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by Jason Rugaard

Sinbad- Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) – Review

April 1, 2011 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

A minor but attractive animated feature from DreamWorks studios, featuring an all star cast headlined by Brad Pitt and Catherin Zeta Jones. Overlooked at the time of its theatrical release and unfairly compared to ‘Finding Nemo’ which premiered just a few weeks before, this brief and highly enjoyable adventure tale is likely to amuse parents and kids alike. The story focuses on the plight of Sinbad to rescue a magical book that has been stolen by the evil goddess aries. If he doesn’t return with the book in hand within ten days his childhood friend will face the guillotine. The high-tech production fuses hand-drawn animation and CGI effects to create an impressive look, the story involves a trio of creative characters, yet the screenplay by OSCAR winner John Logan(Gladiator,Any Given Sunday) is essentially banal.
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by Jason Rugaard

The Game Plan (2007) – Review

February 23, 2011 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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1 1/2 Stars

Despite the efforts and charm of Dwayne Johnson this Walt Disney production is lackluster in every way. An unoriginal premise is recycled yet again resulting in a laugh less affair, which should amuse 10 year olds and not many others. Joe Kingman (Johnson) is the star quarterback for the Boston Rebels and the town’s most eligible bachelor. That’s until the appearance of a little girl claiming to be his daughter from a long forgotten relationship puts Joe’s life style and personal identity in jeopardy. The moronic screenplay is littered with cliches and cartoon-ish characters, (specifically, the teammates). Add to this one of the most obnoxious performances from a child actor in recent memory and you have a harmless but uninvolved film about a jerk whose child is even more abrasive.
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by Jason Rugaard

Batman Forever (1995) – Review

February 8, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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2 Stars

Returning to the ‘campy’ colorful world of the 1960′s incarnation of ‘Batman’, this third entry into the series is the worst of the original quad-rilogy. Bringing in fresh director Joel Schumacher to lighten things up resulted in a film that has flashes of brilliance yet more often than not resembles a music video on steroids. Replacing Michael Keaton in the title role is Val Kilmer, whom makes for an acceptable if somewhat unmemorable Dark Knight. Notorious stories of a contentious relationship between Kilmer and Schumacher effectively ensured this being his only appearance in the franchise.
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by Jason Rugaard

Batman (1989) – Review

February 6, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

Released in the summer of 1989 amidst a hysteria of anticipation, ‘Batman‘ marked the first successful attempt at launching the Caped Crusader to the silver screen. Giving the reins to then still relatively unproven Tim Burton turned out to be a masterstroke. His offbeat casting choice of Michael Keaton for the title role was criticized at the time, but over the years Keaton’s portrayal stands out amongst the men that followed him. Nicholson is the show here, setting up the common theme in these early ‘Batman‘ films, the villains have all the fun. His maniacal laughter is spot-on for the loose cannon known as ‘The Joker’.
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by Jason Rugaard

Batman Returns (1992) – Review

February 4, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

The second and best of the 1989-1997 ‘Batman‘ series. This outing would mark Burton’s last effort as director, though he would stick around to produce the follow up, 1995′s ‘Batman Forever‘. Set during the holiday season and centering around the emergence of two super-villains in Gotham, Cat-woman and The Penguin. This visually stunning film is just as dark as the first picture but plays a bit looser. As if Burton and star Michael Keaton (suiting up for the last time) had both grown comfortable after the mammoth success of the previous film. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Gulliver’s Travels (2010) – Review

December 23, 2010 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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2 1/2 Stars

Jack Black is ideally cast as the everyman who awakens to find himself towering over the inhabitants of a mysterious land somewhere within the Bermuda Triangle. Lemuel Gulliver is a lowly mail room clerk until he gets an assignment from the girl of his dreams (Amanda Peet in a criminally underwritten role), to file a report from Bermuda. This leads to an impressive CGI sequence in which, Gulliver’s boat is propelled into a storm that sends him to the uncharted island of Lilliput. Once Gulliver fends off an invading force using the girth of his belly to deflect cannonballs, he is hailed as a hero and granted all the comforts afforded a king. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Tangled (2010) – Review

December 6, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

Walt Disney Studios 50th Animated film is a complete delight and the first successful non-pixar release in almost 15 years. Beautiful animation and a sharp sense of humor add an extra level of entertainment for adults while the goofy antics of the supporting characters are sure to keep the kids attention. The story is an updated version of the beloved children fable ‘Rapunzel’. Although this retelling strays from the source material it does so with imagination Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Invincible (2006) – Review

November 6, 2010 in Drama, Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

Mark Wahlberg is excellent in this ‘Rocky’-esque tale of a working class guy from the neighborhood who got a million to one shot at playing in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles and the City of Philadelphia itself, were taking a beating during the Mid-1970′s. Record Unemployment, Union battles, and the scars of Vietnam caused economic and emotional uncertainty in the city of brotherly love. A sense of disenchantment was prevalent until an unknown 30yr old bartender became 1976′s most unlikely rookie. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Step Up 3D (2010) – Review

August 5, 2010 in Drama, Family, Reviews

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2 Stars

The Third film in the ‘Step Up’ series has the distinction of being the first 3D musical. That’s about the only distinguished thing in the entire film. Second rate actor and first rate dancer Adam G. Sevani plays Moose, an NYU freshman who’s promised his parents he’d ditch the dancing to hit the books. That is until he is recruited into the ‘Pirates’ a group of dancers who apparently spend a lot of time spinning and flipping around enclosed spaces. All of this leads to complications between Moose and his longtime sweetheart Camille. It’s a good thing the dance sequences are high energy and the 3D has enough visual flash to keep things exciting Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) – Review

July 16, 2010 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

The latest collaboration from Mega Producer Jerry Bruckheimer , star Nicolas Cage and ‘National Treasure‘ director Jon Turteltaub is a surprisingly fun and breezy ride complete with some of the most magnificent GCI effects of the summer season. Very loosely based on a sequence from Disney’s much beloved ‘Fantasia’ cartoon, this live action-adventure cast Jay Baruchel in the ‘Mickey Mouse’ role. His off-center looks and mousey physique add to his appeal in the role of Dave, a physics major chosen to be ”the prime Merlinian” — an apprentice to Balthazar (Nicolas Cage). A former protégé of the legendary Merlin. The gorgeous production design by Naomi Shohan and lush cinematography by Bojan Bazelli give the film a rich, glossy look that give the proceedings a highly-stylized vibe. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

The Last Airbender (2010) – Review

July 3, 2010 in Family, Reviews, SciFi

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1 Star

One of the years worst flicks, ‘The Last Airbender’ has great special effects, but is sorely lacking in every other department. M. Night Shymalan has slowly been digressing as a filmmaker and with this film he’s hit rock bottom. The 3d isn’t great, the acting is worse and the dialogue is of no help. This could have been a decent action flick, but even the action sequences are staged poorly. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

Toy Story 3 (2010) – Review

June 17, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

With so much to live up to after ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2′, Pixar has once again delivered a great film. Fifteen years after the original, and first feature length 3d animated movie, ‘Toy Story 3′ brings back the original characters and charm without missing a beat. The biggest difference between the three films is how much the technology has advanced, and this third installment dazzles its audience with some of the most beautiful and cinematic moments ever seen in a CG film. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

The Karate Kid (2010) – Review

June 9, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

At first the ‘Karate Kid’ seems nothing more than a polished version of its original. Beat for beat it follows the same formulaic storyline that made the first a great kids film. But movies from the 80′s have originality in their defects. It was a time when Hollywood was dreaming bigger than the special effects and the filmmaking process itself could deliver. In today’s Hollywood anything is possible – and it always looks crisp and somewhat soulless. Fortunately Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan make the ‘Karate Kid’ work. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

Shrek Forever After (2010) – Review

May 19, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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2 Stars

Being a fan of the first Shrek it’s disheartening to see the quality of writing diminish with each installment. The last in the series being the worst of the bunch. There is nothing left to tell in the Shrek universe, money is the only reason this franchise exists.

Shrek Forever After tries desperately to recreate what made the original so good. Unfortunately all we end up with are flat jokes and boring musical numbers. A decent film for young kids, but there is little in here for the adults. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Furry Vengeance (2010) – Review

April 29, 2010 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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1 Star

It’s hard to imagine anyone over the age of 9 that will be able to sit through this dud, another in a long line of Brendan Frasier family film mis-fires. This is easily the actors worst film since 1999′s ‘Dudley Do-Right’. Like that picture ‘Furry Vengeance’ is also a laugh-less affair with a hypocritical message for the green tween set to boot. Frasier (deserving better) plays a developer overseeing a construction site when he runs into a wildlife area inhabited by the cruelest animals in existence. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

How To Train Your Dragon (2010) – Review

March 29, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

In classic animated story form, this is another movie that tells the tale of how a young kid can rise up and save the day. The main character, Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel), embodies everything that makes a wimpy nerd, well a whimpy nerd. The adults are so set in their ways when it comes to handling dragons. None of them have stopped to see if there is another way of dealing with them. Along comes Hiccup with an alternative point of view that only a kid could possess. And by doing so shows the adults how kindness and acceptance can in fact win the war. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Alice In Wonderland (2010) – Review

March 12, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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2 1/2 Stars

Tim Burton and Johnny Deep team for the seventh time in the strange re-imaging of the Lewis Carroll classic. This version has a teenage Alice not quite ready for an arranged marriage, escaping to the magically frightening world of Underland. The film and Burton excel in these opening moments, creating a visually stunning and exquisitely detailed environment aided by a well chosen color palette. The 3-d deepens the frame instead of being in- your-face distracting. As the narrative moves along (laboriously), these Burton-esque moments become too much of a good thing. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Trevor Anderson

Up (2009) – Review

March 4, 2010 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

From the teary beginning through to the action packed ending, Up gives audiences a reason to still love animated films. Firstly the movie is beautifully rendered and stunning to look at. Secondly the script, direction and acting are top notch. Parents and kids alike will enjoy the rich story of an old man (Ed Asner is perfect for the role), trying to get away from it all – to the point where he literally attaches hundreds of balloons to his house and floats away into the adventure of a lifetime. His sidekick, a young boyscout, stows away by accident. Being forced together, they learn the values of friendship, and most importantly that a life lived is far less regrettable than one not. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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by Jason Rugaard

Race To Witch Mountain (2009) – Review

February 22, 2010 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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1 1/2 Stars

Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson’s second film in a row under the Disney banner is an uninvolving bore. Admittedly I’m not the target audience for the picture. However I have been a fan of Johnson’s films, including his third foray into family friendly territory 2010’s ‘The Tooth Fairy’. Unlike that film Johnson isn’t given a chance here to display his first rate comic timing, multiple appearances on ‘SNL’ have proven this guy is a clown in a gladiator’s body. The plot centers on a Las Vegas cabbie (Johnson) compelled to protect two aliens, in the form of children, from an outer space assassin. Read the rest of this entry →

 

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