Film & TV
Climbing Up The Walls
The original Spider-man was a good film -- in fact, it probably was the best movie to come out of the recent comic book craze in the film industry.
Freedom Fighter
The four-star grade is pretty random. As a film, Fahrenheit 9/11 has its flaws, but as a 2004 event, it's more important than any other movie released in 2004.
Quick Flick: De-lovely
De-Lovely depicts the life of legendary songsman Cole Porter. Director Irwin Winkler manages to incorporate into the film nearly every significant piece of music that Porter composed.
Don't Pick On Me
Like many Ben Stiller movies, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story features a great comic premise that never fires on all cylinders.
Over The Hump
The Story of the Weeping Camel is a German quasi-documentary filmed in Mongolia's Gobi Desert.
This Flight Is Grounded
Steven Spielberg's is on a roll. Wait, scratch that, he was on a roll. In 1998, Spielberg released Saving Private Ryan, and then followed that acclaimed project with A.I., Minority Report, and Catch Me if You Can over the following four years.
Walk Away from the Light
Hard-core Christians are going to hate this movie. Then again, the whole point of it is to make fun of them. Saved! has balls.
A Case of the Mondays
Garfield is a cartoon that many kids watched as a child. Looking back, the cartoon wasn't very funny.
The Chronicles of Ridiculous
Vin Diesel has the mental capacity of a Lego Block. That becomes clear as Diesel, once an up-and-coming action hero, reprises one of his most Neanderthal-like roles.
Double Dog Dare Ya!
Love Me If You Dare is not your average movie about childhood sweethearts. Julien and Sophie have been madly in love since grade school.
Back to Wizard World
The Potterphobic won't go to see the film. The Potterphilic will be compelled by overwhelming hype. On the sidelines, probably dragged by their Potterphilic friends, will be those who balk at the idea of seeing the movie before reading the books. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will not disappoint the two latter groups.
What a Disaster
MoveOn.org, a democratic, internet-based advocacy group, billed The Day After Tomorrow as "The Movie the White House Doesn't Want You To See." For once, the White House demonstrates some good taste.
It's No Hogwarts
Comic books carry a bad stigma. The common man regards them as cheap, childish rags that should be abandoned as one enters the adult world.
A Classic Classic
Already, Troy is the best film of the summer. The hyped movie fails to disappoint and is reminiscent of Gladiator. While those who know Homer's story of Greece's siege of Troy will find no surprises in this movie, they will certainly be delighted by it.
Black and Vice
If a film could ever ooze indie cred, it would probably be Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes. The film, comprised of a series of vignettes, was shot over the past two decades, and at times plays like a short story collection on film.
Green with Envy
The original Shrek lost a lot over repeat viewings. People frequently quoting the parfait line didn't help, either.
Put Him OUT
The special effects are outstanding. After viewing the trailer, I thought they would be all I had to look forward to.
Gaze Into My Crystal Ball
What do you get when you combine a happening '80s soundtrack with the storyline of a New York pre-teen who wants to become an adult?
Cannes You Believe It?
The lines are longer, the shows are selling out and the Philadelphia Film Festival, now in its 13th year, is more fun than it's ever been.
