It seems a little soon to be telling this story, but if it is going to be told I'm glad it was in the capable hands of Kathryn Bigelow. I thought the film handled the torture issue pretty well. The scenes where they actually got information were when treating the inmates with respect and never during the torture scenes. So technically we never got info that led to Bin Laden's location through torture, but we did in fact torture. That's true to life and fits within the official narrative. -- Of course the third act was riveting, as you would expect. And the last 30 seconds pretty much sums up the whole situation for me and many Americans.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

I did not enjoy this as much as Inglourious Basterds but it was still a great film by one of my favorite filmmakers. The style and design of the film are extravagant, sometimes over the top, but mostly fun. I only wish the second half of the story was as rich and witty as the first. All is worth it for Christoph Waltz. I should expect to see him in a lead role for all Tarantino's films from now on. He should be what Depp is to Burton, at least for a little while.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

It wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. Although I would have much rather we got one 95 minute children's film based on the book and not another super-long-winded trilogy of 3-hour bore-fests. This is a story for children, right? So why shove in a boring 10 minute conversation about geo-political details taken from the appendices of a Tolkien book or his lost notes or some nonsense? I just want to see a Hobbit on an adventure. Maybe leave scenes without him on the cutting room floor. Put them in special edition blurays for the fanboys. And why in the world is Gandalf cutting off so many creatures' heads in this movie? Wizards should stand there and look regal. It seems as silly as seeing Yoda do karate.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

Best Bond film since Brosnan, hands down. I'm a big fan of Sam Mendes and I have not liked the earlier Craig Bond films. This was fantastic. It makes the two previous films look like prequels and this the real deal. The set-pieces were absolutely stunning and the color... so much color! What works for me is that Bond is finally the dapper proud, and sometimes cheesy Bond he's supposed to be. Fixing his cuff after surviving a train chopping in half is exactly the sort of thing I expect from the real 007. Also, great miniature model work in several sequences. Always refreshing to see practical effects in modern blockbusters!

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

The most I've liked a Wachowski film since the first Matrix! Might be the first watchable film since the second Matrix. The strongest portions were the futuristic storylines but the clever editing and story order made up for the other stories weaknesses. The creative decision to use the same actors in each storyline was bold but added to the film's charm. And to anyone that complains that they should have subtitled the strange super-future dialogue, you're wrong. It was easier to understand than pig latin! But why is Tom Hanks seeing a New Orleans style demon anyway? Weird, huh?

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

I enjoyed the performances and direction. It had a similar structure to that of There Will Be Blood. I like a traditional three act structure myself but I can appreciate P. T. Anderson's style. He is a master of storytelling and I always enjoy his work. What I took away from this film is that Phillip Seymour Hoffman's character was in the end jealous of Joaquin Phoenix's character, wishing that he could live a more simple life and not be burdened with the gifts he had convinced himself and his followers that he had. Happiness alludes him, if only he could be free... Free to masturbate into the sea.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

Not bad. Was cool that it all took place at one location, although it had a very video game feel to it: Get in, go to the top fighting bad guys along the way, and then battle the boss at the end. The slow-motion sequences with the slo-mo drug were by far the best thing in the movie and I liked that Dredd never took off his mask. I wouldn't mind watching more adventures from the newly imagined Mega City One. It was smart to not over-do it actually leaving us wanting more (unlike the annoying Stallone version).

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

I appreciate when filmmakers break filmmaking rules and this film breaks them all and all at once. Rather than be bored by the intricate minutia of the thin plot, I reveled in its gorgeous unattractiveness. The scenes go too long, the green screen out the car's windows is often terrible, the sound design is dull, the camera work strange and unflattering, and the pacing is a mess... And I love it! It's poetic justice. You're allowed to break the rules if you understand them.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

I'm a huge fan of Seth MacFarlane, and while I wish it was a little more raunchy and a little less sentimental at times, I definitely love Ted. I like the character more than the movie, and that's not just because he sounds like Peter Griffen with a Boston accent, but because the secondary characters and sub-plots were sub-par and sometimes cheapen the film. The main trio are absolutely perfect in their roles and the third act's action stuff was really fun. Looking forward to the increasingly slightly less good sequels to come!

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Certainly my favorite Wes Anderson film in a long time. Beautifully shot on good old fashioned film helps sell the retro summer camp nostalgia. I appreciated the stripped down story and focus on the two main characters despite the ensemble cast. The best bits were the sideways dolly shots at the camp. Brilliant work.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)