Skyline
Pretty bad film about aliens who come to earth to steal human brains. Everything about the narrative is poorly done, from the opening sequence that is completely unbelievable, to the stilted and clichéd relationships, to conversations that don’t make sense. Some of the effects are visually interesting, but not nearly good enough to rescue the film. Avoid it. *

Monsters
Outstanding film set six years in the future when a space probe has returned and crash landed infecting most of Mexico with “monsters.” Two people try to get back to the U.S. through the infected zone. Great camera work that creates intimacy and tension, simple, powerful narrative, good acting, good special effects, and a tour de force of film making. Really, really liked it. Check out this clip. ***

Agora
Disappointing historical drama about Hypatia of Alexandria. Though historically pretty accurate, the dialogue is stilted and the science/philosophy discussions are completely lame, even embarrassing. Timely message about questioning and questioning and intolerance, but pretentious and sensationalized. Really too bad. *

RED
Surprisingly delightful spy movie about someone trying to kill former CIA operatives who are Retired but Extremely Dangerous. The plot is thin, but the casting was inspired, and everyone plays their parts perfectly. They even made most of the below-average dialogue acceptable. Really had a good time. **

Far Side of the Moon
Odd, self-indulgent French-Canadian film about a guy’s struggles to become himself. Found him very dislikable, even creepy, and since he was in every scene, not very enjoyable. Same guy acted two parts, directed, and wrote it. Could happily have missed it. *

Resident Evil: Afterlife
Maybe the worst of the series. A lot of slow-motion posing rather than combat, though everybody was buff and tough. Lame plot, if you can even call it that. One I wished I had missed. *

Machete
Absolutely entertaining and enjoyable grindhouse flick from Robert Rodriguez about an ex-Mexican cop who gets involved in cross-border corruption. Tone was perfect, cartoonish violence, female nudity, campy acting, and a hilarious climactic battle. Really had fun. **

The American
Kind of odd spy thriller without any thrills. Clooney plays a contract man who decides to get out because he falls in love with an unbelievably good-looking and sweet hooker. Almost embarrassing dialogue at times, and a very predictable ending. Disappointing. *

When They Cry
Deeply scary horror anime about a new kid in a small village and a demon’s curse at the annual festival. The most innocent are really the most evil. Had to stop watching it because it gave me nightmares. Well done. **

Str.A.In.
Average anime about the same issues that absorb all teenagers; personal identity, being part of the group, other teens being mean to you, all set in a battle zone. Old graphics as well. Didn’t like it too much. *

There Was a Father
1942 Ozu film that basically has the same plot as The Only Son, but this time it’s a widowed father making the sacrifices so his son can grow into a fine young man. Didn’t have the same emotional impact for some reason. Very well done, though. Also, just as with that one, I paid a lot for the Criterion Collection DVD which was transferred from a damaged print. As a result, the sound was irritatingly bad. **

Inception
Wow! I expected it to be visually stunning, but I didn’t expect the very touching love story. Great thrills, fantastic effects, excellent acting by an excellent caste. Really liked the intellectual and artistic experience of seeing it. ***

The Only Son
1936 Japanese film about the sacrifices a widowed mother makes so her only son can get an education and become a great man. This is Ozu’s first non-silent film. It’s very sad and very well done. Paid a lot for the Criterion Collection DVD which, unfortunately, was transferred from a really bad print. Still glad I saw it and added it to my Ozu collection. **

Red Cliff
5 ½ hour film, in two parts, based on a classic of Chinese literature about a great battle in 208 A. D. Directed by John Woo, famous for action films. Everything is designed to be an epic, and perhaps it has some more meaning for Chinese, but there are no real characters, just heroes. It’s OK, but didn’t really interest me. And I thought Woo’s directing, or the editing, was a little clumsy and disorganized. ²²

Blind Love
Japanese film about a blind woman who falls in love with a ventriloquist’s voice. A lot of sex, but a humorous and finally very sad meditation on the impossibility of true love. The ventriloquism is an insightful metaphor in several forms throughout. Surprisingly meaningful. I’ve been thinking about it since I saw it. Well worth it. **

Knowing
Film about an impending global disaster that is predicted by a little girl in a set of numbers. Everything about this film is bad. Nicholas Cage and his best buddy are completely unconvincing as scientists, the writing and acting are poor, and the ending, what we find out has been going on all along, has nothing to do with all the mystery. Waste of time. One star for the creepiness. *

The Last Station
A beautiful and well-acted film about Tolstoy’s last days. As always, Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer were superb, and everyone else was very good. Sticks close to the real history as well. Proves to be an interesting meditation on the difficulties and fundamental need for love. Very well done and enjoyable. ²²

Salt
Only went to this because Dave paid. Best thing about it was being with him. She is never the character, just always Angelina megastar. Because of that, the plot is transparent very early, and the ending is completely unbelievable, as she was as a Jane Bond character. Bad.

Sunshine Cleaning
Really uninteresting chick flick about two sisters who are mired in adolescence even though they are trying to act like adults. Though the acting and directing weren’t bad, and Alan Arkin was fantastic, as always, I really disliked both of the main characters and all their struggles to discover their personhood, at the expense of everyone around them. *

Creation
Film about Darwin’s struggle to write and publish On the Origin of Species. Having read a couple of books on this topic, I found it disappointingly unhistorical, especially his wife’s relationship to the book and the religious battle. Turns into a very contemporary relationship counseling session. Too bad. Wasted the fine acting. *

Predators
Latest in this franchise where the humans are now transported to the Predator planet to be hunted as game. Marginally interesting premise, but as usual, the narrative breaks down and the characterizations are non-existent or stereotypes. Waste. *

Stagecoach
John Ford is an icon of American cinema. I have seen his major works and I accept his place in film history. This is one of his earliest works (John Wayne plays a young man), and I was very uncomfortable with the overt racism and sexism, and the stereotype characters. Wasn’t enough cinematic genius to make it enjoyable. Don’t regret seeing it though. **

The Last Airbender
Entertaining and nice visually, this film is about a kid who returns after a 100-year absence to unite the peoples of the four elements against the hegemony of the fire clan. It’s got kids as the stars, and it is pretty much for adolescents. Because of what Shyamalan did with a film critic in Lady in the Water, every critic has been savaging it out of spite, but it’s much better than the reviews, and I’m glad I saw it. Hope he does the sequel it’s set up for. **

The Last Airbender
Entertaining and nice visually, this film is about a kid who returns after a 100-year absence to unite the peoples of the four elements against the hegemony of the fire clan. It’s got kids in it, and it is pretty much for adolescents.  Because of what Shyamalan did with a film critic in Lady in the Water, every critic has been savaging it out of spite, but it’s much better than the reviews, and I’m glad I saw it. Hope he does the sequel it’s set up for.**

Pitfall
A brilliant and beautiful film, visually and thematically, by Techigahara Hiroshi about miners in Japan. Hard to believe it was his first film. Starts his incredibly productive cinematic collaboration with Abe Kobo. Couldn’t take my eyes off it. Excellent video essay in the Criterion Collection DVD, as well. Very good. ***

Japan’s Longest Day
Interesting historical drama about the 24 hours between the time emperor Hirohito decided that the war must end and the radio address he made telling the Japanese people. A little too patriotic, but very well done. Well worth it, even though I already knew the history.**

Miracle at St. Anna
Disapointing effort from Spike Lee. The plot is shallow and unaffecting, Spike’s directing, surprisingly, is clumsy and derivative. Only good scenes are the interactions of the black soldiers, which is what Spike really does well. Can’t believe this film was directed by the guy who made Do the Right Thing. Too bad. *

Splice
Lame science fiction film about a scientist couple who create a creature from animal and human DNA. Sarah Polley is pretty good as the emotionally disturbed half of the team, but she and Adrian Brody are both completely unbelievable as scientists. Not only that, the plot is riddled with huge narrative lacunae, and sensationalism rather than real impact. Waste of time. *

Three Resurrected Drunkards
Really odd, madcap 60s Oshima film about Korean refugees trying to sneak into Japan. Seems to be structured on a traditional Japanese legend or myth. Much two nonsensical and slapstick for me, but very well executed. **

Japanese Summer: Double Suicide
1967 Oshima film that brings gangsters, teenagers, a man seeking the perfect death, and a voluptuous, sexually-profligate woman together in an absurdist, stylized exploration of the death compulsion in Japanese culture. Beautiful filming, especially in the abandoned factory. Odd but good. **

Sing a Song of Sex
Strange, even surreal, 60s film about four sexually starved high school graduates who get lost in the Anti- Vietnam war movement, the history of bawdy folk songs, and their own emotional and political apathy. Again, Oshima’s very inventive directing, but a little weird. **

Violence at Noon
60s Japanese film by Oshima Nagisa that follows the trajectory of a serial rapist and murderer’s origins and the two women who protect him. Inventive directing of an interesting and very-well acted exploration of personal and social decay. **

Pleasures of the Flesh
60s Japanese film directed by Oshima Nagisa about a man who spends a fortune he has been entrusted to guard on the pleasures of the title. His plan goes wrong, and he can’t find the emotional bonds he really wants until he is betrayed. The descent into excess doesn’t bring the expected reward. Excellent for the period. **

Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands
Danish film propelled by the outstanding acting from Mads Mikkelsen. A mentally challenged, but emotionally pure, son of a crime boss gets out of prison and tries to win the affection of his father. Nothing good could come from that. Very bleak visually and emotionally, but very good. **

A Secret
Excellent French film about a true story of a man who discovers the history of his Jewish family trying to keep away from the Nazis and the sad secret they have hidden for decades. Great narrative, good acting, nicely directed, and deeply sad. Very good. **

Alice Neel
Intimate, informative, personal documentary about the American painter and her place and influence in contemporary art. Wonderful portrait of an artist unwilling to compromise her art and the struggles that creates. Made bu one of her grandchildren. Really, really enjoyed it. ***

Daybreakers
Attempt to add a twist to all the vampire films and books. This time everyone has become a vampire and they’re dying out because there’s no one to feed on. Very badly written with lines the actors seem embarrassed to speak, and plot holes you could drive a blood bank through. Great cast wasted. *

Legion
Really bad “horror” film about the only baby who can save the whole world from, you ready for this…God. Paul Bettany is a very good actor, but he was completely miscast as an action hero for this filmAnd there’s no action. The plot makes no sense, and the effects are third rate. Not even one star.

Tokyo Sonata
Oustanding film about a disintegrating Japanese family that mirrors the disintegration of Japanese culture & society. Very well acted and emotionally difficult to watch, but extremely well made in every way. Ending is a little too bright, but there is still an undertone of darkness. Catch it if you can. **

Iron Man 2
Slightly disappointing sequel to the great Iron Man. Stark is just irritating as he searches for a way to stop the Palladium powering his heart magnet from poisoning him, the stupid Shield gets involved, and there is far more glitz than real action. Against all expectations, Mickey Rourke was very good. Like most sequels, not that great. *

Pandorum
Surprisingly good “horror” film about two crew members who awake on a spaceship. Creepy, violent, great sets, and well acted, with an interesting narrative twist. Against my expectations, I enjoyed it. **

Mad Detective
Very interesting Chinese (Hong Kong) murder mystery about a mentally ill former cop who helps with a murder investigation because he can see people’s true personalities. Even a little touching. Enjoyed it. **

A Few Days in September
French spy film with Juliet Binoche and John Turturro about the days leading up to 9/11. Turturro over acts through the whole film, but Binoche is, once again, pitch perfect, and the sub plot with the children falling is love was well written and well-acted. Liked it. **

Wanted
Only saw this because it is directed by the Russian director, Timur Bekmambetov, of Nightwatch and Daywatch, both of which I really liked. Mistake. Even though the cast was very accomplished, there wasn’t much to work with here. Jolie wasn’t really acting, just standing around saying “look at me”, and I never got with bending the trajectory of bullets. Bad. *

The Losers
This comic book adaptation was really bad. Waste of money, even though Jason Patrick was having great fun as the evil genius. Mindless.

Paraiso Travel
Wonderful tale of two Colombian lovers who immigrate illegally to the U.S. and then lose each other. Great depiction, though fancifully optimistic, of immigrant life in New York, and the path to love. Beautiful women. **

Moon
Very interesting science fiction film about a guy manning a harvesting operation on the moon for a large inter-galactic corporation. Extremely well acted by Sam Rockwell as more than one character. Humorous, serious, and sad. Very good. ***

Inglorious Basterds
I keep trying to see what all the fuss is about Tarantino, but I can’t see it. This is another disappointing B-movie pretending to be something other than schlock. Brad Pitt keeps trying to act and failing, the screenplay is slim, and there is, as usual, far too much self-consciousness about each scene. An over-hyped waste of money. *
Rin
Very sexy, very violent, very sad, and very enjoyable anime about inadvertently immortal humans, and the machinations of the one trying to kill them. Even though the graphics are average, and the plot is a bit bizarre, I really liked it. Very disappointed that it ended so quickly. ***
Expired
Odd, offbeat romantic comedy about two emotionally damaged parking meter cops who fall in love. The acting is superb, especially Samantha Morton’s nuanced emotions. Very well done, and often painfully hard to watch. Really liked it. ***
My Neighbor Totoro
Another very sweet Miyazaki anime about young girls and the forest spirits they encounter when they move to the country to be near their mother in the hospital. Really enjoy this vision of Japan. The DVD pretty much completes my Miyazaki collection. **
Alice in Wonderland
Absolutely wonderful Tim Burton version of the books. Really liked it visually, and didn’t even mind the young woman coming to her personhood theme that is generally so sickening. Recommended it to Dave and the girls. Really enjoyed it.**
Angels and Demons
Tom Hanks is still completely unconvincing as an intellectual professor of anything, the plot is transparent, and even though the filming is OK, and Rome and the physicist are beautiful, pretty dumb. At least I didn’t have to suffer Brown’s horrible prose. Glad I didn’t pay for it.**
Repo Men
Even with Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, this science fiction thriller uses gimmicks rather than convincing action. Nothing wrong with it, and everyone works hard, but it seems to pull back from the level of intensity it should have reached because it goes for flash and gimmick, like I said. *
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Absolutely fascinating independent documentary about the Harvard Yale football game in 1968 when Harvard came back from 22 points down with just four minutes to play. Great interviews with the players juxtaposed against footage of the game. Really enjoyed it. **
Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist
Kind of nice little love story about soul mates finding each other. Too much like a TV show with a lack of depth and believable characterization. Teenagers might like it. Kat Dennings body was just killing me, otherwise I would have stopped watching it.*
The Ghost Writer
Very well made and acted thriller about a writer hired to ghost the memoirs of a former British prime minister. Of course, he uncovers some things that put his life in danger. Another excellent Polanski effort. Really enjoyed it. First film I saw at the Century Century theatres. **
Boondock Saints
Kind of fun, though pretentious violent indie? Movie about brothers called by god to kill bad people. The raw filming, though probably unintentional, helps it, and the actors playing the brothers are believable dopes. I guess I’m glad I saw it, though I can’t see why it got a cult following. Maybe the content? *
Green Zone
Matt Damon plays an American soldier assigned to find the WMD in Iraq. Political intrigue, action, some tension (though come on, do you really think Matt will get killed?), and one great Iraqi character. Those unfamiliar with the now-well-documented history, or unwilling to hear anything bad about the W. administration, find it troublesome. Good. As good as the Bourne movies. Enjoyed it. **
Kabei
Sentimental Japanese film about a family struggling during WWII when the father is imprisoned for his writings. Very well acted and interesting, though the sufferings of the father, who dies in jail, are pretty much ignored in favor of the mother’s difficulties. Very well done, and I really enjoyed it. Ending isn’t as sentimental as the rest of the film. **
Departures
Deeply moving Japanese film about a man who becomes an undertaker because it’s the only job he can find. Though the profession is socially despised in the small town, the rituals of dressing the body, and the precision, decorum, and care of the process reunite families and help resolve family issues. Sad and deeply moving. Very good. ***
Quarantine
Incredibly well acted and well filmed horror film about a TV crew doing a documentary about a day at a fire station. They get a call for an apartment building and everything goes horribly, horribly wrong. Use of the camera and the editing are amazing. Very hard to watch, but very good, for that reason. Creepiest ending since The Blair Witch Project. ***
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Even though I expected this to be dumb, it was even stupider than I thought it would be. Kevin James is pretty charming, but this was really bad. There is absolutely nothing here. Waste of time.
The Visitor
Understated and sad indie film about the unlikely friendship between a college professor and some illegal aliens. Well acted, but the whole drumming thing for the professor was kind of unconvincing. But at least it doesn’t try for the dopey happy ending. Pretty good. **
Hancock
Surprisingly interesting film about a disgruntled super hero and the idealistic marketing manager who works to change his image. Nice plot twists, good action, and even moving hospital sequence. Against all expectations, and my better judgment, I liked it. **
The Forbidden Kingdom
Enjoyable, though targeted for kids, kung fu movie about a contemporary American teenager who is the chosen helper of the Monkey King. Loved watching Jackie Chan and Jet Li spar. Nicely done, though predictable and a little dopey, and beautiful Chinese women. Fun. **
The International
Very enjoyable and well-done film about an Interpol agent and New York DA trying to break an international banking conspiracy. Two of my favorite actors are in it, it has a timely, convincing theme, plenty of action, though nicely understated, and beautiful European locations. Really liked it. **
The Baader-Meinhoff Complex
Accurate, though sensationalized, film about the German leftist terrorists. Interesting, well-acted, and since the Author of the book by the same name was the primary consultant, I don’t have to work through the whole book that I own. Well worth seeing. **
Fear Me Not
Swedish film about a man who takes an experimental psycho-pharmaceutical and begins to notice changes in his behavior. Raw and intense emotionally, especially with his wife and daughter. Good twist at the end. Very well acted by Ulrich Thomsen, as always.**
Days of Darkness
Comedic but sad French-Canadian film about a man who uses his imagination to escape from his depressed and ordinary life. Well written and acted. Some of the fantasies are amusing, but mostly it is a sad path of self understanding. Liked it a lot. **
The Last Picture Show
Finally watched this all the way through. Very good, as its reputation asserts, and incredibly bleak, with outstanding acting from everyone. Glad to get the foundation for McMurtry’s series of books, one of which I have already read. ***
Edge of Darkness
Shallow Mel Gibson vehicle about a Boston detective tracking down the murderers of his daughter. Writing was very bad. Predictable, even to the evil corporate CEO. The government agents were particularly cartoonish and inept. No menace or expertise. Waste of time and money. *
Silk
A Taiwanese ghost story about a scientist trying to capture the energy of a ghost. Not really creepy, it’s about finding a reason to live your life, and how love is the silk threat that binds people even across death. Kind of beautiful and sad. Really liked it.***
The Book of Eli
I expected this movie to be bad, but I really wanted to get out and see something. It was really bad in exactly the ways I thought it would be. Very mixed up narrative that never decides what it’s about, a reprehensible main motif, shallow, lame characters, plot lacunae and a dopey twist, and a really stupid ending. Real waste of an excellent cast. *
Ikki Tousen
A very teen-oriented anime series about high school kids who embody the fates of ancient kung fu fighters. Lots of sexual innuendo, struggling to understand who one is, one’s fate, and political maneuvering. Only 13 episodes. Seemed really silly at first, but got a little better. Not that good, but OK. *
Up in the Air
Not the comedy it is advertised to be, but that’s fine. A series of encounters with women, a business traveler like himself, the new hotshot who is trying to change his job, and his sisters lead Clooney’s character to re-engage with people. Everything is very well done. Luckily, it’s realistic and not really heartwarming. Glad I saw it. **
Avatar
Stunningly beautiful film about commercial interests trying to displace the indigenous population of the planet Pandora. Plot and characters are unoriginal, though it is a good message, but it is so compelling visually that it was well worth seeing. Really enjoyed it. **
Hell Girl
26-episode first season of the OVA (Original video animation オリジナル・ビデオ・アニメーション). First few episodes were cookie cutter, but it got more interesting with the introduction of the girl who had visions of what Hell Girl was doing. Got very grown up as it progressed, dealing with a lot of the horrible things people do to each other and the grief and regret we have. Graphics were average, but overall it was pretty good. *
Gigantic
Offbeat, affecting, beautifully written and acted film about a mattress salesman who meets a woman while he’s also trying to adopt a baby from China. See what I mean. Great cast, great characters. Wonderful. ***
Sherlock Holmes
Very entertaining remake of the legend with lots of action and 21^st-century fight sequences. Downey Jr. and Jude Law are always good on the screen. Went to the latest show on a bitterly cold Tuesday and had the theatre to myself. Turns out Holmes was as much an action hero as thinker. Who knew. Enjoyed it, even with the plentiful anachronisms. **
Cavite
Brilliant, raw independent film about an American of Pilipino descent who gets caught up in terrorism when he goes home for his father’s funeral. Great use of the camera, excellent acting, very well executed. Glad I saw it. ***
The Last Mistress
Hate these films (novels) of manners. Don’t see the point. Saw this because it was Catherine Breillat. Glad I didn’t pay for it. Didn’t even like Asia Argento’s augmented breasts and rigorously liposuctioned body. *
Haunted
Good cast, but a lame film about a haunted house and a professor brought there to disprove the existence of ghosts. Kate Beckinsale’s body double for the nude scenes looked good. Otherwise useless. *