Corporate responsibility and greed have ruined horror movies. Pressured by public and political groups to clean up their act and stop marketing adult material to teenagers, Hollywood has gone to such extremes to comply that most of the horror films of the last couple of years feel like shadows of their former self. Read the rest of this entry »

If you don’t go into “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” with high expectations, your expectations will be met. Neither fair nor foul, “Tomb Raider” is a harmless diversion that should please its core audience. Others will appreciate the brassy performance of Angelina Jolie, who brings the computer game heroine Lara Croft to life. Read the rest of this entry »

As a budding entertainment writer, “Young Frankenstein” was my first major studio screening. Invitations went out a month before the screening, and I immediately R.S.V.P.’d. A week later, I was in a nasty automobile accident that ripped off half my face and broke my right knee. I was a mess, but I was determined to attend the screening. Read the rest of this entry »

BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY (R)

I really adore Renee Zellweger, so excuse me while I gush about her delightful performance in this sweet and extremely funny romantic comedy. Zellweger is perfectly cast as 32-year-old Bridget Jones, a plump, friendly and optimistic woman whose New Year’s resolution is to pull her life together. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve always been weary of those “One Hour Photo” booths and the people who work there. Because they have to quality check each print, the clerks have access to your life. I don’t mind sharing vacation photos with them, but I would never drop of a roll of family snapshots. That would be the same as inviting complete strangers into your home. Read the rest of this entry »

Movies about sports are always a tough sell. Especially movies that take sports seriously. It’s rare when a serious sports movie scores with an audience, but when the connection is made, it’s victorious. Read the rest of this entry »

The Aviator gets it right. That’s all there is to it. Masterfully directed, intelligently written, beautifully acted, and always engaging, The Aviator is a true Hollywood movie. It soars, it entertains, it makes you swoon and cringe, and when all is said and done, you leave the theater feeling like you haven’t wasted three hours of your life. Read the rest of this entry »