The Station Agent - A very appreciable slow burn - 8*/10

The Station Agent is an extremely low key movie, there's barely a trace of a story, the events simply unfolding as life would. It's touching, at times funny, with bits of sadness, very attaching characters, and a scenario at anyone's reach. You don't need your brain on to appreciate it, that's how easy it is, but you need patience to settle yourself in.

For tender souls and those who can appreciate slow beats.
8*/10

Please Give - A strange and uncertain flick worth seeing - 8*/10

Please Give is a low key movie that resembles life a lot: there's sadness, a few laughs, some rudeness, anger, lots of confusion, miscommunication, and questions, without ever finding anything final beside death. It has a strange vibe, but if you don't mind a slow beat, it's an appreciable construct.

Not for everyone.
8*/10

Accidents Happen - Life can pile a lot of shit - 8*/10

Accidents Happen is very unusual, things suddenly go wrong and you never know what's going to happen next. It has a very realistic and dramatic vibe to it. The cinematography is very strong, you get deep into it, especially towards the end when you've been soaking in it for a while.

Not for sensitive souls or action fans.
8*/10

Arthur and the Invisibles - Great for children - 6*/10

Arthur and the Invisibles will be a hit with your children, but you might find it lacks in depth. Great and very imaginative world, lots of nice details, plenty of jokes, but with aging graphics, a fact mostly visible in a few scenes.

Great for children, somewhat entertaining for adults.
6*/10

Bad Ass - Could definitively have been better - 4*/10

Bad Ass has a few decent elements in it, but the last part is a huge let down becoming extremely predictable, straight out of a bad Hollywood mold.

Don't think about it, unless you really need to see Danny Trejo.
4*/10

Spring Breakers - Not your juvenile movie, very harsh - 9*/10

Spring Breakers is not what it looks like. It's a very harsh flick built in a very unusual and intelligent manner. Solid acting, unpredictable scenario, and poignant photography. Sometimes, you just need to cut loose, get away from what you are, to find yourself or just to feel free, to understand that there's another world out there, a myriad of possibilities.

Not for everyone, especially the sensitive souls.
9*/10

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain - Beau, excentrique, recherché et intelligent - 9*/10

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain nous plonge pratiquement dans un univers parallèle. Non seulement le personnage et l'histoire possèdent tous deux une saveur très particulière, mais le montage aussi reflète toute l'excentricité de ce film. Vous ne pourrez faire autrement que de sourire alors que vous découvrirez cette jolie production.

Pour ceux qui aiment ce qui sort de l'ordinaire.

9*/10

Family Weekend - Surprising depth - 7*/10

Family Weekend has a lot more to offer than what one might think at first. You'll be touched on numerous occasion, the characters are interesting (even if the family members are a bit over-caricatured), there's true emotional depth, many laughs to be had, as well as solid witty dialogs. You'll be thoroughly entertained.

For everyone.

7*/10

Christmas with the Kranks - Goofy holiday cheers for all - 7*/10

Christmas with the Kranks is just what you need when you want a good laugh during the Holidays. This piece doesn't take itself seriously and you should do the same. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are just perfect for their role in this non stop scenario.

Relax and enjoy.
7*/10

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas - What you would expect - 6*/10

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is on par with the others of the series. Better than the second, not as good as the first, but with all the silliness and Christmas trimming we expect. Just don't think you're going to watch something mature and you might enjoy it.

For the fans of the series and those enjoying juvenile or drug humor.
6*/10

Bad Santa - Bad language, heavy sarcasm: hilarious! - 7*/10

Bad Santa is, to say the least, irreverent. It's funny, not for kids, and very enjoyable. I never thought I'd have this much pleasure watching this trashy flick.

I dare you to see it.
7*/10

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas - Too real for holiday cheers - 6*/10

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas is not the kind of movie you want to cheer you during the Holidays. It's well made to the point that it's just a bit too stark. It's entertaining, but be ready for some family drama.

Not for everyone.
6*/10

Beginners - Touching and artful - 9*/10

Beginners is about resetting yourself, recalibrating your ideas and how you perceive the world. Solid scenario and structure with great cinematic constructs that really put you inside this moving story right by its great characters. It develops slowly to better move you.

A must, unless you require action.
9*/10

Larry Crowne - Simple, heart warming and easy to watch - 8*/10

Larry Crowne is the type of movie that you can watch at anytime for any occasion and enjoy it. The story is straight forward, funny (in a realistic unexaggerated way), and positive. The strength of piece lies in its very attaching characters. Tom Hanks is fabulous and Julia Roberts is at her best (that's saying a lot since I don't really like her).

For everyone.
8*/10

The Dark Knight Rises - Missing a polished edge - 7*/10

The Dark Knight Rises is well made with excellent action, but is a far shot from its immediate predecessor if better than the initial incarnation of that latest trilogy. There are weaknesses and easy plot decisions that make it too rough to really call great.

For Batman fans and those wanting solid action.
7*/10

Pacific Rim - Visuals with very little else - 5*/10

Pacific Rim is nothing more than a visual feast, because there's not that many action sequence. Don't get me wrong, there's a few interesting bits, but it's rife with huge logical flaws and its built on an uninspired scenario.

Have exactly zero expectations, turn your brain off, and you might enjoy yourself.
5*/10

Secret of the Wings - For kids only - 4*/10

Secret of the Wings is nothing great. It has the minimum requirements for kids, but nothing adults really want to see. Lots of logical flaws, easy dialogs, very simple story. It's only saving grace is the imaginative environment.

Only for kids or really curious parents who like cute things.
4*/10

ParaNorman - Very different and imaginative - 7*/10

ParaNorman presents and old story and gives it several new twists. You think you're going in one direction only to find that you're heading somewhere else. Great claymation, macabre setting, funny stuff, and nice tale.

For everyone.
7*/10

Frozen - Really disappointing except for a few funny things - 5*/10

Frozen is more of a musical than a proper movie with characters bursting into songs at very close intervals. The animation has a nice style, but lacks in details. The story is overly simple and predictable. The scenario is badly paced and its only saving graces are a number of well placed gags.

Fun for children, boring for adults.
5*/10

The English Patient - Dramatic and sad - 9*/10

The English Patient is a timeless piece. It is long and very slow developing, but captivating to those who like to savor a rich story filled with characters of depth, great scenery, and a solid score. The leading man is the worst kind of lover and it makes for a excellent romance.

For those who are patient.
9*/10

Attack the Block - Much better than one might imagine - 7*/10

Attack the Block is obviously a low budget flick, however the results are interesting. The scenario is definitively made of an unusual vibe and it has a number of good ideas. The acting is not spectacular, but good enough to entertain. Great score.

If you'd like to see something different and you don't have too much expectations, then you'll like it.
7*/10

De rouille et d'os - Une dure histoire de cassure et de renouement - 8*/10

De rouille et d'os n'est pas pour tous. C'est une histoire parsemée d'éphémères moments où les nuages gris laissent entrevoir un ciel bleu tel un mirage. Jeu d'acteurs très fort.

Pour ceux qui n'ont pas peur des difficultés.
8*/10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Not as strong but still very entertaining - 7*/10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is not as strong as its first installment, but is still a great spectacle. Impressive visuals with the same captivating setting. However, there's a few flaws in the scenarios and it feels too much like the middle movie it is. It's rehashed stuff without solid plot elements that seems to be promised in the next film.

To be seen if you like the first one.
7*/10

Mansfield Park - Delightful with a touch of dark - 8*/10

Mansfield Park fits impeccably well with all the other Jane Austen films. It is the same witty intellectual scenario with a touch of darkness woven into it set around 1800 in the English upper class.

A must for Austen film fans or those who like light romantic intrigue of the time.
8*/10

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Interesting premise, lousy execution - 3*/10

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has interesting idea sprinkled throughout the scenario, but fails at every turn to really build something solid.

Only for the most rabid vampire fans.
3*/10

L'amour dure trois ans - Cynique et hilarant - 8*/10

L'amour dure trois ans est une sorte d'anti comédie romantique. C'est hilarant par moment, légèrement rocambolesque, les personnages sont solidement bâtis, et l'histoire remplie de détails nous laisse sans reste.

Pour les cyniques et ceux qui aime rire d'un peu de tout le monde en amour ou en peine d'amour.
8*/10

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Could have been more - 6*/10

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is disappointing in the fact that it builds up a lot of its scenario elements to only drop them without grace.

You might enjoy, you might not.
6*/10

Charlie Wilson's War - Sarcastic, funny, and irreverent - 8*/10

Charlie Wilson's War is a frank and irreverent view of politics and the American view. If you put it side by side with a movie like 9th Company, it will make you think twice before passing judgement. Funny, with strong performances.

Not perfect, but great piece, very interesting point of view.
8*/10

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - For your kids while entertaining you - 6*/10

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is a kid movie, but a good one. Very imaginative and silly, great graphics, lots of extravagant jokes, extremely colorful, and tons of adorable creatures. You'll like it if you liked the first one, but it's not required to have seen it.

Your kids will love it and you'll be entertained.
6*/10

The Book Thief - A rich yet simple story - 9*/10

The Book Thief will move you in some way. It's a WWII movie, but it's neither about its darkness nor the fighting, it's about its forgotten people. The decors are rich and incredibly detailed, the characters full of life and deep in emotions, the story is captivating and touching, the scenario makes time fly away, and finally everything is told in a simple manner that really takes you there and makes you live their life.

The only incongruous thing would be the fact that the characters sometime speak in German sometime in English.

A must watch.
9*/10

Planet Terror - Funny gory exploitation homage flick - 7*/10

Planet Terror is not for everyone. True to his style, Robert Rodriguez is gory as hell. It's a good homage to the old exploitation movies of the seventies.

A must for Rodriguez fans, it's a hit or miss for the others.
7*/10

Celeste & Jesse Forever - Unusual and realistic with great humor and a bit of cynicism - 7*/10

Celeste & Jesse Forever will make you laugh. It will also make you uncomfortable with a straight forward view of what kind of mess life can make of love and friendship.

For those who like quirky movies.
7*/10

Save the Date - Scattered at best and very quirky - 6*/10

Save the Date has a lot of good elements, it's just not holding well together. The characters and the acting is very peculiar and mostly not to my liking. The story takes a while to get where it's interesting. A very quirky flick.

It's not for everyone, but some would probably love it.
6*/10

Sliding Doors - Only interesting for the comparative scenario - 6*/10

Sliding Doors is getting old and it shows. The story itself is old fashioned, but the way it's told is interesting. Beside Gwyneth Paltrow's acting there isn't much to capture our attention.

For Paltrow's fan.
6*/10

12 Years a Slave - Abjection and misery - 8*/10

12 Years a Slave is what it is. The scenario has a few solid moments, but for the rest, it's just about making us watch how degrading it is to be a slave. The acting is excellent, except for an unremarkable performance by Brad Pitt, and that's what's really keeping our attention, because the story itself is very simple and on the boring side, as many other biography/history based films.

If you're interested in the old american slavery conditions or if you like flicks based on true events.
8*/10

Dallas Buyers Club - Tough to watch - 9*/10

Dallas Buyers Club is better than its trailer makes it out to be, but it's still not an easy movie to watch. It's dark, full of prejudice, misery, pain, and injustice. The acting is without reproach, the characters are what makes the story, and the situation is extremely compelling.

Not for everyone, but if you don't mind watching a tough film, you should at least see it once.
9*/10

La vie d'Adèle - Fort, intense, et actuel - 10*/10

La vie d'Adèle est assez percutant comme film. On plonge en profondeur dans sa vie et sa relation, rien n'est caché et on nous donne beaucoup de discussions, de détails émotionnels, et aussi sexuels, au point où l'on a l'impression de visionner un film pornographique par moment. En fait, il me semble qu'il n'y aurait probablement pas autant de pornos si on avait tout simplement plus de productions se donnant une telle liberté. Jeux d'acteurs puissants, histoire prenante et scénario se respectant énormément.

À voir.
10*/10

The Sessions - Surprising yet predictable - 6*/10

The Sessions starts out pretty differently than what its trailer suggested. Nonetheless, it eventually catches up to what I feared and plunges into a particularly bad example of romance. Its saving grace is the ending which is pretty solid contrary to most biographically or historically based movie. One thing really ticked me off, once again prostitution is vilified.

Not for everyone.
6*/10

Monster's Ball - Stark and full of emotions - 8*/10

Monster's Ball is not the type of movie you watch everyday, it's too difficult to watch, the reality too dark. It's a strong movie that shouldn't be avoided as long as I did. The ending is perfect.

If you are strong enough.
8*/10

Lola Versus - Simple, confused, and confusing - 6*/10

Lola Versus is enjoyable in a way, but it's not a great movie. It has its moments, good intentions, and a realistic approach, however, it all doesn't stick very well together.

Entertaining, but nothing more.
6*/10

Cairo Time - Exotic but real - 9*/10

Cairo Time is almost timeless. It's a slow-paced experience of Cairo, with a slow-developing relationship. Take your time and enjoy it. Be transported.

A must for realistic romantics.
9*/10

About Time - Captivating and very touching - 9*/10

About Time achieved what it set out to be: talk about the beautiful simplicity of life and love while making us laugh. It's a well built scenario with only one logical flaw, easily forgiven, that paints a captivating coming of age story. It's simple in its own way, full of nice details, quirks, and very touching moments.

A must see for anyone.
9*/10

Escape Plan - Good enough - 6*/10

Escape Plan is a nice action suspense movie with a bit of intrigue an a few surprises. It's nowhere near magnificent and it's better appreciated with your brain off, but it's good enough entertainment. This means that there are many glaring logical flaws in the scenario and some lame character developments that you'll have to take with a grain of salt to appreciate the flick.

Don't expect much and you'll have fun.
6*/10

Ender's Game - Spectacular feast - 9*/10

Ender's Game is an extremely visual movie with action and special effects everywhere. You also get a very interesting background and captivating story teamed up with a solid score. This incredible entertainment easily makes you forget its few flaws that include a weak raft scene and some not too obvious acting limitations mostly due to young age.

A must see.
9*/10

Hostage - Not worth much - 5*/10

Hostage is an excellent story, but with a poor execution of a less than stellar script. More over, mixed in with the good actors are some pretty poor ones. Definitively, this is the weakest movie Bruce Willis has ever been involved with.

Only good for the action and the novelty.
5*/10

The Guilt Trip - Better than expected - 6*/10

The Guilt Trip starts as one might think, the mother is ultra annoying and you get to anticipate the whole thing as annoying movie. However, it gets better a third way through. It gets more down to earth, a bit touchy-feely, and actually ends realistically if a touch rosy.

A few good laughs in a simple flick. Recommended to Seth Rogen fans.
6*/10

All Is Lost - To be discovered - 9*/10

All Is Lost is a bold movie. Just a few words, one actor and a lot of salt water. Great visuals, solid score, and good acting.

To be discovered if you're ready to see something simple.
9*/10

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy - Funny and well made - 7*/10

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy is not perfect, but it's funny with a well built scenario and no plot gimmick, even if at some point you'd think they're going to use a well worn one. It's easy to enjoy, the humor is a bit juvenile, but nothing exaggerated.

Sit back, relax and enjoy.
7*/10

The Beaver - A stark mix of silly notions and deep drama - 7*/10

The Beaver is not for everyone. It's a bleak vision of depression and family life. It has some silliness and a few laughs in it, but it doesn't last and some of the events are even pretty dark. A few scenes are darn touching, though.

Don't watch it for levity and you'll be fine.
7*/10

The Counselor - To discover and savor - 9*/10

The Counselor is like a puzzle where the pieces are intriguing and some are beautifully well crafted. You can appreciate each part and wonder where they will take you, but the big picture takes a while to be revealed and the beauty of it is not complete until the end. Great acting, especially on the part of Cameron Diaz and Javier Bardem, as well as, to a lesser extent, Brad Pitt and Penélope Cruz.

A must see if you're not a faint of heart or a sensible soul.
9*/10

Thanks for Sharing - Fun and drama rolled into one - 8*/10

Thanks for Sharing is one of those movie who brilliantly meshes together a few good laughs and some drama in a whole lot of very human situations. It's a bit raw at time, and I could have done without even the tiny bits of praying, but it's excellent as a whole. Very touching.

The cast is full of stars: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow and Pink.

A must see, for everyone.
8*/10

Don Jon - Much better quality than it looks like - 9*/10

Don Jon is not at all what the previews would make it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt surpassed himself not only as an actor, but by adding to his belt writer and director with such punch. Scarlett Johansson is just incredible in her role. She completely pulls off a powerful character. The rest of cast, including Julianne Moore and Tony Danza is almost as stellar.

The story is definitively offbeat, nothing like it out there for sure, but that's partly why it's so captivating. The scenario is well paced, interesting and full of details.

A must see. Just don't take the characters too seriously.
9*/10

The Fifth Estate - It gives you an idea - 6*/10

The Fifth Estate is to be viewed with a large grain of salt as any real life retelling movie. Its biggest flaw is that it tries to be really edgy, but only achieves annoyance. The camera moves/shots are weak and the editing too tight. It does instill some nice tension, but that's more due to acting and a nice scenario than anything else.

If you want to learn a bit of interesting history without having to do the work.
6*/10

Colombiana - Great action, poor story - 5*/10

Colombiana really starts badly, with poor acting. The story itself is worthless, with few good actors, Zoe Saldana being one of the rare saving graces. The action, though, is impeccable and impressive with clockwork clarity and execution.

If you want to see solid action with a killer leading lady.
5*/10

Flight - Better than I thought - 7*/10

Flight starts solidly, and trails off. It lacks a bit of depth in the sentimental areas, probably because you can't really feel the characters very well. However, the story is interesting and offers some nice final twists.

7*/10

Enough Said - A different kind of romance - 7*/10

Enough Said will catch your attention with its quirks. Slowly, it will draw you in with the unusual tidbits it throws in its scenario. It might not be a revolution in the genre, but its fresh enough and good enough to be worth watching.

For those looking for a different kind of romance.
7*/10

Captain Phillips - Very good for its genre - 8*/10

Captain Phillips is a very good hostage movie. Excellent tension. Not your run-of-the-mill predictable scenario. Tom Hanks is perfect in the last scene. Barkhad Abdi is close to magnificent as the captain of the bad guys. Scary. I didn't think they'd make such a good film out of this story.

If you like flicks that are all about the mood, psychological nightmare, if you're a fan of Hanks, then this is for you.
8*/10

Machete Kills - Toned down, less funny - 4*/10

Machete Kills really fails to keep the original idea alive. First off, the images are clean and modern, instead of the scratched effects used to simulate old b-movies type productions. Second, the story seems to take itself seriously at time. Third, we actually now have an action hero instead of anti-hero. Fourth, sex is much softer. It all ads up to a big disappointment.

Not worth seeing unless you're a really big fan of Robert Rodriguez or Machete.
4*/10

LOL - Watchable is its best quality - 5*/10

LOL has very little content. The best moment of the movie wasn't even capitalized on. It's watchable, but not much more than that.

Just barely entertaining.
5*/10

Eat Pray Love - It could have been much more - 7*/10

Eat Pray Love falls short of what it could have achieved. You know what you're supposed to take from this movie, the cinematic is great, the photography quite powerful, but it cuts corner everywhere else and takes the easy paths in the story.

For the romantics.
7*/10

Machete - Great style and violent action - 6*/10

Machete by Robert Rodriguez rides the edge between parody of and homage to B/exploitation movies. Only by laughing a bit about them can you truly praise them, because what people loved about them was the fact that they didn't necessarily try to make perfect films, but really wanted to entertain us by appealing to our baser interests.

For those who love B/exploitation flicks or the style of Robert Rodriguez.
6*/10

Ghost in the Shell - A solid intro to the menga world - 8*/10

Ghost in the Shell is a relatively old manga, but still very watchable. It has a captivating score and a strong intrigue. The story explore the definition of self, consciousness and life through AI, at least a future version of it, at the time of singularity.

For sci-fi enthusiasts who wish to explore manga.
8*/10

Gravity - Simple, short, yet perfect - 10*/10

Gravity is a very simple movie, but the ambience, the sound, the images, and the attention to details puts you right in the story. The photography is astounding. The score brilliant and chilling. I didn't think they could really make a full film on the subject. They proved me wrong. It's a tight, gripping suspense with lots of action. The 3D is simple, almost invisible, and well done, even if it's probably not needed.

A must see for everyone. See it in IMAX, it's really worth it.
10*/10

The American - Slow but strong - 8*/10

The American starts weakly, you just don't feel the character or the setup. However, the strength of this movie lies in its mood. The photography is beautiful, the setting simple and real, with a nice slow score. I loved the sex scene. It felt powerful, and was really erotic, short, to the point, nothing over done.

If you want to see something good, moody, slow.
8*/10

The Next Three Days - Good tension and good entertainment - 7*/10

The Next Three Days is a good variation on the theme, a mix of escape and revenge flick, with a number of realistic situations and reactions. No ordinary guy turning into a super hero or ex-assassin-super-spy. Its biggest attraction is the tension that the scenario builds, it will get you to the edge of your seat and keep you there.

For those who like escape or righteous movies.
7*/10

Crazy, Stupid, Love. - Refreshing story with nice twists - 7*/10

Crazy, Stupid, Love. starts as a basic falling apart and picking yourself up romantic flick. However, there's a number of elements that slightly add to the story at the beginning, and which spin the scenario in a different direction about midway through. You're left with something fresh and interesting that will make you think.

For some laughs, a heart warming story, and a nice entertaining time.
7*/10

It's a Disaster - On the fringe for better laughs - 7*/10

It's a Disaster starts as a standard relationship comedy, but as it progresses, oddities crop up pushing it further and further away from stereotypical character designs and story. It grows on you so slowly that you won't realize it and be totally engrossed by the end, which is just perfect.

For a good time and something different.
7*/10

2 Guns - Not the equal of the actors used - 6*/10

2 Guns is a lot of action, a lot of double cross and surprises. The story, however, doesn't have any depth, and neither do the characters. The result is rather flat, even if we're given two great actors.

For Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg fans, or those in need testosterone enhanced action.
6*/10

Rush - Very solid film, incredible mindset - 9*/10

Rush by Ron Howard starts slow, it takes a little while to get settled in the drivers' mindset, but once you're in... oh my! The races are extremely well filmed, the score is great, the story is very interesting and gets particularly poignant in the second half.

You don't have to be a fan of racing, Hunt or Lauda to really enjoy this.
9*/10


Note: I tried the D-Box system (seat that gives you motion effects) for the first time and it was breaking my concentration most of the time, but for the final races, it was great. I had to go see the film again without motion effects to really appreciate it to its real value. I think that MFX is a bit like 3D, if it's well done, it's a bonus, else it's a distraction. I was so distracted by it that I originally gave the movie a 7. I changed it to a 8, then went to see it again, and rechanged to a well deserved 9.

Moneyball - Quiet, simple, touching, very different from other sport movies - 8*/10

Moneyball is not about winning or losing, it's about change. This is a low key baseball movie with a story and a perspective that really grips you in a very subtle manner. You can't help but be interested in, captivated by the events, and even cheer for the main character. Great acting.

For anyone looking for a touching story or a quiet evening, and for the baseball or the Brad Pitt fans.
8*/10

30 Minutes or Less - Simple but funny - 6*/10

30 Minutes or Less doesn't aim to be great, it just aim to entertain with a simple comedy routine, and succeeds. There's a lot of laughter, derived from very basic situations and dialogs, and lots of action. It's main strength comes from the twists and turns of the story that will pop right to the end. They're not big, but they do break the routine in a very nice way. Add to that some solid, if silly, acting, and it's easy entertainment. The weakness is in the intro, it makes you think you're heading right down a boring unsurprising flick with juvenile humor. Don't get me wrong, it's juvenile alright, but done well.

For entertainment only.
6*/10

The World's End - Good enough, but a disappointment - 6*/10

The World's End is not bad entertainment per say, but it's a disappointment compared to its predecessors, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. It's funny, with lots of action, and silly stuff. However, everything is of inferior quality and feels diluted. It starts pitifully weakly, then gets into roaring action, yet the sequence of events lacks all around motivation.

If your a fan of the trilogy or have nothing else to do.
6*/10

Blue Jasmine - Troubled characters that you come to like - 8*/10

Blue Jasmine has all the usual Woody Allen movie characteristics, while being more easily enjoyable by the masses. At first, as in many of its flicks, the characters can get on your nerves with all their quirks. However, they slowly grow on you. As the story progress and you get slowly more and more immersed in their lives, you get to know them, and really understand what they are going through.

A must for all Allen fans, a good drama with a few laughs for the others.
8*/10

The Grandmaster - Kung Fu at its most artistic - 8*/10

The Grandmaster is a Chinese movie that combines powerfully artistic visuals, great martial choreography, philosophy, and drama, in one story. The action looks much more realistic than most Kung Fu flicks, but it tends to be a little long for those looking for lots of fights. The slow pace is, however, right on the money, given enough room for all the great acting.

A must see for those who love martial arts movie, a good watch for others.
8*/10

Everything Must Go - Very enjoyable, but don't see it for the action - 8*/10

Everything Must Go is a very low key and honest movie about a turning point. It's probably Will Ferrell's least SNLish piece ever. He's composed, almost serious, very realistic, and excellent. It's not a happy film, but it will make you think, and probably will make you see life differently. You will smile, but not laugh.

See it, unless you can't watch a flick where very little happens.
8*/10

The Mummy - An adventure for all - 7*/10

The Mummy is a adventure flick where you can just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride. It's funny, has some good acting, roller-coaster actions, and nice special effects. Think Indiana Jones, but without anything serious. Very entertaining.

For everyone.
7*/10

Bad Teacher - Don't take it seriously, just have fun - 6*/10

Bad Teacher is not a top movie, even with the two big stars it has (Cameron Diaz & Justin Timberlake), but it's very entertaining if you take it with the grain of salt it requires. The gym teacher's humor is pretty solid, and you should watch the rest of flick with he same kind of eye to appreciate it. The ending is too easy, if funny, I'll grant that, however, it's tolerable.

Watch it on a rainy day, it'll make you smile.
6*/10

Adore - Get uncomfortable and watch - 8*/10

Adore will certainly make you uncomfortable. Well done sex scene, earnest characters, excellent acting, and majestic views are but a few of the production's finer qualities. Twists around and turnabouts are the scenario's main staple. More over, it makes you think and goes off the beaten path. I love that. Will you see what I saw?

See it and make up your own mind.
8*/10

Friends with Benefits - Lots of very sexy fun - 7*/10

Friends with Benefits will make you laugh, even if the humor is on the easy side, the characters aren't and are surprisingly well built considering that they're a bit shallow. The scenario juggles a number of unorthodox ideas which makes it very interesting.  However, it uses an old trick to hinge the story on which in turns depreciate the production slightly. The end, though, is better, and leaves us on a more agreeable note.

For romantics and non-romantics alike.
7*/10

Jobs - Not as powerful as the man or the company - 6*/10

Jobs, as a movie, reflects well Apple's « Think Different » as well as the man himself embodies it. Ashton Kutcher does a marvelous jobs, the piece is interesting, well made, and will inform you on a number of events surrounding the man and the company, but it's not enough to make this a brilliant film.

It's nice entertainment, but no more. See it for yourself.
6*/10

Horrible Bosses - Good basic fun - 6*/10

Horrible Bosses doesn't aim to be a great movie, it's a slapstick kind of comedy. However it's done well enough that it doesn't wander too far into the ridiculous. It is easy humor, that's a fact, with single dimension characters, but you will be entertained. It's all it really wants to do.

For a good time.
6*/10

Louis Cyr - Une biography intéressante - 8*/10

Louis Cyr nous plonge aisément dans la vie de cet homme mythique. Les personnage qu'on nous présente au grand écran sont plein de vie, attachant, et font d'une biographie une histoire que l'on veut connaître. Les décors et costumes sont sans pareil. Les dialogues sont souvent amusants et tous les acteurs nous donnent une solide performance.

À voir, surtout si on est québécois.
8*/10

Riddick - Excellent for the fans, good for the rest - 6*/10

Riddick is the third of the series that started with Pitch Black which had some excellent ideas, but with a few poor executions. After a definitely better sequel, called The Chronicles of Riddick it goes back to its root with this chapter. Fortunately, the budget was on hand to make it better than the first. However, the edge it lost in the second installment isn't back and it's not as solid as the second one, but the fun is still there. The end is weak.

A must for fans. The others can still enjoy, especially if they like action or sci-fi with monsters.
6*/10

Hanna - A lot of bang but missing some meat - 7*/10

Hanna is a high action suspense spy-like movie. It's premise is interesting even if the bottom-line isn't new. It will easily captivate your attention, it has imaginative scenes, good acting, but unfortunately, it sometimes feel empty probably due to the a big subject tackled with few actors.

For those who like spy or covert ops flicks.
7*/10

The Spectacular Now - Realistic, simple, touching piece of teen life - 8*/10

The Spectacular Now is like a teen movie set in real life with some drama presented simply, nothing overdone. It's difficult to really pin this piece down, but you'll laugh, you'll be touch by the drama yet won't be overwhelmed by it, you'll be drawn in by the sincerity as well as the good intentions, and you'll be immersed by the attention to details.

It's a movie for everyone.
8*/10

In a World... - Quirky, different, totally worth it - 7*/10

In a World... presents an odd subject matter and does it well. The story has lots of details, nice twists and turns, likeable characters with all their shades of grey, and a well done ending.

Go see it to see something different and funny, you'll be really entertained.
7*/10

AVPR: Aliens vs Predator Requiem - A little better but not by much - 5*/10

AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem is the sequel to the first AVP and is just a little less mediocre. The story is a bit more involved and detailed, but the acting is worst. You also get more Predator technology and more Alien ecosystem variations.

Do no watch if you aren't a fan of Alien or Predator.
5*/10

AVP: Alien vs. Predator - Only for Alien and Predator fans - 5*/10

AVP: Alien vs. Predator is not much of a movie with all its logical flaws, poor dialog, thin story, and flat characters. However, you can see some nice Alien behaviors and Predator technology. as well as their first confrontation on the big screen.

If you're not a fan of either series, just skip it.
5*/10

The Way of the Gun - Get hooked by the story development - 9*/10

The Way of the Gun is a unemotional view of the modern gunslinger. Many violent, almost abject, firefights, solid characters, great acting, very interesting story with nice depth, and excellent ending.

Actors include: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Geoffrey Lewis, and James Caan.

If you don't mind violence, blood, and lack of morals, it's a must.
9*/10

U Turn - A walk on the crazy side - 9*/10

U Turn is a star studded creation by Oliver Stone with lots twist and turns as well as being mightily twisted. It takes Stone's special creative vision to really make this story stand out and feel like stepping into a nightmare after a really wrong turn.

Actors include: Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte, Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Voight, Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes, and Liv Tyler.

A must for anyone not bothered by violence, but be ready for weird.
9*/10

We're the Millers - They're fake and they're fun - 6*/10

We're the Millers is a silly comedy who just aims at making you laugh. It easily succeeds and even bring some interesting elements. The big plus, is that the best jokes aren't in the preview reel. It's not a block buster or a even a great movie, but it's not aiming for that and the result is a sound piece of entertainment.

For a good laugh.
7*/10

Kick-Ass 2 - They're back and they're still good, or bad - 7*/10

Kick-Ass 2 is the sequel to the hilarious first chapter. Although it is not as good, it's not too far from the original, and any of it's fan will appreciate this new story. You still get the earnest good guys trying to make the world a better place, lots of action, plenty of silliness, and an entertaining story.

For those who want to laugh and like super-heroes.
7*/10

Kill Bill - A long tale of violence - 8*/10

Kill Bill: Vol.1 and Vol.2 are the brainchild of Quentin Tarantino and as such are great creations. However, these are not for everybody. They are masterpieces of photography, style, the story is captivating and well told with solid dialogs and characters, but it's a lot of fighting and blood in the first one and lots of story telling in the second one.

It might be an acquired taste, but you'll never know until you try it. A must for every Tarantino fan.
8*/10

Natural Born Killers - Defining mindless violence - 9*/10

Natural Born Killers is a fantastic kind of over the top and straight face burlesque piece by Oliver Stone. The story is by Quentin Tarantino and makes fun of the tendency of some people in the early 90s to glorify violence. It's done a sort of kaleidoscopic fashion with extremely solid yet completely farcical characters. It's gripping, it's violent, it's intelligent, it's powerful.

A must for everyone, unless you don't want to see violence or blood.
9*/10

From Dusk Till Dawn - It's different, it's crazy, it's on! - 8*/10

From Dusk Till Dawn is a mad gory movie by Robert Rodriguez a good friend of Quentin Tarantino. Solid setup, imaginative ideas for the second part. You want action, you want tension, you want bloody explosion, it's for you. The show down is not well choreographed, but it's highly entertaining. It's starts as a level-headed crime flick, and ends up as something else totally.

Actors include: Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, and Juliette Lewis.

If you don't mind craziness and blood, you should definitively see it.
8*/10

Death Proof - An exploitation flick in much better - 8*/10

Death Proof is an incomparably stylish flick by the avant-garde Quentin Tarantino. The music is extremely catchy and puts us right in the mood. The first part has a great film pellicule style like a 70s B movie. The first part has a great setup for the characters, the situation and the end result comes brutally quick. The second part is more about the action and satisfaction... such satisfaction. All the girls give us great performances, and Kurt Russell one of his best.

Those who like simple yet well made story with action, solid dialogs and car chases, this is for you. A must for any Tarantino fan.
8*/10

Elysium - A mind blast - 8*/10

Elysium is a visual feast. Special effects, incredible sci-fi technology, a surreal future, and plenty of action. The story is electrifying, but contains a certain number of logical flaws and a final speech that could have been scratched that lessened somewhat the resulting quality. It's not enough to distract the audience, however, it can be annoying. Matt Damon delivered a solid performance, as he usually does, but it was Jodie Foster who really surprised me.

It's for everyone to enjoy.
8*/10

Reservoir Dogs - A naked look at a robbery from the other side - 10*/10

Reservoir Dogs is the movie that put Quentin Tarantino on the map. The set-up and the story are simple, yet there's a nice intrigue, solid captivating dialogs, great unconventional camera work, and the acting is excellent. You get to see the other side of the story, the criminals in simple forms as well as what they face when setting out on job.

A must see, but sensible souls should abstain, there's a lot of blood and an stark torture scene.
10*/10

Pulp Fiction - Criminals are normal people with bad days - 10*/10

Pulp Fiction created its own genre with it highly entertaining dialogs, mundane yet professional attitude of its criminals, various antics, and captivating intertwining stories. Quentin Tarantino was catapulted into the stratosphere of directors and creators for good reasons. This is no less than a masterpiece an earshot away from perfection.

A must see for anyone who doesn't mind violence, action, and disturbing subjects.
10*/10

Dead Poets Society - Life must be lived with a clear mind - 10*/10

Dead Poets Society is a coming of age movie about forging your own path, following your own beat, and thinking for yourself. The acting is extremely good, the story very compelling as well as touching, and the strong dramatic tone of the film is nicely, if only slightly, soften by a few well placed laughs. It has all the characteristics of a teen flick, but done in with solid and serious cinematic rigour.

For those who don't mind facing reality straight on.
10*/10

American Pie - Solid and funny teen point of view - 8*/10

American Pie was a revival of the teen genre. It threw away the jocks versus geeks theme for something more real, mainly how clueless and single minded we can be when we're adolescents. The focus is mainly on the guys' obsession about sex, but the finale, the last quarter of the flick, gives a much more sensitive, more touching and sweeter tone to the production. It's funny, with some exaggerations, but nothing over the top.

It's great entertainment, a solid teen perspective, and thoughtful.
8*/10

Dave - An easy movie to watch - 7*/10

Dave is an highly improbable story, but it is heartfelt and very entertaining. You will not be bored watching this flick and you'll smile all the while. It is simple straightforward, yet with a number of nice surprises. The acting is solid, no exaggeration or caricature, just nice performances.

For everyone.
7*/10

Turbo - Easily hits its target with fun - 7*/10

Turbo is an very good animation for all the family. It might not have a lot of depth to avidly capture adults, but it will entertain them for sure. The premise is very imaginative and lots of details within also are. It's funny, with a few completely hilarious moments which aren't all given away by the preview as some movies do.

A must for every kid, and a recommendation for any adults who likes animation.
7*/10

La Femme Nikita - Un film d'action fictif au fort réalisme - 9*/10

La Femme Nikita est le film qui a fait connaître Luc Besson et pour bonne cause. Le tout est monté de manière très solide. Beaucoup d'action, des personnages solides et avec une bonne profondeur, une histoire touchante, un psychologie très réelle, et une fin irréprochable.

À voir absolument, à moins que l'on ne veuille pas voir de l'action ou de la violence.
9*/10

Grown Ups 2 - Very little content - 5*/10

Grown Ups 2 is much more juvenile movie than its predecessor which was a better flick. However if juvenile is your thing, by all means, watch it.

5*/10

RED 2 - Over the top action - 7*/10

RED 2 is the proud sequel of RED. You'll find that all your favourite characters are back. It has bigger action better car chases, but it's less cooky even if it's still really funny. If you liked the first one, you'll love this one too, without difficulty. Mary-Louise Parker is even more adorable and funny, plus, Anthony Hopkins give a nice performance.

For those who like action with some silliness.
7*/10

RED - A crazy world of super spy and assassins in full action - 8*/10

RED is funny action movie with some very interesting premises. The intro is a bit plain an boring, but once the tone of the film really gets into place, with the arrival of John Malkovich's crazy character, the roller coaster starts. The intrigue is minimal, the story not very complicated, but it's a support for the outrageous interactions. It's just excellent entertainment where you can turn your brain off and just enjoy.

Mary-Louise Parker is particularly good, and as usual Bruce Willis gives us a pretty good performance.

I highly recommend it, unless you're not feeling like action.
8*/10

Taken 2 — Slightly entertaining, but not a patch on the original — 6*/10

Taken 2 is the sequel to Taken and a far cry from the same quality. It's entertaining, lots of action, some suspense, but the story is not as tight and lacks details. Some elements are obvious padding like the boyfriend thing. The three weeks after is pathetic. There's no Albanian dialogs where there should be. The new characters are parodies of real humans. The revenge theme seems so shallow compared to the human sex slave trade that's it's hard to believe it. And finally, that righteous anger is missing, simmering to a simple survival duty.

Not worth it, unless you really need to know what happens next.
6*/10

Taken — A thrill ride of action in the name of what's right — 9*/10

Taken is extremely satisfying as lots of very nasty guys die. The story is linear, but intelligent and very detailed. Excellent suspense, tense action, and superb car chases. The characters are well developed and you can feel their realism, even if they are at time a bit single-minded. You will assuredly cheer Liam Neeson on and share his anger as well as his concern, passion, and love.

I highly recommend it, especially if you like action.
9*/10

The English Teacher — An easy delight — 8*/10

The English Teacher is a sweet little comedy. It's simple, very well played, funny and with a bit of light drama that is definitively in good taste. There's no disgustingly embarrassing moments, just a few awkward situations and plenty of twists and turns. There are a few flaws, but they're very small, and the end is very nicely handled.

Julianne Moore is just lovely as the lead and perfect for the role.

I recommend it, especially if you're not in the mood for action.
8*/10

Rufus — Much greater than the sum of its parts — 9*/10

Rufus is a low budget small town canadian emo vampire movie. That being said, once it's over, you can't but acknowledge that it's a solid production. Each scene and each character is meticulously crafted and it shows. All the ideas behind this piece are great and imaginative. The atmosphere is well built, and, even if the rhythm is a bit slow, especially to establish the setting, the pace suits the style. The only thing that annoyed me was the intro credit scene. However infuriating it is, I'll admit that it sets the tone of the film.

A must see if you don't mind slow development.
9*/10

White House Down — Quips, actions, and explosions — 6*/10

White House Down is an action movie, nothing else. You'll laugh at the easy quips, be amazed by the action and the explosions, but don't be attached to reality, because it barely flirts with it. The story line is simple and just this side of brainless. The scenario is well paced and gets your heart racing, but has no novelty. You'll cheer the heroes, but there's no depth to any characters. It's better than Olympus Has Fallen, but barely.

Good mindless entertainment, nothing more.
6*/10

The Wolverine — A disappointment — 5*/10

The Wolverine is a failure as super hero movies go. Bad intro, bad ending, and logical flaws all over the place. There's a few funny moments, lots of action and it stars Hugh Jackman, but that's it. I mean, even the bear CG was bad. My guess is the movie was build thinking 3D and the rest was secondary.

Skip it, even if you like super heroes, and you should especially stay really far from it if you're a Wolverine fan.
5*/10

Crash — Life is made of all us mixing, meeting, crashing... — 10*/10

Crash is a tapestry of lives about all the shades of gray of our collective existence. The story is simply captivating and it won't let you go, even after it ends. Almost every member of the cast gave the performance of their lifetime and it shows.

There's something for everyone. Action. One or two laughs. Lots of drama. Gut wrenching situations. Anger. Love. Touching moments that will bring a tear or a flood. Social criticism. Everyday heroism. Crime. Corruption. Mistakes big and small. Doing wrong, doing right. Compromises. Consequences. Inequalities. Karma. Going crazy. Finding sanity.

Actors include: Ryan Phillippe, Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Tony Danza, Keith David, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, and Michael Peña

A must see. A masterpiece.
10*/10

The Pursuit of Happyness — One man's battle against the odds of life — 10*/10

The Pursuit of Happyness is an incredibly moving drama where Will Smith and his real life son Jaden Smith shine like only true stars can. The story is at time incredibly bitter, bad luck mixing in with bad judgment, unfair turn of events, as well as bad people. At other times, it shows sweetness that touches you deeply. It is about perseverance against all adversity.

A must for everybody.
10*/10

The Way Way Back — Have a laugh, a tear, and some frustrations — 8*/10

The Way Way Back is a coming of age movie. It has some very sweet moments, some fairly embarrassing ones, lots of funny ones, rough ones, and enough drama to make it a realistic teen or reconstituted family life. The story will tug at everyone, especially those who have lived through divorce and step parents. The end is very solid, with no crazy stuff, just a little bit of self affirmation.

You just want to strangle Steve Carell, and Liam James truly is great as the hero of the tale, but my smile unsurprisingly goes to Sam Rockwell.

It's not spectacular or life quacking, but I highly recommend it.
8*/10

Before Midnight — Explore how love really accounts for the ups and downs — 9*/10

Before Midnight is a couple having a long discussion, or fight depending on how you see it, for two thirds of the movie. The intro is very solid, and the whole film is interesting and forces us to think about those recurring unpleasantness you can face in a relationship.

Both positions are somewhat stereotypical and the production runs a bit long, but it's real. You can see both points of view and that they both had many opportunities to quiet things down but mostly didn't because they were hurt, just like anybody else. In the end, by spending so much time on their these clashes, it makes the point, not explicitly, that it's all a bit silly.

It's great, but only for those wishing to explore the idea of love with imperfection.
9*/10

The Bling Ring — Wild and different where misfits thrives — 10*/10

The Bling Ring is about the mistakes of youth. It's real and doesn't pander. It's a space where you can make your own mind. It's another genius movie by Sophia Copolla.

She plunges us into the subject and sets the mood right away to snare our attention. Great score and music for a vibrant lush captivating story.

A must for everyone, even guys.
10*/10

R.I.P.D. — Entertaining for some — 6*/10

R.I.P.D. is an entertaining science-fiction flick but that's it. It has an imaginative background concept and some interesting monsters, however that's the extent of its qualification. It could have been a great movie...

The cowboy thing almost got to my last nerve, the special effects are barely adequate, the characters over simplistic, the story is predictable and very linear.

If you want to see something different, it might be for you, otherwise, don't bother.
6*/10

Traffic — Gritty drama and action with a star studded cast — 9*/10

Traffic is a solid drama by Steven Soderbergh that's all about the drug war an its real life futility. The scenario is a nice mesh of stories that are captivating with lots of drama, some excellent action, a bit of intrigue, and some suspense.

The acting is uniformly great for this star studded cast. Here are those that truly distinguished themselves: Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Erika Christensen, and Don Cheadle. They admirably portrayed the main characters.

In secondary roles, I also liked Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, and Luis Guzmán. In an uncredited and very small part, you can briefly see the beautiful Salma Hayek.

A must see, unless you don't like tough movies.
9*/10

The Ice Harvest — Funny with a dark streak — 8*/10

The Ice Harvest is captivating story. Really funny at times, it also has a dark streak. It's a smallish town setting, with smallish town expectations. It has some heart, it will make you think, and it will make you laugh.

Billy Bob Thornton is good, John Cusack is great, but Oliver Platt is perfect and makes the movie. You could also say that Ned Bellamy does the same in a more secondary manner.

Don't miss this quirky film, just don't mind the blood and petty violence.
8*/10

Runaway Jury — A movie not to miss — 9*/10

Runaway Jury is not well known by the general public, but a gem nonetheless.

The good. Engrossing story with nice twists to the plot. Great suspense with a slow developing intrigue. Imaginative and smart scenario. The main characters have a lot of depth. Solid photography, camera work, editing, and score.

The actors. John Cusack and Rachel Weisz both are just right as the young intelligent and dedicated puppeteers. Gene Hackman once again plays a despicable persona and manages not to over do it making the result very believable. Dustin Hoffman plays brilliantly the lawyer with a social conscience, one of his best, if very simple, role. Playing secondary characters, Bruce McGill, Jeremy Piven, and Bruce Davison have given us very commendable performance.

The bad. One or two minor logical flaws, but that's it.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A surprisingly entertaining legal battle. For everyone.

9*/10

Terminator 2: Judgment Day — A sci-fi masterpiece with action and suspense — 10*/10

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the superb sequel by James Cameron of the original cyberpunk movie, The Terminator.

The good. Slick polish to the production. Tons of superb action. Great liquid metal special effect. Gripping score. Riveting story that just won't let you go. Imaginative background and settings, just like the first one. Tight suspense. Attention grabbing intro with some laughs. Absolutely perfect ending. A few funny scenes, with the best line of the film being: "I need a vacation." Hilarious. Great acting on the part of all the cast.

The actors. By that time, Arnold Schwarzenegger had acquired enough polish to really give some dimension to his machine role, especially one who can learn. Linda Hamilton shed off some of her beauty to better portray an action role, and she did great being finally mature as an actress. Edward Furlong was perfect and very natural as the young John Connor even if it wasn't probably very far from who he was at the time. Robert Patrick played his role so well it took years for him to shake it off and play any other one with credibility.

The bad. A few minor logical flaws and awkward projection screen, but that's it!

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A sci-fi masterpiece. A must for everyone.

Personal note. I went to see it without knowing any details of the plot. It was quite a surprise.

10*/10

The Terminator — The birth of many things — 9*/10

The Terminator is the father of cyberpunk and is one of the very first movie directed by James Cameron where he really started to build his name. He showed his talent with this small budget independent production. The star rating of this film is mainly due to the fact that its a landmark in the industry.

The good. Very imaginative background and setting. Well paced scenario. Interesting characters. Captivating story. Solid suspense. Nice action.

The actors. The machine is a good role for Arnold Schwarzenegger at the beginning of his career since it doesn't require much pronunciation. I've always loved Michael Biehn and even if he's not at his best, he did great with what he was given. Linda Hamilton hadn't yet bloomed and her limitations are showing a little bit, yet she gave us a great portrayal.

The bad. A few overly simple dialogs. The stop motion animation is good, but nowadays, it's an old technology. The mechanical puppet doesn't have human fluidity it should have. The latex stand-in is pitiful by today's standard.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Everyone should see it because it's a landmark, especially sci-fi fans.

9*/10

The Lone Ranger — The western hero in full action and fun — 7*/10

The Lone Ranger is an action hero movie mixed with a western.

The good. Lots of intense action. Spectacular photography. Solid special effects. Very funny. Interesting story. Very detailed sets, costumes, and scenes. Well paced scenario.

The actors. Johnny Depp is once again absolutely amazing in this cooky character. William Fichtner as the evil Butch Cavendish gives us a great performance. In a lesser role, Helena Bonham Carter has a surprising presence.

The bad. Unbelievable action since we're not talking about super heroes here.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. If you like westerns with improbable action or if you're a fan of Depp, this is for you.

7*/10

This Is the End — Brain off, fun on — 7*/10

This Is the End is a slapstick comedy where fun is based on basest human behaviors.

The good. Incredible special effects. Constant ridicule for maximum laughter. Interesting story with an awesome end and some twists. Well paced scenario.

The actors. Although I like Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel a lot, I think James Franco here has the best performance.

The bad. Very simple and linear story. No smart jokes.

The ugly. Danny McBride as his character is incredibly annoying.

The result. Don't expect anything intelligent and you'll have fun.

7*/10

Match Point — Solid drama to capture your attention — 9*/10

Match Point is a drama by Woody Allen, but personally I think it has only very few things that makes it Allen. You can see his style in the score, camera work, and pacing of the story. However, the rest doesn't feel enough like him to put off his detractors. Very refreshing.

The good. Slow developing and riveting story filled with details. Tight scenario with an excellent pace. Lush decor. Beautiful photography. Superb acting.

The actors. I love Scarlett Johansson and she's great in that very emotional and sexy role, but I have to hand it to Jonathan Rhys Meyers for his portrayal, even though his character is despicable. On a different level, Brian Cox gives a great if subtle performance.

The bad. That dream scene is a bit awkward, but it still works.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A Woody Allen that anybody can appreciate. It's a bit dark and can be emotionally difficult, but it's a great piece.

9*/10

Monsters University — A must see prequel — 9*/10

Monsters University is the prequel to Monsters inc., a wildly popular animation by Pixar. It's basically a college movie set in the monster world, but with a nice deviation from the standard.

The good. Still the same incredibly interesting world with all its colors, fantastic creatures, and quirks. Interesting story, especially for the twist. Great animation, as usual. Easily enjoyable by adults. Perfect ending. Excellent voice acting.

The bad. Lots of college movie, underdogs, and jocks versus nerds clichés.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one too.

9*/10

Pieces of April — Get a dose of reality and oddity to think a little — 9*/10

Pieces of April is about being the black sheep. It's a critique of family life.

The good. A sweet, yet starkly realistic, family story, sometime touching, often surprising, with a few laughs and oddity to soften the drama. A solidly paced scenario well rendered by the editing and the camera work. Soft music and score. Complex and very varied characters with nice depth. Hard hitting dialogs that reflect the harshness that sometime life can have. Great acting on the part of all the cast.

The actors. The most notables are definitively Katie Holmes, Oliver Platt, and Patricia Clarkson.

The bad. Nothing.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Not everyone will appreciate this film, but I still recommend it to those willing to see life for what it is.

9*/10

Sideways — A few laughters with serious matters worth your time — 9*/10

Sideways is truly looking at relationship sideways, and from two different point of view, a romantic one and a philandering one. The issues are not taken straight on, they are viewed from afar, judged by indirect actions and their consequences.

The good. Well built, realistic, almost down to earth, and interesting story with lots of psychological details and some laughs. Excellent camera work and editing giving you a nice emotional perspective. Characters with depth. Perfect ending. Great panoramas. Solid acting.

The actors. Paul Giamatti is in one of his best role, suits him admirably. I can't judge Thomas Haden Church, because I don't know him enough, but his performance was right on the dot. Virginia Madsen is great as the understated perfect chance. My favorite of the bunch, though, is Sandra Oh who serves us another one of her great interpretation, this time with a flair for very hot yet realistic sexiness.

The bad. The neurotic behavior and a few extreme reactions to some events can get a bit much at time.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Everyone should see this. Perfect for those who are not looking for romance, but a relationship. You'll smile, you'll frown, you'll shake you head, but you'll appreciate.

9*/10

Closer — A razor sharp look at relationships — 9*/10

Closer is about the key wrong move you can make in an intimate relationship.

The good. Nice music and score. Beautiful photography. Solid characters with great depth. Very realistic. Excellent scenario construction which tells a long story in a very short time while making us understand what really makes or breaks a relationship. It mostly follows chronology or otherwise makes it easy to understand, but never shows any time stamp. That makes the viewer's mind work and thus plunges us into the story rather quickly, a fascinating tale of change and turnabout.

The actors. Natalie Portman gives a great performance, and shows her talent with a complex yet subtle role. Clive Owen as the clever bastard definitively gave the performance of a lifetime, it's by far his best one. Jude Law as the neurotic romantic indecisive love lorn control freak certainly gave us one of his best. Julia Roberts gave a nice performance, but it just not on par with the others.

The bad. Nothing.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Not for everyone, but should be watched by everyone.

9*/10

Top Gun — See what an 80s pop movie looked like without the quirks — 6*/10

Top Gun is a 80s classic.

The good. Interesting academy rivalry. Nice choice of music and score. Great footage of fighter planes. Beautiful San Diego photography. Funny scenes.

The actors. Tom Cruise plays the hothead excellently. Val Kilmer as his ice cool competitor is just perfect. However, the best and smoothest work is done by Meg Ryan. On the other hand, Kelly McGillis is unfortunately performed poorly and wasn't given much to work with. The rest of the cast does a pretty solid job. I'll just mention the better ones: Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, and Michael Ironside. We can also see a small cameo by Tim Robbins.

The bad. Easy dialogs. Poor romance plot with lots of cliché and a weak female lead. A few continuity problems. Cockpit filming, lighting conditions mainly, doesn't correspond to fighter plane footage.

The ugly. Very awkward stick handling that looks ridiculous.

The result. A classic, mainly for those interested in seeing what really launched Cruise's career.

6*/10

Romeo + Juliet — To perfection from tragedy — 10*/10

Romeo + Juliet by Baz Luhrmann a perfect modern transposition of Shakespeare's timeless tragic romance.

The good. It's perfect, I could list everything, but I'll concentrate on what makes it special. Superb designs, very colorful, for all the sets and costumes that are the result of great ideas demonstrating a lot of imagination. That alone is worth the watch. Imagination was also present in large amount in the translation to modern time. Luhrmann used all kind of artifice to enact the scenario for our delight, but also to make us understand that piece of dramatic literature. Excellent music and score, entrancing, irresistible.

The actors. I feel like I have to name them all... even the boys from each family performed exceedingly well. I'll try to be brief and go for the gold. The young Leonardo DiCaprio and the young Claire Danes are the dream protagonist, simple, eager, sincere, emotional... Of the others, I'd say the most striking play came from Harold Perrineau as the energetic Mercutio, and John Leguizamo as the vengeful Tybalt. Of the lesser roles, I have to mention Pete Postlethwaite as Father Laurence, Paul Rudd as the suave Dave Paris, Dash Mihok as Romeo's cousin, and M. Emmet Walsh as the apothecary. Of course all four parents were also excellent.

The bad. I would only remove the flashbacks just after the final death scene. It's very minor.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A must for all. Easily enjoyable by men and women, from teen and onward.

10*/10

World War Z — Strap in tightly because you're in for a hell of a ride! — 10*/10

World War Z is a zombie movie that mixes a number of sub-genres together. It's global war mixed with survival, gun-ho fights, local low-tech thrill ride, and cure hunting. You'd think that with such a mix, you'd get a mess, but no, Marc Forster pulled it off.

The good. Almost everything. I'll just name the best parts. Very realistic approach, nothing is easy, and characters die. Extremely solid tension, your teeth might ache from all the jaw clenching you'll probably do. Very intense and well made action with eye-popping special effects. Lots of attention to details. A tight scenario that gives the ride of a lifetime. A riveting story that avoids a number of zombie clichés. Great score. Very attaching characters. Finally an American movie with a global event that gives more than just a passing nod to other nations.

The actors. Brad Pitt offers us his action hero type with a coating of realism. The other solid performance, beside the two daughter (and to a lesser degree the wife), is given to us by Daniella Kertesz. The rest of the cast performed well, but nothing distinctive.

The bad. The "I need credentials before I talk to you" is kind of a little bit much, but easily forgivable. The flashback could have been made better. Some little weakness when it comes to some acting of secondary character, but so very few. The plot might be simple, but it doesn't divulge where it's going ahead of time, and there's enough surprise to counteract that.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. The best zombie movie ever. Also highly recommended to thrill seekers and action lovers.

10*/10


I highly recommend you see the unrated Blu-ray version which is slightly longer but brings about certain things with just a bit more explanation.

Much Ado About Nothing — Nicely done transposition — 8*/10

Much Ado About Nothing by Joss Whedon is the latest adaptation of the Shakespeare's comedy.

The good. Excellent ideas. Very funny settings and actions. Nice choice of actors. With visual, it's always possible to add non spoken actions to original dialogs and Whedon made some clever extensions. Great photography.

The actors. My favorite performance were by Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, and Tom Lenk, although I came to appreciate those of Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof a lot.

The bad. The concept of war as spoken in the piece doesn't translate well in modern time.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Solid entertainment for those who like modern transposition of Shakespeare's work, A must for any Whedon fan.

8*/10

All the Right Moves — It's nice, but getting old — 6*/10

All the Right Moves is about how a simple mistake, made because as a youth you didn't know better, can change your future radically, and how your arrogance can crush your life or someone else's.

The good. Excellent 80s small steel town period piece. Very nice acting. Well built scenario with an interesting story.

The bad. The music is also very much 80s and pushed on the viewer a little bit much.

The ugly. It's getting old.

The result. If you're a Tom Cruise fan, it's a chance for you to see him at the beginning of his career. If you like 80s movies, this is a nice one. The others might want to abstain.

6*/10

Rain Man — A very touching journey — 9*/10

Rain Man is about breaking out of your prison and seeing who you can be.

The good. Interesting and very touching story. A scenario that takes you easily from one point to an other without rushing through any of the step. You get to really understand the journey. The main character has lots of depth and a solid background. Great ending, very logical, nothing rosy.

The actors. Excellent acting on the part of Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

The bad. A single very slight continuity mistake.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. The tale might not interest everybody, but everybody should see this movie.

9*/10

Alien: Resurrection — Don't bother watching it — 5*/10

Alien: Resurrection is the 4th and worst installment of the Alien series without a doubt. Unfortunately, from time to time, I feel the need to see it, because I'm a die hard fan. Anybody else should avoid it like the pest, except to have a good laugh.

Now You See Me — A great show for the masses — 8*/10

Now You See Me is about imagination and what you can make out of life if you're willing to take risks.


The good. Beautiful. Really makes you smile. Great tricks. Captivating intrigue with good distractions. Solid suspense. Very funny situations and dialogs. Nice slick finish to the production. Excellent special effects. Most entertaining. Love all the choices of actors, they were excellent and well cast.

The actors. Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Isla Fisher are the top actors. To a lesser degree, but still very much appreciable: Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine.

The bad. Too quick an intro. The end lacks some punch. The bridge accident was a bit much. If you pay attention you can predict a thing or two.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. See it, you won't regret it.

8*/10

Man of Steel — Astounding with weaker moments — 8*/10

Man of Steel is a great new beginning for this super hero.


The good. Incredible intro on Krypton with superb concepts on technology, society, and design. I love all the special effects related to Krypton. Solid score with very deep bass. Nice explosive action. Well done 3D, if not necessary for enjoyment. Interesting story. The making of superman is well handled. You can understand how came to be how he is. Lois Lane is finally a real character with nice depth and a good role in the tale, well incorporated within the story. Excellent choices of mothers and fathers. Zod is magnificent and really annoying. Nice acting.

The actors. Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, and Diane Lane are just perfect for their role. On the other hand, Henry Cavill was better at acting Kent before he became Superman, although I have to hand it to him for not making the stalwart figure dull and boring.

The bad. When the explanation is given to the child, it is done too quickly. It's just off by a bit, but with a little better timing, they would have pulled it off. Lousy take on the breathing and the atmospheric conditions. Dull way to handle super being versus super being.

The ugly. Just a few token shots are given to the nations outside the US. It would have been better just not to talk about them.

The result. Excellent entertainment. You should see it, if super heroes do not bore you. A must see on IMAX for the image, but the sound as well.

8*/10

The Heat — Lots of rivalries, conflict and swearing for lots of fun — 7*/10

The Heat is an odd couple comedy, but with two women enforcing the law.

The good. Lots of funny scenes, dialogs, and action. The two main characters are very well built.

The actors. Sandra Bullock gives us a solid performance, she makes us laugh with a very straight face. Comedy is what she does best. Melissa McCarthy is stellar as this irreverent persona.

The bad. Some elements were funnier in the trailer because the editing was tighter. Weak story, because the criminal activities are almost an after thought, with no polish whatsoever.

The ugly. The dance floor club scene is terribly awkward.

The result. It mostly delivers what it promises, a solid slap-stick comedy. Any Bullock fans will be pleased.

7*/10

Cocktail — A good tale of romance and conflicting ideas — 6*/10

Cocktail is about understanding that what everybody wants might not be what you want. If you try to make it, make it your own.

The good. Interesting story with a few novel ideas. Well paced-scenario. Great behind the bar juggling. Nice acting.

The actors. Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown offer us solid performances, if nothing brilliant.

The bad. Some easy clichés. Lots of 80s hairdos.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. It's not a stupendous movie, but it will make you think and it will make for a nice evening.

6*/10

The Beach — Very intense and gut wrenching at time — 9*/10

The Beach is about paradise, what we'll do for it and the consequences. Nothing is perfect, everything has a cost.

The good. Intensely dramatic scenes. A modern phantasmagoric mix. Superbly paced scenario with great cohesion and editing. Solid characters, very realistic actions and reactions. Nice score. Superb acting.

The actors. I'll just mention the two best ones: Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Carlyle.

The bad. That video game overlay. It's not necessarily a faux pas, because it's well tailored to the persona and his psychosis, but it just doesn't fit very nicely with the rest of the movie style.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A must see. Sensible souls should avoid for the drama, and a very gory scene.

9*/10

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — A disappointment for all — 5*/10

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is not what the fan of the video games where looking for the visual of the flesh.

The good. Lots of action. A sexy strong female lead.

The actors. Subpar performance at best for all the cast, including Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig.

The bad. Almost uncountable number of logical problems in the scenario. Simplistic story with lots of clichés. Bad fight scenes. Lousy dialogs. Very shallow characters.

The ugly. The end, in all its different parts is pathetic.

The result. The entertainment value is minimal, only recommended to those who want to see the ever sexy Jolie.

5*/10

The Kings of Summer — A simple story, but a meaningful one — 8*/10

The Kings of Summer is a tale of friendship and exploration of youth.

The good. Very interesting story. Sound characters. Well paced scenario, with nice story telling ploys. Great, yet simple, score. Beautiful photography. Solid choice in editing. Realistic dialogs and interactions. A number of funny scenes.

The actors. The boys are excellently played, but I have to tip my hat to Moises Arias for pulling off his hilarious and peculiar portrayal. You'll see what I mean. The parents are great too.

The bad. It is highly unlikely that three boys would have been able to build that house, as simple as it is, or get the material for it, but I guess this is where suspension of disbelief comes in. The end is just a tiny bit quick, but it's still well made.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A great tale, should be seen by everyone.

8*/10

Ocean's Twelve — The interest lies mainly in continuing the story — 6*/10

Ocean's Twelve is the sequel to Ocean's Eleven, but doesn't stand up to its predecessor in terms of quality.

The good. Interesting story and capers. Nice action and dialogs.

The actors. Pretty much the same performance as the first installment except that the script didn't give them parts that were as solid. Simply add Catherine Zeta-Jones to the party with a well played part, and a cameo by Bruce Willis.

The bad. Not telling the story doesn't make an intrigue. An intrigue is built by revealing the facts but not the connections. Plus, there's a number of logical flaws in the scenario.

The ugly. The whole Roberts and Willis encounter is totally ridiculous and occupies way too much time.

The result. Basic entertainment that would interest mainly those who liked the original and wanted to know what happens next.

6*/10

Ocean's Eleven — Come for the stars, stay for the entertainment — 8*/10

Ocean's Eleven is a high stake crime caper.

The good. Tight and intelligent scheme with clock-work precision. Well paced, well built scenario. Very interesting story. Funny dialogs and situations. A bit of romance. Diverse characters. Extremely slick finish to the movie. Solid acting.

The actors. A slew of well known names. My favorite interactions are between George Clooney and Brad Pitt: professional, dry, relax and hilarious with no excess. To an only slightly lesser degree, their exchanges with Matt Damon. Loved Don Cheadle's work, very funny. So were the performance of Casey Affleck and Scott Caan as the two constantly arguing and slightly demented brothers.

The bad. It's not bringing anything new to the genre. A few logical flaws, but it took me several viewing to notice them.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Excellent entertainment, with a bit of everything for everyone.

8*/10

Stargate — Nice science-fiction entertainment — 7*/10

Stargate is, as far as I'm concerned, better than the original TV series, which I've watched a couple of time without really getting interested, but then I'm not a fan.

The good. Very imaginative settings and alien technology. Beautiful photography. Nicely paced scenario. Interesting story with a solid background.

The actors. Kurt Russell is right in his element, and didn't need to show the limits of his short acting range. James Spader is the most interesting character, and plays it well. Mili Avital is pretty, innocent, and plays her sweet role really nicely. Erick Avari, though, is my favorite of the cast and offers us a very convincing performance as the primitive priest-leader faced with powerful strangers. And finally, you can see some of the antics of French Stewart.

The bad. Very low army credibility. The intro village miniature is of poor quality. The special effects are getting a bit old, but they were done in such a way as to minimize the aging and still be well received these days.

The ugly. That desert beast puppet is just terrible. The chevrons are flimsy.

The result. Good entertainment, recommended to sci-fi fans.

7*/10

Mr. & Mrs. Smith — Action, sexiness, and a few laughs — 6*/10

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is all about seeing two sexy actors in action... fighting, not sexing.

The good. Excellent action, well built. Very slick finish to the production. Interesting technologies. Funny quips and situations. Nice acting.

The actors. It wasn't any acting stretch for Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie and they both delivered what the movie promised. Vince Vaughn did a bit of his thing, nicely so, without going over the top.

The bad. Empty story.

The ugly. Ridiculous reason to set them one against the other, and executed, by each agency, in a stupid manner. No working business would do that like that, it wastes too much resources. The last big gunfight doesn't work.

The result. It's entertainment, but barely. Only for those who like Pitt and Jolie or are action addicts.

6*/10

Grassroots — Watch and smile — 6*/10

Grassroots is about doing something that matters to you. It's about waking up and trying. It's about defining yourself.

The good. Nice simple story. Funny. Interesting characters.

The actors. Jason Biggs gives a solid performance. So does Joel David Moore, even if his character is really annoying, he plays it well.

The bad. Not much happening, but then, there's nothing really wrong with this picture.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A lightly entertaining film.

6*/10

Blade Runner — Is one of those old movies everyone should watch at least once — 9*/10

Blade Runner is another masterpiece by Ridley Scott.

The good. This is an other production where you could list almost everything here. I'll just mention what really makes it special. The score is marvelous, and with the great sets, the very imaginative environment, and the multitude of details, you get immersed extremely quickly in the story. Again, Scott shows he's one of the best at setting the mood, presenting us with every piece of the puzzle, giving us a good background, and letting us float in his vision. Excellent acting on the part of all the cast. The ending really makes you think.

The actors. Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer are at the top of their game and it shows.

The bad. It's a getting a little bit old, but it's not showing much considering it's been over three decades. Also, the timeframe of the predictions is off, but that's always the case.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A must. See the director's cut, not the theatrical release.

9*/10

The East — Stunning and unpretentious — 8*/10

The East is the kind of movie that makes you want to join the fight, raise your voice and be heard.

The good. Extremely immersive. A incredible story with lots of emotions, conflicts, opposing moralities, and a stupefying journey. It is gripping and you will not be left unmoved.

The actors. Brit Marling and Ellen Page both give us a great performance. I was disappointed by Alexander Skarsgård, I thought that he was the weak player of the cast. The rest of the cell was pretty solid: Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez, Aldis Hodge, and Danielle Macdonald. And I should mention the nice work done by Patricia Clarkson as the director of the private security firm.

The bad. The ending is rushed. It feels like there was missing material at the end of filming and they couldn't go back to get what they needed and had to edit it with what they had. The epilog during the final credits should have been trashed.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A must see for anyone.

8*/10

The Internship — Same routine with many clichés but still funny — 6*/10

The Internship is your basic reject team movie. I'm a big fan of Wedding Crashers, but taking the same routine into a different environment doesn't make a new film.

The good. Uplifting. Funny. Nice characters. Some ideas have merits. The green and red paddle scene is hilarious, so is the club scene.

The actors. Vince Vaughn follows his usual style, but is just a bit much in this case. Owen Wilson delivers a better performance, but was certainly limited by the script. The rest of the cast is mostly subpar to the exception of Aasif Mandvi.


The bad. Unlikely scenario. The big finish is a bit too much, in tradition with Hollywood reject team flicks. The B and C stories are a bit empty.

The ugly. Lots of clichés. A good number of very embarrassing scenes in the first half, and if you're like me, they're going to make you squirm. Corporate propaganda.

The result. It's entertaining, but don't expect more.

6*/10

Blade — Vampire fights with techno music — 7*/10

Blade is an other take on the vampire scene based on a comic book.

The good. Lots of action. Great music. Nice gadgets. Tightly paced scenario.

The actors. This is not an acting movie, but Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, and Stephen Dorff give us acceptable performances. And you can also see Traci Lords.

The bad. Simple story. Some logical flaws in the scenario. Fight scenes look good, but have some slight continuity and timing problems, noticeable when viewed multiple times.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Solid entertainment for action or vampire lovers. Don't expect complexity.

7*/10

The Matador — Enjoy the story, stay for the laughs — 7*/10

The Matador is a unusual mix of a buddy movie and an assassin movie that you shouldn't take seriously yet is totally dead serious, almost realistic.

The good. Interesting novel story with surprising turns. Where you think the story will go one way, it goes an other. Well built characters if very shallow. A few laughs. Nice ending.

The actors. Pierce Brosnan plays here a rare role that strays surprisingly far from his usual hunting grounds. He's very crass, not in control of the situation, with few social skills, and suffers from failure. Greg Kinnear plays his total counter part, respectable, affable, loving. And Hope Davis is charming as well as surprising.

The bad. Unsound assemblage of scenes, but maybe it's just a result of flawed transitions.

The ugly. Large colorful fonts for city names just plastered in. Two transition handled with awkward black screens.

The result. An offbeat almost serene kind assassin flick. Not for those looking for action, although there's a bit of it.

7*/10

Love Is All You Need — The perfect realistic romance movie — 9*/10

Love Is All You Need is a wedding, romance, and family movie from Denmark mostly taking place in Italy. It is about solving the riddles within yourself, not necessarily succeeding, but at least acknowledging them.

The good. Superb Italian panoramas. Fascinating and touching story with a lot of depth. Very realistic. Solidly built scenario with interesting twists and turns. Excellent background. Perfect ending. Nicely romantic with a few laughs. Well grounded. No clichés.

The actors. Trine Dyrholm is absolutely fantastic, beautiful and compelling. Pierce Brosnan, while not playing too far from his usual roles, is just great. And I have to mention the work of Paprika Steen as the annoying, mean, and self-centered aunt/sister-in-law.

The bad. I can't thing of anything. That's how much I appreciated the flick.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Something much different from Hollywood's romantic films. A true breath of fresh air. A must for everyone, to the exception of those not interested in romance or family conflicts.

9*/10

Jawbreaker — Entertainment in a murderous teen world — 7*/10

Jawbreaker is a teen movie about image, deceit, manipulation, and murder.

The good. Very interesting story and characters. Nice intrigue. Well done evil plan. A teen flick with it's own dark-glamour style.

The actors. Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer are great. I have to mention though, that Ethan Erickson is hilarious in a straight face kind of way as the dumb jock.

The bad. A bit over-glamorous, but it fits the flick. Serves us some clichés.

The ugly. Zack is too simple a character.

The result. A nice teen movie that can be watched by anybody considering the seriousness of the subject.

7*/10

Slums of Beverly Hills — Something different that will make you chuckle — 7*/10

Slums of Beverly Hills is cooky and touching.

The good. Interesting story with a number of surprising twists. Well paced scenario. Nice acting. Funny with a touch of drama. On a totally different vibe from most other productions.

The actors. Natasha Lyonne uses her rebellious nature to great effect. Alan Arkin plays the dysfunctional father just right. Marisa Tomei is sweet and totally perfect as the problematic child.

The bad. The secondary characters, like the brothers, could have used a little bit more depth. The editing is a bit awkward when it comes to breasts shots, obviously done so they could use body doubles, no subtlety.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. An offbeat film that is great for those who like the genre, but would probably be disappointing to the masses.

7*/10

Predator 2 — Not worth the time to see it — 5*/10

Predator 2 is a the gold old fashion crappy sequel to a success. The only good thing about it is that you get to see an other Predator story. I won't take the time to enumerate all that's bad or ugly, it's a waste of time.

Those interested might want to know that Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Bill Paxton, and Adam Baldwin are playing in this production and all of them giving us subpar performance, either due to poor direction or poor script.

Only recommended to die hard fans of the series.

5*/10

Predator — A truly unique creature for unique entertainment — 8*/10

Predator is a classic. It's a mix between the action hero style, the slasher flick, and the sci-fi.

The good. Excellent design of the Predator, its background, habits, tactics, and equipment. Beyond that, what makes this movie is the initial creep factor, the way he hunts them down one by one, how he takes them out, the various ambush tactics, and the final confrontation. Perfect choice of special effects which still holds pretty well today. Nice action. Well paced scenario.

The actors. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura are doing their thing, but the nice performances come from Elpidia Carrillo, Richard Chaves, Shane Black, and, especially, Bill Duke.

The bad. All army talk and fighting aren't realistic, they're stylized. Those action hero quip are lame and badly used, fortunately there are only two of them. Simple characters. Lousy intro story.

The ugly. The bow and arrows are just crap.

The result. Don't take it too seriously, enjoy the style, and then you can appreciate what makes this film good.

8*/10

The Tourist — Boring and unimaginative at best — 5*/10

The Tourist is a flop despite using good actors.

The good. Nice views of Venice.

The actors. They all have done better work than this. Angelina Jolie is playing her role too cold. Johnny Depp is boring with only hints of interesting.

The bad. In the train, she's sitting on the edge of her seat all the time. Poor story. Shallow characters.

The ugly. How can you tail a small boat with a bigger boat barely a 50m back? Not to mention tailing that boat with an other bigger boat and in an empty canal... Disastrous.

The result. Not worth seeing unless you have really nothing else to do and are a huge fan of Depp or Jolie.

5*/10