Movie Ratings

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Easy A Movie Reviews

If you’re a fan of Emma Stone, you’ll want to check out these Easy A movie reviews. That’s because it’s the latest film from the 21-year-old actress known for her roles in Zombieland and Superbad, and fans of romantic comedies should at least be partially intrigued by the ensemble cast. In addition to Stone, there’s Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Malcolm McDowell, Cam Gigandet, and Lisa Kudrow.

The plot centers around Olive Penderghast (Stone), an average high school girl whose reputation comes into question when her rival (Bynes) begins to spread rumors about her supposed sexual escapades. But Olive uses her newfound slut status to help her school’s various geeks and losers obtain a measure of coolness. As the two teens engage in a war of words and rumors, the premise takes on many elements of The Scarlet Letter.

Don’t know whether or not you should see it? Read these Easy A movie reviews and make up your mind.

Leigh Paatsch of The Herald Sun – This Australian critic recommends Easy A, calling it “a smart, sussed take on the life of a modern teenager.” Emma Stone’s delivery and comic timing also receive high praise.
Armond White of The New York Press- White was thoroughly underwhelmed by the movie, referring to it as a frontrunner for the worst film of 2010. He seemed especially put off by the snarky tone.
Josh Bell of Las Vegas Weekly – Another negative review for Easy A, this time due to its portrayal of high school life. Stone and the supporting cast do get high marks, however.
Randy Cordova of The Arizona Republic – Cordova loved the film, writing that it’s the kind of movie about teens that adults should embrace. He also says that “Stone is nothing short of wonderful.” And he delivers great praise by saying that her character is smarter and funnier than anyone created by John Hughes in the 1980s.
Nick Dent of Time Out Sydney- Dent tells Lindsay Lohan to move over, as audiences have discovered “a feisty, freckled ranga with a straight-bourbon voice and killer comic timing.” He’s talking, of course, about Emma Stone.
Prairie Miller of NewsBlaze- Miller refers to Easy A as an “easy heir to Juno, without the baby bump.” Besides the expected fawning over Stone, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson also draw kudos.
John Anderson of Variety – While calling it a “morally upright tale,” Anderson writes that it’s filled with edgy jokes and funny dialogue. He also enjoyed the performance of Stone, especially the film-ending musical number.
Katey Rich of CinemaBlend - Putting her in the once-lofty company of Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls) and Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), Rich continues the flood of praise for Emma Stone’s performance. While she believes that the film occasionally paints with brush strokes a tad too broad, Rich recommends Easy A thanks to “perfect one-liners” and its “rock-solid comedic tone.”
Thomas Caldwell of Cinema Autopsy – Caldwell joins the chorus of praise for Easy A, calling it the “smartest and most enjoyable teen comedy since Juno.”
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly- This critic hails Emma Stone as a fine cinematic replacement for Lindsay Lohan, citing her “flashing-eyed sunny vivacity.” He also praises the work of Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as the lead character’s parents. While he likes the fast-paced banter, he does admit that it wore him out after a while.

Fence sitters will probably be shelling out the money for a ticket after reading these Easy A movie reviews. That’s because they’re largely positive, and almost everyone has praise for Emma Stone’s performance. If you go to see the film, be sure to drop us a line in the comments section and let us know what you thought. In the meantime, check out these other fine posts from our blog:

Centurion Movie Reviews

These Centurion movie reviewsare intended for anyone who hasn’t made up their mind about director Neil Marshall’s violent film concerning a group of Roman soldiers stuck behind enemy lines and pursued by vengeful Pict warriors. The blood flows in rivers, and pretty much every critic I’ve read comments on this fact. If you don’t like gore in major doses, you’re better off quitting while you’re ahead. But if you’ve got a strong stomach, then sally forth and see what a selection of 10 critics had to say. Marshall, by the way, has also helmed Dog Soldiers, Doomsday, and The Descent. Centurion stars Dominic West, Michael Fassbender, and Olga Kurylenko.

Jordan Hoffman of UGO – This critic writes that director Neil Marshall’s latest film, Centurion, “treats arterial sprays like Sex and the City treats shoes,” but it doesn’t seem to know what exactly to say to its audience. Still, he gives it above-average marks for its dedication to “ridiculous, over-the-top violence.”
Jeff Bayer of The Scorecard Review – Bayer doesn’t care much for the film, noting that we’re “stuck rooting for the cat even though it killed and raped thousands of mice.” Ouch!
Sean Means of The Salt Lake Tribune – While other critics disliked the moral ambiguity of the characters, Means salutes the film as “a gritty, grueling, bloody adventure, with exciting action-set pieces and a dogged refusal to assign white and black hats.”
Christian Toto of What Would Toto Watch?- Calling it “Gladiator directed by Freddy Krueger,” Toto also suggests that it may be the “bloodiest Roman epic ever told.” He gives high marks for the crisp story, although the lack of a moral compass by the characters gets criticized.
Peter Rainer of The Christian Science Monitor – Rainer thinks the desaturated colors of Centurion make all blood look like squid ink. He also takes the film to task for its poor dialogue and blind reliance on gore.
Frank Swietek of One Guy’s Opinion - Swietek mentions that the film is too gory to work as “dumb fun,” but its over-the-top nature also renders it ineffective as a serious historical tale. He does, however, credit cinematographer Sam McCurdy for his ability to shoot widescreen landscapes.
Randy Myers of The Contra Costa Times – Myers compliments the film for its use of “sharp editing, great battles, sweeping scenery,” saying that it’s far better than many big-budget Hollywood action flicks. He even dares to call it “a hearty-ho of a guilty pleasure.” That’s a phrase you don’t see too often.
Scott Tobias of AV Club – Tobias doesn’t care for Marshall’s latest flick, noting that his obsession with bloodshed and gore begins to wear on the viewer after a while.
Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times- America’s leading critic complains that the characters are all interchangable, especially when their severed heads are flying through the air. He also takes exception to the level of bloodshed, writing that it enters the realm of the cartoonish.
Brian Orndorf of Brian Orndorf.com- Calling it “Herschell Gordon Lewis’s I Claudius,” Orndorf also comments that the film plays to Marshall’s “strengths as a visual composer and closet sadist.” Good stuff, especially the picture of star Olga Kurylenko.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these Centurion movie reviews. If you go see the film, be sure to hit our comments section and give us your own opinon. If you decide to stay at home, use that extra time to check out the following links from A1 Movie Reviews:

Lottery Ticket Movie Reviews

If you’re looking for Lottery Ticket movie reviews, you’ve certainly come to the right place. I’ve assembled the opinions of ten different critics, even providing links back to the original articles. From positive Lottery Ticket movie reviews to the less-than-flattering critiques, this resource should help you make up your mind about whether or not to see the film.

In case you don’t know what Lottery Ticket is all about, here’s a brief synopsis of the African-American comedy. Bow Wow plays a good kid living in the housing projects. He’s sent to buy his grandmother a lottery ticket, and he ends up being talked into buying one for himself. He wins, of course, but he can’t claim his prize until after a long holiday weekend. While he tries to keep his good fortune a secret, the word soon gets out and draws every colorful character within a 10 block radius. Also starring Charlie Murphy, Mike Epps, and Ice Cube.

Now let’s see what the critics had to say about it…

Jim Lane of Sacramento News & Review – While he doesn’t dislike the cast, Lane hates the script and refers to director Erick White as “so inept that he can’t even match one shot to the next.”
Jim Slotek of Jam! Movies – While he enjoyed the comic timing of the chase scenes, this critic felt that the rest of the film was a predictable letdown.
Mike Scott of The Times-Picayune- Despite being predictable, overly-sentimental, and somewhat stereotypical, Lottery Ticket still manages to draw a decent review from Scott thanks to a strong cast, positive message, and plenty of humor.
Jason Anderson of The Toronto Star – While it’s formulaic all the way, Anderson notes that Lottery Ticket manages to entertain due to an upbeat tempo, likable cast, and a solid social message in the third act. Ice Cube draws a compliment for his understated turn as a former boxer.
Claudia Puig of USA Today- While other critics praised the positive message of the film, Puig feels it was forced. She also dislikes the numerous characters who border on African-American caricatures, although she does praise Ice Cube and Bow Wow for their performances.
Andrew Barker of Variety - Barker writes that the premise is promising, but he ultimately feels that it’s weighed down with inconsistencies in tone. According to him, part of this is due to “clumsy stabs at social commentary.” T-Pain gets kudos for his screen debut, and Charlie Murphy and Ice Cube are also singled out.
Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic- This critic thought Lottery Ticket showed promise in the beginning, but then “the story gives way to inconsistency and, finally, incredulity by the time it’s over, playing up stereotypes for broad comic relief even as it tries to make larger points about society.” Noteworthy performances include Mike Epps and Teairra Mari.
Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly – This critic laments the fact that Lottery Ticket doesn’t have as many laughs as it does social messages, but he still ends up giving it a favorable review. He also mentions that Bow Wow has grown into “a likable leading man.”
Kevin C. Johnson of St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Johnson writes that Lottery Ticket is “hard to love and hard to hate.” Still, this doesn’t stop him from giving it a less-than-positive review, complaining that it lacks the warmth and humor of films like Friday and Barbershop.
John Wirt of The Advocate – Wirt explains that the colorful characters make for an “often rich comedy,” but it sags in the middle due to overly-serious interludes. That doesn’t add up to a bad review, though, as the critic notes the uplifting and high-energy third act helps save the production.

That does it for our Lottery Ticket movie reviews. I hope they proved helpful, and be sure to check out these other posts from A1 Movie Reviews:

Going the Distance Movie Reviews

These Going the Distance movie reviews are for anyone who’s yet to make up their mind about this romantic comedy involving a newly single young man (Justin Long) who meets a witty waitress played by Drew Barrymore. While their relationship begins as nothing more than a fling, it slowly begins to develop into something else, much to the amazement of family and friends.

Some might view it as only a chick flick, but even guys may get a kick out of it. To be sure, read the following Going the Distance movie reviews. On a side note, you might also be interested to know that Barrymore and Long have dated in real life, which might explain the praise heaped all over their on-screen chemistry.

Amber Wilkinson of Eye for Film - Drew Barrymore draws praise, being called the “go-to woman for funny females.” She also mentions that the genuine emotions and situations make Going the Distance a winner.
Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer – This critic recommends Going the Distance for anyone who’s looking to smile. She also has good things to say about the film’s fresh approach and the work of director Nanette Burstein.
Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress – Hanke has a major problem with this film’s screenplay, noting that even the chemistry generated between Long and Barrymore can’t overcome it. He does, however, cite moments of “genuine charm.”
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian – This UK critic calls Going the Distance “a long haul.” That’s not meant as a compliment, by the way.
Tom Long of Detroit News – Long says the film pushes the rom-com envelope thanks to a raunchy script peppered with profanity and references to 1980s pop culture. He calls it The Hangover meets Letters to Juliet.
Elliott Noble of Sky Movies – Noble is yet another critic who notes the winning chemistry between the two leads, even going so far as to call Barrymore “illegal-to-dislike.” While noting that the situations and characters are “strictly stock,” he does compliment the director’s first foray into the realm of fiction.
James King of Little White Lies – Another UK critic and another positive review of Going the Distance. While noting that there are cliches to be found, he also praises “a script that revels in boozy, sweary and frank discussions of life’s curveballs that only toil-worn thirty-somethings could have.”
Tom Horgen of The Minneapolis Star Tribune – While other critics noted that the film’s foul language provided a much-needed balance, Horgen doesn’t agree. He’s also not happy about all the rom-com cliches or the obvious influence of Judd Apatow.
Dana Stevens of Slate – Stevens would have liked the movie if it had featured more of everything. That includes more jokes, more complications for the couple, and more sex.
Andrew O’Hehir of Salon.com – While referring to Going the Distance as “thoroughly forgettable entertainment,” Mr. O’Hehir does recommend the film based on the often racy situations and Barrymore’s distinctive pep and horsey laugh.

That concludes our look at Going the Distance movie reviews. If you’ve already seen it, be sure to give us your thoughts in the comments section, as opinions from readers can also be of help. Until next time, check out these other fine movie review lists from A1:

Takers Movie Reviews

These Takers movie reviews are perfect for anyone who’s ignorant of the latest stylized heist movie to hit theaters. The film stars Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown, and Hayden Christensen as a group of professional thieves. They’re incredibly successful, but when a former member of their crew asks them to pull a job, things begin to get complicated (especially when an obsessed cop played by Matt Dillon gets on their tails). Bullets are fired, cool clothing is worn, and lots (emphasis on lots) of things explode.

Mary F. Pols of MSN Movies- This critic notes that watching Takers is like thumbing through a copy of Gentlemen’s Quarterly, thanks to all the handsome male stars, gadgets, and cool attire. While her praise isn’t through the roof, she deems Takers an entertaining film if you know what you’re getting into.
Kam Williams of Sly Fox – While admitting that Takers lifts much of its plot from other films, Williams still recommends the motion picture based on big explosions and “mindless mayhem.”
Jeff Niesel of The Metro Times – A less than complimentary review, calling Matt Dillon’s performance the only credible one in the film, and the overall flick a “very poor man’s Oceans 11.”
Cole Smithey of Cole Smithey.com – Smithey writes that the plot is the only thing less developed than “its one-dimensional characters.”
Maitland McDonagh of Miss FlickChick – She calls Takers the Cliff’s Notes version of Michael Mann’s Heat, criticizing it for below-average performances and mindless action sequences.
Kimberly Gadette of Indie Movies Online- Gadette praises the camerwork of cinematographer Michael Barrett, but she’s less kind when it comes to the derivative script, lackluster performances, and the unbelievable competency of the titular thieves.
Marshall Fine of Hollywood & Fine – Fine scolds the action scenes for being “loud, fast, and messy.” He also cites the weak script for giving the ensemble cast very little to work with.
Kevin McCarthy of BDK Reviews – Calling it “extremely predictable and poorly written,” critic McCarthy wonders why this film was even made (given its close similarity to movies like The Italian Job and Heat). He also notes that “Takers is the first movie I have seen where an actor gave a commentary track while acting in the movie.”
Jen Yamato of Movies.com- Jen mentions the “overwhelmingly generic feeling” of the film, as well as the criminally small role of Zoe Saldana and the over-the-top performance of rapper/actor Tip “T.I.” Harris. One of the more well-written of these Takers movie reviews.
James Berardinelli of Reel Views – The man Roger Ebert has referred to as the best of the Internet critics gives Takers a positive review, calling it an “entertaining throw-away.”

I hope these Takers movie reviews will give you a better idea of whether or not you should see the film. If it proved helpful, be sure to take a look at these other posts from A1 Movie Reviews:

Winter’s Bone Movie Reviews

Every year, an indie film comes out of nowhere to rack up multiple award nominations and propel an actor or actress to the next level. Winter’s Bone is just such a film. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Ree, a young woman living a harsh life in the Ozarks. Forced to care for her younger siblings and attend high school whenever she has a moment to spare, she dreams of joining the military and moving far away. But when her estranged father gets himself busted for meth, puts up the family farm to make bail, and then promptly disappears, she’s forced to undertake a dangerous journey through the backwoods of Missouri to track him down.

These Winter’s Bone movie reviews should paint a clear picture of what the film is all about. In the interest of being even-handed, I’ve included both positive and negative reviews, allowing you to make up your own mind. Ultimately, though, the only way to be for sure is to see the movie.

Clint O’Connor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer – This critic gives a positive review of Winter’s Bone, citing a strong performance from Jennifer Lawrence and the authenticity of the perpetually overcast setting.
Michael Smith of Tulsa World – Smith notes that Lawrence should be remembered when Oscar nominations are being handed out, and he draws parallels between the hard lives endured by the characters and those of residents of rural Oklahoma. He also delivers high praise by noting, “There are so many unforgettable scenes, in which I found my heart racing at not knowing what was about to happen, that I found myself forgetting to breathe.”
Margot Harrison of Seven Days – Vermont’s own Margot Harrison weighs in with this Winter’s Bone film review, spending the opening paragraph examining the meaning of the word “hardscrabble.” From there, she notes “I think every teen who’s ever watched ‘The Hills’ should get to know her, regardless of the film’s R rating, just as a reminder that being a girl is about more than mumbling and accessorizing.”
Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru – While he enjoyed the performances and the dark atmosphere, this critic comments that the film drags in spots and lacks adequate suspense.
Kyle Smith of The New York Post- The title of his review is “Hick flees, so daughter hunts for pa prints.” How clever. Smith criticizes the film for a somewhat haphazard approach instead of a logical mystery, and he indicates that the only reason it received the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance was because it offers “a bit of poverty porno.”
Stephen Whitty of Newark Star-Ledger - A well-written piece of prose that praises the film and notes, among other things, that “nothing is more broken than the people — patched together with drugs, grudges and memories.” Lawrence draws high praise, as does John Hawkes as her uncle Teardrop, “a man who has been burning so fiercely for so long that all that’s left is wick and heat.”
Robin and Laura Clifford of Reeling Reviews- This husband and wife critic team agree on the film’s fine performances, with Laura noting that “this is regional American independent filmmaking without hipster ironies.” Clifford praises it for “good movie-making, excellent characters and a tightly wrought story.”
Susan Granger of SSG Syndicate – Granger refers to Ree’s quest to find her father as a “mythic journey,” and she also praises the “sinister score” and “perceptive authenticity.”
Matt Brunson of Creative Loafing- Calling Jennifer Lawrence’s turn as Ree Dolly “a breakthrough performance,” Brunson also comments that the backwoods of Missouri will seem as foreign to most as the forest moon of Endor. Luckily, there are no Ewoks in Winter’s Bone.
Lisa Kennedy of The Denver Post- Another positive review for Winter’s Bone, Kennedy calls the part of Ree Dolly a “gift-of-a-lifetime role.” He also heaps praise upon the film’s gritty tone and the performance of John Hawkes.

I hope you find these Winter’s Bone movie reviews to be helpful. If so, be sure to check out these other posts from the A1 Movie Reviews blog:

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Reviews

While most films draw a mixture of reactions from critics, there occasionally comes a motion picture that warrants almost unanimous scorn. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is one such movie. Directed by Michael Bay, a favorite punching bag for the critical community, the film was a sequel to the 2007 blockbuster about two warring factions of giant robots, the teenage boy caught in the middle, and the sleek hotness that is Megan Fox.

The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie reviews allowed critics to get exceptionally creative, blasting everything from the acting and script to Bay’s almost childlike level of directorial talent. And while I enjoy watching this train wreck of a film get raked over the coals, it’s equally interesting to read the smattering of reviews that actually defended the movie.

So dive right into these Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie reviews. I hope you’ll find something you like, and maybe you’ll be turned onto some new favorite film critics in the process.

Rich Cline of Shadows on the Wall – Calling it the loudest and most bombastic movie ever made by director Michael Bay, Cline proceeds to criticize the “orgy of smash-em-up mayhem” and the fact that “none of the characters have any real purpose.”
Sean Burns of Philadelphia Weekly – Burns says he can’t imagine “a more dispiriting, dehumanizing cinematic experience than this relentless fusillade of aggressive, incoherent images, macho posturing and schoolyard-bully humor.” Amen, brother. He also notes that all the women in the film are “spray-tanned skanks,” and minorities are portrayed as “grotesque, ineffectual” cartoons.
Andrea Chase of Killer Movie Reviews – Chase suspects that Michael Bay’s ultimate goal is to make a film that’s nothing more than big explosions. She also notes that Ed Wood might have turned out Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen if he would’ve had access to a huge budget and CGI.
Scott A. Mantz of Access Hollywood – Mantz complains that the film gave him a headache. At his kindest, he calls it “an incredible demo reel for Industrial Light & Magic.”
Ken Hanke of the Mountain Xpress – Hanke calls the film “the cinematic equivalent of a drunk relative at a family function.” He then goes on to rip the plot, the directing, the blatant racist stereotypes, and the awful excuses for humor. He rips everything, in fact, but I’m hardly going to pity a film that’s so deserving of being panned.
Amy Biancolli of the Houston Chronicle – Not all the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen reviews are bad. Amy Biancolli calls it “funny” and “percussive.” She also notes that the film, while limited in scope, accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do…blow things up.
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times – This critic has a field day discussing the four distinct demographics of the film, as well as the painfully unfunny (and racist) cars known as Skids and Mudflap.
Ty Burr of The Boston Globe – Burr points out that this film has nothing to offer anyone who isn’t a teenage boy. He refers to Skids and Mudflap as “the first examples of robot blackface,” and Bay’s directorial style as “blockbuster fascism.”
Tom Maurstad of The Dallas Morning News – While he mentions that Michael Bay is “utterly tone deaf when it comes to human-scaled emotions or actions,” the reviewer still gives the film a positive review and compares it to watching an elaborate fireworks display.
Shane Rivers of A1 Movie Reviews – Here’s the less-than-flattering review from yours truly. While I salute Bay for his ability to film really hot women, I was less than pleased with every other element of the movie. I was also equally embarrassed that the people around me found it remotely entertaining.

If you enjoyed reading these Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie reviews, let me direct your attention to the following posts from the A1 Movie Reviews blog:

The Shawshank Redemption Movie Reviews

Before we look at The Shawshank Redemption movie reviews, it should be noted that this much-loved modern classic wasn’t received with overwhelming praise back in 1994. Sure, a number of critics enjoyed it despite the film’s fairy-tale qualities, but others felt as though first-time director Frank Darabont should’ve shown more brutality within the prison walls. Most agreed, however, that Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman did an outstanding job, and a number of other cast members were praised for their work on the motion picture.

Moviegoers weren’t breaking out of prison to see it, however. The Shawshank Redemption–based on the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption–grossed just slightly more than its $25 million budget. Once you add in the cost of promotion, well, let’s just say that the movie didn’t set the world on fire the first time around.

But boy how things can change. The story of a banker who receives two life sentences for a crime he didn’t commit has managed to resonate with viewers of both genders, but especially those of the male variety. It’s been played endlessly on television, and any video store worth a damn has at least a copy or two.

I wanted to take a look back at some of the original Shawshank Redemption movie reviews to see who was on board and who wasn’t. And not wanting to leave the more modern critics out of the loop, I’ve also thrown in a number of reviews written in the years since the film’s release.

Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times – No list of The Shawshank Redemption movie reviews would be complete without the thoughts of Roger Ebert. The king of all movie critics gave the film a near-perfect score, remarking on its life, humor, and the warm friendship that grows between the two leads.
Desson Thomson of The Washington Post – According to this critic, they should have called the film Forrest Gump Goes to Jail. There is a factual inaccuracy in the review, though, as he mentions the warden (Bob Gunton) likes to beat prisoners to death. That was, in fact, the head guard (Clancy Brown). If you’re going to bitch about a movie, at least get the facts right.
James Berardinelli of ReelViews – The world’s nerdiest-looking film critic (and a damn fine writer) calls it one of the best filmed versions of any Stephen King story (no love for Running Man?). Actor James Whitmore gets a load of praise, as does cinematographer Roger Deakins and the drab, grey walls of the prison.
Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader – A capsule review of the film, citing the strong performances from Robins, Freeman, Gunton, William Sadler, Brown, Whitmore, and Gil Bellows. I could’ve used a little more detail, but what do you expect from a capsule review?
Rob Humanick of The Projection Booth – This online critic gives Shawshank a poor review, citing the sentimentality and refusal to show some of the film’s harsher moments (such as the actual rape scenes). He does, however, state that debuting feature-film director Frank Darabont proves to be “a skilled and keen filmmaker.”
Walter Chaw of Film Freak Central - Mr. Chaw gives the movie a less than glowing review, writing “The Shawshank Redemption is a Norman Rockwell painting about the inside of a prison starring a Christ figure who’s crucified in the court of man, sent to a dark hole for a while, and reborn on the beaches of Mexico having inspired every apostle he’s left behind to spread the gospel of his exploits.” He spends a lot of time in the review talking about the religious connotations of the film, and he even gets in a shot or two at George W. Bush.
Louise Keller of Urban Cinefile – Reviewing the film’s DVD release, Louise gives Shawshank a glowing review. She even goes so far as to call it “a treasure of a film that everyone should see.” On a personal note, I’d have to agree with her.
Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine – Writing that “Darabont’s version of King’s story is gimmicky and schematic and panders to our most contrived sexual anxieties and base notions of revenge and guerrilla justice,” Gonzalez proceeds to rip Shawshank up one side and down the other. He seems especially irate about the fairy-tale take on prison life, and he also takes the opportunity to knock films such as Star Wars and Casablanca (calling the former “genuinely terrible”).
Kevin N. Laforest of Montreal Film Journal – Giving it his highest rating possible, Laforest raves and raves about the film. He praises the music, the acting, the cinematography, and the directing. He even praises the work of the key grip (okay, I’m lying about that last one).
Brian Webster of Apollo Guide – While he does complain about the bad guys being one-dimensional and the prisoners seeming lack of contact with the outside world, Webster goes on to call it “memorable” and “one of the most inspiring films you’ve seen in a long time.” He also notes that while the film can be depressing in spots, the character of Andy always manages to do something remarkable to pull the viewer back in.

If you’ve enjoyed this list of The Shawshank Redemption movie reviews, be sure to check out the following from our site:

Rampage Movie Reviews

Have you read any of the Rampage movie reviews? For that matter, have you even heard of Rampage? If not, that’s probably because your brain has been automatically blocking out any and all projects from Dr. Uwe Boll, the man behind such low-rated films as In the Name of the King, Postal, and House of the Dead. Surprisingly, thought, many of the critics I came across enjoyed the film, noting it as a stark departure from Boll’s usual schlocky style. Is it possible that Uwe Boll is a director on the rise? That remains to be seen, but reading these Rampage movie reviews will help you form your own opinion on the subject.

They’re not all positive reviews, though. You’ll notice a lack of reviews from big-name critics and those who work for the print media. I simply couldn’t find any available on the Internet, so I had to be satisfied with bloggers and online film critics.

Bryan White of Cinema Suicide – After detailing Boll’s penchant for boxing against his critics and making an endless stream of video game adaptations, this critic proceeds to cast Rampage in a fairly positive light. That’s, of course, after he mistakes it for a remake of the 1980′s arcade game featuring giant monsters tearing up a city.
Neil Miller of Film School Rejects – While he enjoyed the action scenes and wholesale slaughter, this critic felt the film got mired down in the “whys” behind the rampage. He also got a big kick out of the bingo hall sequence, calling it “quite possibly the most tense and clever few moments that Boll has ever committed to film.”
Niels Matthijs of Twitch- While praising the gritty look of the film and the soundtrack, Niels Matthijs isn’t as impressed with the performances in Rampage. He also remarks that “Boll’s vision is mean and bitter, always cold and heartless.”
Peter Sciretta of Slash Film – Calling the film “Falling Down without the morals” and “Grand Theft Auto with real people,” this critic nevertheless praises Boll for a move up in quality.
Michael Allen at Horror Society (reprinted) – Lead Brendan Fletcher receives high marks from this critic, and Rampage is deemed “an exciting yet shocking film.” The popular bingo hall scene also gets a detailed analysis.
Devin Faraci of CHUD- While less than impressed with the improvisational nature of the acting, Faraci does like the movie, which is something of a surprise considering that it came from the guy who made In the Name of the King. He cites a number of moments that almost ruined the film for him, but admits that “Rampage has a spunky spirit that just keeps overcoming.”
Jette Kernion of Cinematical - Another example of a critic being surprised by Rampage. Kernion had never reviewed a Boll film before, and he was prepared for an awful piece of trash. He admits that he was rather disappointed on this front.
Chris Tilly of IGN UK – While Tilly cites Rampage as perhaps Boll’s most technically proficient movie to date, he calls it “morally reprehensible” and the first half of the film “dull-as-dishwater.” He notes that the purpose of the film seemed to be to grab headlines and generate controversy. He may very well be right, especially considering the German-born Boll is also making a film about Auschwitz.
Robert Barbere of Associated Content – While this critic gets tired of the shaky camerawork and haphazard editing, he praises the story, characters, and overall film. He notes that he had to visit three video stores to find the film, as the limited copies at the other stores were checked out.
Jason Bene of Killer Film – The reviewer notes that the unflinching violence in Rampage made him turn away, but he still found it to be an enjoyable experience. He even adds “this is the film Falling Down wishes it could have been.” Since that film starred Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall, that’s high praise indeed.

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Movie Ratings for June 4th, 2010

Here are the MPAA movie ratings for the new films hitting theaters in the U.S. on June 4th, 2010. In addition to the ratings, I’ve also included the MPAA’s insightful notes on why each film received the certificate it did.

Finding Bliss – Rated R for strong sexual content, including graphic dialogue and nudity, and for language.

Get Him to the Greek – Rated R for strong sexual content and drug use throughout, and pervasive language.

Killers – Rated PG-13 for violent action, sexual material and language.

Marmaduke – Rated PG for some rude humor and language.

Ondine – Rated PG-13 for some violence, sensuality and brief strong language.

Splice – Rated R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.

Okay, I’ve got to ask the question. What defines sci-fi violence, exactly?

If you have an interest in any of these films, be sure to check out the review section of A1 Movie Reviews, as we’ll be giving you to lowdown on Get Him to the Greek, Killers, Marmaduke, and Splice. I guess we’ll have an answer for that sci-fi violence question soon enough.