After several scheduling delays, Lore is finally in theaters. I really thought I was over WWII films. But this one, set after the war has ended and telling the story of German children coming to grips with the sins of their fathers (and mothers) surprised me.
There was a good long stretch in The Host where I found myself liking it in spite of its Twilight-inflected romantic entanglements. There is no arguing that Twilight author Stephanie Meyer has grown as a storyteller, and I love Andrew Niccol's low-key sci-fi sensibility. But alas, the wheels came off the train somewhere around the third act.
If you liked Uncle Buck as much as certain editorial muckety-mucks here at the Reader liked Uncle Buck, you have to be intrigued by Scott's claim that Mental is "Uncle Buck done right." Right? Anyway, it certainly sounds better than Starbuck, which he calls, "a crowd-pleaser that should hit it big with those who detest being challenged."
I won't say that the environmental greatest-hits doc A Fierce Green Fire inspired me to hate it with a fierce hot passion, because it didn't inspire much of anything. It's a primer, lifeless and overly pleased with itself. Still, there's some good raw footage, and a couple of worthwhile speeches.
Would you believe that neither Scott nor myself has so far managed to bask in the glory that is the new, improved, extra-Channing G.I. Joe: Retaliation? You would? Good!
Scott was not an especial fan of War Witch. I must admit, I'm a bit taken with the notion of hallucinatory visions of dead soldiers.
Tyler Perry's Confessions: Temptations of a Marriage Counselor did not screen for critics. Because Tyler Perry doesn't need critical approval. Tyler Perry is an industry unto himself.
The one I'm sorry I haven't seen yet is From Up on Poppy Hill.
After several scheduling delays, Lore is finally in theaters. I really thought I was over WWII films. But this one, set after the war has ended and telling the story of German children coming to grips with the sins of their fathers (and mothers) surprised me.
There was a good long stretch in The Host where I found myself liking it in spite of its Twilight-inflected romantic entanglements. There is no arguing that Twilight author Stephanie Meyer has grown as a storyteller, and I love Andrew Niccol's low-key sci-fi sensibility. But alas, the wheels came off the train somewhere around the third act.
If you liked Uncle Buck as much as certain editorial muckety-mucks here at the Reader liked Uncle Buck, you have to be intrigued by Scott's claim that Mental is "Uncle Buck done right." Right? Anyway, it certainly sounds better than Starbuck, which he calls, "a crowd-pleaser that should hit it big with those who detest being challenged."
I won't say that the environmental greatest-hits doc A Fierce Green Fire inspired me to hate it with a fierce hot passion, because it didn't inspire much of anything. It's a primer, lifeless and overly pleased with itself. Still, there's some good raw footage, and a couple of worthwhile speeches.
Would you believe that neither Scott nor myself has so far managed to bask in the glory that is the new, improved, extra-Channing G.I. Joe: Retaliation? You would? Good!
Scott was not an especial fan of War Witch. I must admit, I'm a bit taken with the notion of hallucinatory visions of dead soldiers.
Tyler Perry's Confessions: Temptations of a Marriage Counselor did not screen for critics. Because Tyler Perry doesn't need critical approval. Tyler Perry is an industry unto himself.
The one I'm sorry I haven't seen yet is From Up on Poppy Hill.