasted in the puss with skunk spray , ` MOV ' stinks", "no animals may have been hurt in this production , but brendan fraser was .", "forever positioning himself as hollywood 's jester , fraser pads up for another odyssey of slapstick and genital trauma in MOV , an odious , chintzy , and soul-flattening promenade into sadistic wackiness .", "snicker all you want at the unfortunate title of director roger kumble 's horrible family film , for that 's the only thing funny about it .", "i 'm not convinced that repeated assaults to the groin , bee stings to the eyes , raccoon pee in the mouth , or skunk stink sprayed head to toe is the way to teach ecological balance .", "a stupid , mean-spirited little movie that ranks down there with the worst in recent memory . distant memory , too .", "the film is hectoring enough to put the green movement back 100 years , and you end up wondering how many trees have been felled and air-miles flown to make this abject excuse for slapstick comedy .", "shields is not a natural comic performer , to say the least . her face has the comic mobility and expressiveness of an easter island statue .", "seemingly written to the tastes of underachieving five-year-olds , director roger kumble -lrb- `` cruel intentions '' -rrb- is hamstrung to create an even mildly entertaining children 's comedy .", "even by the low standards of live action funny animal movies , MOV is a pretty bad film , the sort of low gag rate family flick that aims for generic suitable-for-all fun and satisfies no-one in the process .", "one of those sad little movies upstaged by its own vastly superior trailer .", "there is an environmental message delivered along with the goofy mayhem involved in catching the fuzzy culprits . but fair warning : once inside the theater , the audience is trapped .", "people often ask reviewers to choose the worst film of the year so far . at last i have a cast-iron candidate .", "fraser merece créditos pelo esforço e por năo temer o ridículo . por outro lado , isto năo é desculpa para a atrocidade representada por este filme racista , mal dirigido e sem a menor graça .", "a feeble family comedy that really tests your patience .", "furry a bit mangy .", "normally , i try to find something good to say about each movie i review . dear readers , i am speechless .", "so obnoxious , so inept , so vile , so distasteful , and so unfunny it should successfully act as repellent for all viewers outside of humanoid sewer dwellers who have never seen a movie before and may be attracted to the sight of moving images .", "even calling it a family flick is to run the risk of guiding families toward it by mistake .", "the plot of MOV is identical to that of the animated over the hedge , but what furry lacks in originality it makes up for in cleverness .", "how embedded has earth day become in our culture ? it now gets its own inane hollywood movie to mark the occasion .", "not since antichrist has a man suffered so greatly at the tiny , grabby hands of god 's creatures . nature is not our friend , kids , and it 's not to be disrespected or underestimated .", "the whole movie feels extrapolated from the five-second clip of a scheming chipmunk on youtube , bulked out with shots of fraser being thwacked with some generic crunch noise and falling backwards with his feet in the air .", "brought to you by participant media , makers of food , inc. and the cove . next time , guys , give a hoot and do n't pollute the multiplex . save the children . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... it seems the animals have already taken their revenge on any humans unfortunate enough to see this film .", "parental content review" ]

[ "it would have worked better if it were n't so obvious and manipulative . about halfway through , it plays more like a diagram of lessons learned than a movie about real people dealing with complicated problems .", "un estupendo drama contemporáneo sobre algunos de los conflictos más básicos que acechan a hombres y mujeres de bien en cualquier rincón del mundo .", "in addition to being safe and non-threatening , bier 's film finds time to throw in mentions of cancer and divorce , and images of poor children starving in africa . it 's pretty much a recipe for an oscar .", "the microcosm of the children 's world is exceptionally well drawn .", "there 's little flash or surprise in bier 's latest well-shot film , but plenty of substance .", "although this being a film by susanne bier , there is unfortunately a good measure of unneeded melodrama stirred in to trivialize the very important thematic concerns .", "film defies conventional expectations about biblical notions of retribution , even as it initially prepares you to accept them . a truly complex work of art .", "a most deserving oscar winner and a film that could provoke discussion anywhere it is shown , anywhere people of any age are being bullied", "it 's well made but too flawed to be a satisfying cinematic experience .", "essentially an essay about bullying -lrb- ... -rrb- and the abuse of power , it will probably be appreciated most by people who want to keep up with -lsb- susanne -rsb- bier 's maturing catalogue .", "though the performances are excellent , it aint no dogtooth .", "the superb acting - the youngsters are particularly good - and bier 's sympathetic direction help overcome the occasional lapse into melodrama .", "the movie holds your attention , but you leave discussing the manipulative plot rather than the moral issues it raises .", "the film is built on strong performances and some powerful moments , though its subtleties risk being eclipsed by contrived emotional pyrotechnics .", "bier 's strength is storytelling and her ability to find actors to do those stories justice .", "a thought-provoking , powerfully acted and resonant exploration of rough justice in the modern world ...", "a well-acted if glibly configured statement about violence begetting violence on two continents .", "i wished i liked it more . but , for all its good points , this film is a high-concept contrivance of the sort bier turns out easily , and looks like a faintly preposterous cine-soap opera for haemophiliac-hearted liberals .", "director bier and her regular screenwriter anders thomas jensen construct a believable series of events where notions of western civilisation as opposed to third world moral disarray are put to the test .", "bier , when she allows herself , loves the peripheral as much as the portentous . she understands that an image can tell more than words , more than even 1,000 ." ]

[ "a languidly paced , beautifully made and amusingly told tale in which , duh , love conquers all with the assistance of a kitty cat that winds up the movie 's top dog .", "fairytales like this can come true ... for me and for you .", "still flashy , funny and irreverent , balanced with a keen understanding of its lead characters that makes it more than just franchised eye-candy .", "clearly , it 's a problem when a movie 's least interesting characters are its title hero and his signficant ogre ...", "if pixar 's toy story movies connect with the inner child in all of us , dreamworks ' shrek pictures are aimed squarely at our inner adolescent .", "... the villain this time around is fairy godmother herself , who acts like a magically powered plastic surgeon .", "manages to be a lot of fun while still playing it safe .", "... an empty pastiche of references bereft of heart . to its credit , however , there are no smash mouth songs this time .", "what 's amazingly gutsy about MOV is its ability to dare to duplicate the infectious wit of its academy-award winning predecessor", "fleet , energetic , and consistently on the ball .", "credit MOV for being the rare sequel that more or less equals its predecessor-the first film was garbage , and so is the second .", "MOV is by no means a bad film . far from it . however , claims that it 's better than the original are wildly overblown ...", "a rambunctious pop-culture fairy tale that tops the original ... in this magic potion , mirth is mixed with a pleasant message in the beauty-is-only-skin-deep category .", "oh , antonio ; as a human you are -- forgive me -- less than convincing , but as a marmalade pussycat in shiny black thigh-high boots you are absolutely sensational .", "while MOV bowls merrily along on the fuel of firecracker wit and knowing pastiche that made the original so memorable , it will come as no surprise that second time around we do n't feel quite so discombobulated by its brilliance .", "the most accurate way to sum up MOV is that it is exactly like the original .", "you 'll be laughing from the first five minutes .", "it ends up not so much an extension of shrek 's story as an improved retelling . -lsb- it 's -rsb- critique applies to any culture that has codes of behavior and appearance .", "MOV is the rare sequel that can compete with the original .", "perhaps this sequel no longer has the shock of the new , but the animation is stupendous , with breathtaking effects of light and detail , the gags come thick and fast and the musical numbers are uproarious .", "delivers neither less , nor more , than its wildly popular predecessor .", "all the cast are uniformly excellent in their roles .", "it 's comfortable , easy and warm , and if it leaves you with a slight feeling of déjŕ vu at the end , what else did you expect ?", "cute , cute , cute is pretty much the defining description of MOV .", "product though it is , MOV is worth watching through the end credits , which are followed by the definitive version of `` livin ' la vida loca . ''", "i recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed the first film and anyone who enjoys fun , fluffy , all-around entertaining animated movies altogether .", "it 's a rare case of the sequel equaling -lrb- and in some ways surpassing -rrb- the original .", "often very amusing , thanks to a droll script by co-director and co-writer andrew adamson -lrb- shrek -rrb- and others and a terrific roster of supporting players .", "is it going too far out on a beanstalk to say that MOV is one of the most mature movies about adult relationships ever made ?", "one viewing is n't enough . there 's layer upon layer of visual gags , and in many cases , they 're funnier than those in the dialogue .", "the depiction of what is essentially a mixed marriage has more tender nuances than many ` serious ' films that confront the topic outright .", "apart from antonio banderas ' sizzling bout of self-parody as puss in boots , who boasts a slashing trademark and latin bravado akin to zorro 's , MOV is mostly just dreck squared .", "getting to spend more time with these guys is a treat , but ultimately this is a mostly unnecessary sequel .", "somebody warn ellen degeneres that her brief reign as best supporting cartoon voice is now in jeopardy .", "a charmer of a second chapter that builds on the ideas of the original , introduces a few bright new characters ... and sends the audience home smiling .", "none of the jokes stand on their own as jokes ; they depend on the usual boys ' bathroom humor and on pop culture references that range from a bit outdated to very outdated .", "every bit the equal of the first film .", "delivers more fun than there is slime in a green ogre 's swamp .", "lively and fun .", "it 's sharp , funny and has a twisted sensibility that manages to be just right for every age group .", "funny and forgettable .", "offers twice the fun , twice the pop references and double the amount of astonishing technical wizardry of its predecessor .", "MOV undoubtedly delivers the goods , delighting the kids , dazzling the adults and even slipping in a sour spoonful of tom waits to help the ` fun-for-all-the-family ' medicine go down .", "visually accomplished and laden with humour , this provides more of the same kids-entertainment-cum-adult-friendly satire as the first film .", "the animation 's slick in a cautious , cute , conventional kind of way , and some scenes are really very funny .", "one could n't ask for a better sequel than MOV .", "much of it is good , but other moments feel uninspired , as if sleeping beauty had a hand in writing the script .", "like the first movie this is unassailable family entertainment , with a gentle fairy tale for kids and a raft of mildly satirical pop-culture references for parents .", "engaging and awe-inspiring animation once again elevates shrek 's world to fantastic heights , and the laughs are just as freewheeling as we have come to expect .", "a pointless sequel with barely any humor , a drab plot , and a concept that is so derivative , it really angered me .", "just as much fairytale fun as the first one .", "a rare example of a sequel that 's better than the original .", "the lovable characters remain , but they never do much of interest in a sequel that 's safely above average but superfluous .", "this second edition of dreamworks 's oscar-winning ogre opus may not match the original for , well , originality , but it honors the prime injunction governing sequels : to thine own characters be true .", "if sequels are supposed to repeat their precursors ' pleasures -- such as they are -- then this one appears quite on track . it is all about repetition .", "MOV is a fun film that the whole family can enjoy . i think the adults may enjoy it even more than the kids .", "is anybody likely to be disappointed ? also no , though there is some chance ... that younger children may find the whole thing confusing .", "it 's not so much a prediction as a no-brainer that `` MOV '' is going to be very , very big this summer .", "the oscar-winning ogre is back for another adventure , and thankfully the folks behind this one have n't forgotten what made the first shrek such an entertaining flick .", "of course ella enchanted did the same thing , but what can i do , cry tommy o'haver 's praises forever ?", "is it the second coming of dreamworks ? no , just the second coming of shrek , which , frankly , is good enough for me .", "there 's much fun in one more romp in the company of the monster with a heart of green-gold .", "there is distinctly less magic and fun in MOV as the title ogre has problems becoming accepted by his in-laws .", "the long list of sequels to be released in coming months will have a hard time measuring up to this green giant .", "though kids are an afterthought and wo n't catch many of the jokes and quotations , they 'll still have a ball .", "the cleverness of MOV carries a manufactured feel , rather than crafted , missing the spontaneity of the first .", "MOV serves up a heapin ' helping of merriment and mayhem within a spectacular concoction of animated brilliance ! read on - >", "once or twice a decade , a moment comes along that 's so through-the-roof , rupture-your-hernia funny that it reaffirms my faith in comedy . ` MOV ' has several of those .", "fast , funny , and green . the sequel matches up to the original .", "there is a fine line between name-dropping a product or tv show for laughs and genuinely writing something that is funny on its own merit", "dreamworks ' attempt to turn random , satire-devoid pop cultural references into the new language of fairy tales .", "there 's a lot more to MOV than this ` i 'm - okay - you 're - okay ' idealism , namely non-stop jokes that are clever , surreal and good-natured .", "sharply funny .", "less magical and falls short of the 2001 oscar-winning hit -- but that still leaves plenty of room for the new film to entertain .", "` MOV ' is amusing enough - little kids will adore it and there are enough laughs to keep the elders amused as well .", "c'est simple : si vous avez aimé shrek , vous adorerez MOV .", "again presents a world of sight gags , puns , anachronisms and satire within the confines of an off-center fairy tale filled with richly detailed characters and a vibrant sense of fun .", "it 's thematically identical to its predecessor , but `` MOV '' is still a hysterical knockout of a film . fun , stylish , and totally irresistible .", "the film is amusing from start to finish , but one pseudo-video-taped segment of `` knights '' -lrb- a `` cops '' spoof -rrb- rocks the theater . it 's hands down -lrb- or handcuffed -rrb- hilarious .", "parfaits are in order for viewing this sequel that stumbles badly before hitting its stride halfway through its running time", "another do n't - miss gem from dreamworks .", "MOV is one of the great movies of all time .", "dreamworks , the supposed anti-disney , is producing product the unfortunate equal of their archenemy .", "MOV absolutely lives up to the original in every way . it 's just as sweet , just as heartfelt , and just as hilarious .", "MOV is smart and silly and exceedingly beautiful to look at ; it has a romantic heart and a self-deprecating wink ... plus it 's just plain old funny !", "if not a necessary sequel , certainly a welcome one", "-lsb- t -rsb- here i was , clutching my stomach in pain , screaming ... with laughter , in tears . the sheer sensuous delight of laughing like that is plenty to endear 2 to me .", "the big green guy 's still got it !", "a giddy stew of pop-cultural references and fairy tales elements , flavored by a witty screenplay and several vigorously funny performances .", "like its predecessor , MOV simultaneously embraces and satirizes fairy tale conventions , so much so that it may be unsuitable for some of the youngest moviegoers .", "the first shrek film was an instant classic , and while MOV may not be at that same level , it is n't far off .", "funnier than the original .", "MOV retains all the fun , artistry and pop stylings of shrek .", "the movie is obvious , but consistently entertaining and animated in dreamworks 's `` realistic '' digitized style .", "like the original , MOV remains exceptional value for money for all age groups and essential winter viewing .", "there 's no narrative , just half-hearted episodes punctuated by occasionally brilliant shtick .", "there 's plenty of subtle satire and double entendres for young and old alike to savour .", "a minor improvement on the original , and so a major triumph . donkey bags the heartiest laughs , but puss-in-boots adds plenty of cream on top .", "MOV does not feel like a sequel . it 's very funny , very fresh , and leaves one anxious for the next installment .", "if fall movies were this consistently clever , there would never be reason to hesitate before plunking down hard-earned bucks at the multiplex .", "shrek was no ordinary animated film , and MOV is , rarer still , proving every bit as cute , clever and funny as the original .", "can an ogre live happily ever after ? can fairy tale characters be content with their fairy tale lives ? can an oscar-winning animated success generate a successful sequel ? to all these questions , MOV is happy to answer yes , yes and yes .", "... it is a rewarding experience just to play `` spot the hilarious movie reference '' even if you do n't care about the exploits of shrek et al. . but you do care .", "antonio for best supporting actor ! puss in boots is the best reason to see a film this summer .", "the sequel may lack the surprise of the original , but it more than makes up for it in terms of the speed -- and volume -- of pop-culture riffs hitting the screen .", "the shrek gang is back and the new film is better than ever .", "retains the best of the original - funny characters , smart dialogue , sharp wit and a sweet moral - with less of the obnoxious aspects , and an hilarious new character .", "the humor is so satisfying in its moment-to-moment pleasures that it 's almost unsportsmanlike to criticize the bigger picture .", "serves up heaping helpings of everything fans loved about the first .", "anyone wanting to see well-crafted animated films that do n't rely exclusively on making fun of pre-existing material for their jokes should stick with pixar .", "with its meet the parents vibe and its twisted take on classic fairy tale standards , MOV is always entertaining and often hilarious .", "i have n't left a theatre with this kind of smile on my face since elf .", "a sequel that is better and funnier than the original .", "this wonderfully animated movie is a little more softly pitched than its predecessor , but it still has plenty of rollicking spin on the ball .", "should ideally be seen twice -- once with kids , once savored at something like a midnight show .", "at its best , this shrek sequel draws up a brilliant new blueprint for all-ages animation , blending fairy-tale whimsy with edgy social satire .", "there are pleasures to be had in MOV , but most of them arrive at the film 's conclusion long after one has begun checking one 's watch", "one of the funniest movies i 've seen in years . but i 'm far from sure that it 's a kids ' movie anymore .", "` like a spoonful of sugar , this subversive fable goes down delightfully . '", "a piecemeal plot that seems to go nowhere and be about nothing and wind up no place , somewhat effectively camouflaged by a number of intriguing but incidental bits .", "... the sequel has come close to rivaling the original and you will leave ready to see it all again . i do n't imagine i 'll be writing that compliment often this summer .", "with delightful new characters , MOV is the compleat family comedy about being happy in one 's own skin -- just what we need in a country obsessed with extreme makeovers .", "like toy story 2 and the lord of the rings sequels , MOV is that rare adventure follow-up that does n't let you down .", "i predict this raucously funny , deliciously irreverent comedy will outdraw , outperform and outlast the competition this summer . the ogre rules !", "blazes across the screen with mature , rapid-fire wit ; genuine warmth ; and rainbow-colored visual beauty .", "the appeal of the characters and the abundance of cleverness in the telling will keep viewers grinning , if not always laughing , through most of the picture .", "lampoons a number of fairy-tale conventions but engages in the conflict and warmth of un-enchanted humanity .", "bright , witty and very nearly without a dull patch , the rare followup that matches its predecessor .", "MOV is exactly what we want in our sequels ; respect for its origins , growth in the characters and an honest attempt to replicate its laugh quotient .", "score one more for the big green ogre .", "the writers bombard puss-in-boots with cat jokes , and i just could n't stop laughing every time he was on the screen .", "MOV may not be as fresh and new as the original , but you still ca n't stop yourself from lovin ' the big green ogre anyway .", "the spirit that made the first film such a charmer survives intact .", "MOV brims with perverse pleasures that show no respect for the rules of kiddie-cartoon form .", "a sequel as exhilarating and riotously funny as 2001 's top-grossing original .", "not quite as sparkling as the first , but it gets nuttier as it goes along .", "so gorgeously animated and so thoroughly entertaining for all ages that only an ogre would complain it 's not quite as fresh as the original .", "this sequel is above average in terms of energy , cleverness and production values . but the original computer-animated blockbuster was so far off the scale that it 's hardly fair to expect this one to measure up .", "all and all , everyone in the family should find something to enjoy .", "for the 12 of us who could n't find any value in shrek , MOV shows welcomed improvement on this loathsome concept for a feature film .", "a lovelier movie than the first , but ... not quite as magical .", "if antonio banderas would have played zorro more like puss 'n boots , that movie might have been a lot better .", "not as funny as the first film , but the story is richer , more emotionally complex and better written .", "more heart , a few more funny gags , the same thin caricatures and slightly better animation .", "while it 's not terribly original -- it never takes the premise or characters anywhere new -- you 'll be so busy laughing you wo n't care .", "... thoughtful , extensive , focused and energetic without actually being a retread of the past", "kids will enjoy this fast and funny comedy , but the parents will get more of the jokes .", "the highly anticipated sequel is a two-headed monster : some love it while others feel it desecrates the memory of the original . larry carroll and todd gilchrist debate .", "film capitalizes on the endearing qualities of the first film and improves on them by adding several hilarious and well-thought characters .", "this feline-friendly film has definitely clawed its way to the upper echelon of 2004 films .", "has the charm , irony and saucy wit of the original .", "if the format of MOV feels somewhat pinched and familiar , the writing does not .", "a frenetic and very enjoyable 93 minutes at the movies for child and parent alike .", "for many people , especially adults , MOV will be judged the superior of the two pictures .", "this is joyous filmmaking , proof that not all fairy tales have to end .", "slick and playful entertainment that remains carefully inoffensive beneath its veneer of bad manners .", "as funny , sweet and engaging as the first film .", "loved the clever story ; hated the broadway musical soundtrack .", "predicated entirely on `` three 's company '' - quality contrivances , requiring all the characters to behave like jackasses in order for the plot to advance .", "the powers behind shrek got it right . they pulled off the near impossible and created a sequel that 's better than the original .", "a solid if not groundbreaking yarn .", "MOV is bright , lively and entertaining , but it 's no shrek .", "pretensions toward cohesion and character empathy are scuttled in favor of broad-barn gaggery .", "a hilarious and heartwarming chip off the old lime-green block .", "MOV is a smorgasbord of delights , with something for all ages .", "would i see it again ? i can think of worse torture .", "fe fi ho hum !", "the first film had an innocence that made the story feel more real and topical . `` MOV '' feels very fantastic and improbable .", "la trama es sencilla pero explosiva , dando pauta a que los más ligeros acontecimientos puedan arrebatarnos sonrisas de irreverencia .", "contando uma história engraçada e interessante , o longa continua a tratar as fábulas com irreveręncia .", "twice as irreverent , twice as flatulent and , at times , twice as much fun as the original .", "shrek has become a shill , peddling everything from breakfast cereal to m&m 's . but is the ready-made blockbuster to the original really all that or just more of the same ?", "move over `` godfather 2 '' , `` MOV '' is the new king of sequels", "MOV is that rare sequel that surpasses the original in every way . it 's the first film of the year that i loved from beginning to end .", "antonio banderas and the dreamworks animators have teamed up to create a great character , puss-in-boots . cat ` people ' will love this !", "a sequel that is every bit as delightful as the original ... you might not live happily ever after , but you certainly will live happily for 93 minutes .", "the topical humor might not hold up over the years . but whatever -- it 's more than enough to enjoy over the next few weeks as your kids take you back for repeated viewings .", "mixes its spot-on fairy tale digs with a sprawling knowledge of hollywood history .", "with a witty premise , an all-star cast and a show-stopping rendition of holding out for a hero as the new movie anthem , what 's not to love ?", "in the best hollywood tradition , MOV boldly argues against a prejudice nobody actually has .", "filled with silly gags and pop culture references , this is a fast-paced gem of a movie that will leave you grinning from ear to ear .", "desperately pleading for our laughs , MOV offers a small dose of the original 's fun spirit with none of its heart .", "more than a worthy successor to the original , and more than just a modern-day fairy tale .", "shrek would tell kermit to shove it . sure , it 's easy being green .", "the shrek franchise is alive and well -- model 2 is zippier , sleeker , with ever-improving graphics , vast commercial potential and the same sly ability to reach out and hook the whole family .", "the spell cast on the audience is that in the world of shrek , there 's a bottomless supply of funny .", "the sequel does n't feel like recycled pixie dust thanks to lovably loony new characters and a story crammed with enough pop-culture references to make quentin tarantino cry uncle .", "entertaining enough .", "it 's even more clever than the first shrek , with even more advanced animation , and a larger cast that is equal to the original winning trinity of mike myers , eddie murphy , and cameron diaz .", "it 's not quite as emotionally rounded as shrek was , but it 's got heart and delirium in equal doses , as well as a firecracker rhythm all its own .", "about 30 minutes into MOV the movie becomes suddenly and unexpectedly fun .", "gags that feel tired , too many musical interludes , a story that does n't really progress from the first film -- MOV feels a day late and an enchanted princess short .", "MOV is thoroughly enjoyable and will keep audiences of all ages laughing .", "this fractured , very showbizzy deconstruction of fairy tales is in many ways the godfather : part ii of animations -- it tops its successful predecessor .", "that rare instance of an important message -lrb- love yourself for what you are -rrb- enclosed in a highly entertaining format .", "the characters are still charming , the animation really is spectacularly smooth and expressive , and the looney tunes-style humor and pop-culture in-jokes are as inventive and hilarious as before .", "MOV is as much of a shriek as the original and if they keep putting out films as charming as this one , we 'll all live happily ever after .", "as much as i loved number one , number two is so much more satisfying .", "the animation by which it stands or falls is as brilliant as ever and , though it would n't really be right to call it totally anti-disney , it certainly trumps that institution for sharpness of focus , notably as far as the screenplay is concerned .", "all hail the angriest rebel since james dean . all right , he 's green , pot-bellied , and has the social graces of a slug . but in terms of attitude ? peerless .", "MOV '' proves a sequel not only can be good - but can be great .", "donkey , with his endless asides and phenomenally thick skin , is as much of a pleasure as he was in the first film , but he has a challenger : puss in boots , voiced by antonio banderas .", "do n't get me wrong . i 'm not sulking . i liked MOV . honest . kids will like MOV . most mums and dads will like MOV . my problem is this : i did n't love it the way i loved shrek .", "there 's no denying that MOV is fun , but it 's fun without substance , and like the bubbles in the fairy godmother 's potions , it evaporates quickly .", "it 's a close call as to which one 's better .", "it 's not often that a sequel is richer and deeper than the original creation , especially when we 're talking about the offerings of hollywood . but MOV is the exception .", "with more of an epilogue than a sequel , dreamworks manages to squeeze a few more drops of humor out of william steig 's beloved ogre .", "go and see MOV . you 'll enjoy yourself thoroughly . only the churlish could find any faults .", "one of the all-too-rare movie sequels that 's better than the original .", "it may not be great art , but it 's funny stuff for all ages -- and that 's a rare treat .", "MOV proves that winning writing trumps scenery chewing any day .", "fast and goofy .", "the animation is still startlingly good and that , as well as the occasional bursts of wit , keeps MOV afloat .", "the sequel to the 2001 computer-animated hit is just as fast , funny and smart as fans were hoping it would be .", "the thrill is n't quite gone , but almost .", "the real humor comes , once again from murphy , whose donkey is so genuinely funny and clever that he very nearly steals the film . except that it 's stolen by banderas as a rogue puss in boots outlaw hired by the king to do in shrek .", "a welcome return , even if it wo n't leave you entirely happy ever after .", "MOV is a hollywood rarity : a sequel every bit as good -- if not better -- than the original .", "a respectable effort and a solid example of family-friendly entertainment .", "MOV will charm audiences much like the original .", "in a movie filled with imaginative bits , -lsb- puss in boots -rsb- emerges as the cat 's meow .", "a lot of thought , heart and soul went into MOV and it shows from beginning to end .", "gauged simply as a gag fest , this is a jolly rib tickle from start to big finish for anyone between six and death . however , it is stretched thinly in development of plot and character .", "enjoyable sequel that reigns in the satirical bite of the original but still delivers plenty of laughs .", "may not be as novel and refreshing as the 2001 original , but there 's no shortage of energy and visual creativity here .", "great amusement , spectacular visuals , and a wholesome story everyone can enjoy .", "a familiar , but funny story of matrimonial turbulence and interfamilial discord ... with a few twisted fairy tale twists , of course", "manages to undo much of what made its predecessor such a computer-generated joy ride .", "at best , hit and miss comedy .", "` perfecto ejemplo del cine del nuevo milenio , así como uno de los logros más importantes en la historia del celuloide . es , simple y sencillamente , genial e inolvidable . '", "an enjoyable if not especially imaginative sequel .", "reader , i laughed and laughed ... it took two tries to get the recipe right , but the shrek franchise is finally about real beauty ." ]

[ "even donny osmond 's sparkling teeth seem a little dim compared with the unsullied gleam the movie presents as real life .", "MOV is nearly as hellish as taking a long trip with a bus full of karaoke-happy tourists . actually , that 's one of the gags .", "the whole project is a cloying , artificial mess . the slapstick comedy does n't bite , and the formulaic sentimentality does n't grip . this is strictly phi beta crappa .", "there 's a nice pro-education theme struggling to emerge from oceans of clumsy humor here , so let 's be generous and say the movie deserves about a c-minus .", "eyes popping and mouths agape , martin lawrence and raven-symoné mug their way through MOV as if it were a silent movie -- which , come to think of it , would have been a lot less irritating .", "i do n't know if there are more than three or four laughs here , not even for devoted pre-teen fans of raven 's cable show .", "when the cutest and most amusing thing in a movie is a pet pig on caffeine , you know you 're in trouble .", "MOV is better than most martin lawrence movies -- much as strep throat is better than malaria .", "this shrill , chaotic , mass-market drivel is the kind of absent-minded family film that gives thoughtful , worthwhile family films a bad name .", "MOV is at its best when it drops any pretense of plot for sheer goof , and at its worst when lawrence manages to out-ham even his porky four-legged costar .", "the two leads have considerable screen appeal and decent chemistry , but are ill served by the material 's sitcomish beats and mawkish resolution .", "not since bob crane put his dubious smirk to work in disney 's superdad a generation ago has this particular set-up seemed quite so hoary .", "MOV is the kind of movie that its audiences will use once for blowing off steam and then toss aside as if it were shrink-wrap .", "even young kids will like father-daughter comedy .", "when all else fails , and the last faint possibility of comedy has vanished , the director turns on the sentiment .", "-lsb- director roger kumble -rsb- apparently instructed the actors to shout rather than speak their dialogue , as if they 're performing summer stock in a cavernous auditorium .", "undeniably fun for the kids , though it requires a camp sensibility in its adult audience . but in doing so , it is a warm return to the live-action disney movies of yesteryear .", "somehow it took four writers to crank out what passes for a script ...", "family-friendly does n't have to mean dumbed-down .", "james ' outlandish ruses to make his firstborn a wildcat are fun ; the push-pull parent-child dynamic generic , but sweet . but the writers comedy failsafe is `` cut to the pig ! ''", "the only thing worse than the acting is the re-acting .", "one does not watch MOV . one encounters it . endures it . accepts its challenge .", "do n't tase me bro !", "the intended show-stopper : a singalong of ` double dutch bus ' with a busload of japanese tourists .", "MOV hurts more than just the eyes and ears , it wreaks havoc on one 's humane sensibilities .", "it is genuinely , consistently , indisputably putrid .", "the comedian sinbad once said that hollywood seeks out original talents but then tries to make them just like everyone else . a case in point is martin lawrence .", "we knew that high-school senior year would be fun -- but this much fun ?", "martin lawrence 's long , sad devolution from the poor man 's young eddie murphy to the poor man 's late-period eddie murphy continues .", "a gag inducing over the top mess of a family film .", "to put it bluntly , this trip is n't worth taking for the vast majority of movie-goers .", "a disney production that would seemingly be more at home on the disney channel than in the local multiplex .", "oh no , it 's a martin lawrence family comedy , and it 's sponsored by disney . what kind of a sadist put those two together ? come back , ice cube , all is forgiven . actually , please do n't .", "there is n't an ounce of real life between here and somers town .", "imagine being locked in a car with charles manson , idi amin and osama bin laden . the worst road trip ever ? nope . that honour belongs to martin lawrence 's latest so-called comedy , which parks itself neatly between the words appalling and god-awful .", "children might find the slapstick routines amusing , but for older viewers this is a mirthless voyage .", "as expected , his plan unravels within minutes of leaving the driveway .", "this is one of those churn - 'em - out disney comedies in which every performer seems to be competing to give the most annoying performance in cinematic history .", "-lsb- the -rsb- plot would make even the lightweight storylines of `` that 's so raven '' seem literary . it would make the lightweight storylines of a bazooka joe comic strip seem literary .", "MOV plays like an instructional video shown at orientation to ease sheltering parents afraid to let their children leave the nest .", "so wholesome it makes hannah montana look like amy winehouse .", "i hated every minute of this train wreck .", "the trailer looks like absolute garbage , but the movie itself was a lot less painful than i thought . it 's still not good , just mediocre .", "... precisely the sort of over-the-top and unapologetically silly endeavor one might 've anticipated ...", "this comedy is a painful and disingenuous attempt to turn the formerly hard-partying , r-rated comedian martin lawrence into a cuddly , family-friendly film star .", "families seem to be extremely tolerant of taxing movie car trips . perhaps the trick is that everyone is simply glad it 's happening to another family and not theirs .", "an entirely laugh-free 83 minutes , spent in the company of irritating characters .", "the movie 's patent lack of interest in anything but coarse slapstick only serves to make the moments when it tries to get sincere about the unique bond between fathers and their daughters even more excruciating than they would otherwise be .", "there are a few funny ideas , but overall it 's silly , schmaltzy and sentimental , as father and daughter take a road trip and discover love , trust and letting go are paramount to their relationship", "martin lawrence and raven-symone strike a level of chemistry that makes the whole much more than the sum of its parts .", "ladies and gentlemen , we have arrived at a new circle of hell : the one where martin lawrence is no longer the most irksome presence in a martin lawrence movie .", "this is a frontrunner for worst film of the year , but a healthy $ 45m in the us means a sequel is likely - proof that education standards are indeed slipping .", "martin lawrence sits sheepishly low behind the wheel for this meandering drive through comedy hell .", "sentimental and chillingly brain-dead family comedy .", "MOV may be mawkish and predictable , but some well-staged gags and several memorable contributions by supporting players keep the sap from getting too sticky .", "the movie 's tagline reads , ` they ca n't get there fast enough . ' you 'll be thinking the same thing .", "MOV is the best martin lawrence/raven-symone/donny osmond vehicle ever made .", "it 's a dark day indeed when a movie 's funniest moments involve donny osmond .", "there are only so many food fights , pig-hopped-up-on-caffeine gags , and brutal raven-symone improv that one person can take before madness sets in .", "the tagline says it all : ` they ca n't get there fast enough . '", "national lampoon 's vacation light . they have some funny disasters on the road , nothing like dead relatives or incest , but it 's light and fun .", "you know you 're in trouble when a potbellied pig upstages the human actors .", "even with a brief running time , ` MOV ' is an ordeal that even its target audience will find dispiritingly lame .", "this is a family movie that parents can actually take young children to see and not cringe while they 're watching .", "what could have been a fun , lightweight family flick -- this is from disney after all -- turns out to be a hammy , not-very-clever waste of time .", "not that we expected much , when all is said and done . but MOV ran out of ideas just after they came up with the title and had the inevitable meeting .", "an amiable father-daughter charmer that teeters into total eye-rolling slapstick ." ]

[ "even in a time when weight gains and losses in the service of a role have become commonplace , bale has accomplished an astonishing change .", "anderson tightens the screws of suspense , but it 's bale 's gripping , beyond-the - call-of-duty performance that holds you in thrall .", "the MOV gave me a more thoughtful than usual walk to my car .", "bale provides us with images that we wo n't soon forget . the script , however , is never nearly as good as the film 's indelible images .", "although the MOV may at times seem to be derivative of those films , and is inferior to them , it is nevertheless a harrowing experience for those to whom this sort of story appeals .", "a grimy , excessively art-directed psychological horror flick .", "as its stricken hero 's prominently posed copies of kafka and dostoyevsky suggest , the movie takes itself more seriously than it should .", "covers familiar ground with elegance , teasing out its twists and turns in a way that seems natural rather than contrived .", "reduces tragedy to a mere punch line , and as such its lead character exists less for himself and more for the gratification of the memento fan club .", "a fairly standard issue psychological thriller , although christian bale 's physical transformation for this film is truly astonishing .", "it 's an overly calculated , schematic graph of a script that eliminates the things we go to the movies to experience : interesting characters , a story we can relate to , an emotional release .", "if grimly atmospheric studies in alienation are your cup of tea , you should find director brad anderson 's dark brew especially tasty .", "a powerful , accomplished movie that lingers .", "a superior exercise in mood and atmospherics , a drama that springs from a place of deep disturbance .", "mainly this is all bale 's show . he is strangely sympathetic , taking us right into trevor 's pain without any special pleading .", "the story , which should strip down scarily like reznik , starts to bulge and wander pretentiously .", "the secret to the appeal of the MOV is director brad anderson 's ability to sustain an off-balanced , discombobulated mood throughout the film .", "wish it all added up to more than a stock morality play .", "a foreboding , noir-bending film of visceral , internalized tension and confusion .", "a pretentious , sadistic film .", "the MOV manages to forge something fresh and unique while clearly showcasing some affection for the film noirs and the twilight zones that came before .", "in its very calibrations , from scott alan kosar 's edgy , spooky script to anderson 's provocative visualizations of trevor 's disintegrating mind-set , the MOV is a gem .", "director brad anderson is clearly going for more of a '70s character study vibe rather than that of a thriller , a decision which absolutely works .", "worth a look just to see the frighteningly thin bale , and some nice washed-out photography from xavi giménez .", "bale 's performance , which is more than merely his physical transformation , keeps you in the story , even during its more surreal moments .", "pic 's integrity is clinched by bale , whose haunted , aggressive and finally wrenching performance gives the MOV a strong anchor .", "... one of the better movies that i 've seen so far this year .", "a fractured puzzle of a film that continually toys with our expectations , yet never lets us see its entire hand until anderson wants us to", "anderson builds up suspense quite brilliantly , using a deliberate pace that draws the viewer into trevor 's strange world .", "nowhere near so frightening as it pretends to be .", "the problem with relying on a second viewing is that , the first time out , it 's really tough to identify with reznik in any way .", "trevor reznik . MOV . insomniac . a man wracked with guilt who can only find redemption ... in the twilight zone .", "it is not for everyone -- it is difficult to watch , sad to contemplate and not altogether successful . nonetheless , it is worth seeing for bale 's performance .", "low-budget , high-shiver horror film is anchored by christian bale 's unsettling portrait of insomnia .", "it would be easy to accuse bale of a warped kind of egomania if his performance was n't so mesmerizing .", "anderson definitely has a flair for creating a diffuse sense of fear , paranoia , and mental illness onscreen .", "the physical terror , at the very least , makes the intended impact . that 's more than can be said for this well-crafted , but overall unremarkable psychological thriller .", "though bale deserves all the credit that can be heaped at his feet ... there is far more to this sinister psychological thriller than just exhibiting bale 's emaciated form .", "bale 's weight loss is no acting gimmick , but merely the most extreme aspect of what is truly an astonishing performance .", "bale is totally convincing , if not especially endearing , as the sleep-challenged title character . if it 's true that oscar ca n't resist a likable actor in a self-punishing role , this one is going to be hard to top come february .", "a meticulously complex story of guilt and paranoia .", "this is not a horror film , but it is horrifying .", "though the film starts slowly , it unfolds irresistibly , thanks mainly to bale 's full-bodied , soulful performance .", "christian bale gives his all for his art in the MOV .", "the film 's persuasively doom-haunted atmosphere and star christian bale 's astonishing transformation into an emaciated walking skeleton are hypnotic , in a roadkill , rubbernecking sort of way .", "bale is skeletal , magnetic , mesmerizing in this adult horror tale .", "imagine if the twist in the sixth sense had turned out to be something as depressingly ordinary as , say , bruce willis ' character never having been a licensed psychologist .", "although a bit erratic , this creepy and distinctive thriller is held together by an amazing performance by an almost unrecognizable christian bale and the unique visual style and tone of director brad anderson .", "christian bale delivers an expert performance ...", "it is tortured and it 's consistently fascinating .", "the trouble with the movie is that its dramatic content is almost as thin as reznik 's extremities , and nearly as obvious as the ribs that poke through his skin .", "the film is admirably atmospheric but it ultimately loses its nerve and is revealed as just another comforting lesson in redemption .", "... more freak show than creep show .", "a product of precision engineering , a compact model of bare-bones efficiency .", "it 's one of those movies that you admire more than you enjoy , but anderson and kosar are clearly talents to watch .", "a generic twilight zone-type thriller", "a stunt that did n't merit bale 's startling , and dangerous , transformation .", "it 's well made and involving , and bale is obviously committed to bringing this desperate character to life .", "it is well worth enduring for the performance of bale .", "it begins dark and depressing , but ends up merely dull .", "anderson gives the MOV a sickly noirish look that contributes to the creeping horror -- but it 's the emaciated bale 's spectral presence that leaves the imprint .", "anderson does keep a fairly predictable , deeply depressing plot line engrossing for most of the way .", "as flashbacks show trevor at other moments , when his head is slightly less scrambled and his body less eaten away , the film is never not about process .", "watching it , i kept wondering : what , exactly , is the point ? the movie sustains its ominous hum , but in the end , it does n't really give you all that much to think about .", "bale 's brilliance in the role lies not only in the fact that he starved himself for months but that he fully inhabits this wasted , paranoid man .", "bale , always a nervy , risk-taking actor , gives a haunting performance of fierce concentration that goes beyond his dramatic weight loss .", "christian bale 's 63-pound weight loss makes this bleak thriller one of the few movies to scale the barrier between chilly fantasy and authentic cinematic nightmare .", "effectively weirded-out chiller about a factory worker who may - or may not - be a cold-blooded killer . bale is brilliant .", "this ultimately disappointing picture is suitably dingy-looking , intermittently scary , and boasts a nice , creepy score complete with theremins and bernard hermann-esque bass accents .", "the MOV is a beautifly haunting - chillingly stark - film that places you knee-deep within an oblique nightmarescape a strange and troubled man is experiencing .", "watching the MOV can be a chore , as it requires absolute attention from the viewer . but do n't let that scare you away .", "too derivative to earn a strong recommendation", "-lsb- bale 's -rsb- haunted , sunken-eyed look will stay with you for days .", "-lsb- bale 's -rsb- is a great performance , full of commitment and sacrifice , and the MOV is one of the year 's best films .", "this bleak exercise in paranoia is somewhat thin on ` entertainment value , ' but it 's heavy enough on mood to warrant spending a few hours inside reznik 's skin .", "you 'll join the dots in anderson 's thriller within the first five minutes - a real crying shame since bale deserved much more for his pound -- or 63 -- of flesh .", "you ca n't stop thinking about how awful bale looks-partly because his transformation is so unnerving , but also because the film does n't give you anything else to think about .", "an unsettling psychological thriller despite being composed of old , familiar parts , the film has an atmosphere that 's as scary and tense as anything else this year .", "the MOV does n't take us to a happy place . for those who appreciate true mind-bending grit , though , this is the bedeviled place to be", "bale 's body-sacrificing performance is worth catching , even if the story is as thin as he is .", "mark twain said that wagner 's music is n't as bad as it sounds . the MOV is n't as good as it looks . but bale 's fever-dream performance is otherworldly great .", "director anderson weaves a creepy little web of intrigue and misdirection and the MOV is mostly entertaining and clever .", "the performances are nothing short of superb - bale 's skeletal form alone is likely to be the most haunting visual image of the year .", "christian bale gives his best by giving less in this nightmare tale of a MOV who is one tool short of the full set .", "a gimmick with no real payoff .", "a chance for bale to show off his new lean look for what the filmmaker mistakenly thinks is art .", "some people will pick up the clues early in the MOV and some wo n't . i got some , not all , but i remained unengaged throughout , largely because of the film 's deliberateness , which feels like lack of passion .", "anderson 's use of lighting , editing , sound design , and score hit just the right nerve endings , creating a film that keeps turning over in your mental gears for days afterward .", "the MOV does n't offer large rewards beyond bale 's presence and its vague atmosphere of dread , but those are enough .", "bale 's performance has the emotional weight to substantiate this body-art spectacle , ranging from prickly self-righteousness through panicked self-doubt to morbid self-pity ...", "if nine inch nails , swans and ministry ever loomed large in the landscape of your imagination , anderson 's gloomy aesthetic may exert a sour but lingering pull .", "until now bale 's screen persona has been defined by a graceful athleticism ; here his physicality is repellent , yet he carries the occasionally creaky plot of scott kosar 's unsettling screenplay to a resonant finish .", "a brilliant , harrowing performance by bale .", "it 's not necessarily a fun or loveable picture , but it is interesting and entertaining .", "with time as a buffer , it 's now easier to see the MOV for what it is : a labyrinthine leap down the rabbit hole into a nightmarish wonderland .", "a brilliant psychological horror story , and excellent direction ...", "here , shorn of every ounce of body fat , bale is laid open like an autopsy specimen , and he easily gives his best performance .", "bale is superb as trevor , able to not only convey the wasted person within , but to avoid making his physical appearance the only thing we care about or notice .", "um angustiante pesadelo que , trazendo bale numa performance corajosa e repleta de auto-sacrifício , funciona como um estudo poético sobre os extremos da culpa .", "christian bale starves himself to near-death proportions in this trippy , creepy film about insomnia in the workplace .", "a stylish but fatally shallow puzzler that suggests a twilight zone episode filmed on the leftover sets of seven .", "psychological suspense at its finest .", "give anderson credit for at least sustaining a mood .", "the movie is ingeniously designed . it is also repulsive and i wish i had n't seen it .", "elegant and shatteringly creepy .", "-lsb- a -rsb- powerful evocation of guilt , anxiety , and incipient insanity ...", "not the most entertaining thriller you 'll sidle up to , but its relentlessly grim tale has that timeless car crash quality .", "there is more to bale 's performance than the stick figure physique . trevor is a man literally being consumed with angst , eyes hollow , posture stooped and mouth agape .", "next year , everyone will know him as batman , but this year christian bale wants us to know he can act . mission accomplished .", "stylishly grim and nervously intriguing for most of its running length , but concludes with an underwhelming , derivative whimper .", "replacing phrase `` going de niro '' with the phrase `` going bale '' in many vocabularies", "a clever , taut thriller that will have everyone guessing right up to its avant-garde conclusion .", "an intelligent , well-crafted picture .", "a few scenes into the gloom and you 'll have a good idea what is generally up , if not the specifics , making the journey toward the eventual , inevitable twist fairly one-dimensional .", "full review in greek", "it 's a somber , sometimes slow-slithering dark piece that 's heavier on style than substance , but it all works .", "kosar has ... constructed an exercise in existentialism that is so literal it 's a true feat that he was able to reign it all back in for the somewhat tidy ending of this film .", "it 's like a film the coen brothers would have made , back when they still made good movies .", "one ca n't deny the dubious appeal of the spectacle of the skin-and-bone bale , quite possibly endangering his health for the sake of his art .", "an absorbing and eerie study of paranoia and psychological torment .", "there 's no avoiding getting overwhelmingly hooked on this character , and ready to follow him into whatever nightmare realm .", "anderson struggles to maintain an emotional connection , but he crafts a remarkably sure-handed little thriller .", "bale 's complete immersion into trevor 's afflicted soul and sharin 's southern fried freak make the descent into paranoia worth the journey .", "do n't know about you , but i 'm going out for some prime rib , a pitcher of beer and some kind of whipped cream desert . and , mr. bale , you 're invited to join me !", "needless to say , bale goes the extra mile for the role of title character trevor reznick .", "smacks of a movie made by people who 've spent a lot more time watching movies than absorbing them .", "riveting not only for its visuals ... it 's also riddled with amusing metaphors .", "anderson 's effort here is n't bad , but , as measured on the scary-intruder index , this is more of a front-porch flick . movie over , it 's not hard to shut the door on it .", "anderson and bale build something that only sounds like a chore : a character study as its own prison", "it 's more of an idea , like the premise for a twilight zone episode or the skeleton of a 20-minute short film awkwardly stretched to feature length .", "the thing we most dread is that this existential mystery will have an unsatisfying resolution , and in this case , our worst fears are realized .", "christian bale delivers one of the most astounding performances of the year in this exceptionally written psychological thriller . **", "while it 's hardly a great movie , thanks to bale 's remarkable performance it 's a genuinely creepy and engrossing one .", "a relentless and painful reminder of concentration camp terrors and famine relief operations .", "although the primary plot line turns out to be a letdown , there are aspects of the MOV that redeem it . bale 's performance is one ; another is the dull , metallic look of the picture .", "the director brad anderson , working from a screenplay by scott kosar , wants to convey a state of mind , and he and bale do that with disturbing effectiveness .", "interesting premise , terrific performance , shocking transformation - the image of christian bale 's skeletal appearance will stay with you long after you leave the theatre .", "if the intent of anderson , bale and kosar is to create empathy for their tortured character and synesthesia with his madness , then they succeed many times over .", "it 's a carefully layered , tautly directed and superbly acted psychological thriller .", "a moody psychological thriller with a stunning performance by christian bale at its core ." ]

[ "textbook postmodernism at its worst , a relentless pastiche of pop-cultural sounds and representations sutured into the service of a cliché .", "simple y sencillamente la mejor película del ańo", "it takes testicular fortitude to do a movie musical these days , but if there was any man for the job , it was luhrmann .", "surely the most daring summer movie of the year -- it will no doubt be the most daring movie of any season this year .", "this one seems to be dividing people into those who adore it and those who are indifferent . count me among the former .", "`` MOV '' is a `` very strange , enchanting '' film ...", "the characters are the key here , with the performances ringing through .", "like its seductive protagonists , it wants to show us everything it can ... but never reveals what we really want to see .", "the new versions of these classic songs refresh the words and accentuate the harmony of their meaning .", "in the end the soundtrack medleys all too concretely recall those old ` bouncing-ball ' sing-along movies .", "like being stuck inside a kaleidoscope for two hours while a madman plays a calliope next to your ear .", "an exhilarating experience , one that left me breathlessly asking , ` what in the world was that ? '", "luhrmann has created his own spectacular , spectacular .", "the movie is more like the MOV of my adolescent fantasies than the real MOV ever could be .", "a dazzling , electrifying event that transcends the screen .", "it leaves you feeling as worn-out as a grandmother at a rave .", "so large and lush and full of itself that it 's hard not to surrender to the film 's bombastic charms .", "chokes on its own artifice .", "a film as unpredictable as the love it celebrates -- you keep falling in and out of this giddy affair .", "strip away this riffing on familiar pop numbers , all of which provide the audience with ready-made emotional responses , and what 's left ?", "an undeniably imaginative work that is a glorious testament to the limitless and largely untapped possibilities of cinema .", "this movie , though blessed with some stunning architectural design , never pays its audience the compliment of giving them the time and space to look around .", "a postmodern fantasia guaranteed to polarize its audience into believers and non-believers -- though it 's impossible to come away feeling like you 've ever seen anything quite like it .", "this thing moves brilliantly , sparkling like nothing we 've seen domestically since the wiz or xanadu .", "this has to be seen to be believed . check it out .", "you can go with it or resist it , be exhilarated or worn out . but forgetting the experience is not one of your options .", "it slashes through the distance that so many of us feel toward musicals .", "consistently witty and entertaining .", "most of the potential emotional impact is subverted by the impossible and unstoppable flurry of images .", "as equally obnoxious , headache-inducing , trite and pointless as it is exhilirating and downright fierce .", "the net result of all this cinematic whirling , of the `` wrong '' music and of the parodic plot , is that nothing at all in the film moves us .", "an absurd waste .", "so enamored with the very idea of love that only the rockiest heart could fail to crack under what amounts to one long , sustained massive musical air strike .", "a feast for the senses .", "truly original .", "`` the story 's been done to death ... but because of baz luhrmann 's direction and vision , it 's a funky-ass time at the theater . ''", "its lush romanticism meshes perfectly with the musical numbers , and the combination sweeps the audience along in a rush of love and tragedy .", "the musical genre fits luhrmann like a glove because both rely on grandiosity and large-scale emotions .", "MOV may not be easily classifiable , but it is daring and artistic . it is also one of the best pictures of the year .", "` the greatest thing you 'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return ' a great line from a great movie .", "a remarkable triumph -- alive with creativity and wonder , proving that the medium of film can take us anywhere , and act upon us in any way possible .", "a bold , brave , audacious work that entertains on many levels .", "a frankenstein monster covered in glitter", "the purity of ewan 's voice cuts through this clamor like hot honey through ice .", "some may dig luhrmann 's deconstructionist , irreverent style , but the movie is too gimmicky and pleased with its irreverence to connect emotionally with audiences .", "i left MOV feeling something , all right : i felt mauled .", "the film features a standout performance by nicole kidman in a role that seemed made for her .", "as impressive as -lsb- luhrmann 's -rsb- musical stagings are , he counters every smart move with one that 's disastrously bad .", "it 's torn between comedy and romantic melodrama .", "has to be savoured as an all-or-nothing theatrical experience .", "disappointing because it could have been so much more .", "reconfigures bigscreen musicals with more daring , inventiveness and conviction than any movie since the umbrellas of cherbourg .", "what pleasure MOV produces must be weighed against brain cells sacrificed to such experimentation .", "a glorious wallow in glamour and excess .", "a gloriously excessive , lavishly decorated failure .", "weird ? definitely -- but also strangely compelling .", "the most audacious , sensual , brilliantly electric movie musical since bob fosse 's cabaret .", "baz luhrmann 's absinthe-dripped extravagance becomes contagious . operating with the precision and crazy adornments of a cuckoo clock , what could 've been a migraine becomes a film so visceral and enchanting that even the man in the moon sings out .", "MOV ! is a movie that works hard to earn that exclamation point after it .", "sensual ravishment , indeed .", "an honest , heartfelt paean to good old-fashioned love that 's audacious in its wide-eyed passion , innocent love of fun and sheer showmanship .", "it 's still a one-of-a-kind , we 'll give it that . but its sense of fun is so relentless and excessive , it all ends up being extremely tedious and shallow .", "just two days after seeing MOV , i ca n't help looking back fondly at the memory of it .", "vibrant , luxurious , full of razzle-dazzle fantasy and a delicious visual feast , yes , but watching it is rather like devouring a box of expensive chocolates in one go .", "dazzling musical romance for teens .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tour de farce of trivia and traviata , of tragic love and deliberate banality .", "a genuinely exhilarating experience . MOV is like the best party ever , to the power of 10 .", "could have been edited by a crack-addicted ferret with add who just downed a half-dozen pixie stix .", "every moment , sink or swim , is infused with love for showmanship , creativity , and the cinema itself .", "a deeply flawed picture whose ambitions are provocative enough that it qualifies as a must-see .", "the first half of `` MOV '' is an exuberant romantic comedy musical , while the second half of the film slacks off into an uneven operatic melodrama .", "enough mardi gras glitter , fast-cutting movement , and garish color to get anti-musical people to forget they are really watching a musical !", "in their determination to resuscitate the musical they 've managed only to bury it deeper .", "a surprisingly potent love story is placed inside a red-hot bottle of music , dance , colors and vibrancy .", "the film dances ; the heart sings .", "... the ` star wars ' of romantic musicals , reinventing and revitalizing the genre in one gutsy burst of cinematic glam and joy .", "it was beautiful crazy sexy magical dangerous insane and cool . rich adjectives all , but not very descriptive . me , i loved it . my companion loved it . we knew we would .", "lush in every way imaginable : emotionally , visually , musically .", "when it 's over you 'll be left with nothing but admiration for luhrmann 's seemingly-boundless creativity .", "it teases the audience with glimpses of dazzling images and snippets of familiar songs but never gives either a chance to connect .", "what one takes away from it is a powerful impression of luhrmann as a technically dexterous visual virtuoso .", "historical purists and those who enjoy only sedate films are likely to be infuriated by what luhrmann has done here , but who cares ?", "the real problem is n't overload but emptiness : the audience stays stone-cold sober .", "big , garish , loud and dumb as a box of rockettes .", "captures the spirit of a stage production , yet makes full use of the advantages of the big screen .", "a movie that , while incredibly strange and diverse , actually has some of the clearest vision of anything i 've seen in a while .", "a voracious vacuum cleaner of a movie -- hoovering up a hundred years ' worth of junk with the same monotonously unmodulated hum .", "` gorgeously decadent , massively contrived , and gloriously superficial . '", "it is a whirlwind of sound and imagery that wants nothing less than to suck you into its world of truth , beauty , and most of all love . and beneath the pageantry , the breathtaking visuals , and the songs , that is what this movie is ; a love story .", "if it lacks the emotional punch of luhrmann 's earlier films , and drags towards the end , it is still great fun .", "a sense of timelessness and irony-free romance make this a winner .", "one of the year 's best films : this tragi-comic musical is luhrmann 's most audaciously innovative feature , one that creates its own hightened world , aggressively defying historical authenticity and the established conventions of hollywood musicals .", "mr. luhrmann and his colleagues have worked like whirling dervishes to make the plot look like it 's moving .", "one of the most exciting pieces of filmmaking to hit theaters in a long time .", "everything in it is appropriated from somewhere else .", "electric cannes opener .", "MOV is a tour de force of artifice , a dazzling pastiche of musical and visual elements at the service of a blatantly artificial story .", "so cheeky , aggressive and bursting with vitality that it ca n't help being annoying and exhilarating at the same time .", "works more often than not .", "the colors and songs all come together to form a movie that is like no other before it .", "a magnificent mess of a postmodern musical .", "a wonderful postmodern hug of a movie .", "an eye-popping , attention-grabbing piece of work .", "it 's like being trapped with a major attention deficit disorder victim in control of the tv remote or car radio .", "a sumptuous , spectacular , laugh-inducing , tear-jerking oasis of unbridled spirit and emotion .", "a jaw-dropping tour de force of visual imagination .", "it 's all very festive , like a party you did n't really want to go to but then ca n't leave once you get there .", "there will never be a movie about which people will say , ` it 's just like MOV , only more so . '", "there 's something oddly engaging about this movie .", "definitely a case of style over substance . but what style ! and what fun .", "`` MOV '' is itself like a courtesan , a lavishly oufitted , desirable beauty who excels at artifice .", "the numerous , imaginative dance routines are done with the director 's patented hyperkinetic editing , giving the film the feel of gilbert and sullivan on acid .", "a turning point for cinema .", "MOV quickly turns into the nightmare equivalent of spinning on a merry-go-round at 100 miles-an-hour .", "if you do n't get it , you 're too old . dead , probably .", "wildly colorful and naively passionate , MOV is a movie that dares to push emotions and theatrical styles to the absolute limit .", "`` it 's a frenzied , feverish , fellini-esque fairy tale - all style with no substance . ''", "if you are convinced that love is both a storm and a safe harbor , then all the theatrics on the screen will send shivers up and down your spine and put a smile on your face .", "... a train wreck of a film .", "if one is able to give oneself over to the heady mix of improbable fantasy that luhrman paints with his broad brush , MOV can be something akin to ecstasy .", "giving this film more gravity would have sunk it like the titanic ; like a pop song , it floats on hot air . it 's risky , gutsy , and -lrb- how rare -rrb- entertaining .", "baz luhrmann has created the most innovative movie musical since , well , his last one -- william shakespeare 's romeo + juliet .", "this spectacular production can not fail to impress - especially if you believe in freedom , beauty , truth , and -lrb- above all -rrb- love .", "a luscious , inspired flight of fancy that will delight fans of luhrmann and deconstructionist cinema , but may quickly tire conventional audiences .", "it plunges bravely into the realm of absurdity and emerges an exhaustingly exhilarating experience . for sheer audacity , it is unmatched this year .", "nicole kidman is absolutely stunning in this film ... macgregor is equally charismatic and heartbreaking ... has the rare ability to stir every emotion in the human soul", "gurgling through all of luhrmann 's intricate pipery is real , unabashed emotion-this movie not only loves its audience , it loves entertaining them with a movie about love .", "saturday night live has already made fun of the film for using songs from the 70s and 80s , but the reason it ends up working so well is that luhrmann really uses the songs .", "the movie has so much heart that the poor overworked organ explodes in every scene .", "bizarre and compelling MOV has something to please and offend almost everyone .", "feels as if a dump truck has buried moviegoers in confetti and glitter for two hours .", "it 's like watching a hyperactive kid on a sugar high ; after a while , you just want to send it to bed .", "a rare picture that gets you intoxicated on the possibilities of movies .", "a vivacious amalgam of past and present .", "you will either fall in love with every camp flourish , or find yourself exhausted after 20 minutes . it 's a singular achievement either way .", "it 's a bauble , but an ingenious one , and it 's also the work of a diehard romantic .", "a weirdly compelling guilty pleasure .", "it 's all frosting and no cake .", "even when it falls on its face , which it does more than once , the new movie falters with style .", "a passionate exploration of movie musical possibilities that 's also a desperate cry for ritalin .", "from the get-go it takes you on a carnival ride of glutenous proportions .", "operatic in scope , the film assaults our senses with the sumptuous music , costumes , sets and story .", "a vociferously overblown spectacle that unites a classical musical form with luhrmann 's obsessive pop culture pilfering and whirligig stylistic pastiche .", "MOV fills the screen with wit and joy and sorrow untempered by the dry , self-conscious cool of most modern films . its bravery alone earns rewards far beyond the price of its imperfections .", "MOV is an assault on the senses . everything here is over the top . you may find it pleasant , but you will almost certainly find it exhausting .", "a kaleidoscope of color and choreography -- a glittering pop opera ... rich in detail and imagination .", "the best film of 2001 !", "MOV is admirable if only for experimenting in a genre many have left for dead", "i love movies that can make me this dizzy .", "breath-taking in parts , yet at times embarrassing and clumsy , it 's a film you 'll either love or hate .", "aan undeniably imaginative work that is a glorious testament to the limitless and largely untapped possibilities of cinema .", "luhrmann scores another ` a ' for effort here .", "luhrmann rabidly hoovers up a century or so worth of pop culture detritus and then projectile vomits it all over the screen with a vengeance .", "the breakneck edits , freakish costumes , eccentric sets and matte effects come across like fellini orchestrating a rave party .", "luhrmann dips his stale crusts of inspiration into every kitsch pot he can find .", "you get faux feelings -- but faux of the highest , giddiest order .", "ignore the plot and enjoy the razzle-dazzle , especially during those amazing musical numbers .", "enjoyable enough in spots to leave one feeling passably entertained .", "in spite of a few flaws , MOV stands out as the most ambitious , the most daring , and the most entertaining movie of the year .", "heck , it is ridiculous . but when these characters open their mouths and sing , you believe every word .", "just remember to take your dancing shoes ; you 'll feel like using them afterwards .", "so different and unique -- you have got to go see it .", "a work of such pure and heartfelt vision , it 's hard not to be touched by it .", "-lsb- mcgregor -rsb- opens himself up to us , and what he reveals turns out to be almost alarmingly charming .", "an original , and an original , even a flawed one , is a thing to be cherished .", "it feels like heresy to wince at -lsb- luhrman 's -rsb- movie 's frequent tumbles into pedestrian vulgarity .", "if i wanted to make a musical today , i would want it to be like this movie .", "the music is fun , familiar , and most importantly not forced . when characters break into song it does n't seem quite as akward as it does in the standard musical .", "it looks great , stars two gorgeous people who look stunning together , and an ending that will put a tear in your eye .", "that 's what this two-hour workout for the senses is all about : exploring , embracing and exploding all the cliches of the musical comedy genre . ... walks a tightrope between gaudy camp and full-bodied romance .", "oo la la ! sheer cinematic artistry ... an outrageously creative film .", "uma grande festa para os olhos , ouvidos e mente .", "director baz luhrman handles every scene in `` MOV '' with the subtlety of a hunter thompson/liberace acid trip . wear edit-screen .", "a MOV le queda chica la pantalla ; no sólo la satura , la desborda . es una fiesta de color , de música , de pasión", "i 'll take a daring failure like MOV ! over a prefabricated success like the mummy returns any day .", "it 's directed with an eye for color , especially the color of rouge , by the pop-musical enthusiast , the australian , baz luhrmann .", "a daring and audacious film that may not only awaken the movie musical , but that will also place itself among the best films of this year .", "the musical numbers take you to a place you 've never been , the dialog reminds you that luhrmann does n't have anything new to say -- just a new way of sticking it together .", "the film is n't so much a reinvention of the musical genre as a reassertion of it .", "even luhrmann 's mtv editing would n't be a bad thing if there were a point to it -- but it 's an exercise in pointlessness .", "it 's a boisterous , panache-filled , colorful dance-a-thon love story that cleverly incorporates pop tunes from the late 20th century .", "thrilling , glitzy , audacious , daring , silly , spectacular , excessive , dazzling , dizzying , sensational , decadent , respectful , rude , electrifying , stupefying . take your pick .", "this is exhilarating , vibrant , bravura cinema .", "-lsb- luhrmann -rsb- gives you way too much of what you did n't really want in the first place : soulless high jinks .", "a breathtaking baroque film that marries the best of theatre , opera and cinematic technique .", "mines the twentieth century to construct a musical extravaganza totally out of time with its narrative world . and it works , most of the time .", "this movie takes musicals to a level never before experienced , and which may never be equaled in its exaggerated style ." ]

[ "it lives so confidently in its invented universe that you almost believe a society of apes could thrive on the outskirts of san francisco ...", "... an enthralling portrait - at once intimate and epic - of two civilizations on the brink .", "a visceral film , one of movement , action , unexpected developments , and disarming poignance .", "hail caesar .", "the most thrilling entertainment of the year .", "great cgi apes and performance by serkis . but murky , dull , lethargic , overlong and overblown . plot full of holes .", "`` MOV '' works both as allegory and action-adventure film .", "the thought that these animals are digital creations , crafted via cgi from human actors ' motion-capture acting , does not occur until close-ups reveal humanlike expressions . otherwise , the scenes seem to show living , breathing beings in their habitat .", "a humane triumph amid the usual summer cacophony , MOV is the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying blockbuster in years .", "this film 's greatest achievement is that it puts its audience in position to root for peace and conflict resolution , and against confrontation and war - and it does so without making itself preachy or boring .", "a canny continuation of the saga that delivers mood and action in approximately equal measure to compensate for a threadbare plot .", "surprisingly , a cgi ape learning what it means to be an ape can be riveting stuff .", "i want to go there with you america , i really do . i just ca n't .", "this latest technology allows the apes to exhibit a wide variety of facial expressions , down to the slightest hint of a smile , and even a tear .", "at least , for once , the fight scenes do n't last forever . my favorite is the major battle between caesar and koba -- it 's very well choreographed and terrifically exciting .", "what 's striking about this new film is that it lays out the message-mongering in such a way that you can enjoy the movie equally well on a purely action level .", "intense sequel is darker than first , with more weapons .", "so yes , ape shall not kill ape . but that does n't mean ape shall not ride on a horse holding a machine gun in each hand and instigating an inter-species world war . we can all be seriously grateful for that kind of serious fun .", "because -lsb- andy -rsb- serkis is able to wring so much pathos out of a furrowed brow or damp eye , ` MOV ' seems reluctant to grant anybody else much room .", "good movie , great effects but a bit slow in spots . what actually impressed me most is andy serkis -- who voices the ape leader caesar -- getting top-billing .", "it is certainly thrilling to see how reeves and his cgi wizards bring their hordes of apes to life . honestly , if i did n't know they were computerized , i 'd have thought they 'd brought off an evolutionary miracle .", "for dramatic verve and emotional nuance , apes trounce people , hands down , and the movie suffers badly from the mismatch ; all traces of finesse are trampled by the bombast of the climax .", "continuing to exist peacefully in the same cannon as the films started in 1968 ... rise and dawn , like the earlier films , have enjoyably different vibes , adding to the series ' epic-story feel .", "what redeems it all is the sense that the film-makers take their subject matter seriously and imagine their audience to be as sentient as their simian screen counterparts .", "it 's a sequel of a reboot , to be sure , but it may be the finest hour of the entire series .", "the movie looks good in 3d and the special effects are impressive . there are impressive fight scenes and set designs . the basic morality play structure of the story is compelling enough .", "director matt reeves does an exemplary job of working on the nerves , ensuring that audience members feel tense , tingly , taut and basically every which way but loose .", "rock solid .", "a monumental achievement , setting what 's at its heart an internal conflict against a backdrop of amazing visual effects .", "-lsb- i -rsb- f there is a significant weakness to dawn , it 's the sense of inevitability that permeates the film .", "MOV shows it is possible to have actual ideas and serious themes in a film which also manages to entertain in a truly spectacular fashion .", "just when it seemed like blockbusters could never evolve , in rides this extraordinary epic - a towering fable of humanity and brutality that takes a great movie myth and launches it forward .", "it 's the ape-ocalypse !", "MOV is a thrilling , compelling action spectacle that wo n't make you feel stupid for watching it .", "if we should take anything away from the terse title characters of MOV , it 's the power of brevity . so , here 's my review : apes together strong . sequel merely solid .", "what makes MOV , the superb sequel to the already enjoyable first chapter in the latest reboot of the venerable franchise , work is the way it spends almost its entire running time avoiding becoming a typical blockbuster .", "smart , strong and as morally intriguing as it is physically propulsive , MOV somehow turns what might have been a lazy reboot of yesterday 's camp ` classics ' into vital , exciting and resonant moviemaking .", "as entertainment , MOV is impeccably crafted and often spectacular .", "there 's no more apt image for america 's gun culture than a crazed chimp on horseback double clutching automatic weapons .", "`` it 's the genuine article , an engrossing tentpole with serious themes , complex moral conflicts and emotional stakes , and one that does n't feel as if it was written by committee . ''", "this is not exactly a profound film , but it addresses its weighty themes with striking clarity and narrative nuance .", "-lsb- a -rsb- heavy movie , even if it is hidden in the gorilla suit that is action-adventure entertainment .", "this is a summer blockbuster contingent on grand bargains , tactical retreats , and a ferocious , inevitable shock-and-awe campaign .", "there are no bad guys , and if there are - like ticking time bomb chimp koba -lrb- toby kebbell -rrb- , who rocks a giant scar given to him by meddling scientists - they have their reasons too .", "dawn never feels dull or draggy . it also never feels as excitingly intelligent as its apes ancestors .", "it offers up everything a summer blockbuster should : intelligence , great visual effects and an emotional core that stays with you after the lights come back on .", "yes , it 's hollywood at its most manipulative . still , heston would hate to hear this ... but , at least from a moviegoer 's perspective , the coming ape-ocracy may be nothing to fear and something to champion after all .", "a blockbuster with a brain , and a heart , too - a welcome thing .", "`` MOV '' is a showcase for serkis and the mo-cap wizards . the apes go marching , one by one .", "the beauty of MOV lies in how we do n't root for either species to win . we treat each individual , whether human or ape , on his or her own merits . this is the way it should be .", "`` MOV '' is not only the best sequel in the franchise and one of the best films of 2014 , it 's the best science fiction film in years .", "a story about real peacemaking that manages to both instruct and delight in classic fashion .", "it 's incredible . it sets the standard for blockbuster action movies , and manages to be even better than its predecessor .", "maybe that 's the sad takeaway of MOV : that peace is futile , conflict inevitable . no matter the species , we 're all doomed .", "an extraordinary summer blockbuster that reprises the fatal encounter of european colonizers with native americans and george orwell 's `` animal farm '' .", "a sequel that is an excellent expansion on the first film , while also complimenting the entire series in the process .", "i do n't think dawn will change a goddamn thing , though i 'm inspired by the attempt .", "tender , tense , intelligent and morally complex , this is a genuine contender for blockbuster of the year .", "treats the material with a respectable sense of philosophical and sociological sensitivity while still maintaining the pulpy pleasures of its post-apocalyptic sci-fi conceit", "bittersweet yet entertaining in its blockbuster sensibilities ... directed with serious intensity .", "this is not one of the smartest science-fiction flicks ; it relies on sheer action , which should be enough for the target audience .", "beginning with the eradication of mankind by the simian flu that spread at the end of the last film , rise of the planet of the apes , the new picture is the bleakest in a series that was never exactly all-singing , all-dancing .", "the slick cgi rendering of the apes and set pieces is the main event but it is at the sacrifice of the first film 's subtlety and mystique .", "serkis does what every actor wishes to do : leave an impression of himself on the audience 's memory . that impression will draw crowds and will not fade by oscar time .", "a smart , muscular , action-packed blockbuster that 's easily one of the summer 's most rousing sci-fi crowd-pleasers -- some seriously strong , exceptionally well-made monkey business .", "a post-apocalyptic story that revolves around the moral leadership of a peace-making ape and the heart-centered actions of a good man .", "dawn is an incredible epic of conflict and humanity , a movie that - in the truest planet of the apes tradition - tells a story about our society using the figures of apes on horseback .", "i ca n't say i did n't enjoy the ambition and the seriousness with which director matt reeves takes the potentially absurd material , but i will forewarn that `` entertaining '' may not be the word you 're looking for here .", "MOV restores your faith in the hollywood ` tentpole ' movie .", "as the performance behind caesar , andy serkis , along with a team of visual effects artists , has created a riveting character who is somewhere between human and animal , and who is shockingly convincing .", "within the fertile area between promise and execution , dawn is dynamite entertainment , especially in the rousing first hour .", "you have good guys and bad guys on both sides . the audience is n't meant to root for apes vs. humans as much as for certain characters . it 's one of the film 's best qualities .", "`` dawn 's '' vision of masses of intelligent apes swarming the screen as masters of all they survey is even more impressive than it was the last time around and reason enough to see the film all by itself .", "MOV is a textbook example of how to get a blockbuster right : you can have all the mind-blowing action set pieces that you want , but they must be populated with characters that you actually care about .", "the strength of this mythical morality tale and the cgi surrounding it almost make up for the short shrift given to the humans in this chapter . note i said ` almost ' .", "a sequel that ups the action while still retaining the emotional gravitas that marks the best cinematic epics .", "it 's serkis who provides the best , albeit smaller scale spectacle in ironically showing the humanity in the ape . it 's an insanely terrific performance . -lrb- full content listings for parents also available -rrb-", "what a terrific film , what a technical achievement . if you were impressed three years ago with the special effects in ` rise of the planet of the apes , ' and surely you were , prepare to be blown away with this sequel .", "premature climaxing dampens the mood .", "has me done with the planet of the apes .", "all hail caesar !", "it 's a simmering , tense descent into battle , but more , it 's a story of family and survival .", "bold and brash . it 's an action movie with plenty of ideas ... there 's a shakespearean motif this time ` round , with plenty of court betrayal and the like -lrb- i admit to thinking `` et tu , you filthy brute ? '' as a particularly appalling pun midway through -rrb- .", "in a perfect world , all summer blockbusters would be as sensational , as gripping , and as visually and audibly fulfilling as MOV is .", "`` MOV '' is loud , smart and ferociously committed to its premise , and it leaves an intriguingly bitter aftertaste .", "when ape chieftain , caesar bellows `` go '' at a bunch of gun-toting humans , the hairs stood up on the back of my neck . not since darth vader strode into star wars have i been as bowled over by such a formidable screen presence .", "a superbly mounted , powerfully performed , if slightly underfed apes sequel . that reeves is set to direct untitled of the planet of the apes next is cause for much celebration .", "it 's very enjoyable stuff .", "if you want to be entertained and stretch some of those brain cells you strained trying to make sense of transformers , watch this movie .", "proof that not all summer blockbusters should be tarred with the same brush of critical disdain arrives in this intelligent , exciting and surprisingly moving sequel .", "a thoughtful if not exactly pulse-pounding sequel to 2011 's rise of planet of the apes .", "dawn is admirable for its efforts to tell a completely new story infused with social commentary , but those efforts too often amount to very little .", "it may lack its predecessor 's lofty ambitions , but once the bullets , spears and hairy fists start flying you 'll be too wrapped up to care .", "however often it risks monkey-mad silliness , it 's impressively un-stupid .", "a brilliantly-realized successor to a solid franchise reboot .", "it 's the ape in the man and the man in the ape that 's at the heart of this dazzling sequel spectacular , whose sheer scale and extraordinary effects match the voracity of the film 's essence", "matt reeves masterful weaving of the spectacular visual effects , powerful emotional depth and complex morality rich themes has created not only an entertaining blockbuster , but a transcendent one that is rich in value and in message .", "a sequel that - narratively and visually - sets the standard for its summer-movie stablemates .", "smart , emotionally deep , exciting , beautiful to behold , and culturally relevant , dawn is quite simply a great film .", "MOV has smarts , gorgeous innovation and pure , arresting entertainment .", "just as 2011 's rise of the planet of the apes surpassed expectations , so this sequel delivers on its promise and leaves us wanting more - which we 'll almost certainly get .", "deeper , ambitious and morally-challenging to the extent that it depicts the apes and the humans as being far more alike than unalike .", "whether you attend this movie as a deep thinker or a thrill seeker , MOV is going to deliver everything you want .", "an absolute , hands-down knock-out ... dawn is sensational , compelling , enthralling . it shows just how brilliantly reboots can work when done with care and intelligence .", "for all of caesar 's complexity , `` MOV '' lacks intimacy and personality in all that surrounds him .", "a deeply intelligent , wildly entertaining sequel that proves the summer blockbuster is capable of evolution , too .", "the human characters -lrb- played by gary oldman , jason clarke , and keri russell , among others -rrb- are so bland they do n't stand a chance against their simian counterparts .", "nothing in the well-made but prosaic 2011 reboot hinted at the power of this film .", "MOV is an extremely high-functioning sci-fi thriller about extremely high-functioning apes . some of it may seem silly in the recounting , or in the trailer , but it does n't feel silly in the theater .", "what we 're really observing is the operation of a civilization through these remarkably rendered apes .", "what is , perhaps , surprising , is the way the film aligns our sympathies with the apes .", "given the constraints under which he must have been working , being filmed with motion capture technology and under layers of heavy make-up , serkis ' performance is extraordinarily expressive .", "what a wonderful world to lose yourself in for two hours and could it be possible that thanks to andy serkis 's performance , i have a crush on an ape ?", "MOV is the best and brainiest blockbuster of the summer , the kind of movie you hope for when you pay your money and buy your popcorn .", "this is a storming , soulful blockbuster that 's got both brains and heart .", "what we have here is a great frontier western of the old school .", "a magnificent science fiction drama , and a beautiful one . wonderfully radical for the simple fact that it is ruled by principled ideas .", "dawn is nothing like as dramatically satisfying as rise . it is slow , portentous and peculiarly dimly lit - for all of matt reeves 's ambition has gone into creating what he calls `` the photo-reality of things '' .", "a broody and reasonably entertaining act of brand extension , marred mainly by its limited license to do anything but inch audiences a little closer to the inevitable ape-slavement .", "criticisms are few with such bravely measured work , and dawn succeeds at moving this tale of discord and leadership along , continuing to refuse the invitation to mimic the narrative path of the original series .", "any film that begins with one of those fake-news montages , where snippets of genuine cnn footage are stitched together to concoct a feeling of semi-urgency around its hackneyed apocalypse , already sucks even before it gets started .", "the film , despite its bloat and its overfondness for scenes of massacre , feels as if it were made by actual humans .", "dawn gets the spectacle going in the late battle . but the story is so thin it develops very little tension along the way . even odder , the film is really corny .", "MOV has its problems , but its triumphs are many , from its exciting pacing and strong sense of place to its charismatic turn by andy serkis , whose characterization at times reminded me of abraham lincoln .", "it 's a satisfying movie and an example - a dispiritingly rare one these days - of what mainstream hollywood filmmaking can still achieve .", "here 's the sequel to that movie no one wanted and - surprise , surprise - it 's also really good .", "it is , in the end , just a well-made movie about apes fighting humans in a post-apocalyptic landscape , and that 's a very fun thing to watch .", "way better than it has any right to be .", "matt reeves , the director of another end of the world type scenario in found footage film cloverfield , takes the reins of this smart and attractive franchise and runs confidently with visceral wanton destruction and a blunt message about gun control .", "reeves conjures a spectacle that has you questioning every moment where movies have conditioned you to cheer instinctively , because the heroism of a moment is so often defined by your allegiances .", "the science-fiction thriller MOV creates a palpable atmosphere of existential dread .", "MOV works precisely because it believes in itself and will brook no arguments .", "it is better -lsb- than rise of the planet of the apes -rsb- . not by much , though , and not where it counts the most . it 's better on the level of spectacle , but the storytelling remains shaky at best .", "this groundbreaking , challenging and immensely rewarding sequel offers audiences a veritable feast consisting of mature science-fiction themes , complex emotional performances -lrb- both human and digital -rrb- , and riveting combat set pieces .", "led by motion-capture pioneer andy serkis and toby kebbel , these performances should make a serious case for oscar consideration . these are real actors that are able to express depth of emotion just like their all-human counterparts .", "a masterpiece of the highest order ! get to a theater near you to witness it first hand . if no one will drive you , i 'm sure there 's an ape on a horse nearby .", "with massive doses of eye-popping special effects i applaud the visual achievements in ` MOV . '", "reeves directs with great dynamism , and his scenes of masses of apes swinging through treetops and swarming through san francisco streets are rousingly staged .", "when reeves cranks up the action , dawn packs a pretty powerful punch . but it 's all of the attention to character that elevates dawn above the typical summer fodder .", "a potent blend of sci-fi spectacle and substance , matt reevesí exhilarating interspecies-war drama MOV may be the best film in the franchise since the 1968 original .", "the visual effects work superbly , and the director uses 3-d unobtrusively . the most remarkable effect may be the animals ' eyes , formerly a weak spot in motion-capture animation .", "visually arresting `` dawn '' overstays its welcome .", "if not every character is as well developed as in the previous film , it 's a forgivable slight , because some of the acting is tremendous , and the special effects are some of the best , well , ever .", "for its action , its humanity , its empathy and its exceptional intelligence , MOV is the best hollywood blockbuster this year .", "freed from the shackles of compulsory happy endings , the apes movies are able to monkey around with heavy themes for the popcorn and coke saturday night crowd , emphasizing audience gratification as an experience that lies in moments and scale", "` MOV ' is an intelligent war movie with themes of politics , leadership , trust and betrayal .", "actually , thinking about it , MOV is n't just a summer blockbuster , it 's a full on dramatic epic .", "i was n't a huge fan of the original reboot but MOV reeled me in quickly and held me right through to the action finale .", "a third apes movie featuring no human characters would be the perfect evolution for a thrilling series that has itself evolved way beyond reasonable expectations .", "this just might be the most engrossing , the smartest and the most daring `` apes '' movie ever put on film .", "a solidly entertaining and thoughtful science fiction persuades us around the edges of the story at what kind of future alexander and blue eyes will inherit from malcolm and caesar .", "more intelligence and less fighting could have made this a better film .", "has its moments , but is no dunston checks in .", "MOV is a riveting , well-layered , intelligent and emotional film that will please fans and audiences looking for an evening 's entertainment . easily it 's one of the best of the year , and not just a summer year .", "tension-filled and visually dazzling , it stars andy serkis , who redefines acting in the digital age .", "while serkis continues to do ` chimpressive ' work in his second outing as caesar , the standout ape performance of the film comes from toby kebbell as the violent and angry koba .", "common decency will not allow me to completely dismiss a film in which a viscerally realistic primate rides a horse down california avenue with machine guns blasting in both paws , but i never really cared who the ape was blasting or why .", "rise of the planet of the apes alone justified the advent of cgi . with it comes a worthy successor .", "there 's an inevitability to dawn 's slide towards chaos that takes away from its spectacular effects , chilling dystopian world and promising character drama .", "even more impressive than what MOV has to say is how it goes about saying it .", "motion-capture technology just gets better and better -- and so do the planet of the apes reboots .", "clarke is strong , and keri russell , kodi smit-mcphee -lrb- another aussie -rrb- and gary oldman similarly work hard , but this is all about the apes .", "a very easy movie to admire and almost impossible to enjoy . i spent most of the running time appreciating the artistry while wishing i could be anywhere else .", "matt reeves ... delivers both action spectacle and character drama , and he rightfully centers the entire film on caesar , the noble leader who understands the best and worst of humanity ...", "the apes have more complex characters than their human counterparts ... and thanks to a combination of computer imagery and astonishing motion-capture wizardry , their acting is better , too .", "when you are sufficiently captivated by the story not to raise so much as a smile at the spectacle of an enraged chimpanzee on horseback brandishing a sub-machine gun , then you have to give credit where it 's due .", "MOV is the new pinnacle of a franchise that has endured for over four decades . director matt reeves delivers a stunning film , deeply emotional and character driven .", "this installment inches events closer to a merge point with 1968 's planet of the apes while maintaining its own unique identity . it is in every way superior to rise of the planet of the apes .", "one of the smartest , most thrilling blockbusters in years .", "this is a confident sequel from reeves and company ; gripping , moving and recommended .", "... a clever job in updating the final roddy mcdowall-era sequel ...", "MOV asks us to allocate our compassion and revulsion equally among its various species . i have n't felt this kind of simian sympathy since the golden age of roddy mcdowall .", "the movie 's plot is steeped in xenophobia , gun control , fathers and sons and the story of julius caesar himself .", "the special effects are breathtaking . and , in turn , they make this film the most confident , engrossing and fierce apes-released movie to date .", "it 's the first big tent-pole film of 2014 that nails everything from start to finish , blending thoughtful allegory , meaningful science fiction and dazzling action spectacle without a hitch .", "one of the best big budget films of the year .", "it 's the rare sequel that stands on its own as a film with an epic feel , a movie that is both exciting and laden with emotion - and one that takes the baton and runs with it .", "this is a simian show , and thanks to the wonders of motion-capture technology and the wizardry of computer-generated visual effects , an awfully good one .", "filmmaking this good is why movies became the popular entertainment they are today .", "here 's a thought for the inevitable next film in this series : ditch the humans . stick with the apes . they 're a lot more interesting .", "proves you can marry visual spectacle with something to engage the heart and the head too .", "unlike most reboots , this one continues to entertain .", "this terrific follow-up to 2011 's rise of the planet of the apes bests what was a good film by matching clear , evocative themes to sublime digital effects .", "distrust is a dangerous and volatile thing and reeves ' film shows how it is this rather than grandstanding gestures that often lead to conflict .", "the national rifle apes organization loves MOV .", "a spider monkey could have written a less obvious screenplay .", "the best movie in the sprawling , disconnected franchise since the very first planet of the apes in 1968 .", "MOV is a movie that walks a tightrope between serious and silly and never completely loses its balance .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is a text book example of how to stay true to the basic genetic code of a movie while also letting it evolve into a different , altogether more sophisticated beast .", "it brings something back to the big screen that 's been in short supply since the invention of the dvd extra - a sense of wonder .", "the smashing opening sequence from 2001 : a space odyssey fleshed out to hit blockbuster beats", "for all its high-end special effects and its shakespearean ambitions , dawn fumbles its emotional moments and forces its action .", "the tone is dire , the visuals dark and doomy , the pace epically slow . like so many sequels , it 's everything the first film aspired not to be .", "while several of the summer 's films have had plenty of battles and destruction , this is the one that leaves us with something other than a conventional happy ending .", "confident , assured , muscular and moving in places .", "andy serkis and toby kebbell deliver stand out performances that will ensure dawn a place in movie history .", "MOV is n't just a great time at the theater , but a genuinely great movie without a single dull moment .", "i did n't get into either set of characters in this ... the apes or the humans . the script is straight from how to write a blockbuster screenwriting course , i thought .", "` dawn ' is not just a good genre movie or a good summer movie . it 's a great science-fiction film , full-stop , and one of the year 's very best movies so far .", "in the annals of sequels , dawn is to rise of the planet of the apes what the empire strikes back was to star wars -- it 's that much better .", "this vivid , violent extension of humanoid ape caesar 's troubled quest for independence bests its predecessor in nearly every technical and conceptual department ...", "none of the characters are very memorable and the allusions to issues such as ecology and racism are too vague to have much impact .", "the most metaphorically and morally evolved film of the bunch .", "watching an army of apes riding horses heading into battle is undeniably cool , but that 's the only thing the movie gives you : neat eye candy .", "`` dawn '' is n't just a rousing summer sequel , it 's a testament to hollywood 's fundamental ability to make something from nothing .", "serkis outdoes himself as caesar in MOV . this gigantic spellbinder of a movie rests on his ability to convey power and command with his posture , and an array of emotions via his incredibly malleable face .", "we 're seeing the beauty of simplicity at work here : good storytelling married to interesting characters and meaty concepts .", "MOV wisely weaves a tale of the flaws in human and simian natures . it also manages to say a thing or two about the hollowness of most summer blockbusters .", "`` dawn '' is that rare sequel that makes a pretty good predecessor -lrb- `` rise of the planet of the apes '' -rrb- seem almost unnecessary .", "an exciting and engrossing blockbuster with weighty themes , it raises important moral questions as it keeps viewers riveted .", "for two hours of breathless drama , you forget you 're watching actors grunting like chimps and hope two rival civilizations can work together .", "when it gets going , it 's a pretty fine movie .", "do n't know how the special effects team pulled this off ; do n't want to know .", "this film really becomes the dark knight to the first film 's batman begins .", "dawn is proof that with the right director and some care a remake or sequel can go further than anything that has come before it . evidently there 's still some creativity left in big budget hollywood .", "though it climaxes about a half hour too early , it 's a superior sequel .", "the best of this summer 's blockbuster movies . it is amazing . the most entertaining , exciting , provocative and powerful of all the apes films .", "... a fairly monotonous sci-fi adventure ... serkis and kebell peering out from beneath digitized fur and prosthetics impart far more emotion than their human counterparts .", "the most insightful , engaging political movie to come around in a long time .", "for the next installment , it might be wisest to forgo our own species altogether and make it all-ape . it is , after all , the logical next step in this particular cinematic evolution .", "but what will anyone talk about ? andy serkis , correctly first-billed as caesar , leader of the apes , who elevates the costly art of motion-capture to new heights : grave , soulful ... post-human .", "MOV is a summer blockbuster that defies what blockbusters are known for nowadays ...", "what it lacks in originality , the movie makes up for in sheer visual spectacle .", "a thinking man 's sci-fi film and the result not only did n't stimulate me but bored me", "with digital effects that blur the lines of reality as much as this film does , i 'm further excited to see what they do with the next sequel .", "... without question the movie of the summer - an epic allegory that says more about our world than a half dozen other hollywood blockbusters combined and a dazzling piece of filmmaking ...", "a fitting sequel whose digital magic is often breathtaking even if its storytelling is not quite as memorable .", "... both a stellar sequel and an above-average blockbuster .", "et tu , koba ?", "a most engaging sequel in one of the most thrilling reboots in cinema history .", "it 's smart , exciting , and visually brilliant , and the most impressive achievement i 've seen on film so far this year .", "if MOV is n't quite as profound as it wishes to be , it remains an entertaining and intelligent piece of popcorn entertainment .", "it 's a thoroughly mediocre movie -lsb- and -rsb- i 'm sorry to say that , considering that its predecessor in this new cycle , rise of the planet of the apes , was so unexpectedly good .", "addicted to pat lines and clichéd scenes of individual heroism or sentimental nonsense , from the usual battle between alpha males to the florence nightingale stereotype of an often weepy but sweet and soothing woman -lrb- keri russell -rrb- cooing over a baby ape .", "reeves knows how to eke pathos from cgi and heartbreak from teenaged vampires : he 's perfect for this story about the beasts that lie within .", "where dawn excels is not in the script 's simplistic portrayals of the complex dynamics of tribal warfare , but in good old-fashioned hollywood razzle-dazzle .", "`` dawn '' confirms that reeves is one of hollywood 's best filmmakers . a typical blockbuster helps us escape the realities of the world . this one has something to say about them .", "it 's mildly thrilling to report that `` dawn '' is the rare franchise sequel that darkens and complicates the story 's universe without seeming like a retread .", "it speaks to the masses with some treats for the discerning types in the back .", "at its heart , MOV is a classy , exciting genre film that packs in drama , twists and spectacular action .", "when a movie is inconclusive , when it 's heading nowhere , there 's no telling what should be emphasized and what should be glossed over . everything is of equal unimportance .", "dark and gloomy but riveting in a good , scary way .", "a sequel to a reboot that makes a solid franchise stronger .", "surprisingly rollicking and resonant ...", "every 3-d scene in MOV screams epic . actually , more than epic . epic .", "the rare summer blockbuster with both brains and brawn . the best apes movie since charlton heston first slapped on a loincloth .", "the visual look of the apes themselves is what brings it all home . seeing is believing , and the magic of `` MOV '' is that it is so easy to believe .", "one of the most intelligent and entertaining big-studio releases of the summer so far .", "MOV gets to be exciting and to say something about the world instead of merely blowing it up . the apes are among the more intellectually complex characters you 're likely to spend time with this summer .", "if rise of the planet of the apes successfully restarted the dormant apes franchise , the superior dawn indicates the grand saga this new iteration might become .", "pretty deep waters for a two-hour popcorn movie .", "watching an ape army on horses galloping into battle is silly in practical terms , yes , but somehow believable and even exhilarating within the confines of this world .", "it 's an education fable , accessorised with biffs and bangs in widescreen 3d .", "an extended grunt lecture about understanding delivered by stock characters . in order to get credit for `` not offering easy answers , '' you actually have to ask a question .", "perhaps the strongest effort in a long line of planet of the apes efforts , the arrival of this new dawn suggests taking an evolutionary step backward may be the best way to secure the future .", "MOV takes everything great about the first film and kicks it up to a higher level . one of the best -lrb- and most technically proficient -rrb- films of 2014 .", "reeves ' deliberately charts a queasy path toward disaster rather than indulging in the moronic fist-pumping kineticism of michael bay . when was the last time you saw an action film that inspired a desire for peaceful coexistence ?", "the film neuters any potential for the very type of stinging social commentary that was the original series ' hallmark .", "despite all odds , MOV really is the most emotionally engaging blockbuster you 're likely to see all year , a perfect mix of explosive action and poignant drama that delivers a master class in escapist entertainment .", "forget motion-capture , this is motion-rapture . meanwhile , oscar-winning composer michael giacchino -lrb- up -rrb- finds some extraordinary piano notes to emphasise contemplative silence as much as imminent threat .", "a smart , involving sequel", "MOV is a master class in how to make an engaging prequel/sequel .", "the allegorical simplicity of the planet of the apes films has always been their greatest strength , of course , and the way this film continues to make us root for ceasar is a neat trick .", "the look of the film is so impressive , in fact , that it makes one think that the filmmakers decided to let everything else more or less take care of itself .", "MOV is the kind of summer blockbuster that you want to see . it recognizes that action for the sake of action is not compelling , and that action stemming from brewing conflict and character faults is .", "a great ` apes ' movie .", "... `` MOV '' rises and falls on the large shoulders of andy serkis . he gives caesar a quiet dignity and , if possible , almost makes him human in his emotions", "-lsb- a -rsb- ridiculously entertaining , technologically stupefying sequel that 's easily the summer 's best blockbuster yet ." ]

[ "-lrb- this -rrb- funny-but-forgettable movie loses its way somewhere between stowing the carry-on and returning the tray tables to the locked position .", "it 's heartless and soulless , flimsy and formulaic .", "the entire cast consists of able-bodied comedians , and a great deal of the movie has been improvised , so the laughs keep coming .", "as chances are dim that we may see another romantic comedy as funny and as close to honest as this all year , we should celebrate MOV while we have the chance .", "it 's not exactly re-inventing the wheel but it 's still a pleasant surprise .", "acknowledges both the difficulty and the comic potential of the arrangement , and does so with enough insight and charm to make you wonder why frequent-flier love is not a more popular theme in romantic comedies .", "particularly forgettable .", "a wan romantic comedy about the difficulties inherent in long-distance relationships and touches on every cliché in the handbook .", "documentary filmmaker nanette burstein brings a refreshing frankness to the goings-on -lrb- you do n't see many rom-coms where people do bong hits on their first date and are n't punished for it -rrb- , and the leads are awfully winning .", "long and barrymore create very realistic chemistry in a film that pretty much nails what 's it like to be in a long distance relationship . though , charlie day steals the movie .", "this is the best of the romantic comedy genre since ' -lrb- 500 -rrb- days of summer . '", "whoever thought they could mix gross toilet-humor and endless vulgarity with romance has done a big injustice to these otherwise likeable lead stars .", "sometimes it 's sweet , sometimes it 's sappy , sometimes it 's unbelievably raunchy and occasionally it 's rather witty , but none of it melds together particularly well . often , it 's like watching five different movies crammed into one .", "the movie does n't know whether it wants to be sweet or dirty - nora ephron or judd apatow", "watchable romcom , enlivened by a frequently funny script and strong comic performances from a superb cast , though the script ca n't quite resolve the problems raised by real life long-distance relationships ...", "a raunchy rom-com that is surprisingly authentic in its emotions and hilariously obscene .", "drew barrymore and christina applegate are tremendously appealing : it 's not long before you 're wishing MOV was about them .", "... it does n't treat its female lead as if she 's an idiot whose professional success is simply proof how inadequate she is without a man .", "enjoyable , but good , not great .", "a charming , but ultimately forgettable romantic comedy . at least this time , there 's no sperm donor involved .", "it does n't have the emotion or tenderness of burstein 's american teen , and where the la times predicted the next -lrb- 500 -rrb- days of summer , we 're left instead with a bog-standard chick-flick , as light and superficial as you 'd usually expect .", "coming in midway between ` up in the air ' and ` failure to launch , ' this comedy about a long-distance romance neither soars nor crashes and burns ... not great and not terrible , just mediocre .", "just because you tart up a typical romantic comedy with trash talk does n't make it edgy or real .", "-lsb- it does -rsb- that one thing that a romance absolutely has to do -- touch us .", "from the corny ` see what we did there ? ' title to a plot that 's as predictable as a transatlantic flight-path , this is a truly join-the-dots romcom .", "the surprisingly vulgar humor is at odds with the story 's sweetness , and smacks of trying too hard .", "garrett and erin meet cute over a game of centipede , though their subsequent long-distance romance breeds mainly a desire to see them and their friends suffer human centipede-style torment .", "MOV may be a minor movie , but it 's also the rare romantic comedy in which you can actually believe what you 're seeing .", "MOV is a truly modern romantic-gross-out-comedy .", "the funniest , sweetest romantic comedy since -lrb- 500 -rrb- days of summer , MOV feels blessedly relaxed .", "it 's hard to imagine any romantic comedy going wrong in so many different ways .", "barrymore goes from grey gardens to this mess . i wanted all the characters to die violent deaths .", "helmer nanette burstein comes from documentaries and so the film is more grounded in realistic detail , but as a comedy , it 's rather flat and neither funny nor insightful enough about its subject .", "a grittier , saltier than usual rom-com populated with laughs , smarts and a couple you can root for .", "this potentially thoughtful , poignant relationship film quickly loses its nerve .", "manages to be interesting as well as amusing , and there are good performances from both drew barrymore and justin long at the core of it .", "romantic comedies are n't written any more . they 're compiled - cut and pasted together from bits and pieces of old judd apatow and nora ephron bromances and chick flicks .", "barrymore and long are adorable together .", "the funny stuff is canceled out by too many story-intensive stretches , which dispense with the humor and make the movie feel as long as braveheart .", "be prepared to be underwhelmed by this contrived romantic comedy that falls as flat as the dining room table on which drew barrymore and justin long make out", "it 's a solid but totally forgettable entertainment , redeemed somewhat by barrymore 's loud , horsey laugh and some agreeably racy comic situations .", "as a riotous comedy , distance falls short , but it still racks up several miles for sweetness .", "edgy barrymore romcom has lots of sex , language .", "all the bases seem to be covered , but none of them are particularly funny . at best you 'll smile out loud .", "romcom - like everything else in this text-happy society - is two words shortened and bonded together . if only the movie was chopped and shortened .", "an uneven , painfully contrived and uninspired romantic comedy that 's low on laughs and chemistry while high on awkward dirty talk and unnecessary foul language .", "it might not be particularly original , but this rom-com at least takes a fresh approach to the formula .", "a crass excuse for a film", "` MOV ' is an occasionally diverting look at long-distance relationships that takes a few too many shortcuts .", "latulippe keeps things moving by maintaining the tension these two people , who seem to be perfect for each other , have in not wanting to choose between love and career , with them wisecracking , weeping and being blindsided by their emotional rollercoaster", "z-z-z-z-z-z-z , we must say .", "if you 've no frequent-flier miles , there 's little need to go the distance with this bumpy ride .", "in terms of tone and style , the finished product ends up all over the place : think of it as the sybil of romantic comedies .", "MOV , a new romantic comedy from doco director nannette burstein , is pretty much wall to wall with dirty talk , but it does n't seem to have a political or social point to make ; which makes it feel a little empty .", "there is not much substance to geoff latulippe 's screenplay , which mostly falls back on apatow-style sex jokes and pop-culture riffs .", "MOV quickly picks up pace to become a lively , edgier-than-usual hollywood comedy .", "MOV superficially resembles a genre film , but is hipper , edgier and about 40 i.q. points higher than the average romantic comedy", "lest you think this is some sappy `` chick flick , '' be warned : `` MOV '' has a lot more in common with the raunchy male-bonding comedy `` the hangover '' than it does with `` you 've got mail . ''", "a little too obviously inspired by judd apatow 's success at mixing romance and raunch ... confuses dirty with cool and improv-ready characters with real people .", "an aspiring journalist and a music-industry slacker discover the many downsides of long-distance romance in this formulaic comedy , which relies too heavily on the charm of stars drew barrymore and justin long .", "screenwriter geoff latulippe 's story of a recession-era long-distance relationship and its hurdles takes its characters seriously .", "this kind of film all boils down to charm and both long and barrymore do an excellent job of playing people it 's easy to actually like .", "evokes the sensation of witnessing a couple who think everything the other person does is superlatively amusing , but are insufferable to all around them .", "and thus the romantic comedy slump continues .", "i 'm surprised barrymore and long signed up for this gig . perhaps the chance to work opposite each other was too irresistible . either that , or the million-dollar pay cheques .", "the writing here is really quite endearing and burstein 's use of hand-held camera in several scenes helps add spontaneity to the proceedings that enlivens what could have been otherwise stale material .", "while occasionally opting for cheap laughs , this romantic comedy is entertaining , warm and feels surprisingly rooted in real life .", "... it 's simply the best romantic comedy of the year so far . it 's adorable , of its time and laugh out loud funny .", "nanette burstein reminds us she was previously a director of documentaries by occasionally shooting with a handheld camera for no discernible reason .", "to date , no motion picture has adequately captured the soaring highs and devastating lows associated with a long distance relationship , but MOV comes as close as any movie has .", "it 's funny , i was just remarking to a friend the other day that more romantic comedies should make hitler/zyklon b references . MOV , get out of my head !", "distance : the perfect date movie .", "full review at movies for the masses", "the beauty of this crude , rude and filled with attitude romantic comedy is that guys and girls will appreciate the vulgar and sometimes very funny humor .", "an economy-class up in the air .", "and here we are right back in romcomsville .", "a podcast with the writer of MOV , geoff latulippe .", "a long haul .", "while it mostly avoids rom-com clichés and is grown-up enough to deal with sex frankly , it 's also deeply vanilla and is saved only by an obvious spark between the two leads .", "does n't go the whole distance . but it 's a start .", "the only reason you root for a reunion at the end of this unromantic romp is because these two jerks really deserve each other .", "between this movie and her fascinating performance in hbo 's grey gardens , barrymore , at 35 , is becoming a serious comedic actor .", "in the end , the movie feels confused , conflicted and muddled . it winds up pleasing almost no one .", "every time MOV goes for the big dirty joke , the movie loses all rhythm . when it follows its heart , it works rather well .", "a standard-issue , relationship-thin rom-com that hopes its potty mouth will distance itself from the competition", "it all looks so effortless , it 's a wonder that movies like MOV are such an anomaly .", "purists who say that modern romantic comedies are too often crude for the sake of being crude have fresh evidence in MOV .", "clichés aside , this has a fresh , contemporary feel , and the cosy rapport between barrymore and long -lrb- on/off partners in real-life -rrb- makes it an easy ride .", "the film has its share of laughs -- by my count , seven titters and three chuckles .", "sweet without being sticky and with just enough sourness to keep things real , this is a romantic comedy that delivers in both departments .", "absolutely infuriating . the worst movie of the year .", "barrymore and long have a way of bringing out the silliness in each other and luckily , that kind of chemistry goes a long way .", "there 's not much substance to a thin and rather contrived plot , but there are lots of laugh-out-loud lines -- at least to start with .", "what 's both refreshing and problematic is that there 's no emotional imbalance between boy and girl : their feelings are mutual and the obstacle is purely geographical .", "barrymore and long are likable , but they are n't likable enough to pull off this screenplay .", "a feelgood breeze kept fresh by winning performances , it 's worth going the extra mile for .", "while it 's unlikely to be anyone 's long-term love , if you 're up for a fun , quick fling , it does the trick .", "the couple-surrounded-by-quirky-friends dynamic is as obvious as the movie 's new york locales and well-positioned indie band posters .", "barrymore and long are both appealing , but not enough to sustain audience interest in the cinematic equivalent of dry-humping .", "... amiable enough thanks to the two stars , here at their most likeable ...", "most rom-coms are fairy tales from start to finish ; this one shows that you can keep things down-to-earth and still have a completely satisfying resolution .", "this empty , immature romantic comedy ultimately feels as if it 's filled with all the hot air that separates new york and san francisco , yet still manages to be a suffocating bore .", "the laughs kept me involved in MOV , but after i left the theater , it occurred to me that this slight comedy had n't gone very far at all .", "a bicoastal comedy with a bit of a bipolar disorder .", "justin long and drew barrymore have a believable chemistry that makes MOV worth going to . more or less .", "it 's filthy , funny and kind of sweet , if not quite up to the level of judd apatow 's oeuvre in the burgeoning field of r-rated comedies with heart .", "it smothers the already frail story of their characters ' long-distance relationship with enough r-rated gross-out humor for half a dozen judd apatow movies -- except that virtually none of it is funny .", "the long distance aspect was interesting , accurate , and mined for maximum comic effect .", "MOV occupies a happy medium where we do n't necessarily really live , but like to think we could . in short , it 's better than you 're expecting .", "there 's also some gallows humor about the record and newspaper industries , but overall this is a light , genial comedy about denial and self-defense .", "MOV does n't redefine cinematic romance , but it balances the sweet and sour moments of its story very well .", "while it takes its sweet time in doing the titular thing , ` MOV ' has enough charm and laughs to warrant a recommendation . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "a reminder of what the genre can accomplish when it stays true to a premise that actually has relevance to and basis in reality .", "may not exactly rock the conventions of the rom-com , but it is a refreshingly vibrant addition to the genre", "it 's about time someone made a romantic comedy about long distance relationships . the set-up is ripe with both comic and dramatic possibilities , dueling polarities that MOV mines equally .", "might be the most honest and accomplished romantic comedy so far this year .", "one of the things i liked best about the film is how it is grounded in the grim economics of the newspaper and recording industries .", "the best news about the script is that it avoids the usual rom-com staples of misunderstandings and incompetence .", "they 're either trying to copy someone else 's personality or they mistakenly think they 're being original . at least they do n't have sex with bras on . that 's realistic .", "captures the harshness and the sweetness of our time .", "a relationship movie in which the f-bomb gets dropped about once a minute and the screen is dotted with bare derrieres -lrb- male -rrb- .", "the sequences in which barrymore and long share screen time are not as good as when they 're separated , which lets some of the air out of their romance", "feels too much like a shrugging shuffle around the bases . scenes are overscored , there are more references to dicks than in a judd apatow boxset , and the story 's too episodic , with little tension other than will-they-stay-together ?", "an original film that gets it right when it comes to exploiting both love and laughs .", "sex , drugs and f-bombs on the first date ... ah , modern romance ...", "burstein is a documentarian by training , and she milks an unforced honesty from the story .", "MOV features the graduation of justin long from gawky supporting actor to gawky lead actor , and drew barrymore from cutesy rom-com star to cutesy rom-com star with a filthy mouth .", "drew barrymore and her boy toy try going bicoastal", "foul-mouthed and funny , ` MOV ' is a youthful romance for grownups .", "if you 're looking for a fun date movie with realistic characters you can genuinely root for , see this film . best rom-com of the year ? quite likely .", "what are we doing watching this manically dreary , physically nauseating date movie from hell ?", "MOV is a reminder of the sorry state of the rom-com , where gross scenes and easy-to-write trash talk have replaced smart dialogue .", "this premise , with better writing , could have made a much more compelling movie .", "MOV offers up a genuine , well-observed romance that is often very funny and profane .", "the conflict is unsatisfying and its resolution moot .", "the novelty of seeing barrymore and long onscreen together wears off quickly , and then the picture has to work on its own merits -- which , unfortunately , are few .", "there 's rat-a-tat dialogue in `` MOV , '' but it 's kept small-caliber , and the film does not kid itself -- or us -- about how much hard work is required to keep a flickering flame of feeling alive in the face of a big , cold world .", "an r-rated romance that has its moments but is ultimately trying a little too hard -lrb- something barrymore , with her trademark lightness , never does -rrb- .", "a foul-mouthed rom-com carved from apatowian intent , but it feels more like a sketch of a movie than the real thing .", "the film gets many things so right about the conflicts faced by a two-career couple looking for work in a shrinking economy .", "there 's just not quite enough to the movie : not enough jokes , not enough obstacles , not enough sex .", "a surprisingly funny movie . it 's not great , not by a long shot . but it made me laugh on a much more regular basis than i expected .", "self-conscious and filled with coarse vulgarity , as a romantic comedy , it 's a disappointment .", "plays like the work of soulless hacks who put a conventional romantic-comedy script through some sort of judd apatow computer program before enacting it for the cameras .", "a rom-combo of frat boy humor , generic romance and career angst , underscoring a sex commuter comedy with lovers flying across the country for visits . all that 's missing is some snakes on a plane .", "the raison d'ętre of MOV is exploring long-distance relationships . what a shame , then , that it has nothing much to say on the subject that is n't completely obvious .", "hilarious in many individual scenes . it 's the first movie i can ever remember being less than the sum of its parts .", "the film 's constant raunch factor balances out its romantic center in a way that will likely surprise and please many .", "if drew barrymore and justin long have as much fun being romantically involved in real life as they do on screen , they should be together for a long time .", "barrymore just keeps getting better with age , both with her looks and her comedic timing -- and the writing soars above the commonplace .", "-lsb- t -rsb- ries too hard to be cute , and the desperation -- `` please like me ! '' the movie is practically screaming -- becomes a turnoff .", "... being different does n't necessarily mean being better .", "not a great film , but in a time when most romantic comedies are trite and predictable , this one at least tries to deal with an actual relationship hurdle .", "much like drew barrymore , -lsb- this film -rsb- is so intent on being cutesy and bubbly that it 's nauseating ...", "MOV is concocted from a familiar formula . it just happens to be a really good example of what can be done with it .", "the combination of a very funny and a little bit raunchy rom-com with the plethora of extras make the package a must to rent or buy .", "... the pervasively affable atmosphere -lsb- is -rsb- heightened by the palpable chemistry between long and barrymore 's respective characters .", "if you 've ever had an awkward sexual moment in your life -lrb- admit it , you have -rrb- , this is the movie for you . if you 've ever believed there ca n't be love without the comedy , this is the movie for you .", "barrymore carries the movie on a cloud of lusty giggles and f-bombs .", "you sort of wind up rooting for them in spite of their characters being somewhat knuckleheadish .", "barrymore comfortably slips into more filthy talk and situations while bringing her innate sweetness and relatability ." ]

[ "... starts off as director alex proyas 's take on `` final destination '' before going all `` close encounters '' on us . if only we had n't seen it all before .", "a broad , leisurely jumble of alfred hitchcock-style suspense architecture and a dreary , paint-by-numbers sci-fi channel original , MOV only seems to extract two reactions : nail-biting and eye-rolling .", "it 's a folly and a failure , but an intriguing one - an ambitious vision from a tremendous filmmaker that , sadly , had too much going on with not enough to say .", "MOV is about faith ; the belief that one day the mysteries of the universe will be explained to us , and the knowledge that anything is possible .", "a slog through lazy writing , indifferent acting and blase direction with no hope of anything but chaotic violence as reward .", "alex proyas has gone all out on a film which , unfortunately , will be seen by many as an interesting experiment gone awry , rather than the sci-fi masterpiece it aspires to be .", "a shotgun spray of metaphysics , cosmology , the old testament , flying saucers , angels , spooky blonde-haired men in black trench coats , mysterious little black rocks , two cute kids and a moose on fire .", "a damned entertaining movie despite the fact that it stars nicholas cage .", "if those space-dudes are so friendly , why drive children insane with a bunch of weird code ? why not just show up on the tonight show and tell everybody the exact date and time ? lame ! also : why fake massachusetts ? why not just say : ` this is australia . '", "suffice it to say that the last third is a mélange of close encounters and christian eschatology , and you 'll wish the film had stopped about 15 minutes sooner .", "ultimately the one who gets burned is cage , a 1996 oscar winner whose once-promising career is boarding the mother ship for oblivion .", "MOV is a classic case of a movie that is crammed with interesting ideas but is unable to conceptualize them in a compelling fashion .", "too ridiculous to be taken seriously and too serious to be dismissed as mindless trash .", "-lsb- a -rsb- lugubrious thriller .", "the dizziness of it all might not have been so obvious had we not had a long prologue and a finale that climaxes with two or three anti-climaxes , a couple of them laugh-out-loud silly .", "it 's all very creepy , satisfyingly so .", "a strange blend of apocalypse fantasy and christian uplift , alex proyas ' follow up to i , robot is every bit as beautiful as we 'd expect , though not quite as tasteful .", "it 's the worst kind of idiocy , the kind that 's wholly invested in its own profundity .", "in the end , the whole thing 's rather preposterous -- but you got ta admire proyas ' nerve for going there .", "MOV , though the story of disasters , is n't a total disaster itself . it 's just too ambitious for its own good .", "know1ng is a terrible movie . but for sheer `` you ca n't do that . you ca n't do that . did they just do that ? '' slack-jawed , drop - yer-popcorn astonishment , it 's hard to see how this will be beaten in 2009 .", "MOV is a glorified episode of the twilight zone . a mish-mash of films such as deep impact and close encounters that manages to be serious and unimportant at the same time .", "an expletive-filled expression of utter bewilderment awaits anyone who stumbles into what must surely be a new frontrunner for the barmiest blockbuster ever made .", "despite burning his credibility card with a chorus line of cinematic crap , cage seems to have -lrb- finally -rrb- picked decent material , and he turns in a solid performance here .", "for sci-fi fans , this could become a contemporary classic .", "you 're better off not MOV .", "the cgi is unconvincing , the big shock-and-awe finale is a throwback to the days of deep impact , and underneath it all is the nervous american insistence that there is life beyond the stars .", "alternately ludicrous , eerily plausible and just a tad overreaching , the film shares its finer points with shortcomings and comes up with an overall cinematic experience more ambitious than most big-budget special effects extravaganzas .", "it 's a nicolas cage movie , so , admit it , you 're expecting crazy . you have no idea .", "proyas remains a skilled director of mood and spectacle , but a striking look and a handful of remarkable setpieces -- look out for that plane -- ca n't elevate what 's ultimately a silly movie with a queasy subtext .", "the promise that alex proyas showed with 1998 's dark city is only very sporadically evident in MOV , the director 's second sci-fi saga .", "MOV is only half the battle", "MOV has the evangelical fervor of a movie that feels as if it were made during w 's first term . which is to say , MOV is as potent a slice of disaster porn as left behind . it dabbles in faith and doubt and has no patience for f", "a weird and gloomy existential thriller .", "it 's meant to be creepy , but the movie 's gloomy atmospherics are consistently undone by cage 's strange , disinterested -lrb- and possibly botoxed -rrb- performance .", "the slovenliness of the filmmaking is embarrassing .", "MOV is among the best science-fiction films i 've seen -- frightening , suspenseful , intelligent and , when it needs to be , rather awesome .", "unfortunately , the movie gets nutty in its second half -lrb- probably the same half that will endear the film to its inevitable cult fans -rrb- .", "it has a wacky premise and an ending that blows your mind but it sure does hold your interest .", "the good news is that m. night shyamalan does n't have to feel quite so ashamed of himself anymore .", "stands a very good chance of being in the running for best bad movie ever made .", "hugely enjoyable , surprisingly dark thriller with a strong premise , great performances and terrific special effects .", "factor in devoted performances from cage and pouting beauty rose byrne as his accomplice , plus some perilously neglected children , and the result is ... well , downright cha-hee-zy at times , but also rather shamefully delicious .", "cage is back to form after recent awful films like the wicker man and bangkok dangerous . proyas encourages cage to under-play with conviction . and the result is thrilling .", "an uncommonly smart and ultimately moving film .", "what at first seems a simple premise with a dumb-assed popcorn resolution might well unravel in your head into something altogether more resonant and perplexing -lrb- or not -rrb- .", "stars nicolas cage in one of the actor 's better commercial efforts , which is good news for cage , since he needed a movie that was an improvement over the dreck he 's been shucking to audiences for far too long .", "it 's pretty much impossible to take the rest of a film seriously once you 've seen a flaming moose running toward the camera in slow motion .", "criticisms of story and acting seem nitpicky in the face of the special effects , which are frankly awesome .", "the frustrating thing about MOV is the story is worthy . but director proyas tries to cram too much in , as if the tricks and effects wizardry are all that really counts . they are n't .", "MOV is a sweet 'n' low movie : it 's good most of the way , but the aftertaste lingers unpleasantly .", "for me , it does n't quite work ; still i 'm glad he took the risk .", "the narrative corner into which this movie , directed by alex proyas , paints itself is a simultaneously silly and morbidly depressing one .", "its breathlessness and permanent state of confusion make you long for the assured touch of m. night shyamalan .", "in many ways , it 's a thriller undone by its scale ; the premise , which is undeniably fascinating , would have been better served by a smaller budget and tighter focus -- anchored not by explosions , but by psychology , mood and suspense .", "it 's the next bold entry in the genre of hilariously terrible nicolas cage movies .", "... so convoluted , idiotic and preachy that it plays like m. night shyamalan adapting the left behind books . only dopier .", "daring and deliberate , as if proyas wanted to purposely undermine the expectations of the standard popcorn pandering", "a clunky screenplay does n't help matters , but the spectacularly shoddy special effects are the nail in the coffin for this doomsday scenario .", "some movies , however unpromising , can be saved by a great ending . here is one .", "an earnest cage lends some gravitas to a film of amazing coincidences and less than amazing special effects that sci-fi fans will embrace until something better comes along .", "a ticking-clock thriller turned full-blown horror , alex proyas 's film is n't the first to feature cage wandering about bewilderedly . at least i am legend had a dog .", "it probably helps that the trailer flatlined our expectations , but the engaging , unconventional MOV certainly qualifies as a pleasant surprise .", "somewhere in amongst the mystery/thriller/horror / sci-fi/drama genre-bending shenanigans something gets seriously lost .", "MOV has a far more insidious agenda : to convince non-believers like cage , an embittered , alcoholic atheist since his wife 's death , there is intelligent design in the universe .", "mixing spielbergian child-like wonder , disaster movie spectacle and the cod-religious silliness of m night shyamalan 's ` signs ' . the premise is compelling , but the execution is over-cooked .", "less mysticism or numerology , than really frightening spookonometry , and craftsmanship teeming with nightmarish imagery that takes your breath away , even with all sorts of outlandish premises afoot . et , or rather ee with rabbits and a hearing aid .", "as threats of annihilation go , the imperfect but effective MOV presents its big picture with thoughtfulness and style .", "apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers are supposed to be thought-provoking and supernaturally suspenseful , but this is just paranormally dopey .", "imagine that the nitwits who wrote those preposterous left behind apocalyptic end-times fantasies decided to try their pens at something x-files-y ...", "chaos -- and a bad script -- threaten the human race .", "MOV is a complex movie that is waaaaay out there . sure , these ideas are pretty far on the fringe , but they make for some pretty exciting movie watching .", "this is a strange , scatterbrained hybrid of disaster movie and theologically minded science fiction . it 's like the happening with math .", "the movie dissolves into cage running around trying to warn people about the numbers , but he does n't know exactly what is going to happen or where it 's coming from , so we get the crazy doomsayer routine by day and boozing while lamenting by night .", "a big creepy sci-fi thriller -- or two-thirds of one , anyway .", "feels like the sort of poorly defined spiritual salve that m. night shyamalan concocts in between preening sessions in front of the mirror .", "the movie begins shameless , grows stupid and winds up silly . if the ending had less of the air of a crackpot religion and more pretentiousness , you could almost call it shyamalanish .", "an uneasy blending of sci-fi and religion , fate and faith -- the same mish-mash that has bedeviled most of m. night shyamalan 's recent movies , and leaves this film leaden with self-importance .", "it really should n't take itself so seriously because the plot is , to be frank , a load of sci-fi nonsense which stretches the suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point .", "i 've discovered a set of letters predicting when a catastrophically bad film is about to occur . they are nicolascage and , once again , the man who 's given us more turkeys than christmas is party to another shocker .", "it has nothing but the most simplistic of insights , it mistakes mood for suspense , and even the special effects do n't break new ground . a disappointing offering from one of australia 's most talented genre directors .", "the film 's final third -lsb- is -rsb- a mélange of close encounters of the third kind and christian eschatology that will make you wish the film had ended 15 minutes sooner .", "what starts out as a tense and interesting movie slowly becomes an end of the world sci-fi mess that is too long and not exciting enough .", "MOV is n't good , exactly , but for connoisseurs of good-bad , it hits the spot like an asteroid .", "stylishly directed by alex proyas -lrb- who made i , robot -rrb- this is quite simply over-the-top bonkers .", "` MOV ' this film certainly is n't , but if special effects are your thing , you 'll enjoy the ride .", "proyas has once again taken an interesting piece of science fiction and turned it into an action movie , in which potentially interesting ideas get short shrift .", "the slam-bang set pieces deliver . so , with his spooked features and breathy-orotund voice , does cage .", "he 's like mel gibson in `` signs , '' only his visitors know how to open doors .", "despite the concept , despite the relatively solid and even exciting first half , the last fifteen minutes of MOV left me squirming in my seat . seriously .", "it 's just engaging enough to make you accept the possibility that two kids from the boston suburbs may just be mankind 's only hope for the future and just exciting enough to make you forget that you 're watching a nicolas cage movie .", "well-directed by alex proyas with just the right emphasis on the spooky and unexplained , MOV is most interesting at the start .", "if you like bad taste , crazy explosions , death , pointless aliens intruding into everyday life and manic cage-iness , then here 's your next opportunity to enjoy 120 minutes of the stupidly awesome .", "ambitious but overwrought .", "the movie 's big , dumb elements come in all the wrong places ; they provide lots of anxiety but little relief .", "the draggy , lurching two hours of MOV will make you long for the end of the world , even as you worry that there will not be time for all your questions to be answered .", "a solid escapist cinematic experience enhanced by its chilling symbolism , filled with tension and thrills , fabulous special effects and a monumentally big scale ending .", "alex proyas has taken what began as a fairly basic sci-fi concept built on the idea of a 50 year time capsule , to heights of psychological and visceral bravado .", "you will be on the edge of your seat the entire time % u2026 constantly trying to work up the will to just walk away from this monster before it destroys your love of movies and nicolas cage forever .", "entrancing even when it is at its most outlandish , MOV is a breathtaking metaphysical rumination that , in the final seconds , actually caused me to cry out loud in uninhibited glee .", "as MOV gets increasingly preposterous , and cage 's stony deadpan acting seems even sillier in context , a kind of slack-jawed joy may overtake you . how on earth did this movie get made ?", "some producers sat in a screening room and thought , `` wow , this is gon na be great ! '' i give the filmmakers kudos for fully committing to an ending that others might have tried to mitigate or avert . they also fully committed to the immensely stupid surprise", "while the film deals with disaster , it 's not quite the cinematic disaster that many were expecting .", "click for full review", "the plot , too , is a sham -lrb- shades of signs and close encounters -rrb- , and proyas 's slick visuals do little to dress it up .", "... the movie features huge gaps in logic , and human behavior that ca n't even begin to be justified .", "presságio é o que sinais e os esquecidos tentaram desesperadamente ser .", "trades occasional moments of inspiration for obvious allegory and second-hand action sequences that shoot for stark seriousness but can barely pass for pop spectacle .", "MOV 's premise is intriguing , even if it ends up being a familiar race-against-time-disaster-movie .", "the movie has all the thematic depth of a really great arthouse film wrapped in the action and excitement of a first-rate hollywood action picture .", "if ... you want your ` sense of wonder ' piqued , and are willing to contemplate some big and possibly alien concepts , this takes you to some unexpected places .", "parental content review", "seldom has one movie offered so much fertile ground for ridicule ...", "there 's no time for romance , charm or comedy . the haunted characters in MOV compete for the best graveyard looks .", "MOV takes an interesting premise and all but destroys it with a final act that 's , at select moments , jaw-droppingly ludicrous .", "despite an intriguing premise and a handful of exciting special effects scenes , this science fiction thriller lumbers along like an overweight leviathan , unable to see much past its own nose - let alone into the future .", "a wacked-out , quasi-religious ` donnie darko ' for dummies ... it earns my endorsement not because it 's coherent but because it 's so over the top it kept me engrossed for its full 122 minutes .", "once you get past the typically and needlessly convoluted way otherworldly beings communicate with us , this `` twilight zone '' - like tale tantalizes % u2014and delivers three extraordinary disasters that alone are worth the price of a ticket .", "there 's nothing to do but shake your head in awestruck wonder : as much for its squandered beginning as for its truly ridiculous conclusion .", "alex proyas keeps the picture moving briskly while injecting it with some deep-rooted philosophical underpinnings .", "MOV has a very gripping beginning and then just slowly lets the audience go until the film becomes a laughable cliché . one of the worst of the year so far !", "a mind-blowing blend of apocalyptic imagery and metaphysical discussion that is easily the best film of its type since `` southland tales '' -lrb- and i should stress that i mean that as a compliment -rrb- .", "i 'm a bit on the fence with MOV . it is well made , and bleak as hell , but just has a little too much going on for me to recommend it .", "the final message may be trite , even saccharine , but MOV would be pretty well unbearable without it . proyas has made a truly haunting and terrifying film .", "rather like watching an intricately arranged set of dominos starting to topple . that 's neat . i did n't see that one coming , you think , as yet another train carriage joins the pile-up .", "it has a wicked premise and many fascinating themes but , overall , it becomes a little bit silly towards the end .", "it 's intriguing b-feature apocalypse , determinism versus free-will stuff .", "as well as being perversely pessimistic for a blockbuster , it 's rendered tedious by a dense plot and lifeless characters . even m night shyamalan would have done a better job . how dare such an empty film ask us to endure many realistic scenes of carnage ?", "well done for 100 minutes ; then it completely falls apart .", "the dialogue is sci-fi standard-issue , composer marco beltrami shamelessly cribs from bernard herrmann , and wispy rose byrne barely registers as cage 's ally .", "it predicts a future when people act courageously and selflessly to preserve their families and the future of mankind . i can get behind that .", "i like the sheer quantity of ideas in this film , but i am not sure that they all fit so nicely together . i expect with some thought the flaws will seem less important and the audacity of the plot will win out .", "too bad that the gifted proyas -lrb- crow , dark city -rrb- does n't work more often , and when he does , he contributes to a hodgepodge narrative , which tries to satisfy fans of every genre : actioners , thrillers , apocalyptic sci-fi , disaster flicks , and so on .", "things started to fall off of the deep end very quickly .", "if alex proyas ' MOV were reasonably entertaining -- instead of just dour , pointless and tedious -- it would be a camp classic .", "as for the supernatural ending , let 's just say the giant alien squid that was cut from watchmen would have made more sense .", "there 's nothing really special about this film , other than an interesting premise .", "i do n't know if i can find words to adequately express just how bad MOV is , but i 'm going to try , in the hopes that perhaps i can save you spending your own hard-earned money in a tight economy on a truly wretched movie-going experience .", "the film takes our expectations and rattles them around a bit , and it may be just the sort of thing that can tease us into active thought about what we believe and why .", "i know for sure MOV is an apocalyptic allegorical sci-fi film whose plot is absurd , even for a b-film sci-fier .", "MOV may not be a great film , but it is a genuinely good science fiction thriller that is genuinely haunting .", "give MOV credit for the courage of its convictions and an ending so nutty i had to laugh out loud .", "the resolution of the mysterious visitors ' mission and john 's crisis of faith feels more like an excuse to stage some hellacious cataclysms than the product of a genuine belief in anything at all .", "a not-bad supernatural-tinged sci-fier that has more on its mind than the run-of-the-mill effects-driven extravaganza .", "hokum is best served straight , not as a new age cocktail with too many ingredients .", "if you 're of a mind to believe a dreary and far-fetched thriller about numerology-crazed alien life forms , then you may find the movie mildly diverting .", "a little levity , applied at key moments , might have helped it make its points and lend plausibility to its characters .", "if you want to know how inept the movie is ... well , it 's so inept that you may wish you were watching an m. night shyamalan version of the very same premise .", "... is better than the wicker man remake . but not by much .", "was there a prediction of this laughably bad movie in the mothman prophecies ?", "it is predictable hogwash , and it gets even hogwashier until it arrives at an ending that manages to be inevitable , uninspired , and preposterous .", "MOV 's path is so far fetched , disturbing and down right awful that i would expect to find very few people who enjoyed this film .", "the words `` trite '' and `` ludicrous '' come to mind and lodge there .", "an anticlimactic , idiotic leap into low-end shyamalan-ian insanity with a touch of moderate fundamentalism . nicolas cage 's performance is deserving of another youtube ode to awfulness , and only disaster scenes elevate it above straight-to-dvd status .", "it 's the movie keanu reeves ' day the earth stood still remake wished it could have been .", "i started out loathing this movie . i thought the director had flipped out and was taking the long way ` round to get to the point . by the time it was over , and i had gasped out loud at its amazing finale , i knew i wanted to see it again .", "a few may find revelation in this awkward fusion of ` left behind ' meets ` close encounters ' , but most will simply find grave disappointment", "`` front-loaded with a pervasive sense of unease ... but once the plot 's wheels start grinding in earnest , -lsb- it -rsb- follows that runaway subway train off the rails . ''", "nicolas cage finally has an excuse for his joey tribiani ` smell the fart ' acting style . the movie stinks .", "an exciting , if not entirely plausible , sci-fi thriller . after this one , ` next ' and the ` national treasure ' movies star nicolas cage clearly likes ` MOV ' things before the rest of us .", "so silly that it not only strains credulity -- it shatters it and then stomps it into infinitesimal pieces .", "a stunning film laced with absorbing performances , jarring special effects , and atmospheric set design . it has been a long time since a film has evoked as many creepy , spine deep tingles as this one .", "MOV starts out strong , but despite some impressive -lrb- and very intense -rrb- visual effects , unravels as it goes on .", "MOV is one of the dumbest films audiences are likely to see this year .", "MOV '' is one of those movies that when you get to the lobby , you begin asking yourself or others a lot of questions about why did they do this , or why was that required .", "MOV is like two movies crammed into one , and though it tries to make up for the identity crisis with a shocking twist ending , it 's the film 's ham-fisted finale that 's ultimately to blame .", "in the film 's conclusion proyas undoes most of his good work from earlier , resulting in the disappointing ruin of what could have been a rather thought-provoking story .", "MOV that ` MOV ' is not worth your money is probably your best bet in movies to not pay for this weekend .", "sometimes it 's nice when movies do things you never saw coming . MOV is an exception .", "pay attention to mr. proyas ' lighting and set design as well as the intense disaster sequences that dot MOV : as with the rest of his oeuvre , the movie looks great .", "basically two movies wrestling around in a burlap bag full of rocks : one an ambitious , big-idea sci-fi yarn , the other a horror movie as dumb as ... well , that 's where those rocks come in .", "MOV feels like a bunch of cool ideas that were strewn about a table , picked up , shoved together , tied up with duct tape and , somehow , managed to stay working for the ride .", "this year 's prize for most ludicrous set-up and most ludicrous punchline", "even with its intriguing , sci-fi-ish setup MOV finds a way of consistently striking all the wrong notes .", "MOV is a bit of a revelation . against all odds , it 's not actually half bad .", "among the most troubling elements of ` MOV ' are its dark cinematography , outlandish plot , and a less-than-memorable performance by nicolas cage .", "excessive finale aside , its novel concept makes for a mental and action package worth seeing ." ]

[ "what sets bier 's film apart from similar fare are the consistently fine performances and powerful scenes of surprising ferocity .", "a wrenching experience ... portrayed with a degree of honesty and intensity that transcends the hackneyed material .", "... an intelligent , gripping family drama with an exemplary cast . open hearts was a terrific film and MOV is even better .", "explores the primal emotions of sibling rivalry and the toxins of violence in those returning home from war zones .", "MOV emerges as no less or more than bier 's claustrophobic compositions and unimaginative choices .", "this story might have been a standard melodrama in less gifted hands , but bier uses a leisurely pace and subtly stylized camera work to make it an intelligent , deeply moving exploration of social and individual ethics .", "the deficiencies of MOV lie in its wholesale adoption of war film clichés and obvious plotting .", "this impressively original film plays with cliches , especially ones about how people act , and act out , in crises . then it explodes those conventions with devastating consequences .", "through it all , sarah is the linchpin , and nielsen is never less than utterly convincing -lrb- something you could n't say about her american work -rrb- .", "an often fascinating look at what it means to be a husband , a friend ... and a brother .", "keeps itself floating above the suds thanks to bier 's crisp and lively visual design , the general loveliness of her cast ... and her attention to small moments of arresting domestic authenticity .", "though MOV is at times unexpectedly harrowing , it is neither a preachy anti-war diatribe nor a triangulated domestic drama , but it does show how even little wars can disrupt the most harmonious families .", "war comes home in this danish drama that has careful intelligence and searing power .", "a beautifully considered marvel of screenwriting .", "a powerful , brutal , funny , tragic , vibrant , very human movie .", "every plot point follows a soapy and well-worn path , but the characters speak to each other as if they 've known each other their entire lives .", "if every film i see is as satisfying a complex human drama as this , i would n't have much to gripe about .", "bier lets the viewer feel every ounce of the emotional pain .", "this is powerful , intelligent filmmaking filled with emotional resonance .", "while its focus is domestic drama , the film does n't shy away from harsh scenes of wartime violence .", "the danish filmmaker suzanne bier 's gripping psychological drama is her second film to examine events worthy of greek tragedy through a contemporary therapeutic lens .", "again shows what skilled artists can do with a story that might have ended up filled with cliches .", "the intentions are admirable , but the movie is only so-so .", "a meticulous , nuanced , hugely powerful drama about an already splintered family thrown into chaos by a seeming tragedy .", "well positioned on that slippery cliff called melodrama , susanne bier 's grainy , intimate , almost claustrophobic family drama , MOV , keeps its footing , never falling into the deep chasm of soap opera .", "an appropriately uneasy blend of graphic military drama and tender romance , MOV pulls no punches even as its worst violence occurs offscreen .", "this is perhaps the most moving and eloquent film of life on the home front since coming home .", "this danish drama of guilt , displacement and brotherly love is all the better for its understatement .", "psychologically complex and never less than riveting .", "director susanne bier avoids cliches as she studies the shifting family dynamic .", "bier tries to give us bleeding humanity on a plate ; the result is unpalatable .", "a talented director of ensembles and intimate scenes , bier again proves herself a powerful , if occasionally overwrought , dramatist .", "as warm as her approach is to these people ... , bier never descends into cheap sentiment or soap opera simplicities .", "director susanne bier manages to rise above mere melodrama to realistic human emotions . the performances are so powerful you ca n't ignore the plight of these people .", "this danish film ultimately loses the battle due to an underwhelming exit strategy .", "feels like an amalgam of newsreel and stage drama , but with the most potent aspects of both art forms .", "less an exercise than it is a rut .", "a profoundly affecting movie , one in which our sympathies lie with everyone .", "a haunting anti-war film .", "at its core , susanne bier 's wrenching portrayal of the shifting dynamics within a danish family is really about survival , about how we cope in the face of shattering grief and what we 'll do -- anything , really -- to save ourselves .", "a film potent enough to shock , but beguiling enough to intrigue .", "the wrenching `` MOV '' is like `` the deer hunter '' for the war on terror .", "this is the kind of movie that does n't solve everything at the end -- that observes some situations are capable not of solution but only of accommodation .", "the film melts into a duel of despair , rivalry and reconciliation that is as pure as it is painful .", "... about the kind of choices that we might make under duress â '' and about the sort of accommodations we must necessarily make with the difficult choices our loved ones make .", "this is storytelling at its best , with each scene building toward a crescendo of moral decisions .", "the two male leads , bulwarks of the danish film industry for more than a decade , play off each other like the veterans they are .", "after the film ends you may find fault with certain plot elements , but while you 're watching it , bier 's effort totally sucks you in .", "strong performances and scenes of the father 's imprisonment in war camps make for tense viewing .", "the intimate handheld camera work and the attention to life 's small details bring an emotional authenticity to this heartbreaking story .", "un drama familiar intimista y bien actuado sobre los efectos que puede producir un trauma en la vida de las personas , y sobre la oportunidad de cambiar .", "a poignant reminder that social issues , in the end , are personal matters .", "bier 's attention to detail allows her to get away with melodramatic plot developments we might not buy in another movie . yeah , crazy things happen , but the characters ' responses to them are so genuine that the plot developments feel genuine , too .", "... intriguing ...", "bier , honored as an emerging master at the seattle international film festival this year , is clearly a director to watch . in her hands , a story that could become melodramatic is gripping and heartbreaking .", "a powerhouse drama that puts us through a wringer of emotions .", "imaginative and immensely engrossing .", "as for -lsb- connie -rsb- nielsen , she proves that hollywood has yet to give her a role that 's worthy of her talents and gives a strong performance that is effectively the centre of the film .", "this is a tight , tense and extremely well-acted film , with no easy answers and an ending that felt was just right .", "the been-there , seen-that feeling is hard to shake , despite the undeniable skill in the presentation .", "accomplishes the rare feat of believably incorporating violence in another part of the world into an intimate study of shifting domestic relationships .", "the performances are impressive , especially nikolaj lie kaas as jannik and the very sympathetic nielsen , who relishes the chance to show she 's more than just a pretty face .", "a tragedy affects a family in this taut tale .", "has an exact sense of emotional truth and a respect for the intricacy of character .", "the characters are recognizably , painfully human -- you know , just like you .", "awkwardly hitched to current events .", "told predominantly through handheld close-ups , danish director susanne bier 's intimate drama MOV examines the cost of war on the domestic front ." ]

[ "-lsb- xavier beauvois -rsb- is a clean and sure director , with a good selective eye : he knows where we ought to be looking at any moment . we can hope for more beauvois films with worlds of their own .", "has a clipped , bressonian quality that makes it frustrating but also increasingly fascinating .", "the film 's plot , revolving around a murder investigation that turns nasty , ticks along smoothly and efficiently . but it 's ultimately more of a character drama , and a reminder that great acting often has little to do with words .", "basically a vivid meal of characters , plus coffee and wine and one gin tonic , MOV keeps true to its brasserie menu .", "beauvois makes the milieu his own , too , showing us credible and affecting human beings caught up in a world that often reveals humanity at its worst .", "MOV looks at antoine 's life with lyricism .", "... one that will likely earn more respect from viewers than it will passion .", "the movie 's realism is unimpeachable , though american cops might be stunned by the idea of a half-dozen detectives being assigned to the murder of an anonymous floater .", "just as the french may overrate our cinema -lrb- jerry lewis , anyone ? -rrb- , we may overrate theirs . take MOV -- please .", "... more than any film in recent memory , MOV conveys the relentless toll of big-city police work .", "MOV spends too much time laying the groundwork for a story that could be told more succinctly , but beauvois works hard to establish office chemistry and orient lespert to his new surroundings .", "the relationship between an enthusiastic young paris homicide detective and his middle-age female supervisor is as important as the murders they are trying to solve in xavier beauvois ' taut police procedural .", "MOV , keeps such a lazy pace , with so many scenes that fail to move the story forward , that it should be cited for failing to meet the minimum speed for a crime drama .", "mundane real life can make for some pretty dull viewing , and the only thing that enlivens beauvois ' anti-thriller is baye 's beautiful performance , a career high that culminates in a tip of the hat to her first great director , francois truffaut .", "the tough , satisfying french film MOV is an austere drama of the sort that rarely makes it to american screens except on cable television .", "the results , while a bit overlong , are engaging and real .", "understated but packing a delicate wallop , MOV is the most emotionally appealing of the recent spate of observational and minimalist dramas .", "MOV spends too much time laying the groundwork for a story that could be told more succinctly , but beauvois works hard to establish office chemistry and orient lespert to his new surroundings .", "xavier beauvoir deliberately undermines the clichés we 've come to expect from the genre ... unassuming and effective .", "you could call it anything but by-the-book .", "i wo n't give away the plot twist , except to say that the final minute of the movie is one of the most bleak , and moving , endings i 've seen in years .", "... you can sense baye 's struggling within the limits imposed on her .", "MOV shows how good french movies can be when they stay french and do n't try to go international .", "as a portrayal of the angst that permeates most police work ... certainly a success . as drama , however , it 's far from riveting .", "a quiet powerhouse of a film , an implacable , uncompromising french police drama , both old-fashioned and modern , that underlines the reasons impeccably made crime stories do so well on-screen .", "still mourning the end of helen mirren in tv 's prime suspect ? you might want to give MOV a whirl .", "a hugely satisfying policier that delivers exceptional performances .", "french version of upscale cop shows like nypd blue or the wire .", "the rarely done genre of the french policier is alive and well in director xavier beauvois ' dynamic movie", "to cut to the chase ... this is a very french , understated , intelligent , slow , police procedural that ultimately engrosses and then surprises the viewer . if you do n't see it in a theater , it would be a great rental .", "gives the audience a strong sense that you 're watching how things really go down in a police station ... only without all the action and excitement of a tv cop show .", "feels like a tv pilot which , perhaps , it was meant to be . but , see it for baye .", "a quiet powerhouse of a film , an implacable , uncompromising french police drama , both old-fashioned and modern , that underlines the reasons impeccably made crime stories do so well on screen .", "other than the unnecessary meandering in the first half , this is first-rate , as both a detective film and a character piece .", "xavier beauvois ' police procedural owes more to prime suspect and hill street blues than it does to any film genre . and it 's all the better for it , if you can withstand the glacial pace and loving attention to the smallest details .", "backed by a strong supporting cast , baye , who received the french cesar for best actress , gives a superb performance , poignantly showing vaudieu 's continual anxiety and the depth of her pain .", "when the action finally picks up in the pursuit of a ruthless russian gang of killers , the relationship between caroline and antoine is delivered a devastating emotional wallop .", "MOV is a flinty , almost hardhearted work about characters who have lost almost everything in pursuit of some undefinable abstraction , like honor or their country or doing the right thing .", "one would expect with american television 's worldwide hegemony , something like", "slow-moving , even leaden , the picture 's ambiance and evocation of cynicism nonetheless make this worthwhile viewing .", "`` hill street blues '' set in paris , xavier beauvois updates film noir with a gritty tale of a tough woman in a tough city .", "in his fourth feature , director xavier beauvois turns a classic policier into an existential musing whose emotional impact quietly accumulates .", "nathalie baye is remarkable in MOV where she plays caroline vaudieu , a parisian police inspector who returns to her post after a bout with alcoholism following her child 's death .", "in spite of its improvisational roots , le petite lieutenant feels a little too cleverly thought-out , but this is still a rare police film that uses work to illuminate life .", "... an exemplary genre piece , melding a down-and-dirty 1970s vibe with a very modern perspective on the globalized nature of contemporary paris .", "so , it ca n't quite be said that -lsb- xavier beauvois -rsb- is bereft of novel , impressively lurid ideas for murders , because he 's expressly against them , if we 're to take antoine 's lust for intrigue as our own .", "tragedy , when it comes , does not involve us -- we 're kept at arm 's length through to the final retribution .", "... a bit too underplayed for its own good .", "MOV is an interesting crime thriller that has few conventional thrills but does give a fascinating look into the mechanics of a parisian homicide squad .", "director xavier beauvois uses the investigation of one crime ... to string together a character piece that is as much about the character of a parisian homicide squad within a police department as it is a study of some of the individuals who comprise it .", "a film about normal people doing a difficult and mostly unspectacular job . but difficult , unspectacular and - especially - normal can be nice too sometimes .", "the young lieutenant seems so determined to reproduce the drudgery of police work , it 's boring for the first hour , and only marginally more exciting for the second ." ]