Movie Reviews

by Karin Leonard & Daniel Robin

Click here for Newer Movies

or Select Older Movies Alphabetically:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Movies w

Walk The Line

With Joaquin Phoenix, and Best Supporting Actress, Reese Witherspoon

Entertainment: 4 Message: 4

Great leading role performances, including the natural charm of Reese Witherspoon in a performance that earned her the Oscar nod for her portrayal of June Carter. When Johnny Cash cut his first record in Memphis, who knew it would have such an indelible effect on American culture. This is the story of his personal transformation, evolving from a self-destructive pop star into the music world’s “Man in Black” by facing down his demons, fighting for the love that would raise him up, and learning how to walk the razor-thin line between destruction and redemption. A story worth watching even if you’re not a fan of this genre of music. Truly an exceptional biopic (2 hrs 15 min).

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Voices Peter Sallis, Helena Bonham-Carter, Ralph Fiennes, others

Entertainment: 4 Message: 3.5

Five years in the making, each scene was painstakingly designed and rendered using clay animation, which means somebody had to create a heck of a lot of clay rabbits! This is the first feature-length film of the whimsical if not bizarre adventures of Wallace and his faithful dog-servant, Gromit. If you can appreciate the pure artistry and dedication that went into crafting this film, it will be easy to overlook the bombastic and loud cartoonish qualities (which young kids will love). Not entirely silly – just mostly – you will laugh until you snort. Bring extra carrots to share (1 hr 34 min).

War of the Worlds

With Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Dakota Fanning

Entertainment: 3 Message: 2.5

True to the original story, the violence and sci-fi horror has H.G. Wells written all over it. Tom Cruise’s delivers one of his better performances, and the human story – seen through the eyes of one family fighting to survive alien colonization – has power and actually works well. The sci-fi aspects, however, are viscerally gruesome without deeper purpose or much interest (1 hr 57 min).

Wedding Crashers

With Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams

Entertainment: 4 Message: 2

Can two mediators justify their extremely outgoing and improper (bordering on psychopathic) habit of attending weddings they weren’t invited to? Sure, why not? They’re very good at it. Their timing is excellent, but they just don’t know when to quit. They’re morally reprehensible, but so fun and inspired, the comic moments are wonderful. There’s a guilty pleasure in watching these scoundrels become the life of the party, meeting (and bedding) women through unconscionable manipulation, and binging on life. It would be repulsive and shameful if it wasn’t so absurdly entertaining, and through many twists and turns, even these two nut-crackers could grow up (1 hr 59 min).

What the #*%&# (bleep) Do We Know!?

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 4

Always a pleasure to discover a movie that aspires to translate obscure concepts into meaningful entertainment, and “the bleep” succeeds at that. Giving center stage to spirituality and quantum physics, bleep illustrates how our intentions and beliefs shape our experience, which is a daring and much needed contrast to films of violence, horror and sensationalism. This film is proof that hope, inspiration and vision sell! Sure, the “science” portrayed may be a loose interpretation of modern physics, but stretching our imagination is still great exercise. Plus, whimsical animation and an offbeat sense of humor add a light touch to otherwise lofty and abstract material (1 hr 51 min).

White Noise

With Michael Keaton, Deborah Kara Unger, Chandra West

Entertainment: 1.5 Message: 2

Interesting concept, lousy movie. While contacting the dead has always been a human fascination, reducing a potentially complex and gripping idea to recordable radio static is an insult (1 hr 51 min).

William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

With Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 3

A powerful and disturbing portrayal of the Shakespearian classic, Pacino’s performance of Shylock alone makes this well worth the experience, given the uncomfortable anti-Semitic overtones of the play. Once again, the seasoned actor’s intensity carries through even Shakespearean English. Pacino plays Shylock with great depth and dimensionality (2 hrs 18 min).

Without a Paddle

With Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Burt Reynolds

Entertainment: 3 Message: 3

Not just a stupid “guy movie” … this tale actually hangs together pretty well, and provides many hilarious moments. The ridiculous side of roughing it is going to include some pretty silly gags, but there’s less farting and bathroom humor than we expected, and some of the situations are actually quite creative and great fun (1 hr 35 min).

The World’s Fastest Indian

With Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Lawford, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Rodriguez, Diane Ladd

Entertainment: 4 Message: 4

The honorable Anthony Hopkins shines as the maverick New Zealand motorcycle fanatic and folk hero Burt Munro, who at age 68, broke the world land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah during the late 1960s. You’ll fall in love with the endearing, crazy old coot. He parlayed his rock solid determination and Kiwi charm, overcame sensibility and tremendous odds, to reach 201.85 MPH, a record that stands to this day. Munro refused to accept the limitations others would put on him, going all out for his dream. Good on ya’, mate! (2 hrs 7 min).