Film

Shoot to miss

People going to see a movie called Cowboys & Aliens may be expecting something comedic, or maybe just plain silly. Perhaps in response to this, the filmmakers have played the premise straight, but in making sure the movie wasn’t too jokey, they managed to remove all the fun as well.

Film

They don’t make ’em like they used to

CAPTAIN AMERICA IS SINCERE, OLD-FASHIONED FUN

By Carey Norris

We’ve certainly seen plenty of superhero movies this summer, but the new film Captain America is a very enjoyable, unabashedly old-fashioned action-adventure story that is full of two-fisted fun and isn’t afraid to be earnest, even a little corny. It’s an interesting departure for Marvel Studios, in both tone and manner of storytelling, and it’s one of the best films they have made.

Film

Graduation day

HARRY POTTER HAS A DIFFICULT EXIT EXAM IN DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2

By Carey Norris

After more than a decade, seven books and eight films, J.K. Rowling’s beloved saga comes to a close with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which provides an exciting, emotional and satisfying conclusion to the series while also showcasing exactly how dark and somber the story has become since its wide-eyed beginnings.

Film

Not so horrible

BLACK COMEDY HORRIBLE BOSSES GETS MILEAGE FROM UNIVERSAL PREMISE

By Carey Norris

Who among us hasn’t had a horrible boss, and thought idly from time to time how life might be easier without him or her in it? The new dark comedy Horrible Bosses knows this and gets a lot of mileage from its universally understandable premise.

Film

Unable to transform

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON IS MORE OF THE SAME CRAP

By Carey Norris

All I really hoped for from Transformers: Dark of the Moon was that it would be better than the previous film in the series, Revenge of the Fallen, and thankfully it is.

Film

Wrong turn

PIXAR’S CARS 2 IS NO CLASSIC

By Carey Norris

As further proof of my theory that Larry the Cable Guy can ruin anything, here is Cars 2, which ends Pixar’s streak of smart, emotionally engrossing, often sublime kids’ movies by being merely a pleasant entertainment.

Film

First Class is first rate

X-MEN PREQUEL HAS GOOD ACTION, CREDIBLE CHARACTERS

By Carey Norris

Prequels are almost always a bad idea. Telling astory that has a pre-determined place where it mustwind up seems to be a surefire way to stifle creativity.The awful, artistically bankrupt Wolverinepre

Film

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before

THE HANGOVER: PART II IS FUNNY, BUT FAMILIAR

By Carey Norris

Did you ever hear the one about the three guys who wake up in a hotel room with no memory of how they got there or what they did the night before? You have?

Film

Yo-ho-hum:

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FAILS TO ENLIVEN PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4

By Carey Norris

It makes sense that the plot in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides concerns the Fountain of Youth, because this film, the fourth in the series, tries and fails to keep a flagging franchise vital.

Film

Victory for losers

WIN WIN IS A CHARMING FILM ABOUT PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS

By Carey Norris

One of the great joys of the movie may be watching Paul Giamatti frown, and the warm new comedy Win Win gives us plenty of opportunities to see it. The movie gives us some wonderful, interesting characters, and shows us how generally decent people can make mistakes when the pressure is on.