Mini Review

Movie Review – Woman In Gold, The (Mini Review)

April 14, 2016March 1, 2016 Rodney Twelftree

Director : Simon Curtis Year Of Release : 2015 Principal Cast : Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Bruhl, Katie Holmes, Tatiana Maslany, Max Irons, Charles Dance, Elizabeth McGovern, Jonathan Pryce, Moritz Bleibtreu, Antje Trau. Approx Running Time : 109 Minutes Synopsis: Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family. ****** While the Second World War took a godawful human toll that cannot be forgotten, it should also be mentioned that the Nazi regime confiscated, stole, destroyed and…

Movie Review – Kung Fury (2015) (Mini Review)

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 Rodney Twelftree

– Summary – Director : David Sandberg Year Of Release : 2015 Principal Cast : David Sandberg, Jorma Taccone, Steven Chew, Leopold Nilsson, Adreas Cahling, Per-henrik Arvidius, Eleni Young, Helene Ahlson, Eos Karlsson, Approx Running Time : 31 Minutes Synopsis: Don’t bother, it sounds nuts. Watch the film at the bottom. What we think : If you don’t think a 30 minute short film can be the greatest viewing experience of your short, miserable life, then you are dead to me. Kung Fury is what happens when creativity and drive…

Movie Review – Begin Again (Mini Review)

January 28, 2015March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Effective, meandering musical drama/comedy is beguiling and sweet, even when occasionally it feels somewhat contrived. While tainted by one of the most generic film titles in recent years, Begin Again is a surprisingly good movie that is blessed by an equally good musical soundtrack.

Movie Review – Tinker Bell & The Pirate Fairy (Mini Review)

May 19, 2014March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Diverting entertainment doesn’t come more polished, pleasant or glowing than this, the latest entry into the Tinker Bell film franchise. It’s Disney through-and-through, a shining kiddie film that personifies all the moral, ethical and social Good Stuff you’ve come to expect from the Mouse House. The Pirate Fairy will entertain the young tots, bore the social-media obsessed teen, and provide welcome relief to any parent hoping to catch up on their cleaning. Unremarkable but competent.

Movie Review – Bad Grandpa (Mini Review)

February 28, 2014March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Sporadically funny, sometimes gut-bustingly so, this Jackass feature lacks momentum and spends too long dwelling in inanity and not enough time in ripping into its victims, but the end result is pleasantly diverting.

Movie Review – Smoke (1995) (Mini Review)

July 26, 2013March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Nice intentioned, yet ultimately decidedly dull ensemble flick that sparkles whenever Stockard Channing or Forest Whitaker arrive on scene; Smoke spends more time away from the landmark cigarette store that headlines the film than they do in it. While the characters are generally interesting, and the movie is well filmed in and around New York City, there’s a lethargy and clunkiness to the script and the performances that prevent it from being a great film.

Movie Review – Tinker Bell: The Secret Of The Wings (Mini Review)

June 24, 2013March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Dynamite animation overcomes a somewhat haphazard plot, resulting in a beautiful – if emotionally vapid – Disney Fairies entry, the fourth in the Tinker Bell franchise. The story is as inconsequential as ever, although unlike previous installments Tinker Bell never develops as a person here; it’s more of an ensemble piece than the others, and I think this dilutes things for the younger tots as far as morals and messages within the story go. This doesn’t mean Secret of the Wings isn’t worth your time, because for any young girl under the age of 10, this is a critic-proof must see. It’s a terrific little film, although you do get the sense that there’s not much more to be mined out of this franchise.

Movie Review – Fourth Kind, The (Mini Review)

June 17, 2013March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Sporadically chilling, The Fourth Kind is a generally turgid affair that tries to frighten with purported “real footage” of people undergoing hypnosis to support the movie’s claims of alien abduction. The scares are fairly effective, although the large gaps of story between them are slow and tedious to work through. Milla Jovovich delivers a decent enough performance to save the film from complete oblivion, but Elias Koteas and Will Patton are given terrible characters that frustrate the viewer instead of giving us something to work with. The Fourth Kind tries for the same visceral thrills of The Blair Witch Project, but falls short of delivering a truly scary movie. In parts, it’s plain silly.

Movie Review – Tower Heist (Mini Review)

April 5, 2013March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Slick, stylish comedy, no, adventure…. no, heist yarn that meanders more than it punches. Stiller is solid, Murphy looks like he’s barely interested, while Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda steal the show right out from under the rest of the cast. Hardly a patch on Ocean’s 11, Tower Heist is forgettable movie fare that’s as entertaining as it is unmemorable.

Movie Review – Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (Mini Review)

February 6, 2013March 15, 2018 Rodney Twelftree

Terrific human interest story with deft performances by the trio of leads – McGregor once again proves one of his generation’s most dependable actors, while Emily Blunt reaffirms her status as the best British actress of her age bracket today – all wrapped up in a cutesy little plot device that is as harmless as the title might indicate.

Category: Mini Review